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The door creaks open, and a woman's silhouette slowly steps out.
When her eyes fell on the frozen Jason and the visibly shaken Lordling, her expression didn't falter, there was no fear and no surprise on her face.
"So… you found us after all," Rouge murmured softly to herself, then turned her gaze to Kuzan.
"I'll go with you. Just let them go."
Her tone was gentle, yet something within it made Kuzan's eyes narrow instinctively; it was a subtle pressure that couldn't be ignored.
Kuzan observed her closely, silently nodding to himself. Even at a time like this, she's calm. And instead of worrying about herself, her first thought is for those she cares about...
"A pregnant woman, evading the Marines all on her own," He said with a faint smile and a hint of amusement in his voice. "You're quite the suspicious one."
He stepped forward leisurely, his posture relaxed. There was no overt hostility in his movements, but his presence alone radiated quiet menace, an invisible force born of power.
But after just three steps, Kuzan stopped abruptly. His expression shifted.
He looked up.
"Chī Chī Chī, !"
A searing ball of fire came plummeting from the sky, its brilliance cutting through the air as it barreled straight toward him. Kuzan's pupils shrank. In an instant, he launched himself backward with a single bound, landing smoothly on the wooden railing of the ship.
The fireball hit the deck, but instead of exploding, it twisted midair, forming a sharp U-shaped arc as it redirected and surged toward him once again.
Kuzan's eyes grew sharp. He chose not to disperse his body elementally; something about the nature of the flames made him cautious. Instead, he flashed out of the way, narrowly dodging the incoming strike.
Only then did he straighten up at the edge of the ship, casting his gaze skyward.
"…Who are you?"
There was confusion in his voice as he eyed the unfamiliar figure hovering in midair with a long blade in hand.
The young man stood calmly, suspended in the sky as if the air beneath his feet were solid ground. His face was stern, detached, his gaze cool and unshaken.
"Leave, Marines," The youth said flatly. "Or I won't hesitate to reduce you to ash."
The threat was delivered without emotion, just cold certainty. As his gaze swept downward, his eyes paused for a beat upon the sight of the frozen Jason.
And then,
"Kā Chā, !"
The sound of cracking ice rang out across the deck.
Kuzan's eyes twitched as he turned to look at Jason's icy prison, which shattered in an explosive burst, with shards scattering in all directions.
"C-C-Cold! Damn, it's cold!" Jason shivered violently, his body trembling uncontrollably. But through his chattering teeth, his eyes locked onto Kuzan.
"You and me, our fight's not over yet! This time, I'll go all out!" Though still half-frozen, Jason's voice was defiant, burning with determination.
Kuzan squinted, shifting his gaze between the shivering man and the airborne stranger.
"Captain! You're back!" Jason suddenly called out, a grin spreading across his face despite the cold.
"Yeah," The man in the sky nodded.
In a flash, he appeared beside Jason, standing at his side as if space itself obeyed his will. The two now stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes locked on Kuzan.
"Ohh," Kuzan murmured, the pieces finally clicking into place. "He called you captain… so, you're Rojen."
Kuzan wasn't a dull man. He just didn't like overthinking things unless it became necessary. Now, with the full picture before him, everything made sense.
"I heard Admiral Kizaru's been hunting you," Kuzan said, his voice tightening.
His eyes narrowed. The air around them grew still.
"Kizaru, huh? You might want to go check on him." Rojen spoke with a faint, almost teasing smile.
Kuzan's body stiffened as his eyes locked onto Rojen. Kizaru was chasing this kid down… With his strength, there's no way someone could just slip past him.
Unless…
Unless this kid has power equal to, or beyond, Kizaru's…
But that was absurd. Wasn't it?
"I'll give you three seconds." Rojen's tone suddenly turned sharp, cutting through the air like his sword. "Leave now, or stay and share Kizaru's fate."
Sparks flared to life along the edge of Ryūjin Jakka, hissing with a burning "chī chī" as if the blade itself were itching to ignite.
Kuzan took a moment, scanning both men standing before him. He weighed the odds, hesitated briefly, then sighed and relaxed.
"What's your name, big guy?" He asked, eyes on Jason.
Very few people could survive being frozen by him, let alone break free.
"My name's Jason!" Jason's shout was loud and clear. Straightforward, honest, and unyielding, his personality matched his combat style: bold, direct, and overwhelming.
"You're strong," Kuzan said quietly.
Without another word, he turned and lightly leapt into the sea.
He had made his decision.
Facing one opponent who had forced him to rely on Elementalization and another whose strength was uncertain but likely just as dangerous, Kuzan, the man known for avoiding unnecessary conflict, chose to walk away.
Besides, this wasn't even his mission. He was only here at the request of a certain stubborn old man.
"Garp Sensei... maybe now you can finally rest easy," Kuzan muttered as he walked calmly across the sea's surface, disappearing into the distance.
Watching him leave, Rojen narrowed his eyes and then turned around.
"Jason, raise the sails, we're moving out!"
Still trembling from the cold, Jason gave himself a brisk rub, then shouted back:
"Aye, Captain!"
The Logan caught wind again and sailed forward.
On deck, Rojen slowly made his way toward the kind-faced woman standing quietly under the sky.
"Sister-in-law." He greeted her with a soft smile.
"You're Rojen?" Rouge asked, smiling gently.
"That's me," He nodded.
"Just like Roger said. I recognized you the moment I saw you." Rouge's smile deepened. "You look so much like him."
"But clearly more handsome," Rojen added with a smirk.
Rouge chuckled and shook her head. "Even your personalities are alike. You brothers…"
Her tone was half-exasperated, half-affectionate.
Then, Rojen's gaze dropped to her belly, where life stirred.
"Is… he doing well?"
Rouge's hand rested on her stomach, her expression soft. "Very well. I can feel him kicking." She looked up at Rojen, eyes earnest. "Thank you, Rojen."
"There's no need for thanks between us," Rojen said, his voice low and slightly hoarse.
"Besides… maybe this was always meant to be."
His grip tightened around Ryūjin Jakka as he stared at her swollen belly.
"Have you thought of a name?"
"Ace," She said gently, her hand still on her belly. "His name will be Ace."
Rojen looked out at the vast sea.
"It's fate, then." He murmured softly: "Welcomed by flames… carrying hope for both of you."
He stepped to the center of the deck and drove Ryūjin Jakka into the wood with a solid thunk.
In the next instant, a massive wine jar dropped from above with a heavy thud. Jason turned, startled.
"Poof!"
A flicker of fire danced up from the long blade's edge, yet oddly, it did not burn the wood beneath it.
"Rest in peace…"
"Old man."
Rojen poured a bowl of wine onto the deck. The liquid trickled off the ship's edge, merging with the sea below. Flame and wine, their tribute.
A ritual for someone long gone.
Unnoticed, silent tears streamed down Rojen's face. But even as they fell, he smiled.
(End Of This Chapter)