A single move, and an entire pirate crew was finished.
Men who could do that weren't just strong—they ruled seas.
The Marines stared at the youth on the Sea King as if watching a ghost. Moments ago, they'd been fighting for their lives; a moment later, the pirates were gone.
Some had been hurled into the ocean by the impact. Others, too slow to flee, were torn apart by the pulling force.
The battle ended in an instant.
Silence washed over the water where fury had raged.
Zephyr stood motionless, studying the harmless-looking young man. His expression barely moved, but his mind was racing.
"A Devil Fruit, then," he murmured. "I underestimated him."
"Hey," Gil called lazily, meeting Zephyr's gaze. "Pirates are dealt with. Can you give us a lift now?"
Only then did the Marines fully snap out of it. They glanced at the bobbing planks and flailing pirates, then back at the young man who'd caused it all with a single gesture.
"Teacher Zephyr… do we let him aboard?"
"What if he turns on us?" another hissed, sweat beading on his temple. "If he gets on our ship and decides to retaliate—"
"If we refuse him, he could sink the warship on a whim," a third said flatly. "He clearly has that kind of power."
Watching them panic, Gil rubbed his forehead. "Guys. Can you stop gawking and make a decision?"
On the quarterdeck, the purple-haired instructor weighed the risks, then nodded once.
"Rok," Zephyr ordered, "lower the rope ladder. Let him aboard."
He turned to the others. "The rest of you—round up the surviving pirates."
"Aye!"
A ladder thumped down the hull. Gil climbed up, stepped onto the deck, and found Zephyr approaching with a firm, professional calm.
"I'm Zephyr of Marine Headquarters," he said, extending a hand. "Thank you for your assistance."
Gil shook it lightly and smiled. "Think nothing of it. Just a flick of the wrist."
Before Zephyr could reply, Gil turned back to the Sea King idling patiently beside the ship. "You can go."
The beast blinked, then slipped beneath the surface and vanished into the depths.
Marines exploded in whispers.
"He… told a Sea King to leave?"
"What did I just witness? Has the world gone mad?"
"We're doomed, we're so doomed…" The jittery Marine from earlier had gone the color of raw liver and edged deeper into the crowd.
Gil faced Zephyr again. The man was younger than the version Gil remembered—maybe early forties. He had both arms, no seastone prosthetic, no sunglasses. Different era.
"Thanks again," Zephyr said. "Without your intervention, it would've taken much longer to bring them in."
He was no slouch—against ordinary pirates, Zephyr needed barely a finger. But in the Calm Belt, light wooden pirate ships were faster than Marine warships; closing the distance was difficult. He'd been forced to bombard from afar, unable to finish it—until Gil intervened.
"For a man with power like yours," Zephyr added, "that technique was… impressive."
"Where are you headed?" he asked at last. "We'll see you delivered safely."
"With the Lion Pirates handled and the prisoners secured, they had time to talk.
Gil stretched. "Anywhere's fine. Just… not the Calm Belt."