Back on the ship, Rouge began organizing the things they'd bought while Ritter sat nearby, curiously fiddling with a rattle.
"Sis, what's this thing for?"
Rouge chuckled. "Once the baby's born, it'll keep him entertained."
Ritter nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly became serious. "Don't worry, Sis. When the kid grows up, I'll teach him the strongest sword techniques!"
Rouge raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Ritter clenched his fist, fired up. "First ten thousand sword swings a day! Then, I'll take him with me to challenge powerful fighters across the seas, pushing his limits at the edge of life and death! That's how I trained. Shanks and Buggy you've heard of them, right? I trained the same way. Trust me, it works."
In a way, this was Ritter's own form of gratitude to Roger.
He had picked up nearly all of Roger's sword techniques. It's just that his own fighting style was different he didn't enjoy using the sword often, but that didn't mean he didn't know how.
Rouge: "…"
Without a word, she picked up a baby bottle and shoved it into Ritter's hand. "Learn how to make formula first."
Ritter: "???"
Ritter brought Rouge back to Water 7, where they spent a peaceful stretch of time.
Then came the headline:
"Shocking! Pirate King Roger Captured by the Marines! Execution to Be Held in Loguetown One Month from Now! The Justice of the Marines Is Absolute!"
Drifting in a small boat near Marineford, Ritter sat silently, newspaper in hand.
He knew the Marines wouldn't let this chance slip by they would use it to bolster their reputation. Ever since the news broke about Roger's capture, Ritter had been lurking around Marineford.
Why?
He was waiting for Shiki.
The Marines wanted to elevate their prestige by stepping on the Pirate King's name. But how could that be allowed?
If Ritter let them flaunt their strength by parading his captain's downfall, he might as well call himself a Ninja Turtle.
Even with strength on par with an Emperor, Ritter couldn't take down all of Marineford alone. If the Navy Headquarters could be toppled by a single person, they might as well shut down.
He needed Shiki to help divert some of the top forces.
And Ritter was certain Shiki would come. He believed in the pride of his old rival.
Sure enough, he wasn't disappointed.
Shiki, the Golden Lion, had arrived.
Floating a massive island above the sea like a storm cloud rolling in, Shiki descended upon Marineford, setting off a wave of alarms. The tension in the air was suffocating. Kong and Garp exchanged a look and launched into action.
Shiki roared toward Marineford, "There's no way you caught Roger with strength alone! He was my chosen rival!"
"This isn't your playground, Shiki!" Kong bellowed in response.
Garp rolled his fists, expression cold. "Since you're here… you're not leaving."
Just as the battle was about to erupt
On a rooftop near Marineford, Ritter stood tall, his massive greatsword Black Tide resting against his shoulder. His cold gaze swept across the battlefield.
He hadn't bothered hiding. Shiki spotted him immediately.
"Hahaha! I knew it you couldn't swallow this insult, could you?" Shiki laughed. "Come on, let's cause some real trouble!"
Ritter raised his sword. "You just hold off those three for as long as you can. Don't die too fast. Leave the rest to me."
He pointed the Black Tide down toward Sengoku and the younger Admirals.
Looking down on them with full authority, he smirked. "Hey, you three—"
"Wanna play with me?"
This was probably Ritter's first real encounter with Borsalino and Sakazuki.
Sakazuki scowled. "Brat. Don't get in our way."
Borsalino tilted his head lazily. "Oooh~ so scary. A youngster challenging three admiral candidates?"
Kuzan, on the other hand, looked deadly serious. He knew how terrifying Ritter was. "Step aside. We don't have time for your games."
Ritter scoffed. "Brat? I'm older than all of you put together."
Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared before Sakazuki
"Mistblade Style: Demon Slash!"
The blade sliced through the air like mist swift and lethal! Sakazuki's eyes widened. He turned to magma just in time, but the strike still grazed his shoulder, sending molten blood splattering into the air.
"Fast but…" Sakazuki's gaze turned cold. His right fist flared into molten heat. "Great Eruption!"
Ritter: ??? Why the hell are you people opening with your ultimates?
A massive magma fist came crashing down but Ritter had already foreseen it. He dodged with the aid of Observation Haki and countered with a reverse swing
"Mistblade Style: Phantom Raid!"
His blade, wreathed in black Haki, slashed toward Sakazuki's throat!
Clang! An ice wall rose just in time. Kuzan had blocked it but Ritter's strike shattered it the next moment.
Borsalino's fingertips began to glow. "Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless golden projectiles rained from above, but Ritter grinned and moved like a wraith through the barrage untouched.
It was time to get serious.
"Hey, Ritter did you forget your old rival's still here?" Kuzan narrowed his eyes.
The mist began to freeze. Ritter clicked his tongue. With the Ice-Ice Fruit, Kuzan was much harder to deal with now but still no match for the strength gap between them.
Bit of a type advantage, huh?
Ritter shook his blade, excitement rising. "Is that all you've got, Admiral Candidates? Come at me again!"
Sakazuki growled, furious. "Arrogant punk!"
Kuzan brought his hands together. "Ice Age!"
The entire battlefield froze but Ritter was already airborne, bursting forth with Conqueror's Haki.
His sword flared with black lightning.
Mistblade Style: Oblivion
At the moment of contact, his body vanished into mist and reappeared behind Kuzan.
Conqueror's Haki surged along his blade like thunder. With a single swing, he split the frozen sea.
Borsalino's expression finally turned grim. He'd heard Kuzan mention how strong Ritter was, but seeing it firsthand was different.
"Looks like we'll have to get serious."
He flashed behind Ritter with blinding speed and kicked
"Light-Speed Kick!"
But Ritter was ready. He blocked with the Black Tide
Clang!
Then, with his body fading into mist, he reappeared behind Borsalino.
"Mistblade Style: Mist Veil Slash."
"You thought I was just gonna hit him and leave you alone, huh?"
The blade fell, but Ritter could feel it his strike didn't connect cleanly.
"Tch. That speed is annoying..." he muttered, his grin widening. "But that just makes this more fun!"
The three exchanged glances. It was time to go all-out.
Sakazuki: "We crush him completely. Evil must be eradicated!"
Borsalino: "Sigh… what a pain~"
Ritter laughed heartily. "Come on then! Show me what the so-called 'Marine Prodigies' are really made of!"
The forums always said no Emperor could withstand all three Admirals at once. But these were the Admirals in their prime.
Ritter spat on the ground. "I could take on six."
First, he needed to clear the field.
A wave of crimson Conqueror's Haki exploded from Ritter, sweeping through Marineford. Marines who weren't strong enough collapsed by the dozens.
At the command center, Kong, Sengoku, and Garp unleashed their own Haki to counter Ritter's overwhelming presence. (It's reasonable to assume they all have Conqueror's Haki, even if the manga didn't show it think of how Luffy and Bullet clashed.)
Shiki laughed from above. "Not bad, kid. That presence is rare, even in the New World. But how about this?"
Another blast of black-and-red Conqueror's Haki surged down from the sky, hammering Marineford again.
One unlucky marine raised a middle finger before collapsing. "Damn it… I already passed out, now you're hitting me again?!"
Everyone knew:
This battle… was only just beginning.
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