Ezra D. Vale listened in silence as his subordinate finished reporting. His brow furrowed tightly.
"Big Mom again? That woman's really asking for death."
Repeated provocations from Big Mom's pirates had worn away the last shred of Ezra's patience. Without another word, he vanished from his office in a blur of motion, reappearing outside the walls of Loguetown.
His cold eyes fixed on the horizon where a massive pirate ship loomed just beyond the harbor.
On deck, Daifuku stood arrogantly at the bow, his voice booming across the sea. "Ezra D. Vale! Get out here right now!"
Before the echo of his shout faded, a flash of violet lightning ripped down from the sky, slamming into Daifuku's chest.
"AAAHHH!"
A scream tore through the air as black smoke rose from his body. Yet, with his monstrous physique, he somehow remained standing.
"Who the hell did that?!" Daifuku bellowed furiously. "Coward! Come out and face me!"
A sharp sound split the air.
Swish!
In an instant, Ezra appeared before him, wearing a black pinstriped suit, one hand in his pocket, eyes calm and sharp as blades.
"You said someone wasn't fighting fair?" His tone was low, detached, almost mocking.
"You brat!" Daifuku snarled, his teeth grinding. "You've got no sense of honor!"
He was just about to charge forward and "teach this punk a lesson" when a hand stopped him.
"Daifuku, calm down," said a deep voice. Katakuri stepped up beside him, his expression stern. "That man is Ezra D. Vale."
"What?!"
Daifuku froze for half a second, then his fury exploded. "You're the one who killed Oven!"
Ezra raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging.
So that's what this was about the triplets had come for revenge.
"If you mean that hot-headed idiot who couldn't control his temper," Ezra replied flatly, "then yeah, I killed him."
That simple, indifferent tone was the final straw.
"You bastard!" Daifuku roared. He tore off his cloak, then began rubbing his arms and torso vigorously.
Ezra blinked. "What the hell are you doing?"
Was this guy warming up for a fight or taking a shower?
Even someone as composed as Ezra couldn't help but look baffled.
Moments later, Daifuku finished his bizarre ritual and shouted, "Come forth, Genie!"
Whoosh!
A swirl of blue smoke erupted from his body, forming into a hulking blue-skinned giant with long pink hair and a massive curved blade in his hands.
Ezra's lips twitched. What kind of color scheme is this? Pink-haired muscle giant? Who designed this an artist on sugar rush?
But Daifuku didn't care. "Demon Slash!" he roared.
The genie let out a thunderous snarl and shot forward, its enormous blade descending toward Ezra's head like a falling guillotine.
"Die!" Daifuku shouted gleefully.
Clang!
The strike stopped cold against Ezra's raised index finger.
Daifuku froze, disbelief plastered across his face. "What?! Impossible!"
Even the genie looked confused, its glowing eyes flickering with doubt.
"Demon Hunt!" Daifuku barked.
The genie attacked again once, twice, three times but no matter how fast or how fierce its swings became, every strike was casually stopped by that same raised finger.
From the sidelines, Katakuri stood watching, his gaze steady. He didn't want to interfere not in a duel that wasn't his. But even he could see how one-sided this was.
"Daifuku, stop," he said evenly. "You're not his match."
Daifuku gritted his teeth. He wanted to argue, but deep down, he knew Katakuri was right. With a frustrated growl, he dismissed his genie, the blue smoke curling back into his body.
Katakuri then stepped forward, his tone sharp and heavy with restrained anger.
"Ezra D. Vale," he said quietly, "I'll be your opponent."
Ezra's gaze softened slightly. He knew Katakuri's kind a man of honor hidden behind a cold exterior. Someone who respected fairness, even in battle.
In the original tales, Katakuri had wounded himself just to make his fight with Luffy fair. For an opponent like that, Ezra could only respond with respect.
Katakuri pointed toward a barren island off the coast of Loguetown. "We'll settle this there."
Ezra nodded. "Fine."
Without another word, Katakuri turned and led his men back toward their ship.
Ezra returned briefly to Loguetown, giving Hina a simple order. "Keep the town stable. I'll handle the rest."
Then he stepped into the air again, vanishing in a burst of Soru toward the distant island.
Back in Loguetown, the rumors spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear that?! Vice Admiral Ezra D. Vale is going to duel Katakuri from Big Mom's crew!"
"No way! That's the same guy who fought Whitebeard to a standstill!"
"Damn, this is gonna be huge! Get the ships ready!"
Within minutes, countless pirate crews were setting sail, racing toward the nearby island to witness the clash.
But none dared to actually set foot on shore.
Anyone who knew what Ezra was capable of anyone who remembered his battle with Whitebeard knew better.
His power was enough to reshape islands.
No fool would rush into the eye of that storm.
So the pirates watched from afar as thunder began to roll over the island, lightning flashing across the sky, the sea trembling beneath the weight of two monstrous powers about to collide.
A duel born of vengeance and honor was about to begin Ezra D. Vale versus Charlotte Katakuri.
And all of Loguetown would bear witness to the storm that would shake the seas once more.
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