One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

"Four hundred million berries…"

Zoro repeated the number in a low voice devoid of warmth.

A sneer sharper than any blade curled across his lips as he calmly sheathed Shusui and Sandai Kitetsu, leaving only Wado Ichimonji drawn before him.

The gleaming white blade reflected the terrified expressions twisting across the Marines' faces.

"Bounties…"

"They've never been able to measure a person's true worth."

Before his words even finished—

CRACK… BOOM!

The massive mast beneath his feet suddenly exploded with the shriek of splintering wood.

Purple-black demonic aura erupted from his body like a river pouring out of the depths of hell, violently sweeping outward in every direction.

"All troops—maximum alert!!"

The Marine Vice Admiral's roar shattered the dead silence, though the tremor hidden in his voice was impossible to conceal.

He gripped his sword tightly with both hands as Armament Haki surged over the blade, turning it pitch-black.

The weapon trembled violently, emitting a strained hum as though nearing its limit.

"He's going to—"

"Attack?"

Zoro interrupted him lazily, his tone carrying almost cruel indifference.

Slightly bending his knees, the hem of his green coat whipped upward in the storm generated by his own pressure.

"I already did."

SHING—!

There was no dramatic buildup.

Only a thin, dark-purple line that silently sliced through space itself.

The figure atop the mast vanished like an illusion.

In the next instant—

Zoro appeared directly before the Vice Admiral like a phantom solidifying from shadow.

The tip of Wado Ichimonji rested precisely against the pulsing skin of the man's throat.

The Vice Admiral's pupils shrank to pinpoints.

An icy chill shot from the base of his spine straight to his skull.

He could clearly feel the cold touch of death pressing against his neck.

Sweat instantly soaked through his Justice coat.

"Your sword…"

Zoro's voice whispered beside his ear, colder than winter winds,

"…is too slow."

The blade tip flicked lightly upward.

A hair-thin line of blood appeared across the Vice Admiral's neck as a single droplet slowly rolled downward.

The deck froze in silence.

The surrounding Marines stood rigid like statues, their rifles trembling uncontrollably.

"Damn… you…"

The Vice Admiral forced the words out through clenched teeth.

Veins bulged across his forehead as every muscle in his body tightened, preparing to swing his Haki-coated blade—

But one-thousandth of a second before he could move—

SHING!

A clear sword cry rang out like a dragon's roar.

At Zoro's waist, Shusui slid halfway from its sheath on its own before being fully drawn at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

The black blade swallowed the surrounding light, becoming a crescent-shaped arc of darkness.

Slash!

A crisp snapping sound echoed out.

The Vice Admiral's sword—fully coated in Armament Haki—split cleanly in half.

Half the blade spun through the air before embedding deeply into the deck behind him with a heavy thunk.

Zoro didn't even spare him another glance.

His eyes slowly swept toward the rows of still-smoking cannons lining the warship's sides.

Pure killing intent flooded the deck like an arctic storm.

"Anyone arrogant enough to aim cannons at the Thousand Sunny…"

His voice wasn't loud.

Yet every Marine aboard felt their hearts freeze solid.

"…should be prepared to be cut down without even scraps left behind."

The moment his words fell, Zoro twisted his body sharply.

Both swords transformed into intertwining streams of light and shadow.

Shusui was dark as midnight.

Wado Ichimonji gleamed like starlight.

Purple-black aura exploded skyward from his body like a volcanic eruption, roaring like a dragon as it gradually formed a colossal tornado connecting sea and sky.

"Two Sword Style—Black Rope Dragon Twister!!!"

RUMBLEEEEE—!!!

The sword tornado erupted completely.

The screams of soldiers, the splintering of wood and steel—

Everything was swallowed by the roar of destruction.

…

When the storm finally faded—

Zoro stood alone amidst the ruins of the shattered warship.

Broken debris and the groaning remains of the hull surrounded him.

Slowly, he sheathed his swords and looked toward the sky.

High above, blue lightning and golden light still clashed violently, illuminating the clouds with every collision.

He wiped a streak of blood from his cheek.

That familiar grin filled with savage battle spirit returned once more.

"Curly-brow…"

"You better not lose to that glowing bastard."

…

CLANG—!!!

A golden photon blade collided head-on with Sanji's lightning-wreathed kick, unleashing ring-shaped shockwaves that visibly distorted the surrounding air.

The clouds overhead were ripped apart.

"Oh my… Looks like a rather troublesome monster has arrived."

Kizaru tilted his head slightly, casually glancing toward the distant direction of the Sabaody Archipelago.

The teasing smile beneath his sunglasses deepened.

His tone remained leisurely, as though commenting on a play rather than a battlefield.

"Hm?!"

Sanji's pupils contracted sharply.

His instincts screamed danger.

He had no idea why Kizaru had suddenly become distracted, but he didn't dare lower his guard for even a moment.

Kizaru's immeasurable strength and effortless composure pressed down on him like an endless ocean.

And then—

SHOOOO—!!

A white streak of light tore through the sky at supersonic speed.

Its target—

Kizaru.

But Kizaru looked almost as though he'd been waiting for it.

Without even turning around, he casually raised his crossed arms behind him.

BOOM!!!!!

The impact sounded like two mountains colliding.

The white streak revealed its true form—

The Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh.

Silver hair danced wildly behind him as he maintained a devastatingly powerful flying kick, the tip of his foot smashing directly against Kizaru's crossed elbows.

RUMBLE…

For the first time—

Kizaru was pushed back.

His body streaked backward through the sky in a trail of golden light as waves of heat rippled through the air beneath his feet.

"Ooh—!"

Even while flying backward, Kizaru still spoke in that drawn-out tone.

"Well, if it isn't the legendary Dark King Rayleigh."

"What's this? Retirement got too boring, so you decided to join the youngsters' party?"

Rayleigh calmly lowered his leg and stood in midair.

His white cloak fluttered violently in the storm winds.

"My student…"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority that cut through the battlefield.

"…is setting sail once again today."

Slowly, he reached for the hilt of the plain-looking sword at his waist.

"As for you…"

Rayleigh's gaze locked onto Kizaru.

"Don't interfere with the journey of the younger generation."

SHING!

The clear cry of a sword echoed across the heavens.

The moment the blade left its sheath, silver radiance like moonlight flowed across its surface.

Dark-red lightning crackled violently around the sword.

The fusion of supreme Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki.

BOOM!

A silver-red slash condensed to the extreme tore through the sky as though capable of splitting heaven and earth apart.

"Whoa, whoa! Isn't that greeting a little too enthusiastic?!"

For the first time, Kizaru dropped his sleepy expression.

True seriousness flashed through his eyes.

He brought both hands together as dazzling golden light condensed rapidly.

BUZZ—!

A sword made entirely of compressed photons extended into existence within his grip.

Ama no Murakumo Sword.

The blade radiated heat comparable to the core of the sun, warping the air around it.

Facing Rayleigh's heaven-splitting slash head-on—

Kizaru gripped the Ama no Murakumo Sword with both hands and swung downward with full force.

CLANG!!!!!!!!!

The two legendary blades collided.

BUZZZZZ—!!!

A destructive shockwave combining gold, silver, and crimson lightning exploded outward like a supernova.

At this moment—

Legend and Admiral stood evenly matched.

…

"Oi, Luffy. What now?"

Zoro and Sanji landed on the Thousand Sunny's deck almost simultaneously, smoke still rising from their bodies after battle.

Together, they looked toward the violently distorted sky overhead.

Every clash between silver-red and gold shook the sea itself.

"What now?"

Luffy stood at the bow with his hands on his hips.

"We can't exactly kill Kizaru, can we?"

A rare look of helpless understanding crossed his face.

Kizaru always left himself room to maneuver.

Even as an enemy, he was strangely difficult to truly hate.

"The old man can definitely get away on his own."

Luffy's eyes sharpened once more.

"If we stay here, we'll only distract him."

"So we're leaving at full speed!"

"You got it! Leave it to SUPER me!!"

Franky's booming voice echoed through the Sunny's speakers.

Inside the control room, his massive body nearly filled the entire seat as his metallic hand slammed onto a glowing blue switch.

"Behold the miracle! The Straw Hat crew's special system—"

He flashed his trademark grin of gleaming steel teeth.

"Flight Mode… ACTIVATED!!!"

BUZZZZZ—!!!

Violent energy surged from deep within the Thousand Sunny's hull.

Brilliant blue electricity spread across every inch of the ship like living veins.

Wing-like structures unfolded from both sides of the vessel while powerful thrusters rumbled to life.

A flowing blue energy field enveloped the entire ship.

Then—

The Thousand Sunny slowly lifted off the ground.

"Oh?"

High above, Kizaru glanced downward while still clashing swords with Rayleigh.

His sunglasses reflected the impossible sight of the pirate ship rising into the air.

"RAYLEIGH—!!!"

Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the sky with all his strength.

"THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THESE PAST THREE MONTHS—!!!"

His voice pierced through the explosions and reached the heavens.

Rayleigh's eyes softened slightly.

With a sudden burst of force, he pushed Kizaru back half a step before withdrawing his blade.

Then he turned toward the Thousand Sunny.

For a moment, the legendary pirate who had witnessed both Roger's era and the birth of the Great Pirate Age revealed emotions impossible to fully describe.

Pride.

Reluctance.

Nostalgia.

The sight of young dreamers charging fearlessly toward the future reminded him too much of another crew long ago.

The sea breeze brushed past his graying hair.

A faint glimmer appeared at the corner of his weathered eyes.

He said nothing more.

He simply raised his sword high toward the heavens.

A silent farewell.

A blessing passed from one era to the next.

Then his aged yet powerful voice rang clearly across the battlefield.

"Don't look back…"

"Advance toward the summit of the world!!"

"SET SAIL—!!!"

Luffy roared.

BZZZZZZT—BOOM!!!

The blue energy surrounding the Thousand Sunny surged to its peak and exploded outward.

The ship transformed into a brilliant streak of blue light, tearing through the heavens like a meteor.

Carrying the Straw Hats' determination and freedom—

It shot toward the sea of clouds and vanished beyond the horizon.

Only fading waves remained upon the ocean.

And in the sky—

Two supreme figures continued facing one another in silence.

The trail of the new era had already carved across the heavens.

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