"What a confident Iron Body," Arton sneered, blowing across the fist he had just driven into Shuzo's gut. "But against a real powerhouse, that technique is worthless. Unless your Iron Body is as tough as my Hierro, you'll always end up like this. You'd be better off training Armament Haki. Relying on Iron Body alone… every fight will end the same way, Shuzo."
The words dripped with mockery. Shuzo's rage spiked—only for him to cough up another mouthful of blood and collapse unconscious.
"Shuzo? Shuzo?!" Binz knelt beside him, shaking his shoulder, but there was no response. His expression darkened as he looked back at Zephyr.
"Zephyr-sensei… Shuzo's out cold."
Zephyr's brows knitted tighter. He had known Shuzo wasn't Arton's match, but never had he imagined his disciple would be dispatched so effortlessly. And this was without Arton even displaying the swordsmanship that had allowed him to defeat both Golden Lion and Mihawk.
Could it be that Tashigi's power wasn't really tied to the sword at all? That in fusion, Arton's greatest strength lay not in blade techniques, but in what appeared to be a "fruit ability"? That sword on his back—was it merely decoration?
The thought reminded him of intelligence from Loguetown: when Arton had fused with Nami, he hadn't used sword arts, but lightning manipulation instead. And that devastating "Silent Blade" he unleashed? Zephyr didn't consider that a fruit power—it was simply a technique. As the world's strongest swordsman, Arton knowing one or two ultimate strikes wasn't surprising.
Still, Zephyr remained wary of the short blade at Arton's back. Even if fusion limited his original abilities, Arton was still the World's Greatest Swordsman. Ignoring his sword would be a mistake.
And Arton's display of hand-to-hand combat made Zephyr even more cautious. The man was dangerous in every arena.
"I admit I underestimated you," Zephyr said, shrugging off his cloak and stepping forward. His tone hardened. "But don't think that means you'll escape, Arton."
If even Shuzo had fallen so quickly, then Zephyr himself would have to take the field. Yet his confidence remained—if he could stall long enough for reinforcements, victory would still belong to the Marines.
"Zephyr-sensei, let us fight too!" Binz called, trying to rally alongside Ain.
But before he could take a step, an overwhelming weight crushed down on him. His knees buckled, his body pinned flat against the deck. He couldn't move a muscle.
"Arton! What did you do to him?!" Zephyr barked.
Arton's lips curved into a faint smile. "Nothing more than raising the output of my power a notch. People without strength should step aside—why risk unnecessary injuries? Don't you agree, Zephyr?"
His eyes slid toward Ain. She was the only one still standing besides Zephyr himself. And unlike Binz, Arton hadn't pressed her down with full force. Instead, he offered her a gentle smile, giving her a chance—one she alone would understand.
If she seized it, she might stand beside him. If she squandered it… she would join Binz, helpless on the floor.
Every diary holder watching the broadcast could see the scene clearly.
…
"Ain, fall back," Zephyr ordered sharply, his face grim.
"Zephyr-sensei, I…" Ain bit her lip, wanting to beg him not to fight Arton. She knew her teacher's strength, but she knew even more clearly that Arton was no ordinary opponent. Even if Arton hadn't yet reached the peak of his Haki training, the power of his template alone was enough to dominate the seas—and to defeat Zephyr.
Especially now, when Arton was wielding the powers of the Arrancar Tier Harribel. Control over water itself… in a naval battle, that advantage was simply overwhelming.
Yet when she met Zephyr's eyes, all she could do was step aside, retreating quietly while her mind spun for some way to stop this clash from going any further.
Arton watched her back away, nodding with satisfaction. Good. At least she had the sense to stay clear. That meant he didn't need to lay hands on his "former heroine."
Swoosh!
A violent gust surged, and in an instant Zephyr was upon him, his massive seastone prosthetic fist already arcing down.
Boom!
Arton raised his zanpakuto to meet it, steel and iron colliding with an explosion that rattled the entire warship beneath them.
"Decisive as ever, Zephyr," Arton smirked, unfazed. "But aren't you worried about hurting your subordinates like this?"
The shockwave blasted Binz and the other Marines off their feet. Only Ain's quick intervention stabilized them midair, but bruises and scrapes were inevitable.
"That's exactly why I have to drive you off my ship!" Zephyr barked, pressing harder, trying to push Arton away from the deck. He couldn't let this fight drag through his vessel—not after what had happened once before. Once, when Whitebeard II had slaughtered nearly all his disciples aboard their own ship. He would not repeat that mistake.
But no matter how much force he poured in, Arton didn't budge an inch.
"Impossible… how do you have such monstrous strength?" Zephyr's eyes widened.
Arton's grin widened. "Why? Maybe because I never skip my workouts."
A crimson glow pulsed across his blade, condensed spiritual pressure gathering at the tip. Within moments, it had formed into a blinding orb of destructive energy.
Zephyr's instincts screamed. He tried to destroy it before it went off—
Too late.
"Cero."
The orb detonated, erupting into a red column of energy that engulfed Zephyr completely and carved a blazing path into the distance.
"Zephyr-sensei!" Ain screamed.
"Relax," Arton said lightly, smiling at her. "He's a former Admiral. It'll take more than that to finish him." With a single leap, Arton shot off in pursuit of the beam.
Zephyr burst free from the pillar after several dozen meters, battered but far from broken. Kicking off the air with Geppo, he angled back toward his ship, heart pounding with worry for his students.
But before he could close the distance, Arton was already there, waiting in midair with arms folded, blocking his way, eyes locked on him.
Zephyr narrowed his gaze, extending his Observation Haki back toward his ship. The auras of Ain, Binz, and the others were still steady. Relief washed over him, though his jaw tightened.
"Zephyr," Arton called across the gap, voice calm, "don't you think it's about time you stood aside? Pushing this any further won't do you any good."
"Even so," Zephyr growled, settling back into a fighting stance, "I'll stop you here—no matter what it takes."
He knew he couldn't hold Arton forever. But if he could buy enough time… if Garp arrived… then victory would belong to the Marines.
Arton tilted his head, amused. "Stubborn, aren't you? Tell me, you don't have any reinforcements on the way… do you?"
...
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!