One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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Arashi! This is a name of great significance within the Marines, one that lingers in the hearts of many. 

Just as the Pirate King, Roger, symbolized an era, Arashi represents the deeply buried ideals within numerous Marines. 

Without a doubt, Arashi is a great Marine. Every man who has known him would firmly acknowledge this. 

People had almost forgotten him as time passed, and the world seemed to have settled into peace. 

Until today, when this name once again echoed in everyone's ears. "You must be joking?"

"That man...Isn't he in Impel Down?" 

"I saw it with my own eyes back then—his arms severed, shackled at the feet, walking into Impel Down!" 

"To think that I would hear his name again in my lifetime!" 

"A legend of the Marines, a man nearly equal in fame to the Marine Hero, has resurfaced!" 

"This is earth-shattering news, not just for the Marines but the entire world." 

"..." For a moment, the assembled Marines were in shock, struggling to process the news. After all, even in their youth,

that man was already one of the Marines' foremost powerhouses, a revered and awe-inspiring figure. 

He was an unattainable dream even among his peers—someone they could only glimpse from behind. 

At the long table near Sengoku, Kizaru seemed to wake from a daze with a hint of surprise and astonishment on his face. 

"That man's name... it's been a long time since I've heard it."

"So, is this good news or the prelude to a worse future?" Sengoku's eyes narrowed slightly at those words.

It could be said that Arashi always carried great complications with him. Every war associated with him had been enough to shake the world. 

This man was never one to sit still. The equal justice he upheld and pursued once caused massive upheaval within the Marines and the world. 

At one time, he was determined to reform the Marines, steering them toward a purer, more righteous path. 

But as time passed, reality's constraints repeatedly frustrated him. Justice was not something.

That could be spoken into existence, tangled in much deeper complexities. 

Even one as high as the Fleet Admiral found it nearly impossible to implement true justice.

"Where is he now?" Sengoku asked in a low voice, his gaze sharpening. 

"We have yet to determine Admiral Arashi's whereabouts. Even the guards at Impel Down dared not ask too many questions," a Marine officer nervously responded. 

"You may go!" 

"Since he has reemerged, he must have much to attend to." 

"In the days to come, we will have ample time to catch up," Sengoku said indifferently. His eyes gleamed. 

Based on what he knew of Arashi, for the man to willingly endure severe injuries, willingly bear the weight of Seastone shackles, and step into that dark, damp prison of his own accord. 

If he dared to leave now, it meant he had gained even greater strength, confident enough to face even the Five Elders head-on. 

"So, what will you do next?" A flicker of curiosity surfaced in Sengoku's mind. 

"But for the Marines..." 

"This is undoubtedly good news!" When he took up the Fleet Admiral mantle, there were four Marine Admirals. 

He firmly believed that his leadership team would mark the strongest era in Marine history! But fate had other plans. 

An unexpected incident led to Arashi's imprisonment in Impel Down, resulting in the loss of one of their most formidable forces. 

Without question, Arashi had been the strongest of the new generation's four Admirals. 

Now that he had left Impel Down, the Marines would regain the strength he once envisioned. "With him here!" 

"Even if our enemy is Whitebeard!" A cold glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes, and his heart swelled excitedly. 

He seemed to glimpse a possibility of breaking through the current tangled state of the world. 

Moreover, given Arashi's character and beliefs, the unfinished tasks of Sengoku's tenure—perhaps Arashi could accomplish them in the future. 

Taking a deep breath, Sengoku scanned the Marine officers present, a sudden smile appearing on his face. 

"Perhaps we need to adjust our plans for the future!" 

"This meeting is over." 

"Dismissed!" None of the Marines objected. 

They swiftly stood and left. Each officer's expression varied—some solemn, some exhilarated, some tense, some excited, and some shaken. 

In the blink of an eye, they had all disappeared.

Arashi's return had undeniably shaken everyone present. Sengoku was the last to leave the conference room. 

Upon returning to his office, his expression eased slightly as he immediately ordered the Marine officer before him, "Find out Admiral Arashi's location at once, and establish contact with him if possible." 

"Yes, sir! I'll see to it immediately!" The officer stiffened, saluted, and quickly departed. 

Then, after a moment of contemplation, Sengoku quietly dialed a Den Den Mushi. 

"You'll never guess the news I have for you, Garp!" A smile tugged at his lips as he spoke.

"Oh? Then don't keep me in suspense—I don't have time for your nonsense, Sengoku!" Garp responded. 

"Arashi. He's back!" Sengoku said with a grin. 

"Arashi?!" Garp was stunned into silence for a long moment as if struggling to process the unbelievable news. 

Then, a booming laugh erupted through the receiver. "This is certainly good news for an old man like me!" 

"That brat!" 

"When I see him again, I'll make sure he gets a taste of my Iron Fist!" Sengoku smirked and retorted teasingly, "You may not be his match anymore."

"That brat is indeed strong. Ten years ago, I had trouble keeping up with him." 

"And if he walked out of that prison on his own..." Garp paused, his voice turning serious. 

"Then it means he has the confidence to face any threat." 

"You understand what this signifies better than I do, Sengoku." Sengoku nodded slightly. 

"Of course, I do." 

"Think carefully about how we should use his strength."

"The world has been silent for too long. Now that brat's back, it won't be long before everything is turned upside down!" Garp chuckled. 

"He's never been one to sit still!" Hearing this, Sengoku first frowned slightly, then laughed as well. 

"I must say, I'm quite eager to see what he does next!" Marine Headquarters, Marineford, just outside the Gate of Justice. 

Under the sunlight, the Golden Scepter gleamed brilliantly. 

The streamlined form of the Sandor, like a bolt of winding lightning, streaked across the sea at an astonishing speed.

The elegant ship was surrounded by golden lightning as if it were a spirit wielding the power of thunder itself. 

The vessel docked before Arashi and his companions in the blink of an eye. 

"Zzzzt!" 

Arcs of electricity crackled across its surface as if expressing joy and excitement. 

Arashi gazed at the ship with deep emotion—this was the battleship specially crafted for him by the shipbuilders of the West Blue. 

The Thunder, also known as the Golden Scepter. 

The scepter symbolized authority and was the weapon wielded by the god of thunder in myth. It represented supreme power, the ruler among gods, and the king of deities. 

With a light leap, Arashi landed on the Golden Scepter. Fisher Tiger, Buggy, and Kuina followed suit, stepping onto the deck. 

As they observed the ship's exterior and deck covered in intricate golden patterns, their eyes revealed astonishment and admiration. 

A massive white sail bore the word "Justice," while atop the mast fluttered the Marine emblem—an anchor symbol unique to their fleet. 

Despite its simplicity, the ship was exquisitely crafted, and its interior was filled with an undeniable sense of grandeur. 

But even more astonishing was the man standing on the scepter; with just a single thought, the ship adjusted its course and transformed into a streak of golden light, gliding swiftly across the sea. 

"Where are we headed?" Buggy shouted as the wind roared past them. 

"Haven't decided yet!" Arashi grinned. 

"Wherever we end up, that's where we'll go!" 

The sea breeze tousled his dark hair, and the familiar scent of the ocean filled his senses, igniting his wanderlust. 

He was savoring every breath of this air. After so many years, he needed to reacquaint himself with the world. As the battleship sailed forward,

Kuina retrieved a fresh Marine uniform from the cabin and helped Arashi change into it. Seven days later, the ship arrived at Water 7. 

After a brief resupply, they continued their journey without delay. By this point, Arashi had already decided on his destination. 

The sea wind billowed, lifting the white Marine cape on his back. As he read the latest newspaper, a knowing smirk appeared on his lips. 

"This all feels so familiar." With a soft sigh, he handed the newspaper to Buggy. The latter glanced curiously, and his eyes instantly widened in shock.

"How is this possible?!" 

"Straw Hat Luffy… defeated Crocodile?!" Arashi's smile deepened, but his mind was filled with doubt. 

Before Crocodile infiltrated Alabasta, he had likely already known Cobra's true identity and understood his objectives. 

So what had caused him to engage in a battle with Luffy? And even more intriguing—how had Crocodile, with his formidable strength, actually lost? 

Kuina, listening to their conversation, curiously glanced at the newspaper. The bold headline caught her eye,

"Warlord of the Sea Crocodile Defeated by Rookie Straw Hat Luffy!" 

"The Warlord of the Sea, known as the Sand Crocodile, suspected to be involved in a conspiracy, will be stripped of his title and arrested by the Marines." 

Kuina froze, her eyes filled with confusion. "Warlord of the Sea?" 

"What is that?" 

"The so-called Warlords of the Sea," Buggy explained, "are seven powerful pirates officially sanctioned by the World Government, given the legal right to plunder." 

"Their primary purpose is to counterbalance the Four Emperors of the New World." 

"Legally sanctioned pirates?" Kuina was taken aback. 

"The seven Warlords are Crocodile, Gecko Moria, Boa Hancock, Bartholomew Kuma, Donquixote Doflamingo," as well as the world's strongest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, and the Fish-Man Karate master, Jinbe." 

As Buggy finished speaking, he noticed a change in Kuina and Fisher Tiger's expressions. 

"The world's strongest swordsman?" Kuina murmured, her eyes narrowing sharply as a determined glint flashed within them. 

"Jinbe, huh?" Fisher Tiger smiled faintly, lost in old memories.

Arashi did not interrupt their thoughts. Instead, he turned his gaze forward. 

He was curious about what exactly had changed within Crocodile's Baroque Works—or rather, what had truly led to his battle with Luffy.

"A betrayal?" His eyes sharpened as he fell into silence. 

He had been gone for a long time—so long that he could no longer discern the true nature of people.

The vast empire he once built—how many of them could still be trusted? How many would still follow him with unwavering loyalty? 

Buggy's departure from the West Blue had already hinted at changes there.

And now, seeing the upheaval in Alabasta, it was evident that Crocodile had also begun acting out of character. 

"If you truly dared to lay a hand on my family…" Arashi exhaled softly. But reason told him that Crocodile wasn't that foolish. 

Everything would only become clear once they reached Alabasta. 

Five days after departing from Water 7, the battleship docked at Nanohana Port. Wasting no time, Arashi and his group set out for the capital, Alubarna.

Alubarna, the royal capital. "After all these years, I never expected our reunion under these circumstances." 

A deep voice echoed, accompanied by drifting white smoke. 

Smoker stood still, his gaze locked on the man before him—his wrists bound by Seastone shackles—his expression complicated. 

"The brat from back then dares to act all high and mighty before me now?" A cold sneer rang out as Crocodile lifted his head. 

It had been years since they last met. Ever since Arashi had entered Impel Down, those from the West Blue had seemingly reached a silent understanding, rarely contacting one another. 

Especially Crocodile, who had chosen the life of a pirate and a Warlord, making him appear like a true traitor.

"You know," Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression dark. "I never could figure out where you truly stood." 

Back then, due to his age and lack of strength, there were many things he didn't understand—such as the mysterious organization that man had created and the intricate affairs connected to it. 

And now, standing before him, Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had become another puzzle. 

"Your allegiance?" Crocodile smirked, his tone laced with amusement.

"Isn't that something that changes depending on one's position?" 

Smoker's expression turned cold as he stared at the man he once respected as a superior. 

"So, your stance now is that of a ruthless pirate, attempting to overthrow Alabasta?" 

"Guhaha!" Crocodile burst into laughter. 

"That's an interesting question." 

"If you insist on making me explain, it would be quite troublesome." 

He chuckled softly, but in his eyes, a trace of disappointment and frustration flickered.

He carried dreams and ambitions, but in the end, the result was undoubtedly a failure. 

The Pluton he longed for was nothing like what he had imagined. Instead, everything had spiralled into a complete mess. 

What if that man knew about this? At that thought, Crocodile fell silent. So be it. Let him know. After all, who had he done all this for?

"Huuh!" Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression a mix of complexity and grimness. 

"You will be personally arrested by me, stripped of your Warlord status, and sent to Impel Down!" However, Crocodile showed no sign of panic or fear.

"I suppose this doesn't sit well with you either, does it?" he said softly, slowly lifting his head to gaze at the sky. 

"The world hasn't been the same since the day that man disappeared." 

"I can no longer find the meaning of being alive." 

"I can't even feel the reality of my own existence." His voice was distant, carrying a hint of mockery, but Smoker remained silent. 

He understood exactly what those words meant. He could feel the same thing.

"He will come back!" Smoker suddenly gritted his teeth and declared. 

He couldn't believe that the man he once admired and followed so loyally would simply vanish from the world without a trace.

"Guhaha! I feel like I'm looking at the naive version of you from back then," Crocodile laughed loudly. 

Smoker's expression darkened, and with a wave of his hand, the Marines behind him stepped forward, ready to take Crocodile away.

But then, a mocking voice echoed in the air.

"Guhaha!" "Do you really think you can capture me so easily?" 

"Or do you truly believe that some rookie wearing a straw hat could defeat me and leave me in such a miserable state?"

Smoker's expression changed abruptly as he snapped his gaze forward.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a gust of sand swirled into the air. The Marines who had approached Crocodile cried in shock as they were blown back.

"What the hell are you trying to do?!" Smoker shouted. 

Amidst the drifting sand, Crocodile's figure reappeared, but the Seastone shackles that had once bound his hands were now gone. 

It was clear—he had never truly been captured in the first place.

"Have you ever heard of Pluton?"

"It's an ancient weapon of unimaginable power!" 

"If I can get my hands on it, I can threaten the World Government and force them to hand over that man!" 

"It was such a perfect plan!" Crocodile's voice suddenly grew loud, his face twisting with madness.

"I did everything for this. I built Baroque Works, gathered intelligence from all over the world, and learned far too much." 

"And the more I uncovered, the clearer it became—just how terrifying he truly was." 

"That's why, more than anyone else, I was convinced that he would return."

"But!"

His face turned ice-cold.

"Who could afford to wait that long? For him, time might be eternal—it leaves no marks on him, nor can it erase his existence. But for us, time is the cruelest, inescapable blade!"

Taking a deep breath, Crocodile locked eyes with Smoker.

"If the World Government has captured him and imprisoned him, then I'll use absolute power to break him out! and if something else has happened to him, then Pluton's power will be a crucial force in the future!"

"But unfortunately!"

At that, his voice turned regretful yet filled with rage as he shook his head.

"I failed!" 

"That little girl actually didn't believe me!" 

"Damn it! Who was it that saved her in Ohara back then? Who was it that gave her life?" 

"Human nature is truly unpredictable—it chills me to my core."

Smoker remained silent.

He was beginning to understand Crocodile's intentions. 

But even so, to go this far—to the point of attempting to overthrow Alabasta—was something he had never expected.

"But I still have a chance. The Poneglyph in Alabasta was only a guide. Pluton isn't here. I will find it, and I will take control of its power!"

The madness and fury in Crocodile's expression suddenly faded, replaced by an eerie calm. 

Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, frustration evident in his face.

"You're being reckless! If he comes back—"

Crocodile abruptly cut him off.

"I don't care anymore!" 

"Bullet's descent into madness!" 

"Rosinante's disappearance!" 

"Buggy's betrayal!" 

"Everyone is struggling, all in an effort to either see him again or uncover even the faintest trace of him!"

"And that includes you, doesn't it?" 

"Leaving the West Blue, following orders from Marine Headquarters, and then heading to the East Blue."

"What's next? Joining Headquarters to gather information on him?"

"It's useless. Those bastards have already sealed their lips. Especially when it comes to someone like you—a Marine from the West Blue—they won't leak a single word." Crocodile sneered.

Smoker's frustration grew.

Suddenly, his fists clenched tightly, and his sharp gaze locked onto Crocodile.

"What? You want to fight me?" Crocodile's eyes turned icy.

"No, that's not it."

The sharpness in Smoker's gaze suddenly disappeared, replaced by pure disbelief. His eyes widened as he stared straight ahead.

A dazzling lightning bolt streaked across the clear sky, tearing through the void. In the blink of an eye, it had already reached the skies above Alubarna.

"Rumble—!"

Only then did the sound of thunder roar through the city.

Then, in front of them, lightning suddenly burst forth. Blue electric arcs spread in all directions, blocking Crocodile's path.

"Buzz!"

An overwhelming, powerful aura swept through the entire area, kicking up dust from the ground.

And then, in the stunned gazes of Smoker and Crocodile, a strong and imposing figure stepped out from the crackling lightning.

"Long time no see, Crocodile."

A familiar voice rang out, and the figure finally emerged in full view.

"You've been up to quite a lot while I was gone, haven't you?"

Arashi first glanced at Smoker before slowly turning his eyes toward Crocodile.

"You!"

Crocodile's pupils shrank, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

A flood of indescribable emotions surged through him, leaving him at a complete loss for words.

"I remember back in Whitebeard's territory. You pulled off something that surprised me back then too."

Pausing for a moment, Arashi smirked.

"After all these years…You're still just as foolish."

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