"As an Admiral of the Marines, I always fail to save the people I should save…" Kuzan muttered, a layer of frost spreading across his shoulders as his voice trailed away.
He bent down and carefully lifted the severed head of Kan Lan. Placing it back with the body, he sealed them together with a thick sheet of ice. His gaze lingered on the lifeless eyes of the Lieutenant Commander.
"I will avenge you," Kuzan whispered solemnly.
Then, without hesitation, he spread his hands, and frost swirled outward like a storm.
"Ice Time Capsule!"
The Marines who had only just begun to stir, thawing from his earlier ice, were instantly sealed back in frozen stillness.
Kuzan's thoughts churned. From Kan Lan's bizarre death, he had realized something.
Perhaps those Marines trapped inside Shirogai Yamikuro's strange ability had truly died inside that twisted world. The illusion, or whatever it was, erased their memory of dying. Their fear was so absolute that when reality caught up and the memory of their deaths resurfaced, their bodies collapsed under the weight of it.
That meant he couldn't allow the others to awaken normally. If he could get them back to Marineford quickly, there were Devil Fruit users within the government who could tamper with memories. Maybe, just maybe, he could save them that way.
His jaw tightened.
As for Borsalino… he had no idea if the man was alive or dead.
A sudden flare of golden light cut across the treeline. Kuzan froze, squinting as the air itself seemed to split apart like a curtain. A dim afterglow spilled onto the ground, then sealed again as the figure of Admiral Kizaru materialized.
"Cough… cough, cough…"
Borsalino staggered, bracing himself against a tree. His usually lazy voice came hoarse and ragged.
Kuzan's expression sharpened. "Borsalino. Where were you just now? Your stamina's almost completely drained… did you burn yourself out?"
"Oh dear~~ Kuzan… how terrifying!" Kizaru wheezed, dragging himself down to sit against the trunk. His voice, though exhausted, still carried that mocking drawl. "You can't even imagine what this old man just went through…"
Kuzan frowned deeply.
"In that twisted world," Kizaru continued, "the one Shirogai pulled us into… it wasn't just this island. There were others, all destroyed by the World Government, their remains scattered. And the monsters there…" He trailed off, shuddering, before forcing a strained laugh. "If this old man's body hadn't fused properly, I wouldn't have come back at all."
"Wait." Kuzan stepped closer, his tone cutting. "Borsalino. Do you… have any memory of dying?"
Kizaru tilted his head back and let out a strange laugh. "Memories of death? How frightening. No, no, no. Those shattered corpses couldn't harm me. Perhaps when my body vanished from this world, I accidentally dragged it into that place instead."
Kuzan exhaled a slow breath of relief. At least Borsalino seemed intact. Still, he told him about the sudden collapse of nine Marines, and then Kan Lan's bizarre end.
Kizaru fell silent, then sighed. "Then it's true. That world isn't just an illusion. It exists, in another dimension entirely. The creatures I saw there… their strength was monstrous."
Both Admirals stood in uneasy silence.
At last, Kizaru murmured, "That monster… Shirogai Yamikuro… must have already left this place. If he were still here, he'd be trapped the same way as us. That's the only good news. At least his ability doesn't discriminate between friend and foe."
Kuzan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Even so, his ability is too bizarre. A large-scale, widespread attack, spread through mist, completely unpreventable."
"This old man experienced it firsthand. Ordinary people don't stand a chance."
They exchanged a long look, each seeing the same unease mirrored in the other's eyes.
Kizaru scratched his temple with exaggerated slowness. "How terrifying. If Shirogai used that ability in a populated World Government port, or even from the shore, he could pull entire islands into that nightmare. Marineford itself…"
"Don't say it lightly," Kuzan cut in, voice grim. But the thought chilled him to the core.
Kizaru stood, his tone shifting heavy. "That fellow Shirogai is too dangerous. From this moment, I'll classify his threat level on par with a Yonko, and report it directly to the Gorosei."
Kuzan's gaze hardened. "Tell them the truth. Two Admirals confronted The Plunderer, and we still couldn't deal effective damage. If they doubt the Marines, let them send Cipher Pol themselves."
Kizaru smirked faintly. "Heh~~ If trouble arises then, it won't be our responsibility."
Kuzan cast his eyes skyward, a rare trace of frustration flashing in his otherwise cold demeanor. "What an irritating day…"
---
Jaya Island, Mock Town – Inside a Tavern
"Those guys are just too annoying!"
Nami slammed her hands onto the bar, cheeks puffed with indignation.
Beside her, Zoro tilted back a bottle, gulping down the cheap ale without a care. Luffy, meanwhile, sat at the counter with utensils ready, bouncing in his seat like a child waiting for dinner.
"Hehehe!" Luffy grinned wide, tilting his head. "Don't be mad, Nami! Food's coming! Boss, hurry up!"
The three had only just escaped from a heated encounter at a hotel with Sarquiss, Bellamy's arrogant vice-captain. Sarquiss had mocked their shabby appearance, calling them penniless beggars. His woman, Lili, had added her sneer, calling them "stink bugs."
Luffy, unfazed, even asked Nami if he could punch Sarquiss, which only made the man laugh louder. Sarquiss tossed a handful of banknotes at the floor, telling Luffy to buy proper clothes. Luffy, in his usual foolish innocence, almost picked them up with a grin until Nami dragged him away furiously.
Now, here they were, cooling off in the noisy tavern of Mock Town.
The owner, polishing a glass behind the counter, chuckled at Nami's sulking expression. "Little miss, you'll have to get used to it. In Mock Town, money makes the rules. Rich pirates are the bosses, poor pirates get laughed at."
Nami's brow twitched. In her heart, she scoffed.
"Hmph! Who says we don't have money? We just scored a chest of gold! We're not broke at all. But…"
Her eyes narrowed as she clenched her jaw. Careless spending was another story. Berries had to be stretched, bargained, saved. That was the way of survival. These fools throwing away money like scraps made her stomach twist in irritation.
Zoro let out a low chuckle at her expression.
Luffy, oblivious as always, slammed his fists on the counter again. "FOOD! Hurry up, Boss!"
The tavern's air buzzed with laughter, arguments, and drunken songs, the perfect backdrop for the storm that was about to descend on Mock Town.
---
Thanks for the support <(￣︶￣)>