The Dusk Before the Storm
The sun dipped low across the quiet horizon, casting gold and blood-orange streaks across the open sea. Wind tugged at the sails of their small, isolated ship—two men stood on deck, silhouettes etched in firelight.
Sekiro leaned on the rail, his gaze distant yet sharp, like a blade sheathed in calm. The scent of salt and the creeks of timber filled the space between them. Finally, he spoke—blunt, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"So, Dragon… you want me to join you in building a rebel army to overthrow the World Government and the Celestial Dragons?"
No dancing around it. Sekiro didn't believe in sugarcoating ambition—especially not the kind that got people killed.
Dragon nodded once, his cloak flaring slightly in the breeze.
"That's the plan."
It was audacious. Insane, even. But Sekiro had known Dragon long enough to understand—he was a man possessed by purpose, not delusion. And the things Sekiro had seen… the whispers of God Valley, the buried truths… They made saying 'no' harder than it should've been.
Sekiro exhaled deeply, then turned to face him fully. "You've always had the fire, Dragon. I admire that. But I have my own reasons to fight. My own path to walk."
Dragon's eyes narrowed. "Then make your decision fast. Time's bleeding away."
A smirk tugged at Sekiro's lips. "You son of a bitch… I'm in. But on my terms. I'll support you with money and information. No flags, no chains. Just mutual hatred for those bastards at the top."
Dragon's features softened, barely. "I'll take it. Every drop counts."
Sekiro reached into his coat, pulled out a folded slip of parchment, and handed it over. "These names—people I've watched for years. Loyal, skilled, and dangerous in the right hands. I wanted them for my own cause… but maybe they'll listen to you."
Dragon took it, nodding slowly as he read. "Thank you."
"How much can you offer?" he asked bluntly.
"Right now? About the equivalent of the Roger Pirates' total bounty," Sekiro said without flinching. "But half of it's already with Dr. Vegapunk—I made a deal for one of his satellites. A friend of mine needed a genius."
Dragon raised a brow, impressed. "I'll send you a location. Quiet place. A ship will be waiting. Can I count on the funds by next week?"
Sekiro gave a curt nod. "I'll deliver."
A pause settled in the air—old friends on diverging paths.
Sekiro gestured toward the cabin. "Come. One last drink. For the final voyage we share."
Dragon didn't hesitate. "Let's."
The bottle was cracked open. Rum, sharp and aged, burned the back of their throats.
"Aaaaah. That taste," Sekiro chuckled, wiping his lips. "Makes you remember the sea never forgets."
Dragon leaned back, a rare smile flickering. "I heard you've got a kid. Your old man's doing his best to make him a Marine, isn't he?"
Sekiro laughed dryly. "Yeah, I met the boy. Got that fire. Reminds me of how your dad used to talk about Gol D. Roger."
Dragon's eyes dimmed, thoughtful. "Let's just hope he doesn't follow the same path… or die smiling at the end of it."
—------------------
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After the last meeting Sekiro left Dragon and returned to the marine base where Grap, father of dragon and Marine Hero was asleep while holding a bag of cracker in his private quarter.
"Hehe-he" Sekiro laughed in an evil manner, scheming a trick which he wanted to try badly. 'Divine burst' Sekiro said in his mind as Conqueror Haki burst out behind an old man who was recklessly sleeping.
The Haki was concentrated and well guided, the casual use of it showcasing the superior control and great mastery of Sekiro.
"GAaaahhhH!!" Old man Grap yelled in surprise as he fell down from the chair. "You damn brat! Pulling such a prank on an old man!!" He rubbed the back of his head to reduce pain and looked at Sekiro, enraged by his prank.
He was genuinely angry, anyone disturbing him at napping or eating food, Grap didn't forgive such people and Sekiro…he ran as fast as he could as if his life depended upon it.
Sekiro covered quite a distance between them. However both of them know making it was useless to run but not if it's for an open area where they can go all out.
"[Fist of love!]" Garp yelled out loud charging up a hefty amount of Conqueror haki infused in armament haki which was sufficient to destroy the whole marine base into rubble. He came flying from the sky utilizing his inhuman strength exactly about him.
And sekiro responded in kind.
"[Divine Execution!]"
Flash back
---
Cocoa Harbor Raid on Totto Land's Outer Island
There were heavy clouds boiling in the sky over Cocoa Harbor. Lightning broke. The sea roiling with rage. Tension was so pervasive that it almost hummed with the prospect of mayhem.
Like a blade, a Marine cruiser had crashed into the port. Its mast coiled with smoke.
Garp stood in the middle of the ruined pier, his fists clenched, blood dripping from a cut across his forehead, his white coat flapping in the wind. Standing next to him was Sekiro, clad in shadows, with a voracious storm of Conqueror's Haki coiling silently behind him and his blade shining dimly with Armament Haki.
Towering and gigantic, with her wild pink hair flaming like wildfire, Big Mom loomed before them. In the skies, Prometheus roared. The power in Napoleon's hand crackled. And all around her were Oven, Smoothie, and Katakuri, all of whom exuded a murderous intent.
"Garp, do you truly believe you can waltz into my domain and survive? "You must be senile," Big Mom yelled, grinning maniacally.
Garp wiped blood from his cheek and grumbled, "I could say the same, Linlin. But I thought it would be good to remind you of the sensation of a real punch."
Sekiro's neck cracked. "I like improvising, but this wasn't part of the plan," he grumbled.
With his trident poised and his Future Sight Haki already engaged, Katakuri took a step forward. "I know the old man, but you—Sekiro. An outlawed marine? A betrayer of the global government?"
"Call me whatever you like." When Sekiro released his blade, it sang. "I am the cause of your family's bleeding today."
…
…
..
The harbor trembled with the sound of Big Mom's laughter. She howled and smashed Napoleon down, causing the pier to break in two. With a punch that shattered the air itself, Garp took it squarely on.
**BOOOOOM!**
Buildings were leveled when a huge shockwave erupted across the island. Garp's Haki sent Prometheus reeling, and he screamed.
Sekiro locked in releasing his own haki. Blades clashing at a speed that even Future Sight could not keep up with, he was in front of Katakuri in an instant. Each blow folding the air.
Their Armament Haki collided in rage.
"Fast..." Katakuri whispered. "You're a skilled swordsman."
Because he's. The ground split between them as Sekiro launched Divine Burst, a surge of Conqueror's Haki. With blood streaming from his nose, Katakuri staggered as he was using it prolongedly, nonstop. Unlike Kataguri, Sekiro fought 2 commanders and dozens of officer's alone before taking on the strongest big mom commander.
Still standing still Karakuri burst another round of conqueror haki clash, both end up knocking everyone in vicinity down for the 3rd time.
With Garp,
Smoothie swung her enormous blade at Garp, unleashing a torrent of compressed liquid force with her juice-infused slash.
Just now, Garp tanked it, empowering and facing it armament Haki.
*BOOM!*
The blade struck him squarely in the middle, but it stopped cold against his chest, which was hardened by Haki. She flew into a building after Garp smiled and socked her across the face.
With his fists burning crimson with heat, Oven lunged at Sekiro as he recovered from his previous beating of Sekiro. The air burned as he swung hard, but Sekiro sidestepped easily utilizing Future sight and caught his arm in mid-stride.
"You move too slowly."
SHOCK!
Oven's wrist was broken with a clean elbow infused with wild destructive conqueror Haki.
Big Mom's soul force warped the battlefield as she let out a bloodcurdling scream. The ground itself let forth a scream. In pain, souls twisted. Her wild attack caused harm to her own people, those who were close were down, those who were far away but tired had the same fate like all those with weak will.
She created a towering storm of fire and lightning by raising Prometheus and Napoleon, creatures created by her devil fruit power.
"IKOKU INDEPENDENCE!!!"
Her devastating technique was wide enough to level an island, a ray of destruction blasted at Garp and Sekiro without a second thought as her family were also in the line of fire.
However they were saved by a ugly woman with a mirror-like dimension ability even though Katakuri escaped. The sound of Garp's voice was like thunder. "Sekiro! It's time to demonstrate to her what a true combo looks like!"
"Hey. You took too long." Sekiro said to Garp with a grin as he took his another blade out which was oozing with a deadly red and black aura as if death itself was dripping from it.
With his blade drawn back, Sekiro leaped into the air. Crouching, Garp threw him through the beam like a cannonball.
"Dragon Flash!!"
Sekiro's blade was covered in black lightning and lapize blue flame as he ripped through the storm with one swift draw technique. He showed up in front of Big Mom—
—and in a single motion cut through Prometheus.
"AAARRGGGHHHH!!!" Big Mom screamed in rage as the firestorm vanished and her flame homie was split in half. As she saw a few seconds in the future and swiftly engaged Sekiro with another devastative conqueror haki charge punch.
"Divine Execution." He softly, coldly whispered as if death itself was embracing him. His eyes leaving traces of 2 distinct colors make him appear like an angel of death.
For a few seconds both stayed in a stalemate unable to even touch each other as if there was an invisible way between them stopping them from coming closer the dark cloud above splits in two, unstoppable shockwaves started generating from their clash.
It was then…. an unimaginable event took place as Sekiro was able to outmatch her in Haki battle as he continued to yell as per instincts.
She stumbled the ground under her begin to crumble while Sekiro was sent back —
—and Garp was in the air already for another attack.
"PRIME FORM… FIST OF LOVE!!"
**BOOOOMMMM!!!"
Big Mom's face was directly hit by the fist. The world held its breath for a moment.
Then Big Mom was knocked off her feet for the first time in decades. Rock broke under her weight as she smashed against the island's cliffs, spraying blood from her mouth.
The commanders were dispersed. Katakuri got to his feet, gasping and bruised. Smoothie was not conscious. The oven remained motionless.
Breathing heavily, Sekiro wiped blood from his blade.
"That was incredibly thrilling."
Garp crossed his arms and stood over a crater staring at big mom with annoyance. "Linlin, you're softening. You used to yell more loudly."
Angrily, Big Mom bared her damaged teeth and got to her feet. Her breathing, however, was worn out due to Sekiro going beyond.
She growled, "We'll finish this another day."
Sekiro grinned. "Empress, hurry back to Whole Cake. We're glad we weren't here to murder you."
Big Mom disappeared with her surviving crew, her laughter resonating over the sea, but it was forced and no longer infused with power.
With a groan, Garp took out a new bag of crackers.
"Want to go home?"
Sekiro rested on a splintered column. "Only when purchasing meat."
End flashback
With more refined and controlled technique, since last time Sekiro unleashed an equal amount of power to counter Garp the fist his old mentor or adoptive father.
In the second Sekiro regular blade and his mentor fist collide.
As both armament and conquer haki clashed the surrounding be it land, sky or everything in a closer range began to distort and demolished under the great catastrophic pressure.
Because of Garp's old age, he knows it quite well Haki goes weak with time but the case did not apply to Sekiro who was holding back like always calm and composed as ever.
"Gave me everything you got brat!" Grap understood Sekiro hints due to observation haki that he was holding back out of respect and admiration of power, but it infuriated the old man ever more as he increased his output of haki at Sekiro.
"Fine, then we are doing it your way."