Out at sea, the three Marine warships advanced at terrifying speed.
Each vessel was massive—easily three times the size of the Going Merry.
The heavy cannons mounted along their decks were enough to make anyone's scalp prickle just from looking at them.
If all three ships fired at once, the overwhelming barrage would wipe out everyone on the island in an instant.
In front of such monstrous firepower, the villagers' spontaneously formed human wall was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
A booming voice echoed from the lead warship:
"Straw Hat crew! Surrender immediately! Otherwise, we will open fire!"
The atmosphere froze solid.
"Damn it… don't those Marines see there are villagers here too?!"
"Logan, let's get out of here—now!"
Seeing Logan still standing there calmly, Nami was nearly frantic.
Logan spoke softly, his voice steady.
"No need. Leave it to me."
He glanced at the Flying Nimbus hovering nearby.
The golden cloud seemed to sense his intent instantly and zipped over.
Logan leapt high, landing atop the Nimbus as it slowly carried him upward.
Silence fell over the entire battlefield.
Everyone stared at him, utterly confused, unable to understand what he was about to do.
When Logan rose to nearly thirty meters above the ground, he looked down at the three warships and called out loudly:
"Luffy—watch carefully. This is a gift from your big brother."
Luffy's eyes sparkled as he grinned widely.
"Shishishi! Got it!"
The others, however, were even more bewildered.
Zoro and the rest had at least some understanding of Logan's strength—but the villagers had none.
Up until now, Logan had never once made a move in front of them.
No one truly knew how strong this white-haired swordsman was.
Zoro suddenly thought of a terrifying possibility…
Then immediately shook his head, rejecting the idea as absurd.
Three warships like moving mountains.
Taking them on alone?
What kind of strength would that even require?
And yet—
Despite himself, Zoro felt anticipation rising in his chest.
After witnessing Logan's sword split the sea in two, Zoro knew one thing for certain:
Logan was far stronger than him.
Perhaps his next goal shouldn't be surpassing Dracule Mihawk just yet—
But first, surpassing Logan, this peer of his.
Confusion. Anticipation. Excitement.
Under everyone's gaze—
Logan moved.
Standing atop the Flying Nimbus, he turned his body slightly, bent his knees, and planted his feet in a firm stance.
His hands came together at his waist, palms cupped.
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
He adjusted his breathing.
Gradually, his rhythm began to synchronize with the ocean itself, as if his breath had merged with the tides.
He spoke, each word slow and deliberate:
"Water Breathing—Kamehameha."
No one dared blink.
Between Logan's hands, a faint blue-white glow appeared.
In an instant, it swelled violently, forming a massive sphere of light that forced his arms apart.
Then—
Logan compressed it.
Again and again.
Until the blazing mass was reduced to the size of a watermelon, humming with terrifying energy.
He shouted—
And thrust his hands forward.
The moment it left his palms, the energy sphere surged like an unchained beast, expanding wildly.
To everyone watching, it looked as if a towering blue-white beam erupted from Logan's hands, tearing through the air—
And slamming directly into the first warship.
The beam didn't stop.
It pierced all three warships in a straight line, like skewering candied hawthorn.
BOOOOOOM—!
A thunderous explosion shook the heavens.
The sea erupted into towering waves.
Burning wreckage and shattered planks rained down everywhere.
On the warships, many Marines didn't even know what had happened.
All they saw was a blinding white light—
And then, oblivion.
A handful of lucky ones—those near the bow or stern—escaped the beam's direct path and barely survived, clinging desperately to floating debris.
The once-calm sea was now filled with screams and wails.
"What just happened?!"
"Someone tell me what the hell happened!"
Most responses came back trembling and tearful.
"We… we don't know…"
After a long moment, one Marine finally shouted with forced clarity:
"It was the Straw Hat crew! I saw it—they attacked us from the island!"
But the shock wasn't limited to the Marines.
On the island—
The villagers.
The Straw Hat crew.
Every single person stood frozen, eyes wide, minds completely blank.
Only Luffy broke the silence.
"Shishishi—HAHAHA!"
He laughed loudly, eyes shining.
"Big Brother Logan, you're amazing! Even Ace would be shocked if he saw that!"
Logan had already descended from the Flying Nimbus.
He patted Luffy on the shoulder and scolded him with a grin:
"You brat—don't forget. When we were kids, you and Ace were never my match. Only Sabo could last a few rounds with me."
"Hahaha! You're right, Big Brother!" Luffy laughed happily.
Nearby, Zoro clenched his grip on his sword.
…Wasn't he supposed to be a swordsman?
Then what the hell was that?
And in that instant—
Zoro had clearly felt Logan's breathing merge completely with the sea itself.
How did someone even do that?
No.
I have to surpass him.
From today onward—I'll train twice as hard.
Sanji lowered his head, lighting cigarette after cigarette, trying to suppress the shock boiling in his chest.
"HAHA! I knew it! Big Brother Logan is unbeatable!" Usopp shouted triumphantly, all fear of the Marines completely gone.
Nami stared at Logan, studying him carefully.
It felt like only now—only at this moment—did she truly understand what kind of man he was.
She finally understood why Logan hadn't interfered when Luffy fought Arlong.
Because this man was confident he could save Luffy under any circumstances.
Everything—
Had always been under his control.
She glanced at Luffy, who was still grinning foolishly, and sighed softly.
"These brothers… are both monsters."
Then she looked back at Logan, puzzled.
"What were you before? Don't tell me you were a pirate too?"
Before Logan could answer, Luffy jumped in proudly:
"My brother? He's a Marine! Grandpa took him to Marine Headquarters ten years ago!"
Nami's worldview shattered on the spot.
At the same time, far away at Marine Headquarters, an emergency call came in.
"This is Marine Branch 32. I am Colonel Kuri."
"Marine ID 00598."
"I am reporting an urgent situation."
"The Straw Hat crew poses an extreme threat."
"They have completely defeated the Arlong Pirates—and destroyed three Marine warships in a single attack."
"I strongly recommend headquarters immediately increase their bounties."
"Dead or alive."
"Headquarters acknowledges."
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