Chapter 82: Zephyr's Rage, An Open Showdown!
New World — A hidden island (Formerly a training ground for Marine interns and a supply base for Zephyr's guerrilla unit)
The atmosphere on the island was suffocating.
Ever since news of Marineford's destruction reached them, every single Marine Headquarters supply ship and warship had quietly slipped away — without a single report to the island's commander.
That alone was strange.
But doing it without informing former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr, the highest authority here?
That smelled like betrayal.
BAM!
An explosion of rage.
The entire desk shattered under Zephyr's mechanical fist.
Veins bulged on his weathered forehead.
"Damn you, Sengoku!"
"So that's why you recalled all the Headquarters ships early — you were guarding against me?!"
Zephyr looked ancient, broken.
Anger… and deep hurt.
He had been ashamed when he learned his favorite student, Rok, had joined pirates and nearly destroyed Marineford.
He had even considered hunting Rok down himself.
So when the ships left without notice, he let it slide.
Headquarters had moved to G-1. New Fleet Admiral incoming. They needed manpower.
But today?
He received the bombshell:
The World Government and Marines were recruiting new Shichibukai.
And one of the candidates?
The very pirate who massacred his students and cut off his arm years ago.
Now it all made sense.
They pulled the ships to stop him from rebelling.
Decades of service.
Lost family.
Lost students.
Lost his arm.
All for "justice."
And in return?
Betrayal.
The same government that preached justice was giving that murderer legal piracy rights.
Zephyr covered his face with trembling hands.
Tears fell from the old lion.
Then he stood.
Old. Bent.
But burning.
"If the Marines won't end the pirates…"
"Then this old man will do it himself."
"Teacher, please calm down!"
Rear Admiral Ain rushed in, eyes red.
She had survived that massacre too.
The Government had gone too far.
Everything Rok said was true.
The Marines were just tools.
The World Government — a rotting machine feeding the Celestial Dragons.
"Teacher, this is a letter from Rok. He sent it days ago… and told me to give it to you when you lost control."
Ain handed over the sealed letter, stunned.
She had thought Rok was being dramatic.
An old legend like Zephyr losing it?
Impossible.
Yet here they were.
Could one letter stop a raging lion?
Zephyr read.
His brows furrowed.
Then…
He threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha! That damn brat's ambition is bigger than the sky!"
"Fine. This old man will lend him a hand!"
Ain took the letter.
Read two lines.
And froze.
Rok wasn't just rebelling.
He was going to remake the world.
"Teacher… this—"
"Ain, the Headquarters will know soon. We're not hiding anymore."
"Contact Binz, Shuzo, and every student secretly. Tell them Zephyr and Rok are starting something new. See who stands with us."
"But sir, Headquarters will find out immediately—"
"Let them."
"From this moment on, our fight is out in the open."
"I just hope that brat Rok doesn't disappoint us."
Grand Line — Amazon Lily
The wind blew gently across the beautiful island of women.
But peace was gone.
Ever since Boa Hancock returned from Marineford, the entire kingdom had been on war footing.
No one knew when the Marines would invade.
Granny Nyon had cursed Rok's name daily.
If not for him, they'd never be in this mess.
At the highest balcony of the palace,
the world's most beautiful woman gazed at the calm sea.
"Rok… when are you coming back to me…? I miss you so much…"
Her eyes shimmered with longing.
Days without her fiancé were torture.
"Snake Princess! Two strangers request entry!"
"ROK?!"
Hancock nearly leapt off the balcony.
"Eeeeh?! Lady Hancock, calm down! It's… two very beautiful women!"
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