"Heh… still this strong, Zephyr."
Shiki's laughter faded.
With a clang, his twin swords slid back into their sheaths.
"Let's end it here."
Zephyr's fists remained clenched, though his shoulders relaxed slightly.
He knew—
He could not guarantee victory.
"Sensei…" Gern stepped forward, but Zephyr stopped him with a glance.
Shiki noticed.
And laughed.
"KSHHAHAHA!"
He floated upward, golden hair blazing in the sunset.
Then he looked down at Gern.
"Where did that courage go, brat?"
The stench of blood filled the air.
"What was your name? Gern?" Shiki sneered.
"I thought you were interesting."
"I didn't come for that trash pirate."
"I came because I heard you faced Newgate."
"But now?"
"Other than that surprise punch—"
"You're not even worth taking seriously."
"A kid without Conqueror's Haki… facing Whitebeard?"
"Don't make me laugh."
"Newgate spared your life—
just like I am now!"
Humiliation cut deeper than any blade.
Sakazuki's magma surged—
Zephyr stopped him.
Zephyr turned to Gern.
He knew his student too well.
Proud.
Unyielding.
Never backing down.
"Not angry?" Shiki mocked, descending closer.
He flicked a finger.
A stone scraped across Gern's cheek, drawing blood.
"Remember this."
"When you see my flag again—"
"Crawl away like a dog."
Something broke.
The world went silent.
That sentence echoed endlessly.
The slums of the West Blue.
Rotten bread.
Lowered heads.
Survival.
Was he supposed to return to that?
Gern laughed.
Slowly, he raised his head.
Blood-stained grin.
"I reject your rules."
The air froze.
"What—?!" Shiki turned sharply.
Gern stood straight.
"I'm here."
"That means I am the protagonist now."
"And the rules—
are mine."
Then—
Conqueror's Haki erupted.
The earth cracked.
Stones levitated.
The sky split open.
Zephyr and Sakazuki staggered back in shock.
Shiki's cloak shredded apart.
Zephyr's glasses cracked.
Conqueror's Haki.
Born not of bloodline—
But from crushed dignity reborn as will.
"Kings do not bow?" Gern stepped forward.
"Then let's see—
who kneels."
Black-red lightning coiled around him.
White vibration merged with it.
Eight Desolations resonated.
Dark crimson patterns spread across the blade.
Thunder split the sky.
A monster—
Awoke.
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