Chapter X - Aftermatch

Marineford Command Ship (Near Hachinosu)

Sengoku: Sweat formed on his face from shock. "She's parting the sea itself… for how long… hard to believe that's a Devil Fruit ability…ACK oh NO!... quickly, she is still a devil fruit user! SAVE HER! Otherwise, higher-ups will have our heads!"

Zephyr: Arms crossed, gaze grim. "Wait, we can't save her yet. Her ship is nearby, and they know what to do. The Gorosei knew what they were sending… " 

Now murmuring: „Admiral Midorinari can finally rest in peace, after what Rocks did at Reverie."

Sengoku:" How do you know? Zephyr!"

„It's a long story, Admiral."

Marines around them stood silent, fearful, yet filled with reverent respect for her Celestial Dragon status.

Marineford Training Grounds

Recruits stared at the broadcast in awe and terror. Fortunately for Zenka. Broadcast stopped when she unleashed her strongest attack - Yatsufusa.

Fleet Admiral Kong: "...."

Garp: "...."

They stood beside Tsuru, having accompanied her to the Marineford training grounds, where large Den Den Mushi screens projected the live battle footage.

Tsuru: Narrowed her eyes. "End of broadcast so soon...so this is a Celestial Dragon? The Sword Saintess indeed. 

Gorosei Chambers

Only for them, a broadcast of the Hachinosu battle was still continuing.

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro: His eyes narrowed slightly. "She used some of the basics I taught her. Impressive…her technique Yatsufusa has gotten stronger again."

Saint Topman Warcury: "Unauthorised use of the Dyna Stone…is unacceptable, even if it wiped them out, she must be punished."

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn: His face twisted in rage for a moment before he calmed, voice cold. "She is my creation. Even if she acts beyond orders… it was effective. Still, Rocks' core departed using Shiki's powers and fled."

Saint Ju Peter: "Their fleet… shredded, most sunk, and scattered. Their losses are immeasurable."

Saint Marcus Mars: "Their base itself is gone, buried under the sea or cut apart by her slash. Making Hachinosu gold veins partly destroyed. Also, tell Sengoku to pursue Rocks."

Celestial Dragon Households

Nobles cheered and sneered.

One laughed, "Did you see that-eh?! The sea itself bows to her-eh! Imagine the peasants bowing like that… forever-eh."

Another smirked, "The pirates will make excellent slaves after she's done with them-eh."

A young male Celestial Dragon blushed, voice trembling with desire, "She's so beautiful-eh… I want her as my wife-eh… Father, can you arrange it-eh? Please-eh…"

Female Celestial Dragons clapped excitedly.

"Kyaa-amasu! She's so strong and graceful-amasu… she's like a true goddess-amasu!"

"She's the ideal Celestial Dragon woman-amasu… I want to be just like her-amasu!"

"Zenka-sama… please protect our divine bloodline forever-amasu."

Far away, a strange-looking boy with a strange face and hair was hiding behind a barrel and watching. Still bruised after the recent lashing.

„a ...miracle?....a miracle... I....I..I want to do...it too. Miracles"

One celestial dragon was so excited that he started killing nearby slaves „HEEHAW! That's what you get, you vermin-eh!"

Sabaody Archipelago

Pirates and civilians whispered in fear.

"Unbelievable… so that's a Celestial Dragon…"

"No wonder they've ruled for 800 years… with power like that…"

"No pirate crew… no one in this world could stand against that slash! Oh my god.....Sea is still not closing!…"

Roger Pirates (Near Dressrosa)

Roger: Grinned broadly. "So even the Celestial Dragons keep monsters like her hidden… Makes you wonder what else they're hiding. By the way...where is Patrick Redfield now? Because....I have an idea, hahahaha"

Rayleigh: Calm and analytical "Captain, she must surely be one of them…"

Scopper Gaban: Looked away distracted, his face reddening slightly as he glanced at the nice waitress serving them.

„Miss! One more beer, please!"

„alrighty~"

Gaban head was now red as a tomato....

G-14 Marine Base

A Den Den Mushi crackled with an urgent message.

"Vice Admiral! A parted sea appeared before our base!

Vice Admiral: "A WHAAAT??!" He, too, saw that broadcast, recognising that slash. "Report it to HQ ASAP!!"

East Blue

In coastal bars and harbours, fishermen prayed softly. "Perhaps she'll end these pirate incursions and protect our villages…" Others were sceptical, shaking their heads. "Man, you are forgetting that she is a Celestial Dragon."

West Blue

In a grand merchant town hall, nobles and traders debated heatedly. Some smiled in relief. "Finally, pirates will be culled."

In a hidden scholar enclave, scholars murmured softly. "Hide our research more." "What are your secrets…?" "Where is that Poneglyph?"

North Blue

In a local king's court, armoured guards and ministers discussed gravely. The king clasped his hands in prayer. "May this Saintess preserve our alliance with the government." Others remained silent, knowing such power could erase their kingdom if they defied orders.

South Blue

At a pirate bar by the docks, rough men trembled. Some cursed her as a demon. Others raised their drinks with wide grins. "If she slaughters other pirates, we'll raid the leftovers." Dockworkers nearby whispered among themselves, fear etched into their faces. "They say she can't die… she regenerates from anything. Is she even human?" 

"The seas themselves were cut apart… she's not human."

„Mary Geoise... where gods reside. Maybe it's not entirely false....."

Somewhere hidden

 „Grandmaster.... It's confirmed. It was our National treasure. So that traitor really sold it to those Demons"

„..."

The parted sea swallowed Zenka like a hammer dropped into darkness.

Bubbles roared past her ears as she sank, motionless, her limbs pulled down by the Devil Fruit's curse. Her eyes remained half-open, glowing red, fading to dim embers. The cold bit through her flesh, gnawed at her bones, but pain barely registered anymore. Each time her heart stopped, her lungs collapsed under the crushing pressure, her Miracle Miracle no Mi powers flared, weaving her organs back together with faint red threads.

Only to drown again. unable to move.

And again.

And again.

The cycle continued in silent agony beneath the black ocean.

Soul Edge's Whisper. Her sword drifted nearby, sinking alongside her like an executioner's blade. Its eye glowed bright scarlet in the abyss, casting shifting shadows across her pale face.

"Look at you… sinking… powerless… worthless little god."

The voice echoed in her mind, deeper than thought, older than time.

"Fuse with me completely. Yield your will, and we shall become eternity. No ocean, no sea king, no one will ever drown you again."

Zenka stood chest-deep in black seawater, her body numb. Before her towered a monstrous silhouette—muscles like jagged stone, eyes like burning coals beneath a cracked, horned helm.

Jean Wukk.

His lips dripped blood onto the sea's surface, each drop hissing into steam.

"Thought you killed me, huh?" he rumbled, voice like avalanches. "Even miracles die beneath the sea forgotten, cursed~ like before~."

He reached down, massive fingers closing around her throat. With a single heave, he lifted her from the waters and hurled her into the clouds above. A flicker of memories hit her. A small, cheerful child with red hair.

Thunder cracked around her as she fell, crashing back into an endless dark ocean.

She sank again. The sky vanished.

Internal Monologue "This… is illusion," she thought faintly as the crushing darkness wrapped around her.

"I killed him. I cut him down. This is not real, dammit!!… it's...trying to consume me....again!"

But her thoughts felt like drifting ash. Her regeneration flickered each time the mental assault deepened, each hallucinated death feeding Soul Edge's hunger with Zenka's soul. bit by bit.

 The sword's eye burned brighter in the abyss.

"If you will not yield… then you will suffer. FOREVER!"

Black tendrils uncoiled from the sword's hilt, wrapping around Zenka's limp body as she sank into the silent void. Her eyes stared blankly into the darkness, red embers flickering with each faint heartbeat, her consciousness flickering with them.

As Zenka's soul rejects Soul Edge's domination, her Conqueror's Haki leaks outward like a cold pressure wave, coiling through the depths with sovereign malice. Cipher Pol agents within proximity convulse and collapse, blood trailing from their ears, their minds crushed by the weight of her suppressed fury. Technicians above deck fall to their knees, foaming at the mouth. Even the parts of the ship are getting more and more destroyed by pressure alone.

Only two hidden black-robed figures—elite Cipher Pol 0 operatives with layered Armament and strong will—stood their ground.

Feeling that insane pressure, they were extremely sweating yet still without emotion, one opens comms:

"Subject 008 recovered. Engage Stasis Protocol. Begin Phase: Containment."