Demon Slayer Virgil [Isekai One Piece]

After two hours of navigating the underwater world, Zavia and Arthur were finally greeted by the warm embrace of sunlight.

As the light above grew brighter, their ship steadily ascended towards the surface, eventually breaking through with a splash.

Bong~

The moment the ship left the water, the soap bubble surrounding it burst, dissipating into the air.

It was clear they had left the climate range of the Sabaody Archipelago, but by how much remained uncertain. The Red Line, the massive landmass that divided the Grand Line, was nowhere in sight.

They found themselves in the middle of an open sea.

"So this is the New World... Hmm... How should I put it? It truly lives up to its reputation," Zavia murmured, standing up and taking in the surroundings with his entire being.

The wind here was even fiercer than in the first half of the Grand Line. The ocean currents were unpredictable, sometimes flowing with incredible speed, churning up waves, and at other times, almost as still as the Calm Belt.

The fish swimming in these waters were also much larger than those in the first half, but their taste was undoubtedly superior.

While they were more aggressive, the nutrients they provided far surpassed those of the fish in the first half.

After all, any creature that could survive in the New World was no ordinary being. They either had someone protecting them, possessed immense strength, had exceptional intelligence, or carried some unique trait...

"Is this your first time here?" Mihawk, who had been meditating at the back of the ship, opened his eyes, puzzled by Zavia's behavior. Why hadn't such a powerful individual set foot in the New World before?

"Indeed, it is. I've heard many stories, but being here in person truly opens one's eyes. It's like the saying, 'Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.'" Zavia stopped observing his surroundings and sat down, taking out the Yamato blade and carefully wiping it clean.

"That's quite a remarkable sword. May I take a look?" Seeing Zavia caring for his blade, Mihawk nodded in understanding. Every skilled swordsman cherished their weapon.

Besides increasing the weapon's lifespan, it also fostered a bond between the blade and its wielder, transforming it from a mere tool of destruction into something more.

True swordsmen never viewed their swords as mere tools, but rather as extensions of their own bodies, an integral part of themselves.

"Let you see it? I don't mind, but I'm afraid this fella might disagree." Zavia shrugged and gently shook the Yamato blade.

"Oh? This is... Could it be that your sword possesses a spirit?" Mihawk was surprised and inquired further, as if a realization had dawned on him.

"A sword spirit? Perhaps. But one thing's for sure, anyone other than me who dares to touch this blade will turn into a dried-up husk."

"What a fascinating blade," Mihawk remarked, gazing at the Yamato with a look of delight.

No swordsman could resist the allure of a renowned blade, especially one with a spirit residing within. And Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, was no exception.

After hearing Zavia's explanation, Mihawk retracted his hand. He had no desire to be consumed by a sword spirit.

The reason he readily gave up was because he sensed that the spirit within the Yamato was exceptionally fierce. If he dared to touch it, the spirit would attack him without hesitation or reason.

Mihawk had encountered swords and blades with spirits before, but none as ferocious as the Yamato.

It's worth mentioning that all the blades he had encountered were cursed swords and demonic swords, their spirits filled with rage and violence. If the wielder wasn't strong enough, they would be consumed by the spirit, losing themselves in the process.

However, Zavia's blade was different. It wouldn't corrupt your mind; that would be too troublesome. It would simply devour you, without any explanation or justification.

"So, what are your plans now? Will you return to your territory, or continue sailing with me?" Zavia glanced at Mihawk's small boat, which was stored in the hold, and asked.

"I..."

Brrr brrr brrr—

Just as Mihawk was about to respond, the sound of a Den Den Mushi ringing came from within Zavia's trench coat.

Brrr brrr brrr... Click—

"Hello, Zavia, it's me."

Zavia retrieved the Den Den Mushi and answered it. The device transformed into the image of a man with slicked-back hair and a cigar in his mouth.

"Crocodile, it's been a while. Wasn't the last time we spoke about six months ago?" Zavia greeted the familiar voice coming from the Den Den Mushi.

"Indeed. But let's not dwell on the past. I have some important information for you." Crocodile didn't waste time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Zavia narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Remember those people you asked me to find? I was skeptical at first, but my subordinates actually managed to locate them."

Zavia's expression became enigmatic, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Hmph hmph hmph, that's good news, Crocodile. Well done. What kind of reward do you want?"

"No reward is necessary. I'm grateful enough that you taught me Haki. Using the training methods you shared, I've gained a foothold in the New World."

Crocodile declined the offer without hesitation, earning a nod of approval from Zavia. It seemed the Haki training he had provided a year ago had been well-received.

Besides Haki, Zavia had also shared advanced techniques for sand manipulation, going beyond the basic moves Crocodile had developed.

While Crocodile had indeed honed his Sand-Sand Fruit abilities to a high level, Zavia felt he still fell short compared to true sand-wielding masters.

"Is that so? I thought you were a greedy fellow. Well, if you don't want anything, then so be it. I don't like forcing people.

So, where are they located?"

Since Crocodile didn't want a reward, Zavia wouldn't press the issue. Forcing someone to accept something was always more trouble than it was worth.

"They're on Punk Hazard, an island in the New World. According to the intel my subordinates gathered, there's some unknown research being conducted there under the guise of scientific exploration.

The people in charge of this research match your description – their attire and abilities, including the blue glow, all align." Crocodile explained in detail.

"Ho~ So thorough. It seems your network spans the entire world."

"That's thanks to you, Zavia. If it weren't for your suggestions, I wouldn't have placed much faith in this organization."

"Alright, enough with the flattery. I'll head to Punk Hazard then. Is there anything else?" Zavia brushed off Crocodile's praise and replied.

Crocodile suddenly recalled something important and spoke in a serious tone, "Oh, right, there's one more thing. Raijin Island, one of the initial three islands in the New World... I suggest you avoid it, Zavia. For some reason, it's been swarming with Marines since a year ago, including an Admiral – Kizaru."

"Marines? What are they doing there? Did your organization manage to gather any information?"

"I'm not sure. All we know is that the lightning on the island has become incredibly violent, more so than ever before. The Marines found it suspicious and sent people to investigate, but no one dared to set foot on the island.

Oh, and there have been reports of a woman sighted on the island, though she vanished quickly. It's unclear whether those reports are true or not."

"A woman? (Could it be the guardian of the Lightning Core?)"

Zavia pondered for a moment.

"Anyway, it's best to avoid Raijin Island. You can choose one of the other two routes. That's all I have to say."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Crocodile."

…

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Zavia's expression became slightly serious.

(Marines? What are they doing there? Could it be that they've discovered the Lightning Core on the island? If that's the case, things could get complicated.)

"What's wrong, Zavia? You don't seem too happy," Mihawk inquired, noticing Zavia's troubled expression.

"Ah, it's nothing. Just trying to decide where to go first – Raijin Island or Punk Hazard."

"I see. If that's the case, I can't offer much advice. All I can say is, follow your heart." Upon learning of Zavia's dilemma, Mihawk closed his eyes and offered a simple piece of advice before falling silent once more.

"Follow my heart, huh..." Zavia pondered those words for a moment, glancing at Arthur and then towards the direction of Raijin Island.

"Then, let's go to Punk Hazard first. I want to see what those guys are up to." After five seconds of contemplation, Zavia decided to head to Punk Hazard, the island that would become a land of ice and fire three years later.

"But where is that place, big brother?" Suddenly, a sweet and innocent voice broke the silence. Arthur looked at the vast expanse of the ocean surrounding them, a hint of worry on his face.

"Hmph hmph hmph, I've prepared for this. So..." Zavia chuckled and retrieved a medium-sized gray bag from his spatial bag. He opened it, revealing a collection of Log Poses.

"This..."

Arthur was speechless at the sight of so many Log Poses. He picked one up and examined it – it was a permanent Log Pose.

"These are permanent Log Poses for all the islands in the first half of the Grand Line and the New World, excluding those that are uninhabited, lack magnetic fields, or have other special properties. Every island's Log Pose is in here." Zavia picked up a Log Pose and examined it with a smug expression, though it was hidden behind his mask.

"Where did you get all these?" Mihawk took out a Log Pose from the bag; it was for Water 7.

"Where else? I've been collecting them throughout the past year. Besides my main objectives, gathering Log Poses has become one of my habits.

For those I couldn't find, I simply bought them from the black market. I'm not short on money. I just have to 'borrow' some, or simply take it."

A playful glint appeared in Zavia's eyes as he responded to Mihawk's question.

"..."

Mihawk was speechless. He didn't know what to say.

Although they hadn't known each other for long, Mihawk had come to respect Zavia, which was why he reacted this way.

If it had been anyone else, Mihawk wouldn't have bothered to respond, perhaps even showing disdain. This was the pride of a powerful individual; the weak could only be looked down upon.

"I collect these things to make navigation easier. I don't want to get lost at sea. It wouldn't be fitting for someone of my stature."

Seeing Mihawk's silence, Zavia assumed he didn't understand his reasoning and offered an explanation.

However, Mihawk simply placed the Log Pose back in the bag and resumed his meditation.

"You... whatever. Let's find the Log Pose for Punk Hazard first. Hey, Arthur, come help me."

Seeing Mihawk's reaction, Zavia shook his head slightly and decided not to bother him further. He began searching for the permanent Log Pose for Punk Hazard.