Vista's intent was crystal clear: to draw the attention of the entire crew and, under their collective gaze, slice this bastard's clothes to ribbons — without even scratching his skin.
> No damage — but maximum humiliation.
> "Let's see, 'Vice-Captain'… let my ultimate sword technique turn you into the eternal laughingstock of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
The floating rose petals looked dazzling, but each was actually Armament Haki-infused sword energy. Under Vista's precise control, they could cut anything he chose.
In an instant, they poured down toward Roya, who appeared completely unaware.
> "That's it for him," muttered one pirate with a hint of pity.
Several crewmates who were somewhat familiar with Roya instinctively turned away, unable to watch what they assumed would be his violent, clothes-shredding defeat.
> "Roya may not seem reliable, but for Vista to humiliate him like this... I don't think he'll take it lightly. He's Pops' hand-picked Vice-Captain, after all."
But Marco and a few other division commanders saw through Vista's true intentions. Their eyes narrowed with concern about what this might mean for the relationship between the two.
As the rose petals descended, Vista sheathed his swords with a flourish.
He gracefully landed back on deck, arms folded, smiling smugly as he waited for the exact moment when Roya — under the gaze of over 1,600 pirates — would awaken in shredded clothes and complete disgrace.
Just as his feet came level with the mast's horizontal beam — the same one where Roya lay — the rose petals finally touched down on their target.
But then—Vista blinked.
> Roya's body moved — just the slightest twitch — and suddenly, the entire barrage of rose petals vanished.
Vista's eyes flew wide open.
His body continued to fall — no time to process what had just happened.
With a soft thud, he landed smoothly on the deck.
But his heart was pounding violently.
> "What the hell… was that?! Haki? Or… a Devil Fruit?"
> "Why did my rose petals vanish — like they were eaten up by something?!"
Marco's eyes narrowed. He turned to Jozu, who also looked completely stunned.
> "Vista's ultimate move… didn't work?!"
> "It wasn't dodged. It wasn't blocked. It had… no effect whatsoever!"
The commanders exchanged looks — all filled with disbelief.
Vista had clearly intended to humiliate Roya in front of the entire crew, but Roya had nullified the attack entirely, using a method they couldn't even begin to explain.
> Something that should've been impossible… they had just witnessed with their own eyes.
Meanwhile, the regular crewmates — without the sharp perception or Haki of the commanders — were utterly confused.
> "I mean, c'mon, with Vista's strength, that rookie lookout should've been easy to take down. But from the look on Vista's face… was he the one who got wrecked?"
> "Yo, bro — what just happened?"
> "No idea, I just saw Vista attack…"
> "Don't be dumb. That wasn't a sneak attack — he literally shouted twice before swinging. Roya had plenty of time to react."
> "Forget about sneak attacks — did he dodge? It looked like he dodged. Or didn't. Whatever happened, he didn't get hit."
Vista's face twitched. His eyes were bloodshot.
Despite everything, he couldn't remember exactly what he had seen.
> "Was that… really a perfect defense?"
Overwhelmed by confusion and disbelief, Vista launched himself into the air once more, landing back on the beam where Roya lay.
There he was — completely unharmed.
He had only shifted his body slightly. Just a tiny movement.
But to a master swordsman like Vista, that tiny movement told a big story.
The entire moment now reconstructed itself in Vista's mind.
> The rose petals had descended in a dense barrage.
Roya had tried to dodge — instinctively — but realized he wouldn't be able to fully escape.
So he gave up on dodging and let them fall onto him.
> And then… they melted.
Like snowflakes in sunlight. Just… gone.
> "So… he really was asleep. He didn't even wake up. That wasn't an act?!"
Vista's heart raced wildly. He activated his Observation Haki, trying to sense Roya's state.
No matter how deeply he probed…
> Roya was, without a doubt, in deep sleep.
> "Asleep — and he still somehow nullified my attack?"
Vista's temples throbbed. He felt like his blood pressure was about to explode. His ears buzzed with static.
> "No. It wasn't just a dodge. My sword energy — my Haki — was erased!"
> "If he had just avoided it, the mast beneath him would've been destroyed too… but it's completely intact!"
> "What kind of ability is this? Even a Logia-type Devil Fruit wouldn't do this!"
Now thoroughly shaken, Vista's mind spiraled as he tried to make sense of it.
---
Down below, the rest of the crew had erupted into full-blown chatter.
> "Bro, I think Roya might actually be a beast. Even Captain Vista couldn't touch him!"
> "Duh! Pops made him Vice-Captain personally. Of course he's strong!"
> "But wait… he's still asleep, right? What if Vista was just testing him — then pulled back when he realized he really was sleeping?"
That last comment actually made some sense — even Marco furrowed his brow slightly.
He glanced up at Vista — and saw the man's dazed, twitching expression.
> Something didn't add up.
What truly disturbed Marco was that Vista's Armament Haki-enhanced sword energy had vanished — without leaving a single mark. No scratches. No impact. No sign it ever existed.
That was… beyond strange.
He turned his eyes toward Whitebeard.
If anyone knew the truth — it would be Pops himself.
But all Marco saw was a deep, mysterious smile on Whitebeard's face.
Clearly, Whitebeard had anticipated this exact outcome all along.
Marco couldn't help but think:
> "So Pops already knew… just how powerful Roya is."
> "That's why he chose this moment — a moment that would send a message to us all."
> "Does that mean… Pops doesn't even trust our chances in the war that's coming?"
The thought stung.
Marco's chest tightened — the bitter taste of realization filling his throat.
> "Vice-Captain… Pops can give that title to anyone he wants. Whether I have it or not doesn't change who I am, or what I fight for."
He looked down and sighed.
> "And that's enough… isn't it?"