"Heh, Kizaru really thinks highly of me. He actually believes I could become an Admiral… even Fleet Admiral."
Shirogai's faint smile carried more mockery than amusement.
Inside, he scoffed at the pie-in-the-sky offer from the Marine Admiral. Titles like Admiral or Fleet Admiral meant nothing to him. They were just pawns of the Celestial Dragons—enforcers of the World Government's will.
How was the prestigious rank of Admiral achieved? By being among the most formidable fighters alive. The status didn't make Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru powerful—their strength made the title feared.
Shirogai, a transmigrator in this world, had long since discarded the illusion of grandeur attached to such positions.
Four Emperors, Three Admirals—they were all the same. The strongest warriors the seas had to offer, whether they called themselves pirates or Marines.
And he placed himself among them without hesitation.
Since he already stood in that echelon, why should factions bind him?
When righteous, he could be more just than the Admirals.
When ruthless, he could be more brutal than the Four Emperors.
"I am my own faction," he thought.
With a smooth motion, the light saber in his hand shifted, reshaping into a slender, moon-shaped blade of light—Moon in the Well.
"Alright, Kizaru," Shirogai said, aiming the blade at him with an easy smile. "I'm not joining the Marines. Being a pirate isn't so bad. I'm guessing your mission from the Gorosei is to capture me alive, right?"
"Ah, what a pity," Kizaru sighed. His weathered face showed mild disappointment. "This old man thought we'd get along very well, Shirogai San."
Whoosh!
Before the words finished, Kizaru vanished.
A blinding light filled Shirogai's vision. "Tch, so bright!" He narrowed his eyes, shielding them just as Kizaru's lazy drawl echoed in his ears.
"In that case, this old man will have no choice but to take you down, Shirogai San!"
Light Speed Kick!
Kizaru's glowing right foot smashed into Shirogai before he could turn into light.
Bang!
The impact hurled him through the jungle, shattering trees and earth before he finally crashed to a stop.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of laser beams followed, detonating one after another.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The island shook under the barrage, splitting apart entirely. Fire spread quickly, consuming the jungle, while panicked cries of animals filled the air.
Through the flames, a charred boulder shifted.
Creak!
An arm pushed aside debris. Shirogai emerged, brushing dust from his clothes. "Cough… Kizaru, you really went for the kill."
From afar, Kizaru squinted through his sunglasses, noting Shirogai's unharmed state. "How terrifying… truly a God-level monster."
The two blurred into beams of light, colliding midair.
Totsuka-no-Tsurugi!
Moon in the Well!
Light sword and crescent blade clashed, each impact sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees were uprooted, the ground cracked, and the air trembled with each strike.
Though Kizaru's perfect swordsmanship was sharp, Shirogai's master-level blade technique pushed him back. Still, Kizaru's seamless fusion of swordsmanship and his Glint-Glint Fruit allowed him to hold his ground.
Shirogai had not yet mastered his own Glint-Glint abilities—only around half proficiency compared to Kizaru's decades of use. The Admiral quickly noticed this gap and pressed it.
"Hehehe, still not as smooth with the Glint-Glint Fruit as this old man," Kizaru's voice echoed lazily. "But even so, your strength exceeds my imagination… terrifying."
Shirogai smirked. "Kizaru, looking at you, I'd say your Devil Fruit awakening isn't far off."
Before meeting him, Shirogai had suspected Kizaru's ability was already awakened. But the system had confirmed otherwise. Perhaps it was his lazy nature—unfitting for the constant drive needed to awaken a Devil Fruit.
Bang!
The clash broke apart, and Shirogai retreated slightly.
"Hey, Shirogai San, where are you going? This old man never said you could leave." Kizaru shot forward at light speed, reappearing before him—only to be met with an unsettling grin.
"Heh, Kizaru… do you know how smooth extreme slipperiness can be?"
Before Kizaru could react, his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi struck Shirogai's arm—and instantly broke apart into scattering light.
"What…?"
Kizaru lashed out with another Light Speed Kick, but the instant his foot touched Shirogai's body, it dispersed into harmless light, pulling him away.
"Oh dear… this old man must be seeing things," Kizaru muttered in disbelief.
Shirogai's smile deepened. "Fun, isn't it? This little trick counters the Glint-Glint Fruit nicely."
[Slippery-Slippery Fruit • Modified Fourth Form: Perfect Defender]
Absolute evasion against fast-moving energy. Untouchable by most objects. Near-absolute defense.
___
Read chapters in advance on patreon.
All my fanfics are ahead btw.
Patreon.con/Zphyr_