Chapter 160: With Great Ability Comes Great Responsibility

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A long mane of golden hair, reminiscent of a lion's, draped down to the waist. 

A bizarre ship's helm was embedded in his head while his legs gleamed with an obsidian, metallic sheen as if forged from steel. 

His expression was mechanical and devoid of emotion, his eyes flickering red as his head swiveled from side to side, seemingly analyzing their attributes.

"Restricted Zone No. 5. Intruders detected."

"Intruders detected!"

The cold, mechanical voice echoed as he spoke. His hovering form instantly plummeted downward, brandishing a long blade and slashing fiercely.

"Vmm!"

The crescent-shaped slash covered twenty to thirty meters ahead, descending upon the Straw Hats in the blink of an eye. 

Zoro's pupils contracted as he sprang upward, swinging his sword instantly.

"Clang!"

The powerful strike clashed with Zoro's blade, producing a sharp metal ring. The overwhelming force made his expression change drastically. 

In the next moment, his body was hurled like a cannonball, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact that cracked the terrain beneath him.

"Zoro!" Usopp shrieked in terror.

"I'm fine!"

Zoro took a deep breath, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze turning serious.

"Intruder! Intruder! By order of Secondary Clearance: Eliminate without mercy!"

"Kill!"

The mechanical voice echoed, filling the air with an eerie chill that sent a wave of fear through the Straw Hat crew.

"Who the hell is this guy?"

"Nami!" Luffy shouted firmly, his fists clenching as he immediately entered battle mode. 

Usopp, trembling, raised his slingshot, aiming at the mysterious figure diving toward them. 

They had only recently arrived on Skypiea and had learned about this forbidden zone from the residents of Angel Island.

Driven by curiosity, they had stepped into it. On the other hand, Robin was intrigued by the well-preserved Poneglyph at the entrance. 

But this enigmatic figure appeared before them just after they finished admiring the ancient ruins and ventured about two to three kilometres further inside.

"Golden Lion Shiki!"

"One of the three legendary pirates, alongside the Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard!"

"How is he here?" Nami cried out in shock.

"With Roger?"

Everyone was stunned at her words. Luffy, wearing his signature straw hat, showed excitement in his eyes.

Zoro silently tied his bandana around his forehead while Sanji lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply. 

At that moment, the three of them all had the same thought.

"But something's off—he doesn't seem human." Robin voiced her suspicion, pausing before her eyes flickered with realization. "And besides, he's already dead."

The crew turned to her in shock, confusion evident on their faces.

"Watch out!"

Chopper yelled. In a blink, "Golden Lion Shiki" was upon them again. 

However, This time, his eyes crackled with electricity before unleashing a bolt that pierced through Usopp.

"USOPP!!!"

Luffy's expression changed dramatically. Everyone froze, turning in shock. Before them, Usopp's body was smoking. 

His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"AAAAHHH!"

Chopper screamed, his eyes burning with fury. Luffy's face darkened completely. 

He lunged forward, but to his surprise, his opponent was fast and skilled in combat. 

Within mere moments, they clashed at high speeds, exchanging blows rapidly. 

After barely ten seconds, the figure landed a punch squarely on Luffy's face, sending him spiralling through the air.

"Damn it! This guy is way too strong!"

Zoro's face hardened as he flanked from the side. Sanji sprinted and leapt, delivering a fierce kick toward the opponent's head. 

At that moment, the three main fighters of the Straw Hat crew unleashed their full strength, fully aware of the formidable enemy before them.

Robin's hands trembled as she activated her Hana Hana no Mi powers. 

Golden Lion Shiki had intended to continue attacking, but Robin's ability momentarily restricted his movement.

"Clang!"

In that instant, Zoro and Sanji's attacks landed. However, to their shock, the counterforce made them recoil in pain.

"Steel!"

"This guy isn't human at all!"

Both realized the truth in an instant. Luffy, recovering, sprang back up with a serious expression. 

Just then, Golden Lion's eyes flashed blue, and another lightning bolt struck Nami. Her body sizzled with smoke before she collapsed.

It was only now that the crew grasped the horror of their opponent.

"He's definitely not the Golden Lion!!"

"Luffy! This might be connected to the missing Marine!"

Robin took a deep breath and quickly spoke with a grave tone.

"A robot!"

Zoro and Sanji exchanged glances, confirming the theory. No human body could be made of steel. 

At that moment, another bolt of lightning shot toward Robin. Sanji's expression changed as he instinctively threw himself in front of her.

"Zzzt!"

In an instant, black smoke curled from his body as he collapsed, unconscious.

"That's the power of the Goro Goro no Mi!"

Robin trembled. She had witnessed that man's battle before. That terrifying lightning, a force so unforgettable that it remained burned into her memory. 

Yet she never expected to see it again on this island. Could this forbidden zone in Skypiea be connected to that man?

If that were true, they had unknowingly trespassed into his domain. Worse yet, they might have already become his enemies.

For Robin, this was an unparalleled terror.

"Kill the intruders." Golden Lion Shiki's mechanical voice rang out.

"What are you?" Robin shouted. "Golden Lion Shiki is already dead!!"

"You may call me Peacekeeper. I am PX-5."

Golden Lion Shiki stated emotionlessly. At the same time, his body moved again, his long blade slashing forward. 

Zoro's body tensed as he drew his swords to the counter.

"Vmm!"

The air trembled as ripples spread. Luffy seized the moment to launch an attack. 

But PX-5 turned, its eyes releasing another burst of lightning that instantly engulfed Luffy.

"LUFFY!!"

The crew's frantic cries echoed in the deserted area. Yet, when the lightning subsided, Luffy stood there, completely unharmed.

"Hehehe, I'm rubber, so I'm insulated!"

He grinned. But his face quickly turned serious again. PX-5 was already in motion, clashing with Zoro once more. The danger was far from over.

Before they stood, the strongest monster they had ever faced!

.....

Meanwhile, in the Grand Line's G-8 Marine Base—

Vice Admiral Jonathan leaned lazily in his office chair, a steaming cup of coffee resting on his desk. 

The life of a commanding officer was uneventful and peaceful. 

After reaching a certain age, many high-ranking officers chose to settle into a semi-retirement lifestyle, preparing themselves for the twilight of their careers.

From this, it's clear that being in the Marines is far more comfortable than being a pirate. 

When pirates are young, they live by the sword, constantly killing and plundering, never knowing when their last day will come. 

In middle age, they may gain status and enjoy a few glorious years if they survive. 

But in old age, they become targets—everyone is eyeing them, waiting for a chance to kill and replace them. 

No one can escape this fate, not even Whitebeard or Kaido. Their twilight years were nothing short of tragic.

"So peaceful," Jonathan murmured, narrowing his eyes in satisfaction. 

But soon, as if remembering something, he mumbled, "If only Jessica were a little gentler, it'd be even more peaceful." 

Behind him, Drake stifled a laugh, his lips pressed together. The bruises on the Vice Admiral's face, remnants of a recent beating, had yet to fade completely.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, an urgent knocking sounded at the office door. Jonathan's eyes snapped open, his expression puzzled. "Who is it?"

"Vice Admiral, it's an emergency!" a Marine called anxiously from outside.

Drake stepped forward and opened the door, looking confused.

"Captain Drake! Vice Admiral Jonathan!"

"There—there's someone from Marine Headquarters here!" the Marine reported breathlessly.

"Oh? A special inspector from Headquarters?" Jonathan asked casually. A special investigator wasn't something to be too concerned about.

"No, not an inspector!"

"The sentries just spotted several officers on board the arriving ship, all of them wearing high-ranking insignia!"

"One of them—a man we don't recognize—carries the rank of Admiral! And at the same time, we spotted Captain Smoker!"

"Warlord Crocodile! Doflamingo! and an Admiral!"

At this point, the Marine's voice trembled. He couldn't imagine what kind of man would dare to gather such monsters on a single warship.

Jonathan's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say? An Admiral? Crocodile and Doflamingo are on board as well?"

The Marine nodded firmly. "Yes, sir!"

"This Admiral isn't one of the three we're familiar with. Could it be an imposter?"

Jonathan didn't jump to conclusions. Instead, he stood up and headed toward the door. "Does the warship have any identifying markings?"

"Markings?" The Marine hesitated for a moment, then suddenly recalled something. 

"At the bow, there's a golden scepter embedded in the ship's structure."

Jonathan's expression turned grave, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned his head.

Drake and the reporting Marine were stunned. They had never seen their superior look like this before.

"It's him."

Jonathan's throat bobbed as he swallowed, then took a deep breath. "Put the entire base on high alert."

"No one is allowed to let their guard down!"

Then, he strode toward the exit.

"I just hope he's not here to cause trouble."

A man who had vanished for over a decade was suddenly visiting his base—Jonathan would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. 

Especially since he knew very well…His friend and superior, Sakazuki, had a hostile relationship with this man.

When Jonathan arrived at the G-8 fortress harbour, the ship had just finished docking. 

His expression was serious, with a hint of apprehension, while Drake stood behind him. 

Since he wasn't familiar with the high-profile figure his superior spoke of, Drake wasn't overly tense—just curious.

This was the first time he had heard that Marine Headquarters had four Admirals. The man aboard this ship was said to be the strongest among them.

The sea breeze rustled their uniforms as they stood at attention. 

Even though Jonathan was already a Vice Admiral—a pillar of strength within the Marines—he dared not be careless in the presence of the person aboard this ship.

For the first time in years, he felt the same nervousness he had when he was young, standing before his superiors.

The warship, adorned with its golden sceptre, gradually came to a halt. After about ten seconds, a tall and imposing figure appeared before them.

He wore a pristine white Marine uniform with a long sword strapped to his waist. 

A faint smile played on his lips as he casually surveyed his surroundings.

The man's physique was so massive that the already loose-fitting Marine uniform seemed like it was about to burst at the seams. 

His eyes carried a trace of amusement, but they radiated an overwhelming weight when they landed on Drake.

And on his shoulders rested the insignia of an Admiral.

An unfamiliar name to many within the Marines, yet this Admiral was spoken of with great reverence among the older generation of officers.

Even Vice Admiral Jonathan was visibly tense.

Drake could feel it—his superior seemed to shrink just a little in the presence of this man.

The gangway was quickly lowered, and the imposing figure strode down, followed by a group of Marines, all wearing serious expressions and maintaining absolute discipline.

And then—

"Crocodile… Doflamingo…They're wearing Marine uniforms?!"

Drake's shock intensified when he saw the two figures following behind. Even more absurdly, their ranks were Rear Admiral and Lieutenant Commander—higher than his own!

For a brief moment, Drake felt like his entire worldview was crumbling.

What was happening to this world?

And as more people disembarked, he realized something else—these people, draped in Marine uniforms, didn't look like Marines.

They looked more like pirates! Jonathan, however, remained composed.

Ten years ago, when he was younger, rumours had already spread within the Marines—Vice Admiral Arashi had a habit of persuading pirates to turn over a new leaf.

Now, seeing this in person, it was clear that Arashi's preferences hadn't changed.

"Jonathan," a voice called out, accompanied by a deep chuckle. "I remember you."

"You seemed pretty close to Sakazuki back then."

Arashi's towering figure came into view. Standing at 3.3 meters tall, he was already an intimidating presence. 

But more than that, the pressure he exuded was overwhelming, like a mountain crushing down on them.

For a moment, both Jonathan and Drake found it difficult to breathe. Jonathan hesitated, then broke into a cold sweat.

"Admiral Arashi, it's been a long time. It's been a decade has passed, yet you look as youthful as ever."

He didn't dare address Arashi's words directly. Instead, he changed the subject, choosing his words carefully.

Arashi chuckled. "Why so tense? You think just because you were close to Sakazuki, I'd do something to you?"

He loomed over Jonathan, his gaze sharp yet amused. "I'm not that petty."

Jonathan stiffened, but he didn't believe those words so easily. Back in the day, those who knew Arashi understood one thing—

His sense of justice wasn't absolute. But his dominance was just as terrifying as Sakazuki's.

Even within the Marine system, his presence was unmatched. Over twenty years had passed, and now, in his prime, he was at his strongest. 

Even Admiral Sakazuki would likely have to lower his head in his presence. The Marine's greatest combat power was not something to be taken lightly.

"No need for unnecessary talk." Arashi smiled faintly. 

"You should have seen the people on my ship. A whole group waiting to eat. Since we happened to pass by your base, we decided to stop for supplies." 

His gaze swept over Drake briefly before completely disregarding him. The name was the same, but this man was not the one he was familiar with.

"There shouldn't be a problem, right?" Jonathan carefully listened before letting out a breath of relief. 

"Of course, no problem at all. Admiral Arashi and your subordinates are welcome to rest here. The G-8 Fortress personnel will handle the supply and maintenance of your ship."

Arashi nodded and followed him into the reception room within the fortress. Jonathan dared not be careless. 

Whether it was Arashi himself or the people under his command—Crocodile, Doflamingo, even Rosinante, Buggy, and Kuina—they all greeted him with due respect.

Otherwise, their first meeting could have easily gone south. "Vice Admiral Jonathan certainly has a comfortable life as a commander." Arashi sighed. 

"It reminds me of my time as a Vice Admiral, when I was stationed in the West Blue as a commander." Jonathan smiled carefully. 

"Admiral Arashi flatters me. I could never compare to you." 

"Why not?" Arashi raised an eyebrow. 

"With Admiral Sakazuki as your friend, stationed in the relatively peaceful first half of the Grand Line, only dealing with rookie pirates... With your skills, it must be effortless."

"In comparison, when I was a Vice Admiral in the West Blue, I was constantly burdened with troublesome matters, barely ever getting a break." 

"After finally getting promoted to Admiral, I was sent to Impel Down to oversee suppression duties." 

"Only recently have I been reassigned, finally able to see the light of the outside world." 

"You've had it much easier than me." His words carried a light smile, but Jonathan felt his heart sink, his forehead instantly beading with sweat and a chill running down his spine.

Was this guy casually revealing top-secret information about Impel Down? 

He truly had no restraints! And this only confirmed that his arrival carried ulterior motives. 

Was he saying Jonathan's life was more comfortable than his? What was he implying? 

"A capable officer like you, staying here, isn't it a waste of time? A waste of your talents?" Arashi's voice came again. 

"Would you be interested in transferring to the New World? Facing off against those great pirates in real battle? Put your skills to good use?"

Jonathan's expression stiffened. He didn't even want to respond. This was the voice of a devil. 

"Once I return to Marine Headquarters, I'll recommend to Fleet Admiral Sengoku that Vice Admiral Jonathan be given a more important role." 

"A man of your abilities shouldn't be living such an easy life!" 

"After all, with great power comes great responsibility." Arashi sighed. 

Do you even hear yourself talking? Jonathan felt like cursing, but he forced a smile. "Admiral Arashi is absolutely right." He was fuming internally. 

He had been doing just fine in G-8 Fortress, yet the moment this man arrived, not only was he here for supplies, but now he wanted to arrange a new post for him, too. 

Be human, would you?! As expected, no Admiral was ever a good person. 

Seeing Jonathan agree, Arashi finally revealed a satisfied smile. Behind him, Crocodile and Doflamingo smirked slightly. 

Was this their superior's... peculiar sense of humour?

Resupplying the ship didn't take long. The shipwrights at G-8 replaced some old parts, and the work was complete. 

After all, the Sandr was constructed with the finest craftsmanship and materials, using designs from Arashi's personally organized team of expert shipbuilders. 

Food, clothing, and other necessities were stocked to the brim. Jonathan had given strict orders that everything be done to perfection.

The next day, the ship departed. "Phew..." Jonathan let out a long breath, but his face looked grim. 

"That guy just came back, and he's already eliminating threats." 

"What a ruthless and iron-fisted leader." He sighed, but his heart felt heavy. Without a doubt, Arashi's return would stir up a storm within the Marines.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku was getting older and nearing retirement. The time for a new Fleet Admiral was approaching. 

His good friend, Admiral Sakazuki, was one of the leading candidates. But now, with Arashi's return, it was clear he would also be a strong contender. 

"A storm is coming..." Jonathan murmured. 

"When two domineering figures collide, what kind of upheaval will the Marines face?" The thought sent a wave of unease through him.

Three days later, the Sandr arrived at Long Ring Long Land. Arashi and his crew disembarked. 

Kuina and Tashigi were particularly curious about the elongated creatures on the island and went to explore. 

Crocodile and Doflamingo, however, showed little interest. Standing at the bow, Arashi suddenly gazed in a certain direction. 

A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "The Slow-Slow Fruit... now that's an interesting ability." 

Sparks of lightning flickered across his body, and in the blink of an eye, he shot into the sky, disappearing. 

Meanwhile, in the streets of Long Ring Long Land—

Kuina and Tashigi marvelled at the strange creatures; their faces excitedly lit up.

"They're so long! So cute!" Tashigi exclaimed. 

"Everything here is so tall," Kuina added with a nod. Then, as if sensing something, she suddenly turned to look at a figure in the distance.

At the end of the street, a man wearing a hat with a cross-shaped longsword on his back was walking toward them. 

He seemed to notice their gaze and lifted his eyes simultaneously.

"A swordsman!" Kuina's pupils contracted. She could feel the sharp, overwhelming aura radiating from him.

And then, beside her, Tashigi gasped in shock. "The World's Strongest Swordsman! Dracule Mihawk!"

Kuina's expression changed instantly.

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