One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

[Objective: Defeat Aokiji. Leave him a lasting memory.]

In the frozen sea, standing in the center, was Admiral Aokiji. He had just gotten back on his feet, his body still encased in chunks of ice.

"He's coming… that sword!"

Aokiji steadied himself. He could no longer underestimate Vane. This young man wasn't someone you could judge by age. Earlier, Aokiji had frozen him completely and assumed Vane was dead. He had been confident—after all, he had refined his Ice-Ice Fruit powers for decades. But to his shock, Vane had a trump card. Not only had he eaten the Explosive Fruit, but he also wielded flames that rivaled a volcano, all channeled through his blade.

On Vane's side, he held his sword—Ryūjin Jakka—in both hands. The blade blazed like a living inferno. The fire spilled into the sea, yet it didn't extinguish. Waves of heat rippled through the air, warping the space around him.

"I've never seen a weapon like that before," Aokiji muttered, eyes wide. "Is that really just a sword? How can a normal weapon handle flames like that?"

Frost poured from his feet and hands as he summoned his freezing power, trying to counter the searing waves ahead.

Vane stared him down. This time, he wasn't holding back.

He swung the blade horizontally.

[Skill: Firestorm Slash – "Burning City"]

A wave of intense fire erupted from the sword, greater in size and heat than before.

The sky ignited.

The sea boiled.

The flames surged toward Aokiji like a divine firebird. He released a massive wave of cold to defend himself—but to his horror, the flames evaporated the freezing air before it even reached Vane. Red and gold fire circled Aokiji, forming a towering wall of flame that enclosed him like a blazing prison.

"These flames… they're hotter than Sakazuki's magma!"

The ice beneath Aokiji melted rapidly. He struggled to stay upright, continuously releasing ice to keep from being overwhelmed.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"

From his hand, Aokiji launched a massive ice bird in an attempt to punch through the fire barrier.

But it was useless.

The flames rushed at the bird, incinerating it mid-air like it was made of paper.

"What the hell…?"

Panic crept into Aokiji's voice.

"Ice Age!" he shouted, trying to freeze everything around him in desperation.

"Enjoy it, Aokiji," Vane said coolly.

He raised the blade again, flames spiraling from its edge and bending the air around it.

[Skill: Firestorm Slash – "Burning City: Second Layer"]

Another wall of flame roared to life, adding to the inferno. Vane layered the flames one after another. And before leaving, he added a third.

If Aokiji wanted to escape, he'd have to go through the sea—but even underwater, the fire pursued.

At a high enough temperature, even seawater couldn't smother these flames.

Otherwise, how could they burn the sky and boil the ocean?

A minute later, Vane landed on the deck of his ship. He sheathed Ryūjin Jakka, and only then did the flames vanish.

The sword, now at rest, looked no different than a regular blade.

"Unbelievable..."

Kalifa stared through her telescope, trembling. The sheer power of Vane was burned into her memory. Resistance? That wasn't even a thought anymore.

"It's safer sticking with him," she muttered. "She was already wanted."

She had expected him to struggle against Aokiji—yet it was the admiral who nearly fell.

"What did you do to Aokiji? Is he dead?" she asked, unable to hide her worry.

"He's not dead," Vane replied, leaning back against the deck wall. "You think a Navy admiral dies that easily? But he definitely lost more than just face."

Ryūjin Jakka lay at his side as he closed his eyes.

Kalifa was quiet.

Vane was terrifyingly strong.

Maybe... following him wasn't a bad choice.

She knelt beside him and eyed the blade curiously.

"This sword… it can release infinite flames?"

"Wanna see it?"

She nodded. Vane handed her the blade.

It wasn't hot at all.

She drew it carefully, but there was no fire.

"That's strange..."

"Only I can use it," Vane explained. "To you, it's just an ordinary sword. It's not a Supreme Grade weapon or cursed blade—it's called a Zanpakutō."

"A what?"

"Figure it out yourself."

"Tch. So secretive..." Kalifa grumbled. "Where are we going next? Straight to the New World?"

"No. First stop is Skypiea. We need to find the Thunder Fruit."

"The Thunder Fruit?"

"Yeah. If someone's already eaten it, we'll see if we can take it from them. Your power level is too low—you need the Thunder Fruit."

Kalifa's eyes widened. "Wait, you're planning to steal a Devil Fruit? How?!"

"I don't know yet. I'll think about it on the way."

Under the night sky, their ship, The King, sailed steadily across the Grand Line, heading toward the base of the sky island, Skypiea.

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[Author's Note:]

If something seems off—like the mechanics of Ryūjin Jakka—feel free to leave a comment. As for plundering Devil Fruits, it's based on a method I saw in another fanfic. No solid rules exist, so I'm running with that concept. Blackbeard's method might be similar.

After taking down Enies Lobby, we head to the sky. Luffy's growth won't catch up from here.

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