The dark city streets were illuminated by moonlight as Roger's pirate crew strolled leisurely toward the harbor.
Roger led the way with Ace slung over his shoulder, his straw hat perched askew on his head. Rayleigh walked beside him, hands in his pockets. Gaban carried both of his axes behind them. Crocus, Sunbell, and the rest of the crew followed behind.
"Those two Logia kids aren't half bad," Gaban commented, tapping the handle of his axe against his shoulder. "Magma and Light. A troublesome combination once they're fully grown."
Rayleigh nodded. "They haven't maximized their potential yet. Their Armament Haki is already good for their age, but it's not consistent. The magma kid is too emotional; his attacks are easy to read. The light one is smarter, but he still hesitates at crucial moments."
"But if they keep developing…" Gaban grinned. "I predict the Navy Admiral's seat will definitely be filled by Sakazuki and Borsalino. Right, Rayleigh?"
Rayleigh chuckled. "It's possible. They have the talent and strength to get there."
Roger walked ahead without comment. His eyes stared straight ahead, but his mind was still replaying the recent battle.
"Especially Quentin Seven," Roger said suddenly.
The entire crew fell silent and listened.
"That man with the red eyes." Roger turned Ace on his shoulder slowly. "I sense his power is immense. But something is holding him back. Like… a door that hasn't fully opened."
Roger paused for a moment, then continued in a more serious tone. "And there's a voice inside him."
Rayleigh turned his head. "A voice?"
"Not just one. Several." Roger furrowed his brow. "Inside that boy's body, there are incredibly powerful beings. I can hear them. One of them laughed when I attacked him. Another snorted. And there's one more that's silent but watching."
Roger's crew exchanged glances. Their captain's ability to hear the voices of everything was no secret, but every time he used it, the result always sent chills down their spines.
"And regarding my attack that passed right through his body," Roger continued, scratching his head with a frustrated expression. "That wasn't a Logia Devil Fruit. If it were a Logia, my Haki-coated attack should have hit his actual body. But this was different. My attack passed right through as if the man wasn't even there."
Roger raised his hand and stared at his own palm. "It was as if his body was somewhere else when I attacked. But I could feel he was still there. He was there, yet not there. I've never seen anything like it."
"Then there are his eyes," Rayleigh added. "His eyes turn into a strange pattern when that ability is active. It's not a typical Devil Fruit effect."
"Right." Roger nodded. "According to rumors, he can also summon unquenchable black flames and a bone giant to protect his body. I just wanted to test him earlier, so I didn't force him to bring all that out."
Roger looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled above his head.
"I think Seven will be like Garp. Very strong. Different from the others." Roger smiled. "But if those two Logia subordinates of his are going to fill the Admiral's seats, I have a feeling that red-eyed kid will become Fleet Admiral."
Gaban whistled softly. "Fleet Admiral, huh. At his age?"
"Not now," Roger replied. "But someday. I can feel it."
They continued walking in silence for a few moments, only the sound of footsteps on the sand and the creaking of weapons audible.
Sunbell, who was walking behind them, suddenly spoke up. "Roger."
"Hm?"
"About that island." Sunbell quickened his pace until he was walking alongside Roger. His expression was serious. "We just came from there, but that wasn't the last island. I think something's off."
Roger stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at Sunbell.
"The Log Pose pointed to it as the last island in the Grand Line," Sunbell continued. "But when we got there, there was nothing. No treasure. Just an ordinary island with a very small town. It feels like… there's something hidden behind all of that."
Roger stared at Sunbell for a long time, then his smile returned. Not his usual playful grin. A deeper smile. The smile of someone who had just heard the greatest challenge of his life.
"In that case," said Roger, turning to face his entire crew, "that means our adventure isn't over yet."
He spread his arms wide.
"Come on, everyone! Let's go on another adventure! If that wasn't the last island, then there's an island even further away! And I'm going to find it!"
"OOOOH!" The entire crew cheered and laughed. Gaban raised his axe. Crocus shook his head with a smile. Rayleigh just sighed with a faint smile, already accustomed to his captain's enthusiasm.
They arrived at the harbor. Roger's pirate ship was moored at a creaking wooden pier. Its mainmast towered under the moonlight, its sails neatly furled.
Roger stepped onto the ship's gangplank, one foot already on the first step.
Then he sensed something.
The air behind him shifted strangely. It was as if an empty space had suddenly been filled.
Before Roger could react, two fingers struck the most vulnerable spot on a man's body with terrifying force and precision.
"SENNEN GOROSHI."
"GYAAAAAAA!"
Gol D. Roger, the strongest pirate in the Grand Line, the man who gave the Navy a headache, was flung from the ship's gangway while clutching his buttocks with both hands. His body landed on the wooden dock with a pitiful thud.
Quentin Seven stood where Roger had been, his right hand still in the position of an extended index and middle finger. The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan blazed in both his eyes.
Then he vanished. The air rippled where he had stood, and in an instant, Seven was gone.
Roger rolled around on the dock. "D-DAMN IT! IT HURTS! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! THAT RED-EYED GUY IS VINDICTIVE!"
Rayleigh froze for a full three seconds.
Then he laughed. A loud, unrestrained, and uncontrollable laugh. Roger's First Mate, Silvers Rayleigh, laughed so hard he had to hold onto a dock post to keep from falling.
Gaban dropped both his axes and clutched his stomach. "HAHAHAHA! ROGER! YOU JUST GOT BEATEN BY TWO FINGERS!"
Crocus took off his glasses and wiped away tears. "A-as a doctor... I have to check for any permanent damage..."
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Roger shouted, still rolling around.
Sunbell sat on the nearest wooden crate, her face red from holding back laughter. The rest of the crew no longer cared about their captain's pride; they were roaring with laughter all along the pier.
Roger finally stopped rolling. He lay on his back on the dock, staring at the stars above his head with teary eyes. His butt was still throbbing.
"That Red-Eyed Man…" muttered Roger, his face a mix of annoyance and amazement. "He just appeared and vanished. I couldn't even sense him coming."
Rayleigh wiped his tears and took a deep breath, trying to stop himself from laughing. "Looks like that kid has quite an interesting taste."
Roger sat up slowly, grimacing. He stared in the direction where Seven had vanished.
Then he laughed to himself. Softly at first, then louder and louder.
"HAHAHAHA! Alright, Red Eyes! We're DEFINITELY going to meet again! And when that happens, I won't let my ass get caught off guard!"
In the distance, atop the roof of a building near the harbor, Seven sat cross-legged with his hands folded. Sakazuki stood behind him, his eyes narrowed as he watched the pirate ship at the dock.
"What were you doing just now, Brother?" Sakazuki asked.
"A thousand-year-old secret technique," Seven replied flatly.
Sakazuki stared at his older brother for a long time, deciding not to ask any further questions.
In Seven's mental space, Matatabi covered his face with his claws. "Embarrassing." Shukaku laughed until he choked. For the first time, Isobu let out a sound resembling an amused snort.