One Piece: Curse of Immortality

(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)

(T/N: Enjoy!!)

<><><><><><>

How long had Arashi been in this dark, damp, and decaying prison? Ten years? Eleven? The world only knew of three Marine Admirals now. 

So why had Admiral Arashi been imprisoned in Impel Down? 

Hannyabal's terrified face reflected the many speculations over the years—had he offended a powerful figure within the World Government? 

Or had he fought an unimaginable battle that led to his capture? 

Fleet Admiral Sengoku had personally escorted him to prison, but over time, rumors twisted the story into one of him being personally arrested.

Back then, Arashi was at the peak of his power—the strongest among the four Admirals. 

No matter what, he should never have ended up rotting in the darkness of Impel Down. 

That's why the theory that he had committed a crime and was imprisoned had gained widespread belief. But now, he was about to walk out. 

Just thinking about it filled Hannyabal with dread.

"Escape?!" The words surfaced in Hannyabal's mind, making him tremble uncontrollably.

"What's wrong, Hannyabal?" Arashi's piercing gaze fell upon him. 

"As an Admiral, is there a problem with me leaving Impel Down?" His bright eyes seemed to see straight into Hannyabal's soul.

"N-No, of course not!" Hannyabal jolted upright and quickly responded.

"Or… have they stripped me of my Admiral rank after all these years?" Arashi asked indifferently. 

It wasn't an impossibility. The reason he had been imprisoned was complicated. 

Back then, Sengoku was able to resist the pressure of the world government because of Arashi's immortal body and unparalleled strength. 

But after so many years, the world had changed. His name might have been forgotten. 

If the World Government had exerted enough pressure, and with Sengoku growing older and losing his influence, it was entirely possible that his rank would have been revoked.

"N-No!" "Although your name is rarely mentioned anymore, your Admiral rank has never been revoked!" Hannyabal immediately confirmed.

This had been one of the greatest mysteries in Impel Down for years. 

Arashi had been shackled in Seastone cuffs and imprisoned, yet he had retained his title as an Admiral. 

There was no doubt that this man was shrouded in a terrifying aura of mystery.

Arashi's eyes narrowed slightly before he smiled faintly. "Is that so?" "Well, that's good news."

He slowly turned his head, his back facing everyone. 

In an instant, they were met with a terrifying sight—a monstrous, rugged back covered in deep, battle-scarred trenches. 

His muscles were sculpted like a demon's, forming an awe-inspiring, overwhelming presence. 

Hannyabal swallowed hard, unable to fathom the kind of torment one would have to endure to forge such a body. 

His eyes trailed down Arashi's back to his waist, legs, and arms—his solid, defined muscles forming intricate, almost mystical patterns.

This man was a god of muscle. His physique had been refined to embody the essence of power.

"Fisher Tiger, Buggy, I'm taking them with me." 

"They are my subordinates."

His cold words made Hannyabal's body tremble, but he dared not object. As an Admiral, Arashi's authority was immense. 

With his terrifying power, there was no way Impel Down could stop him. Fisher Tiger and Buggy felt a surge of excitement in their hearts. 

To be able to leave this prison—what could be better? But more importantly, the man before them was no longer lying dormant.

He was about to step out into the world once more.

Kuina gripped her sword hilt tightly, determination flashing in her eyes. 

This time, as she followed her teacher back into the world, she would claim the title of the world's greatest swordsman. 

It was the goal she had pursued for years—the promise she had made to that green-haired boy.

"Zoro!" 

"Even now, you still aren't my match!" A confident smile formed on her lips.

"Let's go."

At Arashi's quiet call, the others looked up to see his towering, powerful figure already stepping forward, leaving only his back to them. 

Fisher Tiger, Buggy, and Kuina immediately followed.

....

The vast blue sky stretched endlessly, seagulls soared above, and gentle ripples spread across the ocean's surface.

Standing at the ship's bow, Arashi smiled and closed his eyes. The air was completely different from Impel Down—familiar, yet distant. 

Having spent years in darkness, his eyes took a moment to adjust to the outside world's brightness. 

But he didn't need his eyes to see. With his Observation, Haki fused with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and could perceive everything.

With just a thought, his awareness expanded to 100,000 meters, 200,000 meters, 300,000 meters…, and even 500,000 meters. 

Everything was crystal clear in his mind. This immense range was utterly shocking. 

At this moment, Arashi's Observation Haki could easily cover an entire island. 

Beside him, Fisher Tiger and Kuina seemed somewhat excited while Buggy was racking his brain, trying to recount everything that had happened to Arashi over the years. 

What kind of era was it now? The Seven Warlords stood firm in the world, forming a powerful force allied with the Marines to counterbalance the four emperors of the New World. 

The Great Pirate Era had peaked, with the Four Emperors reigning over the seas. Their formidable strength,

Along with their vast influence, they even seemed to overshadow the Marines, causing a slight imbalance in power across the seas. 

Over the years, the Marines had been continuously suppressed. 

The overwhelming might of the Four Emperors made it nearly impossible for the Marines to operate freely in the New World. 

Their influence was even weaker than during the era of the Pirate King, Roger. This was precisely what had frustrated Sengoku for so long. 

If they could dismantle or defeat any one of the Emperors, the world would undergo a massive shift. But such a task was nearly impossible.

"Beyond that, I don't really know," Buggy said helplessly. 

The world had undoubtedly undergone significant changes over the years, including in their home sea, the West Blue. 

However, he didn't dare to speak too much, fearing he might provoke Arashi's anger. 

"I found a newspaper," Fisher Tiger said as he walked out of the cabin, holding a stack of newspapers. 

Arashi took them, opened his eyes, and began scanning through them. 

They were all recent news reports—exactly what he needed most. 

Their ship, naturally provided by Impel Down, was originally a supply vessel used to transport essential goods.

"Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace, spotted in the first half of the Grand Line, raising suspicions."

The first headline made Arashi narrow his eyes slightly. 

His gaze landed on the front-page photo—a young man wearing a cowboy hat, freckles dotting his face. 

For a moment, he found himself in a daze, struggling to connect this grown man with the boy who used to cling to him, constantly shouting about becoming the Marine King and boasting that his fists were as hard as steel. 

"Has it really been so many years?" Arashi murmured to himself. Time flowed like a river, tides shifting,

and in the blink of an eye, that little boy had matured into a full-grown man. 

Just as in the original storyline, he had become the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. 

"Fire Fist Ace," Arashi muttered the name with a complicated expression. 

The Mera Mera no Mi was often mocked as a weak fruit—so weak that even a dog wouldn't eat it. 

In later years, it seemed like every strong person could wield flames. On the surface, Ace had consumed a seemingly unimpressive fruit. 

However, as someone who had mastered the Goro Goro no Mi to its full potential, Arashi knew that even among Logia, the fruit's potential.

It was still terrifying. "I wonder what it will be like when we meet again." 

Sighing softly, Arashi's expression returned to calm. He had once promised to visit Ace, but in the blink of an eye, so many years had passed. 

Now that Ace was an adult, perhaps it was time for him to visit instead. Perhaps. 

He continued flipping through the newspaper and soon came across a wanted poster for a certain Straw Hat kid. 

"Thirty million Berry," Arashi chuckled. From the bounty amount, he could roughly deduce that this was just at the beginning of the storyline. 

"I ran into that kid back in the East Blue." 

"Arrogant brat!" "Hmph!"

Buggy's face darkened as if recalling something unpleasant. Arashi glanced at him with amusement. 

"You didn't lose to Luffy, did you?" 

"How could I?!" 

"If it weren't for Vice Admiral Garp…" Buggy immediately grew anxious. 

With a Marine Vice Admiral like Garp, plus that terrifying disciple of his, and considering his superior at the time, how could he dare to go all out? 

"Heh!" Arashi chuckled and didn't pursue the topic further. He slowly lifted his head and looked toward the distant sea. 

"We're approaching Marineford soon," Fisher Tiger said, his expression slightly uneasy. As the former captain of the

Sun Pirates naturally held an instinctive fear and tension toward Marine Headquarters. 

"We're not heading to headquarters." 

"After switching to a different ship, I want to take a look at this world." 

"This era!" Arashi spoke softly, his gaze fixed beyond the Gates of Justice toward the vast sky.

"Crackle!" A dense bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the sky above Marineford's inner harbor, landing with pinpoint accuracy on the warship with a golden scepter embedded in its bow. 

"Buzz!" A faint vibration emanated from the ship, followed by arcs of electricity coursing through the golden scepter and spreading across the mysterious golden patterns etched into the deck and hull.

"Zzzzt—Zzzzt—Zzzzt!" 

The sound of crackling electricity intensified, and the entire warship trembled violently. The long-dormant propellers, inactive for nearly a decade, suddenly began spinning at high speed. "Boom!"

A series of thunderclaps echoed across the harbor as lightning bolts continued to strike the warship in rapid succession. 

The previously motionless vessel seemed to come to life as if it had been reawakened. 

This startling scene immediately caught the attention of the nearby stationed Marines. 

"What's going on?!" 

"What happened to the Thunder?" 

"A lightning strike from clear skies—where did it come from?" 

The Marines, idly chatting and resting, turned their heads in shock, staring at the enormous warship before them. 

They knew very well that this once-significant vessel had been inactive for years,

as if it had fallen into an eternal slumber. Yet now, it was moving again under mysterious circumstances. 

Before their disbelieving eyes, the Thunder's helm suddenly began to rotate rapidly. 

Then, to their even greater astonishment, the ship shifted direction—pointing straight toward the Gates of Justice. 

"Whoosh!" Before they could react, the warship shot forward like a bolt of lightning, vanishing from sight in an instant. 

"Quick!!" 

"Inform Vice Admiral Maynard—something's wrong with the Thunder! It took off on its own!"

"Are you joking?! Who will believe that a ship just sailed off by itself?" 

"Vice Admiral Maynard is also attending an important meeting at headquarters. We can't even get in!" 

"..." 

Meanwhile, a solemn and tense atmosphere filled the expansive meeting room within Marine Headquarters. 

High-ranking Marine officers sat silently, their eyes fixed on the crucial documents. 

At the head of the long table, Sengoku, whose hair was beginning to show streaks of white, spoke with a heavy expression. 

"Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—Fire Fist Ace!" 

"Former captain of the Spade Pirates!" "A Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi user."

"He once rejected the World Government's offer to become a Warlord of the Sea." 

"His bounty: 550 million berries!" His words echoed through the room, carrying undeniable weight. 

"Such a key figure within the Whitebeard Pirates has suddenly appeared in the first half of the Grand Line. What is his mission?"

"Or rather, what is Whitebeard's purpose in sending him here?" Sengoku's sharp gaze swept across the gathered officers. 

Of the three Admirals, only Borsalino, codenamed Kizaru, was present. 

Though he appeared to be listening attentively, Sengoku knew full well that his mind was likely drifting elsewhere.

The Vice Admirals, now mostly middle-aged, wore serious expressions. Sengoku let out a small sigh in his heart. 

These people couldn't be relied upon either. Compared to the state of the seas today, the Marines' overall strength still seemed lacking. 

There was a glaring gap between them and the pirates in terms of top combat power. Internally, the problems were even greater. 

The three Admirals were all eccentric, and the Vice Admirals were hardly dependable. 

Just one Fire Fist Ace was enough to put all of Marineford on high alert.

At times, Sengoku even questioned whether he was truly suited for this position.

He had lost count of the times he had felt exhausted and powerless. "If we were to wage an all-out war against one of the Four Emperors..." 

"How likely is it that the Marines would emerge victorious?" Time had passed, and Sengoku was growing old. 

His strength and energy were no longer what they had been in years past. Retirement was already on his mind. 

However, before stepping down, he desperately wanted to accomplish one major event—to leave behind one final achievement in his career. 

Just like how Fleet Admiral Kong, during his tenure, had captured countless pirates and even oversaw the execution of Pirate King Roger, a seemingly perfect legacy. 

Though Sengoku was a strategist rather than a warrior,

he, too, wished to leave his mark as Fleet Admiral without regret. "Regarding this matter, what are your thoughts?" Sengoku asked slowly. 

"Perhaps we should capture this great pirate." 

"If we successfully capture Fire Fist Ace, it would deal a severe blow to the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the most notorious crews in the world!" 

A Vice Admiral said in a deep voice. "I don't think that's wise." 

"Making a move against a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates could easily escalate into a full-scale war with them, throwing the world into chaos!" 

"Besides, who would be able to capture Fire Fist Ace?"

"Are we going to send an Admiral after him?" Another officer countered. "Ridiculous! Are you afraid of Whitebeard?" 

"Are we worried about provoking a war with pirates over just Fire Fist Ace?" 

"Since when did the Marines become so weak?" A grizzled Vice Admiral snapped angrily. 

Despite his age, he was known for his hawkish stance. "Acting rashly won't solve anything." 

"It will only further complicate the world's balance of power." A calm voice interjected. 

As Sengoku listened to the heated debate among the Vice Admirals, his brows furrowed deeper, and his expression darkened.

"I believe we should capture Fire Fist Ace and use this as a turning point!" 

"Declare war on the Whitebeard Pirates and eliminate the oldest and most renowned Four Emperors!" 

"This would shake the entire pirate world to its core and showcase the Marines' true strength!" 

"This is the best course of action to take!" A firm and resolute voice rang out, drawing Sengoku's gaze forward.

The one who spoke was a middle-aged Vice Admiral, his gaze firm and resolute, aligning somewhat with Sengoku's thoughts. "And the reason?" Sengoku asked.

"First, officers of a Yonko crew rarely travel alone, giving us such an opportunity!" 

"Fire Fist Ace is out on his own—for whatever reason—and if we act now, the Marines have a high chance of capturing him!" 

"Second, among the Four Emperors, Whitebeard is the most renowned and the strongest, hailed as the world's strongest man and one of the three legendary great pirates. However—"

"As time passes, age is catching up with him. The hidden injuries from his youth have inevitably begun surfacing." 

"Our informants have reported intelligence that this legendary pirate now relies on IV drips just to stay alive." 

"In other words, while he may have once been the strongest man in the world—" The Vice Admiral paused momentarily, then chuckled. 

"That may no longer be the case!" Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he carefully considered the words. "Third, Whitebeard's crew lacks a worthy successor." 

His division commanders may be experienced and powerful, but compared to the other Emperor crews, they are not necessarily superior.

If we have the determination, we stand a considerable chance of taking down this aging lion's pride!" The Vice Admiral smirked.

"An aging lion's pride?" Sengoku mused over the phrase, finding it surprisingly fitting, and he couldn't help but chuckle. 

Whitebeard was indeed nearing the end of his prime, and his officers lacked a truly outstanding figure to inherit the vast legacy he had built. 

In contrast, the other three Emperor crews remained at their peak, their strength formidable. 

The difference was stark. "Then, what is the plan for capturing Fire Fist Ace?"

His expression softened slightly as he spoke. A large-scale operation against the Whitebeard Pirates was indeed an interesting proposition. 

If events escalated, Sengoku had the resolve to engage in an all-out war with the Emperor's crew. 

Such a battle would cement his tenure as Fleet Admiral in history, leave behind an unparalleled achievement, and shake the world—ushering in a new era. 

If he could eliminate one of the Yonko, the next Fleet Admiral would have a much easier time maintaining order over the seas.

"Fire Fist Ace has risen from a rookie two years ago to the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. 

Whether it's his talent or strength, he is a force to be reckoned with! 

Therefore, I believe the Marines should formulate a meticulous plan centered on ambush and overwhelming force."

"If we act, it must be with the power of a thunderclap, ensuring his absolute capture. As for the personnel, I suggest—"

At that moment, Sengoku suddenly frowned and turned toward the conference room entrance.

"Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, catching the attention of every high-ranking officer present. 

Their faces twisted with displeasure and frustration—such an important Marine meeting was never to be interrupted.

"Bang!"

The doors to the conference room burst open.

A young officer stood at the threshold, his posture formal but tense. He gripped the door handles as if to steady himself. 

The moment he stepped in, he felt the weight of the Marine elites' collective gaze bearing down on him. His body trembled involuntarily. 

The sheer pressure of being stared at by the highest-ranking figures in the Marine hierarchy was nothing short of terrifying.

But then, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand firm—because the news he was about to deliver would send shockwaves through Marine Headquarters.

"R-Report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku! We've just received news from Impel Down!"

"A-A-Admiral Arashi has returned!" The officer took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Admiral Arashi has returned!" His words echoed through the vast chamber, reverberating like thunder.

A sudden, absolute silence fell over the room. Not a single sound could be heard. The expressions on the gathered officers' faces changed in an instant. 

Moments ago, they had worn looks of anger or indifference, but now—some showed fear, some were in shock, others were frozen in disbelief, and a few were even visibly excited.

Even Sengoku himself, upon hearing the name that had nearly faded into obscurity, was momentarily stunned. 

His entire body stiffened, and his mind seemed blank for a fraction of a second. But then, he shuddered, his eyes locking onto the officer before him.

"Did you say… Arashi?"

The officer nodded vigorously. "Yes! Admiral Arashi!"

"He departed Impel Down half an hour ago aboard a Marine supply ship, accompanied by former Sun Pirates captain Fisher Tiger, former subordinate Captain Buggy, and a woman named Kuina!"

"There is no doubt about it!"

"This is the first time in over a decade that Admiral Arashi has left Impel Down!"

The young officer's voice carried a mix of excitement and trembling, his emotions running high. And his words made the hearts of every officer in the room beat faster.

Sengoku clenched his fists in silence.

That man…

Had finally returned!

If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.

patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER