Accompanied by the splattering of crimson blood, the naval cadets were sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the deck with a thunderous "boom." Their fate remained uncertain.
A deep, bone-exposing wound gaped open on their chests—a single slash, seemingly casual, yet terrifyingly powerful.
"Mom, where are you?!" roared the man gripping a long-handled blade.
This man was none other than Edward Weevil, the self-proclaimed son of Whitebeard.
Of course, whether or not he truly was Whitebeard's son was a mystery known only to the heavens.
"Bastard!" Zephyr erupted with fury upon seeing his students severely injured. Gritting his teeth, he shakily stood up, his voice trembling with anger. "Who the hell are you? Why are you attacking us?!"
Weevil turned his head and bellowed, "Did you take my mom?! Give her back! Give her back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he strode forward in massive steps, charging straight toward Zephyr.
So fast!
Zephyr's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected this seemingly dim-witted brute to possess such overwhelming strength—it took him by surprise.
But harming his students—no matter who it was—was something Zephyr could never tolerate.
With a low growl, he clenched his fists. His arms suddenly swelled, a deep black hue coating them—this was his Armament Haki.
Boom!
With an earth-shaking crash, Weevil's massive blade collided heavily with Zephyr's fist.
"Haaah!"
Zephyr's neck veins bulged, his face flushed red, and every muscle in his body tensed as he gritted his teeth.
Astonishingly, he was gradually pushing back Weevil's blade.
However, just as Zephyr was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Weevil suddenly flew into a rage, roaring, "I want my mom! How dare you take my mom?! I'll kill you all!"
With a sudden surge of power, his already massive arms swelled even further. He gripped his long-handled blade tightly and pressed it down with immense force.
A tsunami-like strength surged forth.
What overwhelming brute force!
Zephyr's pupils shrank sharply.
Pfft!
A stream of bright red blood splattered instantly.
Like a cannonball, Zephyr was sent hurtling backward, crashing violently onto the deck.
Spurt!
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, a gruesome, bone-deep wound now carved into his chest.
"Teacher!"
Two slightly less injured cadets nearby struggled to their feet, placing themselves between the rampaging Weevil and Zephyr.
They were Zephyr's students—Ain and Binz.
With a swift hand seal, Binz let out a low cry.
Suddenly, countless vines sprouted from the ground, writhing as if alive. They intertwined into a massive net, instantly ensnaring Weevil's legs.
At the same time, Ain lunged forward like an arrow released from its bow. In a flash, she appeared behind Weevil, swinging her arm and striking toward his back.
Seeing her palm about to land on Weevil, a triumphant smile spread across Ain's face. But before she could celebrate, Zephyr's urgent warning rang out.
"Watch out!"
Ain's pupils contracted sharply.
Somehow, without her noticing, Weevil had already slashed the vines into shreds.
With a sudden turn, Weevil roared, his enormous blade swinging down at Ain's head with terrifying force.
Damn it!
Ain's face turned pale.
At such a close distance, if she were struck by that blade, she would be dead for sure.
Just as despair set in, a figure suddenly darted out, extending an arm to shield her—it was none other than Zephyr, who had previously collapsed on the ground.
"Teacher!"
However, Zephyr was already exhausted, his injuries severe. At this moment, he could no longer muster his Armament Haki.
Blocking such an attack with his bare arm would be no different from smashing an egg against a rock.
Zephyr knew full well what would happen next, but he clenched his teeth and did not retreat.
These were his students. No matter what, he had to get them back safely.
Just as the massive blade was about to sever Zephyr's arm, a delicate, jade-like hand suddenly stretched out.
Clang!
A crisp metallic clang resounded.
Zephyr's pupils shrank sharply.
That hand had caught the massive blade effortlessly—without a trace of Armament Haki.
How was that possible?
When he finally saw the person standing before him, his eyes narrowed—it was her.
"Old man, looks like you've been beaten up pretty badly. How pitiful," the woman turned her head and said with a light chuckle.
Zephyr's face flushed with anger as he shouted, "Who asked for your help?!"
Kaguya shook her head and said, "You're really not honest, old man." With a flick of her fair fingers, a crisp clang echoed as she effortlessly sent Weevil's blade flying away.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed.
Compared to a few years ago, her strength had grown even more formidable.
"Excuse me, are you… Lady Kaguya?"
A soft, melodious voice suddenly rang out.
Kaguya turned her head and saw a beautiful young girl before her. She had long, waterfall-like blue hair, amber-colored eyes, delicate and flawless features, and a charming, oval-shaped face. Her skin had a slight tan, making her look even more alluring, despite her youthful appearance.
Kaguya suddenly recalled who this girl was and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be Ain?"
"That's right, I'm Ain! Lady Kaguya, you know me?" Ain said excitedly, her eyes sparkling like she was meeting her idol, her face full of admiration.
"Ah, the Navy's rising star—of course, I know you." Kaguya scratched her head, a bit surprised that Ain was actually her fan. After all, in the original storyline, Ain had always been cold and aloof.
"Really?! That's amazing!" Ain said happily. "If possible, could you give me an autograph?"
"Sorry, I don't have a pen or paper with me," Kaguya said apologetically.
"No problem, I have some!" Ain quickly pulled out a notebook and a pen from her pocket, eagerly handing them to Kaguya.
Since it was a fan's request, Kaguya naturally wouldn't disappoint her. With a swift stroke, she left her elegant signature on the small notebook.
"Thank you, Lady Kaguya!" Ain carefully tucked the notebook into her chest, beaming with joy.
Roar!
Just then, a furious roar suddenly erupted.
Ain's expression changed drastically as she shouted, "Watch out!"
Unbeknownst to them, Weevil had somehow appeared behind Kaguya, raising his massive blade high, preparing to slash down with all his might.
At the critical moment, Kaguya raised her arm and casually waved her hand. An invisible force suddenly burst from her palm, halting Weevil's massive blade mid-air.
"Sorry, but I'm not your mother," Kaguya lifted her head, smirking mockingly. "If you're looking for milk, I think you've got the wrong person."
As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes sharpened, and an invisible force erupted with a roar.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Boom!
A deafening impact resounded as Weevil's chest caved in slightly. His enormous body was instantly sent flying backward. Amidst the splintering wood, he crashed heavily into the wall with a thunderous boom.
The same Weevil who had just pushed Zephyr to the brink of death was now utterly helpless before Kaguya.
"So strong!" Ain couldn't help but widen her eyes in amazement.
Zephyr was equally shocked. He knew Weevil's strength well—his terrifying brute force was undeniable. Yet, he had been sent flying so effortlessly by Kaguya. It was simply unbelievable.
Roar!
With a furious bellow, Weevil stormed out from the gaping hole in the wall. His body now radiated Armament Haki, and with a single step, the deck beneath him shattered. In an instant, he lunged forward, raising his massive arms—far thicker than Kaguya's thighs—and swung his blade down toward her with immense force.
"Watch out!" Ain cried out instinctively.
Clang!
A metallic clash rang out, accompanied by dazzling sparks.
Zephyr and Ain's eyes widened in disbelief at the colossal figure that had appeared before them.
What… is that?
A towering, pale-purple giant had manifested around Kaguya, clad in majestic armor and wielding a long sword. Standing dozens of meters tall, it exuded an awe-inspiring presence—a silent force of authority and intimidation.
This was Kaguya's Susanoo.
The enormous sword in Susanoo's hands had intercepted Weevil's blade, preventing it from advancing any further despite his exerted strength.
Kaguya looked at Weevil with a mocking gaze. "To have survived my Shinra Tensei and still be jumping around… You don't seem like Whitebeard's son. You're more like Kaido's son."
She had deliberately restrained the power of her Shinra Tensei to avoid destroying the entire ship. Even so, an ordinary person would never have withstood it unscathed. The fact that Weevil had taken the hit and remained unhurt was proof of his incredibly resilient physique.
Such an overwhelming physique reminded Kaguya of Kaido, whom she had fought before—Kaido, whose body was similarly monstrous.
"I am Whitebeard's son! I am Whitebeard's son!" Weevil suddenly erupted in fury, roaring at the top of his lungs. "How dare you say I'm not Whitebeard's son?! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!"
As he shouted, an immense surge of power erupted from his body. A fearsome aura radiated outward, and his massive blade was instantly coated in Armament Haki's deep black sheen.
Zephyr's heart sank. What a terrifying aura! No wonder he was called Whitebeard's second coming. His presence alone was already on par with Whitebeard in his younger days, and his raw power was overwhelmingly brutal.
Just then, Weevil's muscles tensed, veins bulging on his neck. With a furious roar, he swung his massive blade downward with full force.
A visible blade arc sliced through the air, tearing through the atmosphere. The sheer wind pressure alone instantly carved through the ship's sturdy deck. With an earth-shaking boom, the slash extended across the sea, parting the ocean itself.
Zephyr's heart grew heavier. So, during their previous battle, this monster hadn't even been using his full strength.
"How many times do I have to tell you? With strength like yours, you still think you can fight me?" Kaguya crossed her arms and sneered coldly. "You should just go home and drink your milk."
Just as Weevil's blade was about to strike Kaguya, she snapped her fingers with a crisp pa, and a translucent, pale-purple mirror materialized in Susanoo's left hand, blocking the attack.
Boom!
A thunderous crash echoed as Weevil's massive blade slammed into the mirror.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The violent collision generated a powerful shockwave, surging like a tidal wave. A fierce gust of wind roared across the sea, causing massive waves to churn uncontrollably.
Zephyr and Ain struggled to maintain their footing, gripping the ship's railing tightly to avoid being blown away. As for Binz, he had long disappeared into the storm—likely lost to the sea.
Such overwhelming power! Zephyr's eyes narrowed. Even in his prime, he could not have unleashed such a devastating attack.
Yet, despite the sheer force of Weevil's strike, Kaguya had effortlessly blocked it.
This was the power of Susanoo's Yata Mirror.
Even Weevil was momentarily stunned. Few had ever managed to withstand his attacks head-on.
"With this level of skill, you dare call yourself Whitebeard's son? Don't make me laugh," Kaguya gazed at him coldly. "If Whitebeard had such a stupid son, I'd lose all respect for him."
Weevil's face flushed crimson with rage. Gritting his teeth, he let out a furious roar, raising his massive blade once more.
"How dare you insult me?! I'll tear you to pieces!"
But this time, Kaguya didn't give him another chance. Wasting time battling an idiot like him felt beneath her.
With a swift motion, Susanoo's right hand swung forward, sending the Totsuka Blade piercing through the air like a flash of lightning, aimed straight at Weevil.
Shlck!
Blood sprayed through the air.
Weevil stared blankly at the massive purple sword impaling his chest, his expression filled with confusion, as if he had yet to process what had happened.
The Totsuka Blade had effortlessly pierced through Weevil's body.
Ain was frozen in shock, and even Zephyr looked utterly stunned.
Just moments ago, Weevil had been an unstoppable force, pushing Zephyr to the brink of defeat. And yet, now… he had been felled in an instant.
How was this possible?
What they didn't realize was that Kaguya had used her space-time ninjutsu, Yomotsu Hirasaka, to bypass Weevil's blade entirely. The Totsuka Blade had materialized directly in front of him, striking before he even had a chance to react.
Susanoo lifted its arm, raising Weevil's impaled body into the air like a ragdoll. The purple blade through his chest nearly tore him in half.
Weevil convulsed violently twice before his head slumped to the side—dead.
The moment the Totsuka Blade had pierced him, the flames of Amaterasu engulfed his insides, reducing his organs to ash.
No matter how powerful his regeneration might have been, there was no surviving Amaterasu's all-consuming flames.
With a flick of her wrist, Kaguya tossed Weevil's lifeless body into the sea with a careless plop—as if discarding trash.
"Ugh, disgusting," Kaguya wrinkled her nose, waving her hand to dispel the stench. "Throwing garbage like that into the ocean… I hope it doesn't pollute the environment."
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