Lightning and Light (III) / Lightning and Light (IV)

A flash of golden light burst forth, expanding dozens of times in an instant and turning into an enormous wave of sword pressure. It engulfed the gigantic Tyrannosaurus completely, sweeping it away like a roaring tsunami.

The immense golden sword pressure was like an unstoppable storm. Everywhere it passed, the sword energy swirling around it destroyed everything in its path. People and objects caught in its rampage were mercilessly blasted away, their clothes left covered in deep marks.

"What am I seeing? Such an outrageous slash... How terrifying." Standing behind Arthur, Kizaru looked up at the golden sword pressure, as dazzling as the power of his own fruit. He puckered his lips into a comical expression and spoke fearful words, though his slow tone sounded more like teasing.

"To find the person I was looking for as soon as I arrived, how lucky!" Kizaru stopped trying to call on his Den Den Mushi and walked toward Arthur with both hands in his trouser pockets.

"Ding! You have won this battle. Total victories: 54!"

The notification sounded in his mind, and the intense warmth surging through Arthur's body told him that the sword pressure had already decided the battle.

Feeling the warmth coursing through him, Arthur turned to the approaching Kizaru. Excalibur dissolved into golden light and vanished from his hand. "Marine Admiral, what can I do for you?" he asked evenly.

"How terrifying, bringing it out and putting it away so effortlessly..." Kizaru drawled teasingly. "Is it sleight of hand or Magecraft? Is it your ability, or the sword's own? Could you enlighten this old man?"

"How boring," Arthur said flatly. He took the Marine colonel's camera Den Den Mushi from his pocket, then pulled a pair of Seastone Handcuffs from his backpack and walked toward the unconscious X Drake in the distance.

"That sword pressure just now was one of the strongest slashes this old man has ever seen. And with that magnificent Golden Sword, you're already a swordsman not to be underestimated." Unbothered, Kizaru followed behind Arthur, talking to himself. "I hear you once refused to join the Marines. Though you're a bounty hunter, you could become a pirate at any time..."

"What? Are you planning to eliminate a future threat?" Arthur slowed to a stop and turned to stare at Kizaru. Golden light gathered again, and he held Excalibur in his hand.

"Don't stare at this old man like that. How terrifying!" Kizaru raised his hands slightly and teased in an infuriating tone, "Don't mind me. I was only considering the worst possibility! As long as you're not a pirate, you won't be my enemy!"

"Besides, this old man has a message from Fleet Admiral Sengoku..." Kizaru bent his tall, upright frame and whispered something in Arthur's ear.

"Rumble—"

A shell exploded, sending flames shooting into the air.

After hearing Kizaru out, Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly. Putting on a serious expression, he looked at Kizaru and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Before I answer, I have to ask: are you a Devil Fruit user?" Kizaru looked as lazy as ever.

"What do you think?!" Arthur's lips curled slightly as he raised the Seastone Handcuffs in his hand.

"Seastone Handcuffs made by the science division. Fleet Admiral Sengoku is certainly generous." Kizaru puckered his lips, his surprised smile turning sarcastic. "Since you're not a Devil Fruit user, would you like to take a gamble? It's a fruit from the World Government's collection, one that isn't in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia."

"Say no more. I agree!" Arthur said firmly. "I'll do everything I can in this war."

Chapter 75: Lightning and Light (III)

Arthur had never expected the story to develop this way.

The Paramount War was coming—

To defeat the Whitebeard Pirates and win the war, the Marines had not only summoned one hundred thousand elite Marines, a combined force of the Shichibukai, the three Admirals, and sixteen Marine Vice Admirals, but had even sent Kizaru to invite him personally. In return, they offered a mysterious fruit granted by the World Government, one not recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.

In exchange, Arthur had to do everything he could and take part in the war.

Just how badly did the Marines want to bring down the mountain that was Whitebeard?!

"Will I be paid afterward for the enemies I kill on the battlefield?" Arthur asked after agreeing.

"How terrifying. This is the first time this old man has met someone so greedy. No wonder you became a bounty hunter." Kizaru seemed frightened by Arthur's words, putting on a scared expression as he teasingly replied, "It's a mysterious fruit with a peculiar shape. There's no telling whether it's a Zoan, Paramecia, or Logia, or whether it's powerful or weak. Which it turns out to be depends on your luck. Besides, that fruit is your payment. Even if you kill Whitebeard, there won't be any bounty."

The implication was clear: take it or leave it!

"Is that so?" Arthur pondered for a moment, then nodded. "All right! But while I promise to do everything I can, I won't throw away my life to kill anyone."

At that, Kizaru curled his lip in what might have been either mockery or disdain. "If you're willing to die for justice, the Marines will make an exception and erect a memorial for you in the martyrs' cemetery."

"Heh..." Arthur smiled without answering.

"Then we have a deal!" Kizaru raised his hand and looked at the Den Den Mushi on his wrist. "Once this business is over, come back to headquarters with me."

"All right. Then I'll go take care of a few Supernovas. After all, I've been hired by you Marines!" Arthur said with a smile, brandishing the Seastone Handcuffs in his hand.

"Young people these days are truly terrifying." Watching Arthur walk away, Kizaru repeated his catchphrase, then called on the Den Den Mushi on his wrist. "Moshi moshi~~ Sentomaru, you can start now..."

Click—

The sounds of a lock snapping shut and a photograph being taken rang out together. Arthur put the Seastone Handcuffs on X Drake, and the camera Den Den Mushi on his shoulder promptly photographed the unconscious pirate.

"Enjoy your stay in Impel Down." Arthur repeated his usual sly remark, then waved to a Marine nearby. "He's yours now. If someone rescues him or he escapes, it has nothing to do with me."

"Yes, sir!" The Marine ran over and saluted, then called a colleague over. Together, they carried X Drake swiftly out of the area.

"Has it already been cleaned up? Good!"

Watching the two Marines disappear, Arthur stood where he was, seemingly staring into space. In truth, he was using Observation Haki (A++) to observe the entire Sabaody Archipelago.

There were the fleeing Supernovas, the On Air Pirates, Drake Pirates, and Fallen Monk Pirates holding discussions, and the Pacifistas that had already found the other Supernovas and were attacking wanted pirates throughout the Lawless Zone indiscriminately...

Unless they possessed the Voice of All Things or some other special fruit ability, no one could detect Arthur's surveillance through his supreme Observation Haki (A++).

Not even an Admiral!

Although he had fought "Roar of the Sea" Scratchmen Apoo and "Red Flag" X Drake one after the other, Arthur had kept part of his attention on Nami and Robin throughout.

Before the chaos could spread, the king's horse had followed Arthur's orders and taken Nami and Robin back to the Dong Stallion, clearing away all the bodies of those killed by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power in the process.

Under Arthur's surveillance, everyone apart from Luffy and his companions who had seen the bodies near the Dong Stallion had met a violent death, leaving the matter unknown to others.

"Bang, bang—"

Was it a coincidence? Or the story's power to set itself right?!

Gunshots suddenly rang out beside him. Arthur easily dodged the bullets like a phantom and walked in one direction, a thoughtful look on his face.

The pirate hiding in a corner of a building widened his eyes, seemingly unable to understand how the Knight of Knights had dodged his assassination attempt.

Little did he know that Arthur's divided attention and inability to deal with him had spared his life.

Sabaody Archipelago, area 33.

The Straw Hat Pirates, who had gathered together because a Celestial Dragon had been killed, encountered someone on their way back to the Thousand Sunny.

"I've wanted to meet you for a long time, Monkey D. Luffy—"

"Huh?!"

"Huh? Franky was here? Where is he now?!"

On the deck of the Dong Stallion in area 41, Nami and Robin looked at Arthur as he returned. Nami spoke in some surprise.

"Ah... He's already gone to find his captain." Arthur handed Nami a voucher. "This is a voucher for 198 million Beli. Once things settle down, take it to the Marines and exchange it."

"Arthur... are you all right?!" Nami did not take the voucher. Instead, his words reminded her of the Celestial Dragon's death, and she asked anxiously.

"Don't worry. Aside from the three of us, no one else will know about it." Arthur ruffled Nami's orange hair and smiled reassuringly.

"That's good..."

Nami breathed a sigh of relief and did not ask Arthur about the details.

Even if she had questions, it was not a convenient time to ask.

"Once this incident settles down, I'm going to Marine Headquarters. As for the reason, you'll find out in a few days," Arthur told Nami and Robin. "In a little while, take the Dong Stallion and leave the Sabaody Archipelago. Dong Stallion will show you the way back to Water 7. I'll come find you in about a month."

"Then where are you going now?"

"To help this ship's 'father,' in another identity..."

Chapter 76: Lightning and Light (IV)

As evening drew near, the bustling, corrupt Sabaody Archipelago went from peace to unrest, and from unrest to chaos.

With the culprit a mystery, the blame fell on the entire Lawless Zone and every pirate who had landed there.

A war that was neither particularly large nor small broke out in the Sabaody Archipelago.

The murder of a Celestial Dragon had brought a major purge to the Sabaody Archipelago.

With supreme Observation Haki (A++), Arthur could watch the entire Sabaody Archipelago from a god's-eye view without anyone noticing.

While cooperating with the Marines, Arthur, the murderer of the Celestial Dragon, was also closing every loophole.

First, he could not allow anyone to discover the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power. Apart from Luffy and his companions, Arthur had eliminated everyone who had seen the bodies near the Dong Stallion.

To guard against the ever-present Cipher Pol, Arthur had also shattered the lightning-scorched ground near the Dong Stallion, making it look like a battlefield damaged by brute force.

From then on, apart from Arthur and his two companions, no one would know that the Celestial Dragon's killer was the Knight of Knights, a man hired by the Marines who had been earning money from both the Marines and the government.

Sabaody Archipelago, area 12.

Though a butterfly had stirred up events, the world seemed determined to restore their original course.

After meeting Rayleigh in area 33, Luffy and his crew had still followed the original story's path. At Shakky's Rip-off Bar in area 13, they heard stories about the Pirate King and got to know Rayleigh. They then prepared to return to the Thousand Sunny, only to be attacked by a Pacifista in area 12.

Having barely managed to defeat one Pacifista after an exhausting struggle, the worn-out Straw Hat Pirates faced an unprecedentedly desperate situation.

Pacifista PX-4, Pacifista PX-1, Sentomaru, and Admiral Kizaru versus the Straw Hat Pirates.

A single Pacifista had already forced the Straw Hat Pirates to give their all. Now there were two more, along with Admiral Kizaru, a man on the same level as Aokiji, who had brought them despair and suffocation on that uninhabited island.

This was a battle between hopelessly mismatched opponents, with no chance of victory.

It began with a crushing onslaught!

"Whoosh—"

Dazzling golden light tore through the air with a piercing whistle and pierced Zoro's shoulder in an instant.

"Rumble—"

The laser passed through his shoulder bone and struck a spot dozens of meters behind him.

A tremendous explosion sent dust swirling into the air, and the Straw Hat Pirates felt the air behind them tremble.

"Taken down in one move? Roronoa Zoro, the 'Pirate Hunter' with a bounty of 120 million Beli. I heard you were an exceptional swordsman, yet you couldn't dodge. It seems your body has accumulated quite a few injuries." Countless golden photons gathered, forming the glittering figure of Kizaru. He pursed his lips, showing no shame over his sneak attack.

"Ah..."

Sweat streamed down Zoro's cheeks. Only after a delay did he cry out in pain, his struck shoulder hanging limply. With sheer willpower, he forced himself not to release his weapon and dropped to one knee.

At that moment, his body, gravely injured after taking on all of Luffy's wounds at Thriller Bark, finally reached its limit.

"Zoro!!"

"Zoro!!"

"Zoro, are you all right?! How are you?!"

"Mr. Zoro was hit by a light beam! Th-th-th... that's terrifying!!"

"..."

The Glint-Glint Fruit's laser was too fast. Not only had Zoro's pain been delayed, but Luffy and the others had also taken a while to react.

Seeing Zoro struck down in an instant, Usopp and the others cried out in alarm.

Luffy and Sanji, meanwhile, stared at Kizaru, their foreheads covered in sweat.

"Old man, you're late," Sentomaru said as he approached with a great axe over his shoulder and two Pacifistas following behind him.

"I was held up for a little while. Thanks for the effort, Sentomaru..." Kizaru apologized without any sincerity, pursing his lips as he spoke slowly. "To take down a Pacifista, you truly are the Straw Hat Pirates who escaped a Buster Call. Having to face such formidable pirates as soon as I arrive is terrifying."

"Swish—"

"In that case, I'll just have to use a sneak attack!"

Turning into golden light, Kizaru shot forward. His tall, upright figure appeared before the badly injured Zoro in an instant. He raised his right foot, and a mass of photons gathered into a ball of light.

"Goodbye, Roronoa Zoro, the 'Pirate Hunter' with a bounty of 120 million Beli." Looking down at Zoro, who was gritting his teeth and could barely keep his eyes open against the golden glare, Kizaru lazily pronounced his death.

Then, as Luffy and the others stared with wide eyes, he slowly brought his foot down.

Boom!!!