Rune's pupils contracted sharply, becoming like needlepoints; his gaze was hollow yet focused, as if he could pierce through everything.
Combined with Observation Haki, even Zephyr, who had just vanished into thin air, was instantly captured by him.
Nerve Release not only significantly enhanced Rune's reactions but also, combined with Observation Haki, allowed those lightning-fast enemies to have nowhere to hide.
When Zephyr saw Rune's body in a strange state of "absolute stillness," he was shocked to find that those eyes could actually follow his current ultra-high-speed movement.
It wasn't an illusion; his motives had been precisely captured.
Zephyr threw a punch with all his might, aiming at Rune's head, and shouted:
"You... monster, Rune!"
Boom! A punch powerful enough to destroy a warship brushed past Rune's neck, avoided with millimeter precision.
No matter how many times they clashed.
Whether it was fifteen years ago or today, fifteen years later, every time Zephyr fought Rune, he felt a gap.
An insurmountable gap in talent and innate physical constitution.
He was a one-in-a-million genius in the Marine, the instructor and teacher worshipped by students, and the invincible "Black Arm" Zephyr in the eyes of soldiers.
But at this moment, the name of genius was once again reduced to... Bang—! Rune, having dodged Zephyr's punch, instantly threw a punch at his abdomen.
That overbearing power caused Zephyr to spit out white foam on the spot.
Zephyr's body stiffened. Before he could react or recover, Rune's fist struck his chin, sending him flying into mid-air with a single blow.
"Don't be lost, Zephyr!" Rune leaped into the air, appearing behind Zephyr and synchronizing with his rising speed. His right leg channeled Haki to build up power: "Have a good sleep!
Overlord Kick—!"
The pain spreading through his body only allowed Zephyr to open one eye, watching Rune, who never showed a serious expression, launch a technique at him.
Boom—! Rune swung a kick, precisely hitting Zephyr's body.
His figure streaked across the sea and sky like a cannonball, smashing into the center of the warship and piercing straight through the keel.
Time froze for a moment.
The steel beast let out a piercing groan, arching and tearing from the point of impact.
Zephyr's figure pierced through layers of armor, plowing a path of destruction inside the hull.
A white ring of air exploded, and the massive warship was split in half along a straight crack.
"Teacher Zephyr—!" At this moment, Sakazuki finally felt a hint of fear toward Rune. He hurriedly grabbed a mast to survive in the wreckage.
Seawater roared as it poured into the warship.
Rune retracted his leg and landed on the top of a sinking mast of Zephyr's warship, looking down at the struggling young Sakazuki.
The conflict between Garp and Roger also stopped at this instant.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the sea where he stood, watching as a massive warship was torn apart by the ocean.
Amidst shocked gazes, Roger cheered at Rune with his sword in hand: "Well done, Rune!"
Hearing Roger's cheer, Rune finally regained his composure and turned his gaze toward the Roger Pirates.
He knew this blow wasn't enough to kill Zephyr, but it would keep him bedridden for a few months.
Rune leaped from the mast toward the oro jackson, deactivating the released power in his body. His mood was somewhat complicated: "It's not good at all; we didn't plunder any supplies."
Seeing Rune's expression so serious for the first time, Roger didn't ask much: "Let's talk privately after this, Rune."
"I won't let you escape!" On Garp's ship, a swordsman who was clashing with Rayleigh came to his senses and launched a sword technique at Rayleigh in a drawing stance.
But in the blink of an eye, he was struck down onto the deck by Rayleigh's blade and lay motionless.
That man's name was Bogard.
"Let's retreat, Captain. We can't afford to compare losses with the Marine if we keep fighting like this." Tactical Advisor Moon Isaac suggested to Roger: "After all, we only have one ship, and they have endless reinforcements behind them."
Roger locked eyes with Garp on the warship: "Alright, boys! Retreat!"
The oro jackson began to evacuate the area. Some Marines were unwilling to give up and had a standoff with the Roger Pirates across the sea, firing shots.
Garp didn't order a pursuit but chose to rescue Zephyr, who had fallen into the sea, and the soldiers on that ship.
Most of them were talented apprentice recruits and students from the Marine Academy—the future of the Marine.
People are much more important than warships... The next day, in the New World.
On the deck of the oro jackson, led by Rayleigh and Jabba, everyone was fishing along the sides of the ship to prepare food.
"What are Rune and Roger doing in the Captain's quarters?"
"I don't know, probably discussing something."
Jabba and Rayleigh looked toward the Captain's quarters. Since returning yesterday, everyone had noticed that Rune was acting a bit unusual.
"Although all the food was taken, they left the fresh water and wine."
"They at least have some conscience; otherwise, we'd be in trouble."
Inside the Captain's quarters.
Roger and Rune sat on the floor, each holding a wine bottle, their faces flushed from drinking.
Before this, the two had just been clinking glasses until they slowly reached a state of pleasant intoxication. Only then did Roger speak:
"What happened yesterday? It's rare to see you with that kind of expression, Rune."
A slightly tipsy Rune swirled his wine bottle, his unfocused gaze fixed on the bottle which was still more than half full: "Will we get old one day, Roger?"
"Hmm?" Roger found the question strange and laughed loudly: "Of course! Are you an idiot? Everyone gets old! That's just how the world works."
"Does that mean we will also part ways?" Rune asked immediately, his tone calm and devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
In the future, Roger would contract an incurable disease and start the Great Pirate Era with his death.
Roger's life would forever stop at the age of 53. Right now he was 37 and Rune was 36, meaning it would happen in 16 years.
He had long since integrated into this world. Decades—decades of friendship. His relationship with Roger was closer than that of biological brothers.
These were all inevitable. Rune knew this very well in his heart, yet for some reason, he found it hard to accept the reality now.
This question stumped Roger, and he stopped laughing.
"Everyone has their own time to appear and their curtain call. We... are no exception, only our lives are much more exciting than ordinary people's." Roger answered Rune seriously: "Instead of wasting time thinking about these useless things, why not think about how to be happy in the moment!
Life, Rune! It's not about the length!"
Roger became more excited as he spoke, standing up with a laugh and opening his arms:
"Life should be joyful! Don't think about heavy things! Like, oh—! Linlin! She wants to have children with you—don't you want to give it a try?"
The suddenly solemn atmosphere was instantly swept away by Roger.
Rune thought of the old story of Charlotte Linlin chasing him, wanting to force him to have children.
The topic was forced away by Roger, and Rune stopped mentioning it, instead rubbing his chin and speculating: "Linlin treats having kids like a game; I can't stand that."
"You're just stubborn." Roger held his wine in one hand and started patting Rune's shoulder: "Think about it, Linlin is so beautiful, you wouldn't be losing anything, so why be like this?"
Rune was displeased to hear this. He put down his wine bottle and began gesturing with his hands: "Look, can my small frame handle her ravaging? Why don't you go then!"
"Hahaha!" Roger laughed so hard he clutched his stomach, tears streaming down: "I can't handle her ravaging either!"
"Then you're telling me to go?! Sigh... she's a flower, I'll just look from afar. You want me to pluck her?" Rune said: "Not plucking, I'm definitely not plucking."
Knock, knock, knock. There was a knock on the door of the Captain's quarters.
"It's me, Captain Roger, Vice-Captain Lu En!" Isaac's voice sounded from outside the door.
They immediately dropped the "Linlin" topic.
"Come in," Rune responded.
Isaac pushed open the cabin door and walked in, immediately smelling the alcoholic air in the room.
"Are you drinking so much to discuss something?" Isaac greeted them: "Roger, I suggest going to Walwick Town for supplies. That's Marlon's territory; we can make a fortune off him."
"Marlon is an executive of the Rocks Pirates; we'll clash with Gibeck if we do that." Rune analyzed rationally.
Although they could deal with the Marine, the Rocks Pirates were completely incomparable.
"But besides some allied nations, there are no other supply points nearby," Isaac explained to Rune.
The iron rule of the Roger Pirates: no plundering civilian resources, no harming civilians.
Therefore, they could only rob fellow pirates or criminals for supplies.
"How about..." Roger looked at Rune: "We go look for trouble with them? It's been a long time since we last met."
"If you're unwilling, there's another place we can rob," Isaac proposed a second plan seeing the two Captains thinking.
"Where?" Rune asked curiously.
"International Charity Monastery! Those guys use the name of charity to amass wealth all over the world through illicit means." Isaac told them: "Every year, to seek protection, they also pay the Heavenly Tribute to the World Government. They should be preparing it recently."
Roger rejected the second plan immediately upon hearing it: "No, we're planning to head to the Final Island soon; we can't attract the government's attention."
"Then let's go to Walwick; there's no other choice!" Isaac decided on his own: "Otherwise, we'll have to plunder towns and kingdoms."
As the Tactical Advisor, he came to seek the opinions of the Captain and Rune.
In reality, he had the authority to make decisions on his own.
"Fine, but you guys have to help me hold back Linlin when the time comes!" Rune covered his face and said to Isaac.
Isaac grinned: "first mate, you really don't know how lucky you are. But... it's settled. Just don't expect us to be able to stop her; Linlin is a monster!"
"Then what's the point! Get out!" Rune kicked him out, already feeling worried.
"You're still so afraid of Linlin." Roger smirked at Rune: "Didn't you used to be happy being chased by a beauty? What's wrong now?"
"Linlin is different! I wish it were a beauty like Shakky chasing me, but Linlin... she's different!"
"Shut up!" Roger interrupted Rune and raised his voice: "Banquet time!!"
"Did you forget we don't have any food?"
"The fish we caught and the wine will do just fine! Barna, Barna! Play the music!!"