A luxury ship exclusive to the Celestial Dragons lineage quietly floated over the endless blue.
Following Daemon's orders, the crew had already dispersed, leaving the deck empty except for one man.
A flash of golden light split the air.
Three figures appeared before Daemon.
At the head stood a woman around 1.8 meters tall, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall to her waist.
Her features were sharp, delicate, yet carried an unmistakable strength.
She wore a black undershirt layered with white feathered weave, a long sword resting at her side—a wandering swordsman, in every sense.
Yamamoto Mei—
A traveler from the World of the Bleach, with her own legend.In the group chat, she'd gained the ability [Straight Death].
Her sword's true nature remained unknown, but Daemon knew better than to underestimate her.
Behind her stood two familiar faces.
The first, in a crisp white military uniform and high boots, was none other than Esdeath, the Ice Queen, her long blue hair flowing like silk down to her calves.
Next to her, a beautiful girl with golden blonde hair in a JK uniform fidgeted nervously—
Erina Nakiri.
"This is... another world? And that man... he's Daemon?"
Erina, who hadn't caught the live broadcasts, stared at Daemon with wide, curious eyes.
A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she snuck glances at him.
Remembering her reckless thoughts—and her grandfather's stern advice—she quickly looked away, heart pounding.
"Hah... the air in the One Piece world is different."
Esdeath took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, her battle-hungry gaze locking onto Daemon.
"The energy here is stronger than back home... Hey, how about we warm up with a fight?"
"No need to rush."
Yamamoto Mei lightly stopped the battle-hungry general, her voice as calm as flowing water.
She turned her head slightly toward Daemon, curiosity flashing in her dark eyes.
"All this... for the sake of Portgas D. Rouge? Isn't it a bit much?"
Daemon's smile was warm, almost gentle.
"For her? No. Even if she's Roger's wife, I wouldn't mobilize this much power just for her."
He stretched lazily, his voice relaxed.
"I'm testing a new Phantasm, hunting the legendary Golden Lion to forge a new relic, and announcing my king's return to the world... Rouge just happened to be caught in the tide."
"...I see."
Yamamoto Mei nodded, her face as indifferent as ever.She wasn't about to question Daemon's ruthlessness.
After all, she too had once stood atop privilege in the Soul Society, far removed from the plight of commoners.
As for Esdeath—
for her, strength determined everything.
Men, women, the weak—none of it mattered. Only the strong deserved her recognition.
Even Erina, the young girl standing silently beside them, slowly began to understand.
Daemon's methods seemed cruel.
But... wasn't she the same?
In her world, her "God's Tongue" could destroy a chef's lifetime of effort with a single harsh critique.Ruining lives wasn't new to her—it was simply dressed in a different form.
The realization hit her like a soft breeze.
We're all rotten, in our own ways.
A smile tugged at the corner of Erina's lips.
Her heart, previously nervous around Daemon, finally settled.Maybe being Daemon's "personal chef" wasn't so bad after all...
Especially when this world was overflowing with ingredients beyond imagination.
In just a few days, she'd seen beasts and sea kings she couldn't have dreamed of.
It was heaven for a gourmet.
—
Under the blazing sun, Daemon and the others lounged lazily on deck chairs, savoring Erina's exquisite desserts.
"The South Sea's close," Daemon said with a satisfied stretch.
"Finally," Esdeath grinned, crossing her long legs.
Her icy gaze locked onto him again.
"Come on, a little warm-up fight? I'm itching for it."
Daemon frowned slightly.
"This is the second time you've asked. You want another beating?"
"Well, battle maniacs will be battle maniacs."
Yamamoto Mei chuckled, resting her chin in her hand.
Her fighting spirit wasn't any lower.
"As the fastest soul reaper in the Soul Society—even Yoruichi, the Flash Goddess, can't outmatch me. I want to see what your 'Hercules' Belt' can really do."
Daemon sighed and stood up, gently pulling the still-bewildered Erina behind him.
"You want a live broadcast too?"
"I'm in," Esdeath said eagerly.
[Group member Esdeath has started a live broadcast.]
Messages instantly flooded the chat.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Eh? The mission hasn't started yet? What's happening?"
Luo Hao: "Obvious. A duel before the war. Curious whether it's a 1v1 or a group brawl."
Jibril: "Finally, another-world fight! So exciting!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Ara ara, Mr. World Noble protecting Miss Erina behind him... how sweet."
The chat exploded with excitement.
But one comment—Kasumigaoka's—carried a strange undertone, like a girl nursing a little jealousy.
Daemon chuckled, rolling his neck.
"I'll go first," Esdeath declared.
Before anyone could stop her, a terrifying cold burst out from her body.
BOOM—!
"Makahadoma——!!!"
The sea froze instantly, stretching into an endless ice field.
Even the air's moisture crystallized into shimmering diamonds, locking the world into a frozen dream.
Everything was still.
Everything was silent.
Esdeath exhaled coldly, satisfied.
"Did... I actually stop spacetime?" she murmured, blinking in surprise.
Even with all her godlike strength, she hadn't thought it would be this easy against Daemon.
The group chat grew tense.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Is it... time-stopping power? Maybe Daemon's weakness?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Time freeze worked even in the Naruto world. Might really hold him."
Sakura Tohsaka: "Is Brother Daemon... okay?"
Jibril: "Fufufu. That's no Daemon. It's just an afterimage!"
"What?!"
Esdeath's eyes widened in shock.
At that moment—
Daemon's voice drifted lazily behind her.
"Eat a loss once, Esdeath... and you still fall for the same trick?"
Blue mist curled around him like a serpent.
Before she could react, Daemon's fist slammed through the icy air.
BOOM—!
Space twisted around the punch.
With the "Hercules' Belt" boosting him, combined with his enhanced Sage Body and the Seventh Gate of the Eight Inner Gates unlocked—
Daemon's raw physical power could easily obliterate an island.
"Stop him!
Ice Cavalry Formation!!"
Esdeath screamed, her life force surging.
From the frozen sea rose wave after wave of ice soldiers, stacking themselves into an enormous glacier shield.
CRACK——!
With a single punch, Daemon shattered the iceberg like fragile glass.
Ice crystals flew everywhere like broken stars.
Before Esdeath could even draw breath—
Daemon appeared like a thunderclap and drove his fist deep into her stomach.
The Ice Queen's body curled like a shrimp, and a pained gasp escaped her lips.
The chat went dead silent.
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