c 5: Vice Admiral Mole, Seasick Loya
But even so, there was one thing Loya could be sure of.
That was the person who had unleashed that sword slash was definitely not an Admiral.
Because since the era of Garp and Zephyr, there had been no Admirals in the Marine ranks whose primary combat style was swordsmanship. Kizaru, for example—though capable of clashing with the likes of Dark King Silvers Rayleigh fought mainly using the Pika Pika no Mi, firing beams of light with "biubiu" sounds, not slashing waves of sword energy like a traditional swordsman.
If it had been one of the current Admirals, their attack would have displayed a far more iconic signature. Think of Sakazuki's Meigou (Hellhound), Borsalino's light-speed kicks, or even Issho's gravity manipulations. As for sword energy? Sure, it was flashy, but these days, even Marine Vice Admirals used it only sparingly. Remember how quickly some of them were brushed aside during the Paramount War? Sword qi might be visually impressive, but in the broader scope of combat ability within the One Piece world, it's become somewhat outdated.
---
At that moment, the battlefield could only be described as a frozen hell. Severed limbs, mangled torsos, and hunks of frozen flesh littered the ground, each one encased in glittering frost. Several pirate heads largely intact sat upright in the snow, faces frozen mid-scream or wide-eyed in disbelief.
Loya descended from midair, the soles of his boots crunching against a patch of ice. As he exhaled, a cold breath spiraled from his mouth, catching the moisture in the atmosphere and transforming into glittering particles that drifted slowly to the ground like falling stars.
"I killed them... so why don't I feel sick?"
It was a strange thought, philosophical in nature. Loya pondered it in silence. Maybe it was the long years spent hunting alone on desolate islands. Maybe the repeated struggle for survival had changed his concept of life and death. Somewhere along the way, the act of killing had become an instinct something necessary, not emotional.
From a distance, Vice Admiral Mole spotted Loya standing at the edge of the beach and gave the order for the warship to move in.
Regardless of the stranger's intentions whether he was a pirate, a bounty hunter, or an unaffiliated warrior living in seclusion it was Mole's duty as a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters to investigate.
The ship came to a halt roughly 100 meters from the frozen shoreline. A thick layer of permafrost extended across the water, too solid for their standard warship to break through. Since their vessel lacked the equipment for icebreaking, and Mole didn't want to waste more sword energy on clearing a path, he disembarked with a small detachment of Marines.
As they approached, Mole finally saw Loya clearly and to his surprise, the youth looked startlingly young. This wasn't the face of a seasoned sea veteran. No this was the face of someone barely out of adolescence.
Yet the attack he had just witnessed... the sheer destructive power... it reminded Mole of Kuzan in his early years. Not long after joining the Marines, Admiral Aokiji then known as Kuzan had already demonstrated the kind of monstrous strength that would go on to define him.
Kuzan had enlisted in the Navy at 19 and was eventually promoted to Admiral in his early 30s. Even then, he was recognized as a prodigy on par with Akainu and Kizaru. And yet, this boy standing before him he seemed even younger than Kuzan had been during his enlistment, but already capable of such a powerful and terrifying display of freezing magic.
Mole's mind reeled.
If only Loya knew what Mole was thinking... You think I'm younger than Aokiji? Seriously? I just have a baby face!
He looked tender, sure but Loya had always been popular among his peers back home, not just because of his looks, but because he was charming, adaptable, and had a knack for saying the right things at the right time.
The Ice Dragon's Roar was no small technique it was Loya's ultimate finisher, one he had only recently unlocked after advancing to the next tier of his Ice Dragon Slayer magic. Its destructive capacity was guaranteed. If compared purely in terms of raw freezing power, it arguably surpassed what Kuzan could achieve at the time he first joined the Marines.
But consumption? That was the real problem. Just one use of the Ice Dragon's Roar drained nearly a third of Loya's magical energy. Even in top form, he could unleash it only three times before reaching his limit.
Back then, when Aokiji froze a hundred-meter stretch of ocean with a mere touch of his palm, it hadn't carried the same blast force as Loya's spell but Kuzan could replicate that feat dozens of times in a row without breaking a sweat.
And let's not forget: in the original manga, Kuzan and Sakazuki fought continuously on Punk Hazard for ten days and ten nights. That's the level of stamina these top-tier combatants possessed.
---
The two sides now stood face to face.
Loya, still lost in introspection, bore a blank expression until Mole broke the silence with a firm voice.
"Thank you for your assistance. I am Vice Admiral Mole of Marine Headquarters. May I ask for your name, sir?"
"Mole?"
The name snapped Loya out of his thoughts. He blinked. The moment the name registered, he began to recall hazy memories scattered bits of knowledge he'd retained from the manga.
He looked the man up and down. Mohawk-style hair? Check. Funny curled mustache? Check. Katana at the hip, and that signature white cloak of justice billowing behind him? Check and check.
This was unmistakably Vice Admiral Mole also known as Momonga in the original canon. One of the more composed and level-headed Vice Admirals, Mole had participated in the Marineford War and was known for his reliable presence and swordsmanship, even if he never stole the spotlight.
A good guy! Loya's eyes lit up.
Be upright and just. He loves his subordinates, is powerful, but not as extreme or ruthless as Akainu.
Overall, if Loya wanted to leave the island, then Vice Admiral Mole was the ideal person to seek help from. Even if eliminating the Scissor Pirates wasn't intended as an offering of goodwill, someone of Mole's caliber and reputation would still assist a stranded civilian in distress especially given his reputation for upholding justice and humanity over blind orders, as seen when he resisted Boa Hancock's charms using sheer willpower during the war.
Loya was no longer as cold and cautious as he had been during his time as a hunter surviving on a desert island. Though his strength had grown significantly, deep inside, his mindset remained that of the reclusive, geeky shut-in he had always been.
After not seeing another soul for weeks, he burst into tears of joy the moment he saw the Marines: "My dear friends! Finally! Someone's here! Please take me off this cursed island! I've eaten all the wild boars I'll start gnawing bark next!"
Mole: "…"
Vice Admiral Mole stood silently, momentarily at a loss. What just happened? Where had the cold-blooded expert who annihilated the Scissor Pirates gone? Who was this disheveled castaway?
But upon seeing Loya's filthy and torn clothing, matted hair, and bare feet cracked from exposure, Mole's expression stiffened, then softened he chose to believe the young man's story.
---
Under the watchful eyes of dozens of Marines, Loya stepped aboard the warship. Even though most of the soldiers had only felt the edges of the icy blast from afar, the lingering chill in the air made it clear how powerful the technique had been. Not one of them questioned Loya's strength. In the world of One Piece, strength is what commands respect. Powerhouses are respected regardless of their origins or their outfits.
After all, from Whitebeard's open hospital gown to Kaido's drunken brawls in baggy pants, the world is full of eccentric elites. So naturally, they assumed Loya was simply another powerful fighter with his own unique "style."
The moment his feet touched the deck, Loya suddenly grabbed the railing with both hands and went stiff, staring blankly at the sea beneath them.
Vice Admiral Mole, after assigning a cleanup squad to secure the battlefield, came aboard and saw Loya's pale face pressed against the railing. Perplexed, he approached cautiously.
"Mr. Loya? Is something wrong?"
Loya turned his head slowly, his face greenish-white. Swallowing hard, he forced a pained smile.
"Lieutenant General Mole... do you have anything for seasickness?"
Mole: "…what a strange guy."
Without wasting time, he turned to his adjutant and ordered, "Go get the ship's doctor. And prepare a change of clothes while you're at it." He cast a side glance at Loya's weather-worn rags.
Moments later, the ship's doctor arrived an elderly gray-haired man who wasted no time in assessing the patient. He helped Loya sit near the rail, then gently pulled his eyelids open.
"These symptoms are severe... and the ship hasn't even started moving yet. Has this been happening since childhood, or is this a recent condition?"
Loya grimaced. How could he even begin to explain this? Of all the things he'd forgotten, he'd somehow overlooked one critical issue Dragon Slayers get motion sick. Regardless of the world they're in.
He looked like death, his voice weak. "I… I ate a Devil Fruit. Ever since then, it's been like this. Doctor… is there any cure?"
"Devil Fruit?" Mole echoed thoughtfully. He hadn't seen any documentation about a new fruit user matching this level of frost-based destruction, but it was the only logical explanation.
And yet… seasickness?
Devil Fruit users are cursed by the sea. Their bodies reject seawater, rendering them paralyzed when submerged but this was something else. This was classic motion sickness. And unlike the usual symptoms of paralysis or drowning, this was something more internal, something chronic.
What kind of fruit causes this?
Mole stared at Loya, both sympathetic and baffled. What kind of absurdly unlucky kid is this? He couldn't help but feel thankful he'd never eaten a fruit himself.
Of course, this story was a convenient fabrication on Loya's part. Dragon Slayer magic didn't belong to this world it needed a cover. And Devil Fruits, with their infinite variety and unpredictable powers, were the perfect excuse. From fruits that turn users into weapons or art supplies, to those that let them talk to animals or split into pieces no one questions the weirdness of a new fruit power.
And technically, Loya wasn't lying. He really did become like this after gaining his "ability," so there was no guilt in using the Devil Fruit as a scapegoat.
Hearing the confession, the ship doctor's expression turned serious. He dug through his satchel, pulling out a small medicinal bottle.
"Drink this it won't cure the cause, but it'll ease the symptoms. I'll mix up a stronger anti-nausea dose later. It should help you sleep through the worst of it."
"Th-Thank you, doctor…"
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