One Piece: Reborn in God's Valley

"It's been a while, Roger."

Ashen's words brought an abrupt stillness to the scene. Every member of the Roger Pirates turned their eyes toward him.

"Wahahaha…. So it's you. Haven't gone a week lately without hearing your name. Didn't expect we'd meet this soon."

Roger paused, then broke into his signature grin, his two mustaches lifting slightly with the expression. 

But the smile faded just as quickly, giving way to a serious tone. 

"So? Are you here today to avenge Rocks?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Roger Pirates took a few steps forward in unison. 

Rayleigh, Oden, and Gaban immediately stood behind Roger, forming a formidable wall of presence.

A powerful aura surged from their group, sending waves through the air. The fish-men who had gathered to spectate, sensing danger, hurriedly scattered from the area.

"Hahaha.. Don't say things like revenge, Roger.

I'm not that reckless brat from back then anymore. I've got people to protect now, I'm not alone."

Ashen glanced back at Tesla and the others. Despite the pressure from the Roger Pirates, not one of them had taken a step back. 

Seeing them standing firmly behind him filled Ashen with pride.

"Wahaha… looks like you've grown up quite a bit over the years. And it seems you've found some good companions too. That scar suits you."

Roger was surprised. He'd half expected Ashen to charge in without a second thought, just like he had back at God Valley, ignoring the vast gap in their strength. 

But seeing him so composed now was a relief. Given the state of his own health, Roger would rather avoid a fight if he could.

"Don't worry, Roger. I haven't forgotten the scar you gave me."

Ashen touched the long slash across his right chest and went on.

"But I'm not here to fight you, not yet. You've still got a mission to finish. When that journey ends... I'll come find you."

"Fine by me. If, by then, you still want to settle what we started back then, come find me anytime.

Neptune, we came to Fish-Man Island today because we need your help."

With that, Roger turned and led his crew toward King Neptune, ready to discuss their real objective, locating the Poneglyphs.

"Come with me. I know where you want to go," Neptune said quickly, eager to avoid a fight and leading them away without delay.

"Ah…. Oden… my head… it hurts…"

Just as the Roger Pirates started moving, a voice cried out from behind. 

Toki, who had been protected by the crew during the confrontation, suddenly clutched her head in pain. 

Her eyes locked on Ashen, her finger shakily pointing at him as she collapsed.

"My lady, what's wrong? Please wake up."

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi rushed to her side, one supporting her, the other catching the crying infant in her arms.

"You bastard! What did you do to Lady Toki?"

The group ahead stopped in their tracks as Oden turned and saw Toki's unconscious form. His eyes blazed with fury, assuming Ashen had done something.

"Hmph... That's her problem, not mine. I don't stoop to cheap shots."

Ashen had no interest in carrying the blame, and he never liked Oden to begin with. Without another word, he turned and walked away with Tesla and the others.

"It was him! Oden-sama, she pointed at him before she collapsed!" Nekomamushi's whiskers stood on end, his claws jabbing in Ashen's direction.

"You dare hurt Toki and then deny it?! I'll never forgive you!"

Without waiting for Roger's command, Oden drew both his swords and dashed toward Ashen.

"Oden Two-Sword Style!"

Clang!

Anduril unsheathed, Ashen's sword came up like a shadow, intercepting the strike an instant before it landed.

Zzzzzzt…

The moment two swords clashed, the compressed Armament Haki on their weapons burst outward in a storm of black lightning. The ground beneath them shattered into splinters.

"Watch out, Lafitte!" Tesla moved fast, shielding Lafitte as the shockwave rolled toward them.

Clang…. Clang….

After the first strike, both fighters leapt back in sync before clashing again. The sound of steel on steel rang out faster and faster.

"Captain, Ashen is strong… He's going toe to toe with Oden," said Shanks, clutching Momonosuke, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Keep watching, Shanks. In his swordsmanship, I see echoes of some old friends…" Roger murmured.

…

Several minutes later, the two swordsmen separated once more.

"Huff… The swordsmanship of Wano truly is something unique," Ashen said, admiration in his voice. 

Like him or not, Oden's skill was worth respect.

"Don't think you can talk your way out of this. Even someone as kind as Toki… you hurt her. That's unforgivable!"

Oden's clothes were torn in places, and had just a few injuries . He took a breath, battle spirit reigniting in his eyes.

"Stop, Oden! Get the facts first, don't let anger control you."

Seeing Oden preparing to charge again, Roger finally stepped in to stop him.

"Oh, now you decide to leash your naive, selfish mutt?" Ashen snapped, voice full of contempt. 

"Where was this control earlier? You waited this long to think about facts?"

"What did you say? You bastard!"

Oden roared and raised his blades again. Rayleigh and Gaban rushed forward to hold him back.

"Am I wrong? Whitebeard treated you well, didn't he? And yet you left him for your own selfish reasons.

That's not even the worst of it, look at what's become of Wano now… "

"Enough, Ashen!"

Roger's voice boomed like a cannon, and with it came an overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki.

His Haki was so dense it nearly turned solid, creating bursts of air as it tore through the space around him. Even the ground beneath Ashen's feet began to cave under the pressure.

"So this is the might of a true top tier pirate…it's terrifying." Lafitte murmured. Though outside Roger's direct radius, the sheer pressure was undeniable.

"You really are something, Roger. Other than Rocks, I've never seen such a dominating force."

Ashen stood at the eye of the Haki storm, battered by its pressure, but he didn't back down. He'd survived too much to fold now. If anything, it was time he stopped holding back.

"Then try this on for size, Roger."

Netherquake: Resonance!

Ashen's Nether Eye activated, its eerie glow locked onto Roger's soul. At that moment, he triggered the technique he had refined over a year of experimentation.

His soul began vibrating at a unique, resonant frequency.

If Conqueror's Haki was direct and forceful, like a stream of lightning, then Ashen's soul resonance was more like alternating current, cyclical, variable, adapting to the opponent's soul pattern.

Bzzzzzzzt….

As both of their powers intensified, the effects began spreading out. 

In the distance, fish-men who had stayed to watch began collapsing one by one, no one could tell whose attack had struck them down.

"Stop this, at this rate, Fish-Man Island will be destroyed."

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