Chapter 2: Alphad. Moran Out Of Trouble
"It's a trick," Acedes said coldly, staring at Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel.
"Who the hell are you!?"
"The weak don't deserve to know my name."
"White Ice Shards."
"One strike."
Ping! Pong! Pang!
The two clashed violently speed blurring to the point of invisibility—only the brief flashes of their clashes visible as bursts of steel and energy exploded outward
Sword energy slashed across the deck, ice thorns shattering through the air, piercing the timber
With each exchange, more wounds appeared on Flying Squirrel's body
The surrounding Marine soldiers were frozen in place, stunned—completely overwhelmed by what they saw
"She's using ice just like Aokiji, the former Admiral!"
(Several minutes later)
"Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel has been beaten like this!"
"That woman… she's a monster!"
At this point, Flying Squirrel's condition could only be described as utterly wrecked
His uniform shredded, his body drenched in blood, deep sword slashes across his arms, chest, and shoulder—he lay collapsed on the warship deck, barely conscious
From a distance, he looked like a man bathed in blood a single, crimson silhouette
Acedes stood completely unharmed, not a single scratch, her long coat fluttering, her expression cold
She stepped beside Flying Squirrel and pressed her heel against his shoulder, holding him down effortlessly
"Destroying you would be easy."
Acedes turned her sharp eyes toward the other Marine soldiers frozen in fear
"Did you see how your superior officer was humiliated by me?"
"Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel damn it, are you okay? We've contacted Marine Headquarters backup's en route!"
"Let go of Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel immediately!"
Flying Squirrel looked up weakly at the woman her beauty breathtaking, her power terrifying
"Damn it… A soldier can be killed… but not insulted…"
"I am quite merciful," Acedes replied indifferently. "At least I spared your life."
"Don't mock me… if you don't finish me now… one day I'll make you pay…"
"Remember this is the fate of the weak. If you hate it, then get stronger."
"Enough games, Acedes! Control the warship Marine reinforcements will be here soon we have to get out of the Calm Belt fast," Moran's voice rang out as he stepped onto the deck
"Understood, Lord Moran."
"Colonel Moran?! You were in the cell how did you escape?!"
A group of stunned Marines turned toward him
"Ah… It was too stuffy inside. I came out for some fresh air do you believe that?"
Marine soldiers: "Believe you? You're full of crap, sir you're not even trying."
"I'll release all of you once we're out of the Calm Belt. You know what kind of man I am."
Moran walked calmly toward the Marines, his tone casual, but commanding
"Yes, Colonel Moran!"
"Don't call me Colonel Moran anymore—I'm not a Marine now."
"Just call me Moran."
"Yes, sir… Moran!"
"Lord Moran—what's our next move?" Acedes approached, her cold tone softened slightly
"We'll take it one step at a time," Moran replied, his expression calm yet resolute. "The Marines are no longer an option. If nothing changes… then I guess I'll have to become a pirate."
The system is a bottomless pit that demands endless Baileys—so I can only become a pirate, I can't afford any legitimate career to support this insatiable system.
(Grand Line – Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office)
Buru Buru Buru... "Moshi Moshi, this is Sengoku."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel—Alphad. Moran has escaped custody!"
"What did you just say!?!"
"Didn't I dispatch Admiral Kizaru as support? How did he manage to escape?"
"Who was responsible?"
"He was broken out by a blue-haired woman with ice-type powers—extremely powerful I wasn't her match.
Before Admiral Kizaru arrived, the warship had already been hijacked and steered toward Sabaody Archipelago. By the time we reached there, the prisoners had vanished without a trace."
(When Moran departed, he had Acedes freeze all the Marines up to their necks, leaving their heads exposed above the ice.)
"What's the name of that blue-haired woman? Has she been listed with a bounty yet?"
"She's an Ice-type Devil Fruit user—definitely a Logia class. A new figure in the world no bounty issued yet. Her ability control is advanced, but she doesn't appear to know how to use Haki."
At that moment, two men peeked over each of Sengoku's shoulders—eavesdropping brazenly.
"Looks like they slipped through figures," said the former Admiral Zephyr.
"I wanted to punch them myself," muttered Vice Admiral Garp with a grin.
Sengoku rubbed his forehead, glaring at both. "You two OUT!"
Neither of them ever brings peace of mind.
"My deepest apologies, Fleet Admiral. It was my oversight. I accept full responsibility and am ready for disciplinary action."
"This wasn't your fault, Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel. Return to Headquarters and recover. Admiral Kizaru will now handle the Sabaody region."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"What kind of bounty do you think is appropriate, Tsuru, for Alphad. Moran and that blue-haired woman?"
Sengoku turned to Vice Admiral Tsuru, sipping her tea as always.
"Alphad. Moran has the strength of a Rear Admiral and defied the Celestial Dragons. If the bounty is too low, the Celestials won't tolerate it. Set it at 50 million Baileys."
"As for the woman, to overpower Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel with such speed and ease she must be near Admiral level at minimum, especially as a Logia user. Even without Haki, her raw power is exceptional. Let's start her bounty at 100 million Baileys."
"She has no official name assign a moniker."
"What about Ice Queen?"
Perfect. x10086
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(A few days later — Warship to Sabaody Archipelago → Merchant ship headed for Water 7)
On a deck chair basking in the sun, Moran read the newspaper and stared at his newly issued bounty poster.
Beside him, Acedes soaked in the sunlight, her icy aura gently suppressed.
(The date is March, 1518 — only about three years remain before Monkey D. Luffy sets sail from Foosha Village.)
Suddenly, a panicked sailor shouted from the crow's nest
"Pirates incoming!!!"
The merchant ship's captain, Ou Paris Tomson, watched as a ragged pirate ship rushed toward them at full speed.
The flag marked it clearly—Brute Force Pirates.
---
Captain: Brute Force
Bounty: 23 million Baileys
Escape was impossible—they were too close.
The crew grabbed weapons, cannons were loaded, and everyone braced for battle.
A handful of brave sailors prepared to resist as best they could.
---
(A few minutes earlier — aboard the Brute Force Pirates' vessel)
"Captain! There's a merchant ship dead ahead!"
"What are you fools waiting for—CHARGE!"
"All crew to battle stations we board them, toss the men into the sea, and keep the women!"
"Aye aye, Captain!"
---
Moran calmly stood up from the deck chair as the pirate ship approached fast.
"Acedes—shall we go earn some pocket change?"
"Yes, Lord Moran."
Acedes stepped to the rail and leapt gracefully overboard.
As soon as her feet touched the water, ice spread instantly—rapidly freezing the entire sea!
Moran followed, jumping down onto the ice layer.
He looked out at the now-frozen sea stretching to the horizon, stunned into silence.
"Acedes... you froze the sea. So how do we move now?"
"It's alright, Lord Moran. The Essence of the Demon can retract the ice whenever needed."
This woman… is terrifying. Definitely not someone to provoke...
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