"There's an enemy! Shirogai's already gone ahead!"
The Straw Hats instinctively moved to turn the Going Merry around to back him up against the distant warship.
"Wait."
Robin stepped in front of them, her expression calm but firm. "Shirogai told us to leave and not cause him trouble here."
Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilt, his eyes cold. "Move aside. I'm not letting him face an enemy alone."
Sanji's cigarette burned between his fingers as he stepped forward, voice serious. "Miss Robin, please step away. We're not the kind to abandon a crewmate."
Luffy's tone was uncharacteristically sharp. "Robin… Shirogai's our friend. We face the enemy together."
Even Nami, Usopp, and Chopper—still shaken from the blinding beam of light earlier—nodded in agreement.
But Robin didn't move. Even with Zoro about to draw his sword, she held her ground.
"Everyone, listen," she said firmly. "Right now, none of us could be of any use to Shirogai."
She met each of their eyes. "Do you know who fired that laser just now? It was Admiral Kizaru—of Marineford."
The words stopped them cold.
"An Admiral?!" Nami's voice trembled.
She remembered something Shirogai had once told Dr. Kureha back on Drum Island—how he might one day attract an Admiral. She hadn't expected it to happen this soon.
Sanji's brow furrowed. "So what if he's an Admiral? Is he really that strong?"
Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy all blinked in confusion. "What's an Admiral of Marineford?"
Before Robin could respond, a stunned voice cut in.
Shoujou, who had been standing nearby, stared at them like they'd grown extra heads. "An Admiral is the highest combat power in the Marines! There are only three—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru! They're strong enough to face a Yonko head-on!"
The Straw Hats' mouths fell open.
"He's right," Robin said gravely. "Kizaru is known for his speed and his ability to fire devastating laser beams… exactly like the ones we just saw."
Shoujou shuddered as he glanced toward the distant flashes. "If your friend hadn't intercepted those shots, we'd be dead right now! We need to get out of here!"
He turned to his men on the salvage ship. "Little ones! Marines nearby! Forget this wreck—we're hauling this pirate ship back to Jaya!"
The crew understood now why Shirogai had told them to leave. Against an opponent like that, they would only be in his way.
Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Still doesn't make sense… why would a Marine Admiral even be here?"
Zoro snorted. "Capturing pirates is their job. What's so strange about that?"
Nami's worry deepened. "Could it be because Shirogai refused the World Government's offer to make him a Warlord of the Sea? Are they retaliating?"
Shoujou froze. "The Government offered you the title of Warlord… and you refused? Do you know how many pirates would kill for that?"
Luffy grinned. "Is a Warlord that strong? We beat one already."
Shoujou stared. "You… you defeated one?!"
Luffy puffed out his chest. "Yeah, Sent him flying!"
"Stop talking!" Usopp hissed, ducking low beside Chopper as another flash lit the horizon. "Let's get out of here before that light finds us!"
---
"Oh dear~~ What a troublesome fellow."
Kizaru appeared in front of Shirogai, catching his Light Speed Kick with his own foot. Both men's legs were clad in Armament Haki, the clash sending a thunderous shockwave through the warship.
The deck shuddered, waves exploding outward.
Most Marines were thrown off their feet—only the elite managed to remain standing.
"What?! That pirate blocked Admiral Kizaru's Haki strike!"
The crew stared in disbelief. Shirogai's Armament Haki and Devil Fruit ability matched the Admiral's blow for blow.
"Top-tier Armament Haki?" Kizaru lowered his leg, eyeing Shirogai with mild annoyance. "Oh dear… you're giving this old man a headache."
Shirogai smiled faintly. "Feeling's mutual. You're not exactly easy to deal with yourself."
"Are all rookies this scary nowadays? In that case, maybe the Marines should just give up~~" Kizaru sighed lazily, then glanced back at his men. "This fight won't be over quickly. Move the ship away—don't get caught in the crossfire."
"Yes, Admiral Kizaru!" the Marines chorused.
Kizaru looked back at Shirogai. "This was supposed to be an easy job… guess not. Let's take this somewhere else. Damaging a warship's expensive—and the repairs come out of my pay."
Shirogai chuckled. "The World Government really is stingy."
"Oh dear~~ always trouble for this poor old worker."
In a flash, both turned into streaks of light, vanishing from the warship and colliding again and again in the sky before breaking away toward the open sea.
---
The salvage ship raced toward Jaya, the Going Merry in tow.
"I knew today was bad luck," Shoujou muttered, watching distant black fire erupt against the sky. "Didn't expect to run into an Admiral here of all places."
"The Marine warship stopped," Luffy announced from the mast. "Shirogai must have stalled him."
Chopper chewed his lip. "You think he's really okay out there?"
Luffy tilted his hat back, looking at the flashes far behind them. "Don't worry, Chopper. Shirogai doesn't make empty promises."
Come back safe…
---
Throw in some power stones.
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