One Piece Thundergod Marine

"So, he sent you to Dressrosa to repay a debt?" At the prison entrance, Rowen dragged a chair over and sat down, his expression laced with mockery. "Do I look like an idiot to you? Risking my life over a meal?"

"It's the truth!"

Kin'emon protested, his voice firm. "As samurai, we live by the code of honor. A single act of kindness must be repaid a hundredfold. So long as it does not defy our morals, we will repay any favor— even at the cost of our lives."

Rowen studied Kin'emon's determined expression for a moment before smirking and clapping his hands.

Shuā!

A section of the prison wall slid open, revealing a hidden chamber beyond.

Directly opposite them, Momonosuke hung from a wooden cross, terror filling his eyes as he stared at them.

"Kin'emon! Kanjuro! Save me!"

"Young Master!"

"You bastard! What are you planning to do to him?!"

"Relax, or I might miss my shot."

Rowen raised his rifle, squinting as if taking aim. "The lighting in here is terrible— easy to slip up."

"Then put the damn gun down!" Kin'emon bellowed.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, splinters flying as the bullet struck just inches from Momonosuke's ear. His eyes rolled back, his body going limp as a dark stain spread down his legs.

"See? Told you, easy to miss." Rowen clicked his tongue in annoyance, casually reloading his rifle. "Let's try again. This time, don't interrupt me."

"Wait! What do you want?! I'll tell you anything— just don't hurt the Young Master!" Kyros, who had been listening from around the corner, shivered at the sound of Rowen's voice.

This… this was no ordinary cruelty. It was a twisted kind of sorcery.

Before long, Rowen stepped out, his imposing figure looming over Kyros. He tossed the rifle to him with an indifferent flick of the wrist.

"They weren't lying. The rest of my questions will have to be answered by that damn Flamingo… Keep an eye on them. I've already called for a warship to pick them up."

"Understood."

As he left the prison, Rowen pondered for a moment before dialing a number on his Den Den Mushi.

'Moshi moshi…' A gruff voice answered.

"This is the Fleet Admiral. Speak fast! You know how busy we are right now?!"

Since Orrick had struck that one-year deal with the government, the Marines had been ramping up their arsenal, preparing to counter the threat of Uranus. 

Massive-caliber cannons, anti-ship harpoons— new weapons were rolling out by the day, and soldiers were undergoing specialized training. The entire Marine HQ was a war machine in overdrive.

Had it not been for the sheer importance of the Wano group surfacing, Akainu wouldn't have sent Rowen on this mission at all.

"Alright, I'll make this quick."

Rowen shrugged. "I found something unexpected— Doflamingo, the 'Heavenly Yaksha' himself."

"...Doflamingo?"

In his office, Akainu paused, his cigar clenched between his teeth. "That name sounds familiar… Hold on. Wasn't he one of the former Shichibukai?"

"That's the one. Son of Donquixote Homing, a fallen Celestial Dragon. Check the records— it should all be in there."

Rowen let the information sink in before adding, "My guess? He was turned into a toy by that damn Hobi Hobi no Mi. That's why nobody remembers him."

"Hobi Hobi no Mi… Sugar… Celestial Dragons?"

Akainu muttered each phrase under his breath, his brows furrowing. Then, suddenly, it clicked.

"Tch. Now I remember. I came across his file during Jason's public execution."

His expression turned grim. "Are you absolutely certain it's him, Rowen?"

"Nine out of ten, yeah. I captured him in Dressrosa myself. I already informed Vice Admiral Mozambia to send a battleship for pickup. What's the next move?"

"If it really is him, then we have no choice but to notify the Gorōsei."

Akainu gritted his teeth. "That bastard is still a Celestial Dragon by blood. The Marines have no authority to judge or execute him."

And considering the chaos looming on the horizon— the kind of chaos Rowen had subtly alluded to— the Gorōsei wouldn't simply overlook a former Celestial Dragon, regardless of his current status.

"Got it. I'll hand him over once Mozambia arrives. As for the Wano folks, I'm keeping them for now. I still have use for them."

From what he had gathered, Doflamingo no longer held much value to him— but if the Gorōsei wanted to reclaim their lost 'Dragon,' then so be it.

"Fine. Handle it your way," Akainu growled. "But remember—our priority is still Orrick. As long as Kaido doesn't make the first move, we leave him be."

"Understood."

Hanging up, Rowen crushed the smoldering remains of his cigar in his palm, a small burst of electricity reducing it to ash.

"Next... let's go ask some questions, shall we?"

"There's no harm in trying. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy is sitting on some of the government's darkest secrets."

At the same time that Rowen was capturing Kin'emon and his group in Dressrosa, another storm was brewing in Wano.

Flower Capital

"Monster...! Run for your lives!"

"That's black magic! Someone call the Onmyoji!"

"Get a grip! There are no such things as— urk!"

The samurai commander, who had just rallied his men to take up arms, suddenly froze. His eyes widened in disbelief as his own sword, still clutched in his hand, betrayed him— piercing straight through his chest.

"Ya lie ya lie..."

A masked man in lavish robes clicked his tongue, shaking his head in exasperation. "Is there not a single person in Wano who speaks like a civilized human? Where's Kaido? Get him out here."

Beside him, Sugar sucked on a piece of candy, her expression flat.

"Honestly? I don't think him showing up would be any better for us."

Creak… creak…

As those words left her lips, hundreds of samurai suddenly drew their blades in eerie unison. Then, under the horrified gazes of onlookers, they turned their swords upon themselves—slashing their own throats in a gruesome display.

Hundreds of warriors, fully aware yet powerless to resist, took their own lives in unison. The sight was more chilling than any explosion, leaving an air of pure, suffocating terror.

"Hē aaah!!"

"Run… run away… that thing is a monster…!"

As blood sprayed and mixed with the fading life in their eyes, the few samurai who hadn't yet succumbed instinctively tried to flee.

But before they could take a single step—shunk!—a shadow flickered past them, and in an instant, their heads were sent rolling.

Thud, thud…

One after another, severed heads hit the ground. Blood seeped into the dirt, drowning the expressions of agony frozen on their faces.

"I've heard Wano is known for its stubborn isolationism, but…"

A figure clad in dark green, scale-like armor hoisted a headless corpse with one clawed hand. Its lizard-like mouth curled into a toothy grin, razor-sharp fangs glinting.

"You didn't even recognize the difference in strength… and that's your fatal mistake."

"Oh? You sound pretty sure of yourself, brat!"

A deep, guttural voice echoed from the distance. The reptilian figure—Lirisk—glanced over, tilting his head slightly.

"And who might you be?"

To his left, an elderly man with elongated earlobes and dark sunglasses stepped forward, gripping a Buddhist staff. His expression was solemn.

"We serve under Kurozumi Orochi as the Oniwabanshu."

On the right, a hulking beast of a man emerged—a humanoid dragon, his thick brown scales gleaming under the moonlight. His slit pupils locked onto Lirisk with a predator's gaze.

"Kaido's Flying Six… So, you're a Zoan user too, huh?"

Lirisk remained unimpressed. "And what of it?"

"Hah! What of it?!"

Page One, one of the Flying Six, let out a laugh that dripped with fury. "You should know that not all Devil Fruits are created equal!"

In nature, an eagle hunts a hare without contest. A tiger devours a wolf without effort. Just as in the animal kingdom, there exists a hierarchy among Devil Fruits—where weaker beasts are simply prey.

"So…?"

"So, I'm gonna rip you apart, you bastard!!"

Humiliation boiled over into rage. No self-respecting Beast Pirate—let alone a Flying Six— could tolerate such a blatant lack of fear. With a furious roar, Page One lunged forward, joined by three more Zoan users who had just arrived on the scene.

They weren't just rushing in blindly—they knew their own strength. Three Ancient Zoan users working together? No way some unknown Lizard-Lizard Fruit punk could stand against them.

"Ya lie ya lie… so neither Orochi nor Kaido is in the capital? What a complete waste of time."

The masked man, Orrick, sighed in frustration, rubbing his forehead.

"The so-called 'Odenbans'… Can you handle them?"

"Leave it to me, Lord Orrick."

From behind him, a towering man with wild, unkempt hair stepped forward, stretching his limbs with an easygoing smirk.

"Even if I hadn't eaten for three years, I'd still be strong enough for this."

"You…"

Orrick scoffed, crossing his arms. "Does it even make a damn difference whether you eat or not?"

"Oh, right. Guess it doesn't."

(End of Chapter)

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