The corpse of the pirate swordsman slammed to the ground.
His skull had been split open, red and white matter spilling everywhere...
In the distance, a flash of lightning danced in Enel's hand.
It connected to the floating miniature "Admonition" in the sky.
"Admonition" slowly drifted down as Enel gently touched the terrified little head, soothing the child.
This three-year-old had skirted death several times in just half a day.
Finally, the child relaxed and slowly fell asleep.
Only the tightly furrowed brows betrayed the unrest within.
Then "Admonition" followed behind Enel, drifting toward Sakazuki.
Enel's face was a bit heavy as he walked over and handed Sakazuki a Den Den Mushi:
"Uncle."
The Den Den Mushi had been clutched tightly in the child's hand.
Even when on the verge of death, he hadn't let go... maybe because it was something his mother left behind.
Sakazuki took it.
He nodded without saying a word.
After a brief pause, he still chose to dial out.
...
On the other end, Zephyr was using Geppo, his figure flickering through the air as he headed toward Tanley Island.
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi rang.
Zephyr answered instantly, his voice panicked and full of sonic booms:
"Delia, how is it? I'm almost there!"
From the other end came Sakazuki's low voice:
"Admiral Zephyr, it's me, Sakazuki. The child is safe..."
Zephyr was initially relieved.
Then suddenly, realization struck like a bolt of lightning on a clear day.
His expression went blank as he plummeted from the sky.
SPLASH!
He crashed into the sea with a loud splash, the freezing seawater jolting his mind back to clarity.
He stomped off the water with Geppo, launching himself back into the air.
Continuing to rush toward Tanley Island.
Zephyr's voice was hoarse as he spoke with difficulty:
"I understand, Sakazuki."
"Thank you. I'll be there soon."
Sakazuki's somber voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi:
"Received."
After hanging up, Zephyr, still stepping through the air with Geppo, sped toward Tanley Island.
Water droplets trickled down his face.
Whether it was seawater from earlier or tears...
"Delia..."
...
Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki looked at Enel.
They hadn't seen each other in over half a year, and the boy had grown again.
Nearly 1.6 meters tall, he looked striking in his Marine uniform.
Sakazuki motioned for Enel to leave "Admonition" where it was.
Then he walked toward the merchant ship.
He asked Enel beside him:
"What have you been learning lately?"
Enel replied:
"During the day, I mostly study navigation and science. At night, I train in martial arts with Grandpa."
Sakazuki nodded in approval:
"Good. Study science seriously."
"Once your foundation is solid, I'll arrange for you to study with the science division."
"You could even improve Admonition."
"For example, integrate the thundercloud launcher into your golden staff."
"That way, you can control thunderclouds directly."
Enel's eyes lit up. That was possible?
It seemed really feasible—after all, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit didn't have the power to generate thunderclouds on its own.
"Admonition" had been specifically designed for that purpose.
The infinite electricity of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit powered "Admonition."
Once activated, the thundercloud launchers inside would generate countless thunderclouds that blanketed the sky.
This enabled Enel to control them, forming a "Thunder Welcome" that could annihilate an entire island with a single strike.
Enel's eyes gleamed brighter and brighter.
He could already imagine the scene: with a wave of his hand, thunderclouds filled the sky, lightning roared—such awe-inspiring might! He was a bit lost in the fantasy.
Whap!
A flick to the forehead snapped Enel out of it. Sakazuki's voice came calmly:
"Stop daydreaming. Focus on mastering the basics first."
Enel rubbed his forehead, a bit disgruntled:
"Hmph."
Not long after, Sakazuki stopped walking—they had arrived.
Activating his power, magma flowed from his body, rushing to the side of the merchant ship and forming two massive magma hands coated in Armament Haki.
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
With the roar of crashing waves, the magma hands lifted the entire merchant ship and placed it on shore.
Only then did Sakazuki let Enel bring "Admonition" over to wait for Admiral Zephyr's arrival.
...
Several minutes later.
Zephyr could faintly see the outline of Tanley Island.
Despite his bloodied, muscle-torn legs, he pushed even harder, accelerating through the air.
From above, he saw the figure standing on the merchant ship's deck and dove down.
He landed on the deck with a stumble and collapsed instantly.
Using Geppo, he had crossed multiple islands' distance.
Zephyr's legs were torn and bleeding, completely numb.
Only his unwavering will had kept him moving.
Now, seeing his wife's corpse, he couldn't hold it in any longer. He struggled to crawl forward.
Holding his wife's body, he mourned in silence.
It was as if he'd lost the ability to speak, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Delia..."
Her name echoed in his heart as endless guilt consumed him.
Sakazuki and Enel, standing beside the ship, could do nothing to console him.
When Admiral Zephyr finally regained some sense, they handed over the child sleeping on "Admonition."
Receiving his sleeping son, a glimmer of light returned to Zephyr's eyes.
Seeing his son's tightly furrowed brow, his heart twisted in pain.
The quiet atmosphere seemed frozen, all they could do was wait silently...
...
North Blue, Windflower Island, Marine Branch 194.
Base Commander Jorrison was leisurely reading the newspaper in his office.
Years had passed, and his temples had begun to gray.
Knock knock knock!
"Report!"
The knocking came, and Jorrison picked up his teacup with one hand, newspaper in the other:
"Enter!"
A young Marine clerk stepped inside.
He was leading a young man who looked oddly mature and a bit sleazy:
"Commander, this young man wants to join the Marines. He's a Logia-type—user of the Glint-Glint Fruit."
"What?!"
Jorrison slammed the newspaper and teacup on the table, staring at the oddly sleazy-looking young man.
At that moment, Borsalino opened his mouth with his peculiar, slow, sing-song tone:
"Hello there~ officer~"
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +100 chapters on Patreon tambeerg