"Bang!"
Yamamoto Mei's body split in two with a sickening thud, a lifeless heap of flesh collapsing to the ground.
Miyuki Uchiha's voice broke through the air, trembling with disbelief. "What the hell are you doing, Daemon?!"
Sakura Tosaka stood frozen, her eyes wide in shock. "Sister… Mei!?"
Esdeath's cold, calculating gaze remained unwavering, though her voice held a rare hint of uncertainty. "Hey, hey, hey, you're not messing with us, are you?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha, ever the strategist, tried to make sense of the chaos. "Mr. World Noble… What happened here?"
Luo Hao, standing with a calm confidence, glanced toward the others. "Don't worry too much. Daemon isn't an idiot. He wouldn't just kill Mei."
Jibril, seemingly more relaxed than the rest, chimed in with her usual nonchalance.
"Remember, I gave each of you a fairy bean. Even if Daemon used his on the Ice Maiden, there are still three left." She gave a small, dismissive wave.
"The power of that move was impressive, sure, but it wasn't exactly unbeatable. With a lightsaber that has the [Straight Death] property, sure, I could dodge that easily."
Jibril paused, clearly mulling over something. "But that god… That's just too much. How does a move exist that ignores space, distance, and time itself? Even Lord Artox, the god of war, couldn't do something like that!"
As the live broadcast displayed the mangled corpse of the Grim Reaper Girl, everyone was stunned into silence. The air hung heavy with the reality of what they had just witnessed.
But Jibril's words had the desired effect—they all recalled the fairy beans, a small comfort in the midst of such horror.
A collective sigh of relief passed through the group. They hadn't wanted to lose anyone, especially not Daemon, whose power had already shown itself to be indispensable.
Jibril's tone shifted slightly, her curiosity piqued. Despite the destruction she had just witnessed, she was more intrigued by Daemon than anything else.
The strength of his Noble Phantasm had caught her attention, and she couldn't help but wonder just how far he could go.
For the Heavenly Wing Race, power was the currency of respect. The stronger the opponent, the more Jibril wanted to collect their head as a trophy. Her god, Artox, had created her to be a warrior without mercy, and that instinct ran deep.
Even Artox, the god of war who had created her, had expected nothing less from her—a fighter who would take on gods, without hesitation, if the need arose.
One Piece World
"Is this what it's like to be cut off?" Yamamoto Mei gazed at her severed lower body without the slightest trace of fear, casually playing with a few stalks of grass she picked from the ground.
Daemon sighed, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Hurry up and eat a fairy bean, or you'll end up like the Splitting Sea King—just like the Burning Sea King."
Yamamoto Mei's black eyes flickered, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She said nothing, instead just tossing her lower half up toward her, reattaching it with a casual flick of her hand.
Daemon's gaze narrowed. "Seriously? Aren't you going to—"
"...."
Yamamoto Mei paused for a moment, then spoke with an air of nonchalance, "My fairy beans were eaten back in the Soul Society."
Daemon's expression twisted into a question mark. "Wait, aren't you supposed to be the eldest lady in the Soul Society? Who would dare do that to you? Was it Aizen?"
"No," she replied flatly, a hint of embarrassment coloring her voice. "It was me who got into a fight with my old man. I used too much power, and he almost roasted me with his Bankai."
Daemon blinked, his head leaning back slightly in disbelief. "...Okay."
Miyuki Uchiha, equally perplexed, remained silent, clearly processing the absurdity of the situation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha clicked her tongue in mild disdain. "So, that's the Captain of the Grim Reapers you mentioned? What a mess."
Daemon rubbed his temple, feeling a headache brewing. There was no denying it—this woman was impossible to kill. Not only that, but it seemed like no one was really in any danger here.
His eyes shifted to Esdeath, who had been quietly observing the battle. "What about you?" Daemon asked, trying to steer the conversation away from this madness.
Esdeath's lips curled into a wry smile as she shook her head. "Mine was used up long ago. After I got the fairy beans, I went straight into the Revolutionary Army's base camp alone, killed more than a dozen Tegu's Envoys, and nearly died there."
Daemon's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Luo Hao, with a smug grin, added her own story. "Ha! After I got mine, I fought my old enemy and ended up killing him!"
Miyuki Uchiha chuckled. "Now that's what I call the style of the Ice Queen and the God Slayer. So badass!"
Luo Hao's eyes glinted. "It was the Marquis of Woban. He was an eyesore."
Miyuki Uchiha laughed heartily. "I couldn't stand that old man in the original story! He was so ugly and loved to act all high and mighty, but in the end, he got beaten down."
Sakura Tosaka, who had been anxiously watching Yamamoto Mei, voiced her concern. "We should probably save Sister Mei first. She looks like she's out of breath..."
Erina Nakiri quickly stepped forward, her tone calm and authoritative. "I'll handle it."
One Piece World
Erina, shivering from the cold, took out her fairy beans with trembling hands. She quickly walked over to Yamamoto Mei, who was still on the ground, and placed the beans near her.
As soon as Yamamoto Mei consumed the fairy bean, her severed body snapped back together, her wounds healing instantly. The black-haired Grim Reaper Maiden returned to life, fully restored.
"Ahh... It's really is a miracle," Mei sighed with relief, her voice filled with gratitude.
She leapt up from the ground, her eyes wide open, full of energy. With a broad grin, she patted Erina gently on the shoulder. "I owe you one, kid. From now on, I'll cover you!"
Erina, still shaking from the cold, managed a weak smile. "G-Good..."
Her teeth chattered as she glanced around. "Can you... please get rid of these ice cubes? I'm about to freeze to death!"
Yamamoto Mei turned her gaze toward the origin of the ice—Esdeath. "Ah... Esdeath?"
Esdeath, still standing coolly, nodded and deactivated her tegu Ability.
In an instant, the ice melted away. The frozen sea returned to its normal state, and the air temperature slowly began to rise. The maids and crew in the cabin, who had been frozen stiff, gradually thawed, coming back to life.
One of the World Government soldiers, now unfrozen, immediately grabbed his phone bug, his face pale with fear.
"Hello... is this the World Government?"
"The ship of the Celestial Dragon, Daemon Saint, has been attacked!" he shouted, panic evident in his voice. "The attacker is likely Vice Admiral kuzan from the Navy Headquarters!"
"Yes, that's right! It's definitely the power of the Logia Ice Fruit!"
Daemon who got called by the five elders
"No, no, it wasn't the Kuzan. It was Esdeath... woman... my... friend."
Daemon paused, then hesitated before continuing, "Well... she could be one of my future wives."
After hanging up the phone, the Five Elders were left in silence for a moment, exchanging glances.
"If His Highness Daemon wasn't lying... the strength and potential of that woman, Esdeath, may not be weaker than that of Kuzan."
"The Admiral? It doesn't matter," one of the Elders said dismissively. "His Highness Daemon is a Celestial Dragon. No matter what kind of chaos he causes, it won't affect the rule of the World Government."
"True," another Elder agreed, "but the intelligence department will need to handle this properly. An Admiral--level powerhouse can't just appear out of nowhere."
"Hmph," the final Elder added, a smirk curling his lips. "With someone like her on his side, and with Daemon's hidden power... Golden Lion Shiki's luck is about to run out."
As they continued their conversation, one Elder, still sighed deeply. "The intelligence... ends here."
Meanwhile...
After Daemon and the others' ships had departed from the battle site, leaving behind the chaos they'd caused, a discussion began among two blonde men—one swimming through the sea, the other soaring thousands of meters in the sky.
"That kid Kuzan tweaked and attacked the celestial dragon?" one of them mused.
"Could it be Garp's orders? That guy is trying to help Roger," another voice speculated, his tone sharp with intrigue.
"The flash in the battle against the Kuzan... must've been another logia vice admiral, Kizaru. Tsk, looks like there's a big difference in how the Celestial Dragons command the Navy," one remarked with disdain.
"Good chance! With both Kuzan and Kizaru probably out of the picture, rescuing Rouge should be much easier now!" the first one noted, growing more excited.
"Roger, first I'll save your wife, then go to the Impel Down to rescue you. After that, you'd better not resist when I command you," the second man grinned, his voice full of mocking confidence.
The two men, one swimming through the sea and the other flying high above, had witnessed the aftermath of the battles from afar. The familiar flashes of ice and light had sparked excitement in them both.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was already the fourth day since they arrived in the pirate world.
Erina Nakiri had already seen Sea Kings towering thousands of meters high and weathered a storm that had crushed an island to ruins. She felt that, in these past few days, she had grown a great deal.
However, there was one thing that still bothered her.
If only those people would stop being so noisy.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, Esdeath was slammed to the deck by Daemon's back, blood spraying from her mouth. She didn't seem annoyed, though—instead, she grew even more excited, immediately springing back up.
Opposite her, Daemon stood, his body emanating a palpable energy. He had opened the Eight Inner Gates, and the two were locked in an intense wrestling match, their clash not just physical, but a unique form of camaraderie.
Thanks to his immortal body, Daemon could maintain the Seventh Gate for long periods without tiring, making him an extraordinarily rare powerhouse in the pirate world.
Even without relying on his Noble Phantasms, Daemon's raw physical strength alone was formidable.
Esdeath, on the other hand, was far weaker in comparison. While she was no slouch, even without using her Ice Emperor Tool, she couldn't match Daemon in sheer power.
But that was exactly why Esdeath seemed to enjoy this struggle—it was a way for her to grow stronger.
"Bang!"
Once again, Esdeath was sent crashing to the ground by Daemon, her bones rattling with the force of the impact.
"You two should take a break," Erina Nagiri finally intervened, walking up with a glass of juice. "Your subordinates reported that we're almost at the destination."
"Okay, thanks," Daemon smiled warmly at her, accepting the juice. "My sweet little chef."
Erina's face immediately turned a shade of deep red, her porcelain skin flushing as she stumbled a little before turning and heading back toward the cabin.
"What a strange name..." she muttered under her breath, embarrassed by the comment.
"Damn, she's really a simple lady," Yamamoto Mei, who had been lounging on a deck chair, muttered as she watched Erina retreat.
Yamamoto Mei's eyes twinkled with mischief. "She's almost there... just one more push and she'll fall."
Esdeath, on the other hand, didn't care at all. She believed firmly in the law of the jungle. The powerful—whether man or woman—naturally commanded their own harem.
As for Erina? She was a delicate, unassuming girl without the strength to pose a real threat. Even if Erina did eventually become Daemon's woman, Esdeath knew that in her eyes, it wouldn't be a problem.
South Sea.
On an Island.
The island was home to a small population of just over 10,000 people, an ordinary town by most standards. However, not long ago, a group of naval ships broke the tranquility of this place.
The leader of the group was Lieutenant General ghost spider, a staunch supporter of Akainu. He was one of the five lieutenant generals involved in the South Sea operation.
At present, his warships aimed their cannons at the island's harbor, ensuring that no one could leave.
On the bow of one of the warships, a masked man, who appeared to be a reporter, was holding a phone bug and preparing to broadcast—presumably on orders from the Celestial Dragons.
"I wonder what the Celestial Dragons are up to. Why such a grand scene just to capture the widow of pirate king?" the ghost spider muttered quietly, but his expression suddenly grew serious as he spotted a ship from the World Government on the horizon.
"It's finally here!"
He immediately grabbed the panicked reporter and, using his moon step, leaped into the air, landing on Daemon's ship.
"Daemon Saint!" the ghost spider saluted respectfully. "I am vice admiral of the Headquarters, the Ghost Spider, at your service!"
"Ah, I know you, Sakazuki's right-hand man. Not bad!" Daemon responded casually, offering a compliment that made the Ghost Spider's heart flutter. Daemon then turned his gaze toward the reporter. "Is Morgan ready?"
"Daemon Saint, everything is prepared! As long as we have a large screen, the live broadcast will be a success!" the reporter knelt respectfully, voice full of excitement.
"Let's begin," Daemon commanded.
"Yes, Sir!" the reporter quickly activated the live broadcast function on the phone bug.
In an instant, Daemon appeared on big screens around the world.
"Huh? Who's this?" people murmured as they saw the image.
"Isn't that Daemon Saint from the Celestial Dragons? He's the one who's been all over the news lately, the romantic Celestial Dragon who sings every night."
"What's he doing on live broadcast?"
"Who knows? This is weird."
"Ugh! I wish I was born in the Celestial Dragons family, not in a poor one!"
"So handsome! Son, when he passes through our country, you must have your father invite him over so I can serve him with my heart!"
"Damn, the Celestial Dragons... I'll kill all of them soon enough!"
As the broadcast spread around the world, reactions varied greatly. Some were envious, some angry, and others filled with hatred.
But Daemon, unfazed by the reactions, stood confidently in front of the camera with a gentle smile. "I am Daemon Saint, a Celestial Dragon. Today's broadcast has one purpose: to capture Pirate King Roger's wife, Portgas D. Rouge."
The words struck like a thunderclap.
"Capture Roger's wife? Isn't this Celestial Dragon afraid of Roger's revenge?"
"Didn't you hear? The Navy has been hunting for Roger in the South Sea for days. He's already been captured!"
"What? Pirate King got caught by the Navy?!"
"Hmph, trash pirates. It's better if they're all wiped out."
In the New World, Whitebeard slammed his fist into the void in frustration, the shockwave sending waves of destruction across the sea.
Wano Country.
Kaido of the Beasts chuckled, holding his daughter Yamato as he watched the live broadcast. "This is the fate of the weak. Not only was Roger caught by the Navy, but even his wife couldn't be protected. He was nothing compared to Rocks. He's a complete failure."
Yamato sat on Kaido's shoulder, confused. "Celestial Dragon Daemon Saint?"
She pointed at Daemon on the screen. "That's the bad guy from the Impel Down incident! I'll smash his skull one day!"
Kaido slapped Yamato's head lightly. "Idiot daughter. That's your old man's target, not yours!"
At the Navy Headquarters, the doves exchanged concerned glances, feeling the Navy was aiding and abetting a terrible injustice.
Tsuru, Sengoku, and the Vice Admiral kuzan secretly worried about Garp's fate.
They all knew Garp had secretly traveled to the South Sea.
South Sea.
Garp, Golden Lion, and Rayleigh, each in their separate locations, watched the live broadcast with grim faces, their emotions palpable.
Their relationship with Roger ranged from close friends to sworn enemies, but one thing was certain—they all admired Roger as a person. Even the Golden Lion, no fan of Roger, would never allow the Celestial Dragons to capture Roger's wife.
To them, that would be the greatest insult to Roger.
--------------------------------------
Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 50 Advanced Chapters!