"Flower Sword" Vista leapt into the air, his twin rapiers flashing as he slashed in a graceful arc. Crimson sword energy bloomed, forming a massive rose in the sky as countless petals scattered and drifted downward toward Admiral Cero.
"Rose Assault!"
The sky filled with red petals, dancing like a field of blossoms in full bloom.
Yet beneath that beauty lay lethal intent.
Each petal carried razor-sharp sword energy. Anyone who touched one would be torn apart instantly, reduced to a mangled corpse.
Cero watched calmly and gave a slight nod.
"As expected of one of the Whitebeard Pirates' top fighters. Your swordsmanship is elegant, but…"
A faint, mocking smile curved his lips.
"It is far too weak."
His eyes sharpened.
"Do you even understand who you are facing? Using such shallow attacks… are you mocking me, pirate?"
With a casual motion, his figure flickered. He caught one drifting petal between his fingers and crushed it effortlessly.
"This level of power… I can produce endlessly."
Zzz, zzz, zzz!
Lightning crackled around his body as silver-white arcs condensed into lotus-shaped constructs, each one as pure and sharp as crystal. They drifted downward, meeting the incoming storm of petals.
Rumble…
Lightning and sword energy collided across the sky, crossing and tearing into each other in a chaotic storm.
"So powerful…"
Vista landed back on the deck, gripping his swords tightly as he stared at the lightning lotuses above.
He could only shape his slashes into petals.
Yet his opponent could compress lightning into intricate forms with even greater precision.
The gap between them was obvious.
"As expected of a Marine Admiral. Your mastery over your Devil Fruit rivals that of former Admiral Aokiji."
His gaze hardened.
"But do not think that is enough to defeat me."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as his swords crossed.
"Rose, Wild Dance Slash!"
Brilliant sword light erupted once more.
Petals surged again, forming layers of violent, swirling storms that swept toward Cero like raging tides.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Wave after wave of cutting petals tore through the sky, aimed at the figure standing within the thunderclouds like a god of lightning.
Cero watched with faint amusement.
"Oh? That is better. Barely acceptable."
His hands transformed into pure lightning. With a motion as if shaping clay, he molded the energy into a massive dragon formed entirely of crackling thunder.
"Thunder Nine Heavens, Dragon Descent!"
A deafening roar split the sky.
The lightning dragon surged forward, tearing through the storm of petals. Its claws ripped apart layer after layer of sword energy, its maw devouring the attacks that would have annihilated others.
With unstoppable force, it broke through everything and descended toward the pirate ship.
"Damn it! Everyone, get inside the cabin!"
Vista's pupils shrank as he stepped forward, raising his blades.
"You will not harm my comrades!"
His swords struck out in unison.
"Rose, Twin Splendor!"
Twin arcs of sword energy pierced upward like the thorns of a blooming rose, colliding with the descending dragon.
Boom!
Thunder exploded across the heavens.
"…Damn it…"
Vista's attack shattered under the overwhelming force. The lightning dragon swallowed his slashes and engulfed him completely.
"Ahhh!"
His cry echoed as lightning tore through his body.
Moments later, smoke rose from his charred form as he fell back onto the deck, barely conscious.
Thud!
"Captain!"
"Captain Vista!"
The crew rushed forward, surrounding him as they raised their weapons toward the sky in fear.
Cero looked down coldly.
"One man dares challenge me?"
His tone carried open disdain.
"A mere commander of a Yonko crew thinks he can rival a Marine Admiral. Arrogance without measure."
His gaze lingered on Vista's broken form.
"Next time, bring several of your strongest together. As for Whitebeard… defeating an old man is nothing to boast about."
With that, he turned away, ignoring the pirates entirely as he returned to his warship.
…
Far from the battlefield, aboard another ship.
"Faster! Move faster!"
Black, the impostor posing as Shirogai, wiped sweat from his face as he shouted at the helmsman to steer away from the chaos.
He had never expected things to escalate like this.
First, a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Then, a Marine Admiral.
"Damn it… I only wanted to gather followers, and now the Marines are already onto us!"
He clenched his fists, frustration clear on his face.
"What a waste. I was so close to building a force strong enough to rival the Yonko…"
Around him, the rest of the fake Straw Hat crew sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness we got away…"
They had no desire to keep pretending in front of monsters like that.
It was far too dangerous.
"What a shame…"
A calm, amused voice suddenly echoed among them.
"I had high expectations for your crew. To think you would flee so quickly… disappointing."
"Who said that?!"
"Show yourself!"
The impostors spun around in panic, but saw no one.
"Heh… maybe we are just imagining things," Cocoa muttered nervously.
"Pirates truly are unreliable."
In the next instant, a figure appeared before them without warning.
A man in a white suit and black tie, his face hidden behind a blank mask.
"Y-you… where did you come from?!"
Black raised his pistol, hands trembling as he aimed.
"When did you get here? How much did you hear?!"
The masked man chuckled softly.
"Oh? You mean your little act? Pretending to be the Straw Hat… and even impersonating the so-called God King Shirogai?"
"You bastard…"
Black's eyes flashed with killing intent.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He fired repeatedly.
The bullets struck.
The man fell.
Silence.
Black exhaled heavily, lowering his weapon.
"Serves you right… anyone who knows our secret must die…"
"Heh… we agree on that point."
The voice came again.
The "corpse" twisted its head and sat up as if nothing had happened.
"What?!"
Black's eyes widened in horror.
"I hit you! You should be dead!"
The masked man raised his hand with a faint smile.
"Oh, you mean these?"
Clink, clink, clink.
Several bullets fell from between his fingers onto the deck.
He had caught them.
Barehanded.
Cold fear spread through the crew.
"Who… are you…?"
The masked man stepped forward slightly, his presence suffocating.
"From now on, I am in charge."
His voice was calm, yet filled with killing intent.
"I do not like being questioned. Do you understand?"
No one dared respond.
Their bodies trembled under the invisible pressure.
"Good."
His tone returned to indifference.
"Then listen carefully."
"I will design your plan. Your impersonation of Shirogai and the Straw Hat crew will proceed exactly as I dictate."
"Every detail… will be under my control."