Chapter 23: Face-to-Face with an Admiral — Aokiji!
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 1
Rok had barely finished dismantling the two Pacifista when far more dangerous opponents arrived.
Admiral Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji appeared one after the other, stepping into the ruined grove.
"The Straw Hats have grown this much already…?"
Aokiji's lazy eyes flickered with surprise as he looked at the headless Pacifista.
The Straw Hat crew was definitely the most talked-about rookie pirates lately, but that didn't mean their overall strength was supposed to be this high.
From everything he knew about Luffy and the others, taking out two Pacifista in seconds should have been impossible for them right now.
Even a genius like Straw Hat Luffy couldn't jump levels that fast.
"It's Admiral Aokiji!!!"
Robin's face paled the instant she saw him.
He was one of the biggest shadows of her life— the man who once turned her into an ice statue without breaking a sweat.
"Ara ara, Nico Robin… I heard the Straw Hats turned Enies Lobby upside down just to save you. Should I congratulate you… or feel sorry for you?"
"You've all committed an unforgivable atrocity this time. I suggest you stop resisting."
Aokiji scratched his cheek, giving an awkward laugh.
For various reasons, he really didn't want to arrest either Luffy or Robin.
But this incident was on a completely different level.
Anyone caught today was getting the death sentence— no exceptions, no mercy.
World Government orders were absolute. Not even Fleet Admiral Sengoku could bend them.
He almost wanted to sigh.
How lawless were these kids? Killing a Celestial Dragon?
In the entire eight-hundred-year history of the world, events this severe could be counted on one hand.
"Robin-nee, Nami—tell everyone to scatter and run! Two Admirals is too much. But if I'm right, the real Bartholomew Kuma is on the island. He's our only way out."
"I'll hold one Admiral back. The rest is up to you!"
Seeing Kizaru and Aokiji closing in, Rok knew he had to act.
If he didn't, none of them—himself included—were leaving alive.
After quietly passing the message to Robin and Nami, he stepped forward, Undead resting on his shoulder, and planted himself between the Straw Hats and the two Admirals.
"Rok!!"
"Rok-kun!"
Both women reached out to stop him, but he didn't even look back.
Worry filled their eyes.
They had seen how strong he was today— stronger than anyone in the crew, probably even Luffy and Zoro combined.
But these were the highest combat forces of the Navy.
"Aokiji, Kizaru."
Rok stood tall, hands on his cursed blade, staring down two Admirals without an ounce of fear.
"Let's be perfectly clear: I'm the one who killed the Celestial Dragon. I'm not a Straw Hat."
"So you've got the wrong target."
He said it loud and clear— partly to take full responsibility, partly to give the two Admirals an excuse to "slack off."
Neither had attacked immediately.
That meant, for whatever reason, they didn't actually want the Straw Hats dead.
But two Admirals hunting one rookie crew? If they let even one escape, the World Government would have their heads.
Rok was handing them a perfect scapegoat.
"Oh? Some random scary kid appears out of nowhere How terrifying"
Kizaru narrowed his eyes, a glint of killing intent flashing beneath the sarcasm.
He began to glow— Flash!
But before he could move, Aokiji raised a hand.
"I'll take the main culprit, Borsalino. You handle the Straw Hats."
No discussion.
Aokiji didn't give Kizaru a choice.
With a casual wave, an overwhelming wave of freezing mist exploded outward.
In an instant— a massive dome of ice imprisoned both him and Rok, cutting them off from the outside world.
"ROK!!!"
Robin cried out as the ice walls sealed shut.
That was Aokiji's domain.
Inside pure ice, Rok would be finished in minutes!
"Run! Everyone—trust Rok! He'll be fine!"
Surprisingly, Luffy was the first to snap out of it.
He grabbed his crew and bolted, forcing them to scatter.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help.
After today, Luffy finally understood how far they still had to go.
Against real monsters, they were still too weak.
Staying would only get in Rok's way— or worse, get everyone killed.
And deep down… Luffy had a feeling.
That confident bastard would be just fine.
…
Inside the ice prison
The walls were thick. Aokiji had deliberately made it impossible for anyone outside to see or hear.
"Ara ara… why the mask? Hiding your identity?"
"Bounty: 100 million berries. Most-wanted criminal… Douglas D. Rok."
Aokiji dropped the name casually, but his sleepy eyes turned sharp.
He'd felt something familiar from the start— and the way Rok had said "Admiral Kuzan" confirmed it.
So Vice Admiral Garp's intel was right.
Rok really was here.
And this history-shaking atrocity? All his doing.
"Guess I couldn't fool you, Admiral Kuzan."
Rok saw no point in hiding anymore.
Against an Admiral, disguises were useless anyway.
He slowly removed the Sogeking mask, revealing his strikingly handsome face.
"Long time no see. And to be clear—even if you gave me a do-over, I'd still kill every last one of those evil Celestial Dragons."
"So tell me, Admiral Kuzan…"
Rok gripped Undead tighter, eyes burning with defiance.
"What are you going to do now?"
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