The air was heavy.
The Straw Hat Pirates were still where they had fallen—some sitting up with difficulty, some still struggling to catch their breath.
That crushing defeat had left a deep shadow in everyone's heart.
Then—
Footsteps echoed.
Step.
Step.
Clear.
Steady.
Everyone raised their heads instinctively.
That figure had returned.
Raifeng walked back slowly, expression calm, as if the battle from earlier had never happened.
"You're back…" Usopp's voice trembled.
Raifeng stopped a short distance away. His gaze swept over them.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Relax. I'm not here to kill you."
The tension loosened slightly.
But no one truly relaxed.
Nami tightened her grip on her staff, eyes full of vigilance.
"…Then what do you want?"
"Just to say something," Raifeng replied.
Luffy lifted his head.
"…Say what?"
Raifeng looked at him.
"You. You're the captain, right?"
Luffy nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
Raifeng stared at him for a moment, then spoke plainly.
"You lost today."
Luffy didn't argue.
"…Yeah."
Raifeng continued.
"You lost badly."
Luffy clenched his fists.
"…I know."
Raifeng nodded once.
"Good. At least you're honest."
He took a step forward.
"The reason you lost…"
"…is simple."
Everyone listened without speaking.
Raifeng's voice stayed calm.
"You were weak."
No mockery.
No pride.
Just a fact.
Usopp swallowed hard.
Nami's fingers tightened.
Chopper lowered his head.
Luffy didn't look away.
Raifeng continued.
"But weakness isn't a sin. That's something you can change."
Zoro's eyes flickered.
Raifeng's gaze shifted to him.
"Especially you."
Zoro frowned.
"…Me?"
Raifeng nodded.
"You're walking the path of the sword… but you haven't truly understood it yet."
Zoro's jaw tightened—but he didn't snap back.
Raifeng didn't press the point.
Instead, he straightened slightly.
"There's one more thing."
Everyone looked at him.
Raifeng's faint smile returned.
"It's about who I am."
Luffy narrowed his eyes.
"…Who you are?"
Raifeng nodded.
"Yes."
He raised his head. His tone was firm, clear, and deliberate.
"My full name is—Monkey D. Raifeng."
Silence.
Dead silence.
For a moment, no one even reacted.
Then—
"What?!" Usopp shouted.
Nami's eyes widened violently.
"…Monkey… D.?"
Sanji froze.
"…That Monkey D.?"
Robin's pupils shrank. The calm in her face cracked for the first time.
"…You're serious?"
Luffy stared.
"…Monkey D…?"
Raifeng nodded.
"Yes."
He looked directly at Luffy.
"You and I…"
"…share the same name."
The air froze.
Luffy's mouth opened slowly.
"…Then you're—"
Raifeng smiled faintly.
"My father is Monkey D. Dragon."
Boom!
The words hit like thunder.
Everyone's minds went blank.
"D-Dragon?!" Usopp screamed. "…The Revolutionary Army's leader?!"
Nami felt her legs go weak.
"…That Dragon?"
Sanji stared as if reality had stopped making sense.
"…This is insane…"
Robin inhaled slowly.
"…So that's why…"
Understanding flickered through her eyes.
Luffy's face stiffened.
"…Dragon…"
"…is your dad?"
Raifeng nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Luffy scratched his head, still processing.
"…Then…"
"…Does that mean…"
"…You're related to me?"
Raifeng let out a quiet laugh.
"You could say that."
Luffy blinked.
Then grinned.
"…That's awesome."
Everyone almost collapsed.
"That's what you focus on?!" Nami yelled.
Raifeng's expression stayed composed.
"The world is big," he said. "And small."
He looked at Luffy again.
"You'll meet people stronger than you."
"Much stronger."
Then he turned slightly, gaze drifting toward the sea.
"And blood…"
"…will pull you forward whether you like it or not."
Luffy clenched his fists. Fire returned to his eyes.
"…Then I'll beat you next time."
Raifeng chuckled.
"I'm looking forward to it."
He took a step back.
"This encounter ends here."
He turned to leave—then paused.
Without looking back:
"Get stronger. Otherwise, you won't even be qualified to stand in front of me again."
His figure blurred—
And vanished.
Silence returned.
The Straw Hat Pirates remained seated, stunned.
"…Monkey D…" Usopp muttered. "…There are way too many monsters with that name."
Nami exhaled slowly.
"…No wonder…"
Zoro clenched his fists.
"…So that's the kind of opponent we're facing…"
Robin smiled faintly.
"…Fate is cruel."
Luffy put his straw hat back on and grinned wide.
"…Awesome."
"…I've got another rival now."
The sea breeze swept past.
And far away—
A new storm was quietly gathering.
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