Naval Headquarters Major Peacock.
She possessed the Paramecia Whip Fruit ability—able to command anything struck by her whip. Even a building would obey her will if hit.
Her ability shared similarities with Perona's Ghost Fruit and Sugar's toy fruit, brushing against the edges of reality itself.
Even someone far stronger than Peacock would be incapacitated by a single strike.
Relying on this power, combined with her bold, S-character personality, she dared to challenge foes at the Shichibukai level—or even higher.
However…
The battle hadn't even begun before it was already decided.
She never had the chance to deploy her Whip Fruit. Seawater tentacles erupted from the sky, wrapping around her. The elemental energy of the sea instantly suppressed the formidable Major. She could only watch as Juvia seized her weapon.
"Who do you think you are, trying to instruct my guild's president? Listen carefully—the president is the only one allowed to teach!" Juvia said, her tone stern.
With that, she handed Peacock's whip over to Sugisawa Yuuto.
At first, it seemed as though Juvia was offering Yuuto the chance to discipline Peacock.
Then the unexpected happened.
Juvia bent forward, raising her small leather drum, and smiled eagerly.
"Come on, President… don't hold back! Teach Juvia all you've got~"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Nami blinked. "?"
Vivi: "??"
Skylark: "Wow~"
Hina: "..."
Yuuto: "..."
Looking at the whip in his hand and Juvia's expectant gaze, Yuuto couldn't help but consider it. Were there no witnesses, he might have indulged.
"Okay, okay, that's enough!" Mira Jane quickly covered her face and dragged Juvia away.
The seawater tentacles binding Peacock dissipated, and the weakened Major collapsed onto the deck.
"Peacock! Are you alright?" Skylark and Hina rushed forward.
"I… I'm fine," Peacock replied. Slowly regaining her strength, she rose to her feet.
"The girl from before… what just happened? How did she do that?" Peacock whispered in disbelief, her refined face pale with shock. This was the first time she had encountered someone capable of controlling water itself.
"Logia Fruit ability," Hina said carefully, enunciating each word. She had learned the term from agents of the Locke Work Agency.
Previously, she had doubted such a power could exist—it seemed absurd. How could a Devil Fruit, hated by the sea, manipulate water itself?
But after seeing Juvia's attack with her own eyes… even Hina had to acknowledge the impossibility had become reality.
"Logia Fruit… how can such a power exist?" Peacock exclaimed.
"In this sea, nothing is impossible, Miss Peacock," Yuuto said with a faint smile, returning the whip.
Even now, Peacock had lost all fighting spirit, her mind reeling from the existence of the Shui Shui Fruit.
"President Sugisawa… is that really a Devil Fruit?" Skylark asked, curiosity edging her voice.
"Hmph. That's a guild secret. If you want to know, become a partner. There are unexpected surprises waiting for you!" Yuuto laughed.
"No… no thanks! I don't want to know!" Skylark shrank back timidly.
Yuuto chuckled, letting the matter drop, and turned his attention to the continuing duel between Erza and Gion.
"Elusa, we're about to leave!" he called.
"I understand!" Erza replied, acknowledging him.
"What do you mean? Because you're leaving, you expect a quick decision?" Gion's voice carried across the mast.
"Yes." Erza's calm nod did not waver.
"I admit I underestimated you initially… but you should know that our strength is comparable. A clear winner won't be determined quickly!" Gion declared, silver teeth gritted, swinging her blade to prove her point.
Erza remained still, waiting. When Gion closed within ten meters, she finally acted.
"Change—Armor of Purgatory!"
The heavy black armor enveloped her form, radiating immense oppressive energy. Gion's pupils constricted at the sudden shift. Evading now was impossible—only to clash.
Boom!
Erza's serrated, pitch-black heavy blade crashed into Gion's Jinpiluo. A dull, resounding thud rippled through the air, visible shockwaves spreading like waves across the atmosphere.
Whoosh! Boom!
Even Gion, an Admiral candidate, could not withstand the Purgatory Armor's ultimate power. Her hands cracked despite Armament Haki, blood spatters marking the strike. The saber energy pushed her downward, and the warship beneath them groaned under the force.
"The warship… it's… split!" sailors shouted in horror.
"Vice Admiral Gion! Are you alright?"
Coughing violently, Gion gripped the lower deck, then leapt upward, her face pale, shock and disbelief written in every line.
"You are a formidable opponent," she gasped. "I won this time because you were unfamiliar with my power. Next time… we'll fight again!"
Erza leapt back to the Fairy Tail deck.
"Yeah! I did it! As expected of Erza!" Nami cheered, high-fiving her.
"Even Momousagi Vice Admiral couldn't handle her… Erza is incredible!" Vivi exclaimed, eyes wide in admiration.
"How is that possible?" murmured two sailors, "Miss Gion… she really lost?"
"We're about to leave. If you're ready, you can join us," Yuuto said with a playful smile.
Hina's complexion changed. She hurriedly pulled Peacock and Skylark away, muttering, "We… we'll go…"
Yuuto paused, then cleared his throat.
"Go back and tell your lords: if they want to challenge us, they'd better send at least two Admirals next time."
He opened his Haki.
Slap!
Hina staggered, saying nothing more, and fled in a hurry.
"Hahaha, let's go!" Yuuto laughed as Fairy Tail set sail, gradually drifting away under the awestruck eyes of the Marines.