The two Vice Admirals were still standing in what remained of the town Garp had just erased.
Buildings lay in ruin. Fires burned in scattered pockets. Smoke drifted between broken streets. Behind them, the massive Marine ship loomed, its decks crowded with armed soldiers.
Then they heard running.
??: vice admiral Garp!
Both men turned.
Coby and Hibari were sprinting toward them through the wreckage.
Takeshi allowed himself a small smile.
Garp's booming laugh echoed.
Garp: Hey! there he is! You alright Coby!
Coby ran forward, still dragging a heavy iron ball chained to his leg.
Takeshi (thinking): it's good to know he's alright
Grus and Kujaku watched from nearby rooftops and broken streets. Helmeppo openly sobbed, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
All around them, Marines began cheering.
Marine 1: Hey Coby!
Marine 2: Captain Coby!
Coby smiled, breathless but clearly relieved.
Coby: hey you guys!
Then another voice called out.
Tashigi rushed forward from the crowd.
Helmeppo covered his face with his arm, crying harder.
Tashigi: Hey Coby! Come on let's get you home!
Coby looked around, taking in all the familiar faces.
Coby: Helmeppo, Tashigi, even people who aren't from sword are here
Takeshi's eyes drifted to the chain.
Takeshi: Hey coby! Why are you still carrying that ball and chain, break it already
Hibani: We tried vice admiral! But we couldn't break the shackle, so we had no choice but to take it with us
The temperature dropped.
Not figuratively.
The air itself turned sharp.
Frost crawled across broken stone.
Before anyone could react, ice surged over Hibari's body.
She froze mid-step.
Kujaku: Hibani!
Coby spun around.
Coby: Hibani!
He caught her before she hit the ground.
Her body was completely encased in ice.
Her expression frozen.
Coby: she's frozen solid!
The cheering died instantly.
Shock spread across every Marine's face.
They all knew.
There was only one person who could do this.
Only Garp didn't look surprised.
He looked furious.
Then a deep, cold voice rolled through the ruined town.
??: that's enough, you made a real mess of things
The cold intensified.
Ice spread outward from unseen feet.
A tall figure stood before them.
Former Admiral of the Navy.
Once called Aokiji.
Now Kuzan.
One of the Ten Titanic Captains of the Blackbeard Pirates.
Garp (deep): Kuzan
Takeshi: should've known you'd show up here
Coby stepped forward, gripping Hibari tightly.
Coby: Why Kuzan! Why are you doing this! Unfreeze Hibani right now!
Around Kuzan, pirates began cheering.
Coby's voice shook with anger and desperation.
Coby: there's no time! Please I'm begging you
Kuzan didn't react.
Kuzan: don't bother..don't get me in trouble kid, can't have you getting away, how would that look to teach
Frost drifted from his breath.
Garp's fists clenched.
His voice was heavy.
Garp: stop this Kuzan! Thaw Hibari out right now! Let Coby escape from here! Come back! To the navy!
Coby forced himself to stay calm.
Cody: please kuzan
Kuzan sighed and rubbed his head beneath his hat.
Kuzan: you never change huh, can't stop to think, you just run your mouth
Ice erupted outward.
The ground glazed over.
The air turned brutal.
Kuzan: but I'm afraid I can't help you today Garp! I'm sorry!
Takeshi moved.
Instantly.
Takeshi: you traitorous bastard!!
He launched forward, Haki surging into his fist as he drove straight for Kuzan's face.
But the former admiral caught it, like it was absolutely nothing.
Ice climbed Takeshi's arm.
Kuzan: you may have earned the rank of vice admiral, you may be stronger than most of the marines, I'll give you that, but I've faced the man you claim to hunt and the difference between you two,
The pressure exploded.
Kuzan: Is the difference between the heavens and the earth!!
Takeshi was blasted away.
His body smashed through ruined structures and collapsed streets.
He skidded through rubble and finally stopped.
He could hear Garp shouting his name.
But he already knew.
This was inevitable.
Garp was going to fight Kuzan.
As Takeshi pushed himself up, he heard something else.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Boots against stone.
He lifted his head.
And froze.
Blood-red eyes.
Burning crimson hair flowing down to his waist.
An open black jacket exposing a scarred, powerful chest.
A red sash at his waist. Identical to the one Ryo wore.
Power radiated from him like a living thing.
There was no doubt.
The man once declared dead by the World Government. Once imprisoned in Level 6 of Impel Down.
The brother of the Demon of the Sea.
The uncle of Ryo.
Hirito.
The Bloody Wolf.
He looked at Takeshi the way predators look at wounded prey.
And that's a wrap
Uh oh
