One Piece: I'm not Roger

Kaido's Conqueror's Haki only stalled for a brief moment before surging forward again, overwhelming everything in its path. The collision of Conqueror's Haki intensified the pressure on Ace, beads of sweat sliding down her face as her stance wavered.

"Is Kaido really going all out?"

Her Conqueror's Haki was pushed to its absolute limit, barely holding against the crushing force. Even so, it was enough for the Golden Lion, Shiki, to reassess her. The bearing of a king was something only a rare few possessed, and she truly carried Roger's bloodline.

Shiki let out a loud laugh, his voice sharp with blunt honesty.

"Don't make me laugh, girl. This isn't Kaido at full strength. He hasn't even used his Hybrid Form yet. If you pushed harder, maybe you could force him to get serious, but you're not there yet. And your Conqueror's Haki is far too weak. At your age, I was already stronger than you."

Being dismissed so harshly made Ace grit her teeth in anger.

"Stop bragging about the past, old man. Right now, you might not even beat me. Try facing reality."

Flames erupted from her body, spreading heat across the soaked battlefield until even the damp ground began to scorch.

Shiki clicked his tongue, momentarily speechless.

"You brat…"

Kaido did not give them time to argue. He lunged forward without hesitation. Whether it was Shiki or anyone else, it made no difference to him. The only one he had ever truly considered a threat, the old lion in his prime, was no longer what he used to be.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Jozu stepped forward instantly, his body turning into diamond as he crossed his arms to block.

A thunderous impact followed.

Kaido's kanabo, infused with Conqueror's Haki, slammed into Jozu, releasing violent black lightning. Jozu was sent flying out of sight in an instant, but his sacrifice created an opening.

Attacks rained down on Kaido from every direction. Sword slashes, flames, and physical strikes engulfed him, yet not a single one managed to leave a meaningful mark. Blenheim's Armament Haki infused blade shattered on contact.

"Lion, Thousand Shredded Valleys!"

Only Shiki's flying slashes managed to cut into Kaido's skin, leaving shallow wounds. Without stronger Haki, even those attacks failed to do more than scratch him.

Kaido rampaged like an ancient demon, his overwhelming durability crushing all resistance. For many of them, it felt like their attacks were meaningless.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Another swing struck Blamenco, severely injuring him. The shockwave alone forced the others to retreat, unwilling to face Kaido head on.

Even with caution, injuries began to pile up. Their formation faltered, slowly collapsing under Kaido's relentless assault.

Then, a voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Hey, this is quite the lively scene. And Shiki is here too, that's unexpected."

Kaido actually stopped.

At the harbor entrance, a man walked in carrying a small boat over his shoulder. Aether's bare upper body revealed a well-built frame, his expression relaxed despite the chaos around him. The storm had made him cautious, so he had chosen to bring his boat along rather than leave it behind.

"Roger…"

"Roger."

"Captain."

Rouge covered her mouth, her eyes trembling. The man she had longed for had finally appeared before her.

Shiki's eyes widened, excitement rising within him. He had been waiting to meet this man again. Yet before he could speak, someone else moved first.

Light footsteps echoed as a petite figure rushed forward and threw herself into Aether's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Roger, it's so good to see you again."

Aether froze for a moment, instinctively setting the boat aside. Feeling the warmth and hearing that familiar voice, he found himself at a loss, his hands hovering awkwardly.

He carried Roger's will, but he was not the same man. If he embraced her fully, would that be deceiving her?

Before he could decide, Rouge lifted her head. Her tear-filled eyes met his, soft and full of emotion. The memories within him stirred instantly.

In the end, he could not push her away.

His arms slowly wrapped around her, holding her close.

"Rouge, have you been well? I'm sorry I only came now."

His voice sounded sincere, though a trace of guilt lingered beneath it.

Rouge pressed her face against his chest, her hand gently tracing the scar on his body.

"I'm already happy. After everything, I can see Ace grown up, and you standing here again. That's enough for me. From now on, I want to stay by your side."

Around them, no one spoke. The reunion held everyone in silence.

Whitey Bay clicked her tongue and turned away.

"Tch, what a playboy."

Shiki frowned, irritation bubbling within him. Being ignored like this by his old rival was not something he appreciated, yet he held back.

Ace watched quietly, her expression complicated.

Kaido, however, had no patience for sentiment.

"Roger!"

The ground shattered as he charged forward, his kanabo raised high. Ace's expression changed immediately, but before she could warn him, Kaido was already behind Aether, swinging down with full force.

Before the strike could land, chains shot down from above.

They wrapped around Kaido instantly, glowing with a divine light. The Chain of Heaven restrained him from all directions, halting his attack.

But Kaido was no ordinary opponent.

With a surge of strength, his muscles expanded, snapping the chains apart in an instant. In less than a second, he broke free completely.

That brief moment was enough.

Aether released Rouge and stepped forward, his movement swift and precise. In the next instant, his hand slammed down onto Kaido's head, driving it into the ground.

A deafening impact followed.

The earth cracked as Kaido's horned head was forced into the ground. Rouge quickly retreated from the battlefield.

Pinned down by a single hand, Kaido trembled with rage. Veins bulged across his body as he struggled, his voice roaring with fury.

"Roger… you bastard!"

I've been dealing with exams lately, so updates have been a bit slower than usual.