Morgan's Fury

A dojo in the town.

A squad of Marines stood guard outside the dojo.

Hina entered without much obstruction. Clearly, they had received instructions beforehand.

"Hypnotist" Jango and "Iron Fist" Fullbody followed behind Hina with solemn expressions. Though puzzled as to why former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr and the Neo Marines under his command were here, they said nothing.

Not long after entering the dojo, they saw Smoker sitting there, his silver hair slicked back, wearing a large coat emblazoned with "Justice" and a pair of sunglasses as he puffed away at his cigar.

"Smoker, you got here pretty early, didn't you?" Hina said with a smile, casually finding a seat beside the smoking Smoker.

Hypnotist Jango and Iron Fist Fullbody knowingly stood some distance away from Hina, not disturbing her reunion.

"I just got here too, not much earlier than you. I haven't seen Instructor Z yet either. They said he went out and would be back later," Smoker said flatly, a cigar clenched between his teeth.

"I heard you applied for a transfer to the Navy's G-5 Branch in the New World? What were you thinking?" Hina could not understand Smoker's transfer request. Staying at Headquarters would naturally have been better, yet he had applied to go to the only branch in the New World.

"I have my own reasons. It'll put me closer to the goal I'm pursuing." Thinking of the Straw Hat Pirates, who had already gone to the New World, Smoker's eyes gleamed with determination.

Seeing that Smoker had already made up his mind, Hina found it difficult to say much more. Remembering some rumors about the G-5 Branch, she said, "I heard the people at G-5 are a particularly unruly bunch of Marines. Fitting in and leading them may prove difficult."

"It's fine. I can handle it," Smoker said.

"By the way, where's Tashigi?" Hina asked. As far as she knew, Tashigi had been transferred along with Smoker.

"Once we got here, she said she wanted to take a look around town."

Meanwhile, on a street in town.

"They brought destruction upon the residents. It is only right that I stop them." Tashigi's expression was solemn. "And you, as a fugitive from the Marines, I am placing you under arrest."

"Arrest me? Hahaha." Morgan laughed in fury. "You think you can arrest me? You really don't know your place."

Tashigi remained resolute, without the slightest hesitation, as she swung her sword at Morgan.

The sharp blade tore through the air and collided with Morgan's hand axe.

Clang!

Morgan blocked Tashigi's attack easily with his axe, his expression unchanged.

Tashigi unleashed her exquisite swordsmanship as well, launching a rapid barrage of strikes.

Sword light flashed like blades of wind, leaving trail after trail of marks on the ground.

Then Morgan's aura abruptly changed. In the years since he had escaped while being escorted by the hero Garp, his strength had improved greatly.

And in his eyes, Tashigi was nothing more than a little girl.

After all, he had already been a colonel years ago, all because of the Straw Hat Pirates.

Thinking of that made Morgan even more displeased, and his attacks became fiercer still.

Several times, Tashigi nearly got injured by Morgan's axe.

Bang!

Tashigi dodged another of Morgan's strikes and retreated beside the statue.

Before she could catch her breath, Morgan's next attack arrived. His axe, carrying overwhelming force, chopped toward Tashigi.

Tashigi's face changed. She moved at high speed, hurriedly darting aside.

Soru!

Morgan's axe struck the cart carrying the statue. With a crack, the wheels shattered, and the towering statue began to sway after losing its balance.

Then, before Morgan's savage expression, it toppled over. The statue crashed heavily onto the ground, sending dust flying everywhere.

After the dust settled, the people saw that the ground had been cracked apart and the statue's head had broken off.

"No!!!"

Morgan's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth grinding audibly, and an uncontrollable rage burned in his eyes like that of an enraged lion. He snarled furiously, "You deserve to die! That was the embodiment of my power, a symbol of greatness! You destroyed it, so I'll destroy you!"