"Wow!!! I'm so strong! Hahaha! Everyone suddenly looks so small!"
After transforming into a giant treant for the first time, Usopp felt the blade that had been pressed against his neck earlier. Surprisingly, it neither hurt nor even tickled. The once threatening sword now felt completely insignificant.
He looked down at his much smaller companions with wide, curious eyes, his earlier fear already forgotten.
"Little guy…"
Usopp lowered his massive treant head and stared playfully at the former King Tyrant hanging helplessly in front of him. The cyborg dangled from the thick bark of Usopp's body, his expression filled with disbelief and despair.
"Hmph! Didn't you say you were going to kill me? Go ahead and try it now!"
The long sword that once threatened his life had become smaller than a toothpick compared to Usopp's gigantic form.
The Tyrant swayed helplessly in the air, staring at the towering treant before him with a deeply aggrieved expression.
"If you had this ability, why were you pretending to be weak!!!"
"I... I wasn't pretending!"
Usopp suddenly felt guilty.
The truth was, he had no idea he was this powerful.
Shirogai had never properly trained him in how to use the ability. Back then, Shirogai simply patted him lightly, and the strange power awakened within him. Usopp had always assumed it was just a convenient ability that allowed him to grow many delicious plants.
When he panicked earlier, his body instinctively released all of its strength, forming the most suitable shape for protecting himself.
That was how he ended up becoming this giant treant.
Rumble...
Usopp's enormous body shifted slightly. Thick vines extended from his wooden arms and wrapped tightly around the Tyrant, lifting him into the air like a captured insect.
"I... I'm actually strong!"
Usopp could feel the immense power flowing through his body. For the first time, genuine confidence began to rise inside him.
"With power like this, I can protect the people I care about!"
For some reason, a certain smiling figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
A girl with light hair.
"Kaya... I wonder how you're doing."
Far away from the battlefield, memories lingered in his thoughts.
---
On a distant island.
Inside a heavily sealed laboratory filled with complex instruments, a group of researchers dressed in sterile suits worked with serious expressions.
"All vital signs are normal."
"Then proceed to the next step according to the plan."
The researchers exchanged firm nods before quickly operating the surrounding machines.
Creak!
A massive mechanical device slowly rotated. From within it, a gigantic mechanical arm was revealed.
The weapon was codenamed Crusher.
Every single part of it was forged entirely from Sea Stone.
The terrifying weapon was slowly lowered toward a sturdy man lying inside a reinforced containment chamber. His body was submerged in a nutrient solution while his eyes remained closed.
Despite his powerful physique, the signs of age could clearly be seen on him.
The vitality of youth had long since passed.
Crack.
Crack.
The enormous mechanical arm was carefully attached to the man's right arm through an extremely precise surgical process. The installation connected perfectly to his body, as if the machine had always belonged there.
Gurgle... gurgle...
Inside the nutrient solution, the man's closed eyes trembled slightly.
He could feel a strange, overwhelming power flowing into his body.
Slowly, the sensation of controlling his new right arm returned to him.
"If I possessed such strength back then..."
His voice was barely audible inside the chamber.
"If I had this power during that battle... I could have protected the children I wanted to save..."
Regret.
Anger.
Pain.
Despair.
Countless dark emotions surged through the heart of the old man who had endured so much suffering.
Crack!!!
Armament Haki suddenly erupted from his body uncontrollably, stirring the liquid inside the chamber violently.
Crack!
The protective cover bulged outward under the immense pressure.
Then it shattered.
"Beep! Beep! Beep!!!"
Sharp alarms filled the laboratory.
The researchers panicked instantly.
"The containment cover has broken!"
"Zephyr will be exposed to dangerous radiation and unstable emotional feedback!"
"Stop the fusion immediately!"
"If this continues, the pain will drive him insane!"
They hurriedly turned toward a woman standing nearby.
"Ain, what do you think?"
The researchers looked at her anxiously.
Ain, dressed in a black cloak, clenched her fists nervously.
"Terminate it immediately!"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Everything must prioritize protecting Teacher's life!"
"No. Continue."
A powerful, steady voice suddenly interrupted them.
The researchers froze.
Inside the shattered chamber, the elderly man slowly opened his eyes.
Hatred burned fiercely within them.
"Continue," he growled in a deep voice.
"I can endure it."
His expression twisted with determination.
"What is this pain compared to the suffering pirates have inflicted upon this world?"
"It is nothing!"
The old man clenched his teeth as the power continued merging with his body.
"This world is spiraling out of control. If it is to be changed, it requires overwhelming strength!"
"I need this strength!"
His voice echoed throughout the laboratory.
"It is the only thing that allows me to continue living."
"Even if it costs my life... I will accept it!"
The researchers hesitated briefly.
Then they nodded.
"Yes!"
The fusion process continued.
---
Several hours later.
The violent energy finally stabilized.
Crack!
The shattered containment chamber was suddenly thrown aside.
Boom!
A massive Sea Stone mechanical arm slammed heavily against the ground.
The man who wielded it stepped forward slowly.
Former Marine Admiral.
The Unyielding Admiral.
Black Arm Zephyr.
His powerful figure stood tall as he tested the weight of the gigantic arm attached to his body.
Crack... crack...
The arm was extremely heavy, forcing Zephyr's feet to sink deeply into the stone floor with every step. Solid rock slabs shattered beneath his weight.
Creak!
The three metal claws of the mechanical arm suddenly clenched together, producing a sharp metallic sound.
"Very good."
Zephyr nodded with satisfaction.
He lifted his head and looked toward the second floor of the laboratory where his disciple stood watching him.
"Ain."
His voice was deep and steady.
"I have already adapted to this arm. We can begin according to the plan."
Zephyr's gaze darkened.
"The Marines have chosen to rely on pirates for power."
"They claim justice, yet they tolerate pirates in order to maintain balance."
He clenched his fist tightly.
"That is not justice."
"The newly formed Sky Island force even allows pirates to hold the position of Admiral."
Zephyr's voice filled with anger.
"They are placing the fate of the world into the hands of criminals."
"This world has already rotted to its core."
He looked toward Ain with a fierce expression.
"If pirates continue to exist, true justice can never be achieved."
"Pirates must be eradicated completely."
"No one else can be relied upon."
"We must rely on ourselves."
Ain looked at her teacher with shining eyes.
The man before her had regained the power and determination he once possessed.
She threw a pair of black sunglasses toward him.
"Yes, Teacher!"
"Binz and I have been waiting for this day for a long time!"
Crack!
Zephyr's massive mechanical arm snapped shut with perfect precision, catching the falling sunglasses without causing the slightest damage.
"Then let us begin."
He placed the sunglasses on his face.
His left hand was coated with Armament Haki, making the movement appear even more intimidating.
The moment the glasses settled on his face, Zephyr's expression turned cold.
Pure killing intent flashed through his eyes.
"This world needs true Marines."
He raised his enormous mechanical arm.
"We, the NEO Marines, are the justice that will save this world."
His voice echoed through the laboratory like thunder.
"Pirates... prepare yourselves."
Memories suddenly flashed through his mind.
His beloved wife lying in a pool of blood.
Her body humiliated and destroyed.
Their three year old son lying beside her, torn apart by cruel blades.
Young Marine trainees slaughtered mercilessly by pirates.
Those children should have become the future pillars of justice.
Instead, they died meaningless deaths.
Zephyr's eyes burned with cold fury.
"I will never make that mistake again."
"I will never show mercy to pirates again."
The Unyielding Admiral raised his enormous Sea Stone arm and slammed it against his other hand.
The sound echoed like a cannon blast.
"Pirates must die!!!!!"