Boom—!!
A slash streaked through the air, wrapped in overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, tearing across the sea at terrifying speed.
This was no ordinary strike.
It was a killing technique—an attack forged from the very essence of Silvers Rayleigh's swordsmanship. The culmination of decades of battle, intent sharpened to its absolute limit.
Rayleigh was confident.
Before Jaeger had the chance to unleash that black lightning again, this slash would cleave him in half.
"Enemy attack—! Protect Saint Jaeger!!"
The sudden assault detonated chaos across the battlefield.
Crew members froze in panic. Nobody expected the vice-captain of Roger Pirates to be hidden beneath the sea.
Vice Admirals Strawberry and Doberman were caught completely off guard, their minds going blank as the killing intent crushed down on them.
By the time anyone tried to react—
It was already too late.
The slash came too fast. Too fiercely.
Yet—
Just as the blade of death was about to descend upon Jaeger, an icy chill poured down from the heavens.
The temperature plummeted.
Frost spread across the air itself, and the sea beneath them began to freeze solid at an impossible rate.
"Ice cream."
The voice that rang out was crisp, cold, and strangely playful—yet it carried absolute authority.
Click—
In the blink of an eye, the raging ocean transformed into an endless frozen wasteland.
From the ice surged a thousand-strong cavalry, roaring forward like an avalanche given form, crashing head-on into Rayleigh's slash.
Boom!!
The collision detonated with a sound that shook the heavens.
The ice cavalry was instantly obliterated—shattered into countless shards of frozen crystal by Rayleigh's blade. Ice fragments exploded outward like shrapnel, the shockwaves sending chills through everyone present.
But Rayleigh's slash did not escape unscathed.
It, too, was torn apart.
The residual force ripped through the frozen sea, leaving behind terrifying cracks that stretched for kilometers, spiderwebbing across the ice-covered ocean.
"Kuzan…?"
Recognition flashed through Rayleigh's mind.
That overwhelming cold—there was no mistaking it. It reminded him instantly of Kuzan, the ice-manipulating Navy officer he had once encountered. The man who had clashed with Kizaru.
But when Rayleigh looked up—
His eyes widened.
Blocking his attack was not the vice admiral he expected.
Standing there was a woman.
Blue-haired. Beautiful. Completely unfamiliar.
"…Wasn't that Rayleigh's attack?"
"Isn't that Kuzan's ability?! How is she blocking it?"
"Who is this woman…?! She's terrifying—and beautiful!"
"Idiot! Look at her position. She's clearly tied to that Celestial Dragon. A bodyguard… or worse, a slave."
"But that ice—this doesn't make sense! Kuzan already ate the Ice Fruit!"
"So what kind of Devil Fruit is this, then?! To block a killing blow from the Dark King…!"
The sudden appearance of the mysterious woman instantly ignited the live broadcast.
Across the world, countless eyes were glued to their screens.
How many monsters were still hidden in the shadows of the World Government?
Across the frozen sea, the blue-haired woman stepped forward.
"Are you Silvers Rayleigh—the Dark King?"
Her eyes burned with excitement.
"Then let me see it," she declared boldly.
"Let Esdeath witness the full extent of your power!"
Rayleigh studied her for a moment.
Then—unexpectedly—his expression softened.
"…What a waste."
Looking at Esdeath, Rayleigh couldn't help but feel regret.
"With your strength, you could've been a legend," he said calmly. "A pirate who shook the seas. Free. Proud. Unbound."
His eyes hardened.
"But instead? You serve the Celestial Dragons. A lackey. A slave who traded dignity and freedom for chains."
Esdeath laughed.
The sound was sharp and filled with contempt.
"How laughable," she replied coldly. "You pirates, trapped in your tiny world of freedom and romance, could never understand true ambition."
Rayleigh's eyes flared.
"I don't care about your ambitions," he snapped.
"Now move."
His gaze flicked toward the deck—
Toward where his friend's wife continued to suffer beneath Jaeger's hand.
Something inside Rayleigh snapped completely.
His rage… and his arousal reached its breaking point.
With a thunderous roar, Rayleigh raised his sword once more.
And with a single, devastating swing, he unleashed another slash—one meant to cleave everything in its path.
"Ha! A weak attack!"
Esdeath scoffed, her eyes blazing with provocation.
"If this were the past, I might have lost."
Her lips curved upward.
"But now…?"
The power of the War God surged through her body.
In that instant, Esdeath seemed to change.
Her aura deepened. Her presence grew heavier. Each breath she took pressed down on the battlefield like the descent of a god of winter.
Standing there, she no longer felt like a mere Devil Fruit user—but a calamity given form.
She took a single step forward.
Her white high-heeled boot crushed the ice beneath her foot.
Crack—!!
A storm of frigid pressure erupted outward, slamming into Rayleigh like an unstoppable tide. The temperature plunged violently, space itself creaking under the sheer cold.
"Demon's Extract — Ice Demon Wave!!"
"Click.
Click.
Click—!!"
The world froze.
Not metaphorically—literally.
The air crystallized, solidifying into sheets of translucent blue ice. The invisible storm became fully tangible, rippling outward in concentric waves of absolute zero.
Everything it touched was frozen mid-action.
Even Rayleigh's slash—
A strike capable of carving mountains apart and splitting the sea itself—
Stopped.
Suspended in mid-air.
Encased in ice, as if it had never existed at all.
Rayleigh's pupils contracted violently.
"…What?"
"How is that possible?!"
For the first time since he drew his blade, genuine shock crossed his face.
His invincible strike—his pride as the Dark King—had been erased. Not blocked. Not deflected.
Neutralized.
This was not Kuzan's freezing.
This wasn't even close.
No logia he had ever faced could do this—freeze attacks themselves, halt momentum, lock intent into stillness.
Rayleigh stared at the frozen blade of his own will—
And for the first time, doubt crept into the heart of the Dark King.
[Chat Group]
Miyuki Uchiha: "Of course this was the expected outcome!"
Watching the live broadcast unfold in real time, Miyuki couldn't help but clap in excitement.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Esdeath-sama truly lives up to her name! She's the Queen of Ice—someone who can freeze even time and space!"
Yamamoto Mei: "No. It's not just that. Esdeath herself has grown far stronger."
Miyuki Uchiha: "Really? That much?"
Luo Hao: "Indeed. Don't forget—just a few days ago, Jaeger crushed Esdeath's Demon Extract Teigu purely through brute force. And now? She's clearly pushed herself beyond that level."
Yamamoto Mei: "Honestly, she's more than worthy of the God of War ability. Even though her battle with Jaeger didn't favor her—and her system never activated—she still broke through purely with her own strength."
A faint note of admiration entered her voice.
"She's a true Valkyrie of Ice."
Within the chat group, admiration mixed with envy—but not a trace of jealousy could be found.
They had all seen how Esdeath climbed to this point.
Back in her own world, she hunted powerful foes relentlessly, challenging one strong enemy after another. After obtaining the Senzu Bean, she didn't hesitate to storm entire strongholds by herself.
Even after crossing into the One Piece world, her missions were nothing but continuous, brutal combat—especially against Jaeger.
How many times had she been beaten down?
How many times had she risen again, bloodied, gasping for breath, yet never surrendering?
With such perseverance, overwhelming talent, and a powerful System backing her—
If she hadn't reached this height, that would've been the real surprise.
But Esdeath herself wasn't paying attention to any of it.
Not the praise.
Not the chatter.
Her world had narrowed to a single point.
Sword—
Against—
Ice.
Extreme sharpness versus absolute cold.
The battlefield became a violent symphony of destruction.
Sword intent and frigid storms collided endlessly, waves of pressure rippling outward from their clash. The air trembled. Space groaned under the weight of their power.
High above—ten thousand meters in the sky—
The clouds froze solid.
Then shattered.
Jagged ice fragments rained downward as the battle escalated beyond reason.
"…Are these two even human?"
Vice Admirals Doberman and Strawberry could only stand there, frozen themselves—staring at the monstrous confrontation with blank expressions.
They had completely forgotten their duty.
Forgotten Jaeger.
Forgotten everything.
But Jaeger didn't need protection.
At this moment—
He was physically stronger than anyone present.
And he was watching it all unfold with calm, amused interest.
What truly needed protection weren't gods or monsters...
But the people caught near them.
Amid the collapsing battlefield, Rouge began to shiver violently.
Her body trembled uncontrollably as the temperature plunged, every breath frosting in the air. She was just an ordinary woman. No Haki. No Devil Fruit. No resistance against this cataclysmic cold.
The chill seeped into her bones.
If she stayed here any longer, she wouldn't just freeze—
She would die.
"C-Child…" Rouge gasped, forcing the word through chattering teeth. Her trembling eyes lifted, locking onto Jaeger's.
She had endured humiliation. Terror. Despair.
But this—
This was different.
Rouge was strong, but she understood something clearly now: survival came first.
Not for herself.
For the child inside her.
The clash between Esdeath and Rayleigh was apocalyptic, but Rouge couldn't spare it a glance. Her mind was singularly focused—utterly consumed—by the life growing within her womb.
Her maternal instinct roared to life.
If she didn't find warmth and shelter immediately, her child wouldn't survive. Either the cold would force a miscarriage… or the shockwaves from the ongoing battle would tear her fragile body apart.
Yet even in her desperation, one thing steadied her.
Jaeger.
This man—cruel, terrifying, endlessly powerful—
He didn't seem interested in killing her.
That realization sparked something dangerous.
Hope.
Jaeger's gaze settled on Rouge as he held her against him, a slow, wicked grin spreading across his face.
"You want to protect your child?" he asked, his tone laced with amused curiosity.
Rouge nodded quickly, her lips already pale.
"Yes…"
"Whatever it takes?" Jaeger pressed.
For the briefest moment, hesitation flickered in her eyes.
Then it vanished.
"Yes," she said firmly.
"Whatever it takes."
Jaeger's grin widened.
Interesting.
He had no interest in mindless cruelty. But a woman willing to abandon pride, dignity, everything—just to protect her child?
That had value.
As Kasumigaoka Utaha once pointed out, Jaeger was very good at recognizing worth.
He wouldn't shatter her needlessly—
But pushing her limits?
That was different.
With a casual motion, he glanced at the chat group and cut the live broadcast.
The feed vanished.
A flood of complaints followed immediately:
Miyuki Uchiha: "Your Highness Jaeger—don't turn it off!! I want to watch the snu snu—!"
Jibril: "Hey! Don't stop the livestream!"
Luo Hao: "Indeed, it's rare to see Esdeath fight at this level. Her posture is improving rapidly."
Jaeger ignored all of it.
The audience could wait.
This moment was his to decide.
The battle between Esdeath and Rayleigh thundered in the distance, but Jaeger had already lost interest. His attention was fixed entirely on Rouge.
"Hold still," he said.
Before Rouge could react, Jaeger bent his knees—
And leaped.
"Ah—!"
Rouge yelped as the ground vanished beneath them. Instinct took over. One hand flew to protect her swollen abdomen, the other clutched tightly to Jaeger's chest as they rocketed into the sky.
With frightening ease, Jaeger mimicked Geppo, blasting through the air toward a distant island—far from the battlefield's killing range.
Vice Admirals Doberman and Strawberry stared in disbelief.
"Saint Jaeger?!" Doberman shouted, watching them vanish into the distance.
Stussy smirked.
"Tch."
She leapt after them using her own Moon Step.
"Relax," she tossed back casually. "Saint Jaeger's just taking her somewhere safer. I'll protect him."
The sarcasm was unmistakable.
Back on the battlefield, Rayleigh's attention wavered—
And that single lapse was fatal.
Esdeath's eyes sharpened.
She didn't hesitate.
Ice surged violently as she formed a massive iceberg mid-air, then hurled it forward with merciless precision.
Bang—!!
The impact rang like the collapse of a mountain.
Rayleigh was flung backward at insane speed, barely managing to coat his arms in Armament Haki before the blow crushed into him.
Ice wrapped around his body as he slammed into the sea below, waves exploding outward as his form disappeared beneath frozen spray.
The broadcast abruptly resumed.
The chat exploded instantly.
[Chat Group]
Miyuki Uchiha: "So badass!!"
Sakura Tohsaka: "Esdeath-san is amazing…!"
Jibril: "Hmph. Impressive—but still not on my level~"
The world watched on in awe.
--
In the New World, Whitebeard clenched his cheeks, his massive frame going still as a shadow crossed his face.
"…That Rayleigh bastard," he murmured.
"He's in danger."
He knew it the moment he saw that clash.
The distance was too great. The battlefield too far beyond his reach. And even if he could intervene—he understood the truth better than anyone.
This wasn't a fight you could simply barge into.
All Whitebeard could do now was watch—
And hope the Dark King was strong enough to survive what came next.
Whitebeard glanced at his sons.
No matter how much the urge burned within him, he couldn't move.
He wouldn't.
"This isn't our fight," he said quietly. Not to excuse himself—but to steel his resolve. "And it's not one my sons would survive."
Jaeger was too powerful.
Even his strongest commanders would be crushed. Throwing them into that abyss wouldn't save Roger's family—it would only bury more of his own.
Whitebeard exhaled slowly and shook his head.
He would not sacrifice his sons for a battle already beyond their reach.
---
South Sea
High above the clouds, more than ten thousand meters in the sky, Golden Lion Shiki let out a cold, dismissive snort.
"Roger's vice-captain?" he scoffed, his expression twisted with disdain.
"Just another man living in Roger's shadow."
His memories drifted back to Edd War—to that day when Roger's presence eclipsed everything else.
Rayleigh?
To Shiki, he was insignificant.
Not weak—just unworthy.
Unworthy of the respect Roger had given him.
That bond alone was enough to earn Shiki's contempt.
"A shadow doesn't deserve to be remembered," Shiki muttered. "Especially not now."
The battle below had already tilted in Esdeath's favor.
Rayleigh was finished.
Shiki lost interest entirely.
Instead, his gaze sharpened—fixing on Jaeger.
"…That man," he said quietly.
With a wave of his hand, Shiki's floating fleet shifted course, soaring across the sky in the direction Jaeger had taken.
--
On a deserted island, remnants of a once-thriving town stood as a grim reminder of the ravages of piracy. The buildings were empty, abandoned, and scarred by years of bloodshed. It was a quiet place now, but not for long.
Jaeger stepped into an abandoned cottage, still carrying Rouge in his arms.
The door closed behind them.
"What… what are you going to do?" Rouge asked, panic breaking through her voice. She clutched her stomach protectively, breath shallow. "I'm pregnant."
Jaeger looked down at her.
His voice remained disturbingly smooth. "I know," he said quietly. "That's why I'll take responsibility. If something happens, I'll deal with it myself."
His gaze lingered.
"After all… I've never done a pregnant woman before."
His words were soft, but there was something chilling beneath them.
Rouge's pupils widened. She tried to pull away, but his voice stopped her—gentle, almost affectionate, and threaded with an unmistakable coldness.
"Don't move," he whispered. "Be careful. For the kid."
The line hung in the air like a threat disguised as concern. It offered no comfort, it only made the skin along Rouge's spine crawl.
She glanced at Stussy, who stood a short distance off, watching but not intervening.
Stussy knew better than to step into Jaeger's affairs—she was still raw from the pain he'd inflicted earlier, a reminder of his control. She wasn't foolish enough to interrupt.
"…I understand," Rouge said at last, her voice hollow. The fight drained out of her. "If it's a boy… name him Ace. If it's a girl… Ann."
Jaeger's smile never reached his eyes.
"I'd prefer a girl," he said evenly.
Then, as if discussing something trivial, he continued,
"If it's a son… I'll strangle it."
Rouge's blood ran cold.
The words were delivered with the same calm, measured tone as his earlier concern—no rage, no hesitation. That was what made them truly horrifying.
He paused only briefly before adding, his smile widening just a fraction,
"But if it's a girl—she'll be Saintess Ann."
Titles. Ownership. Fate.
That was all decided in an instant.
Jaeger no longer cared about the battle raging beyond the island, nor the legends clashing across sea and sky.
In this moment, only one thing mattered to him—
Roger's wife.
He decided to bless Roger's wife with his divine rod.
•••
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