One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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Silence. A deathly silence. Whether it was Crocodile or Smoker, both were utterly frozen at this moment. 

The only thing that changed was the expression in their eyes—their faces shifting from grim and cold to shocked and incredulous.

"Admiral Arashi!!" Smoker shouted in surprise and joy. 

The last person he expected to see had suddenly appeared before him so abruptly that his mind momentarily blanked. 

"It seems you haven't let go of your training over the years," Arashi said with a smile, standing with his back to Smoker.

"I've always aimed to be like you, admiring you and pushing myself as hard as I can!" Smoker said, his voice trembling with emotion. 

Overwhelming joy and excitement filled him, and tears rose in his eyes. 

To him, the man before him was like family—the person who guided him into the Marines and nurtured him to where he stood today. 

Throughout his career, Smoker had followed in Arashi's footsteps, relentlessly pursuing the justice he believed in. 

But as time passed, he realised how difficult it was to uphold that true justice.

This only deepened his admiration and reverence for Arashi, making him truly understand the greatness of the path he walked. 

If there was anyone left in this flawed world who could save it, in Smoker's heart, it could only be the man standing before him.

"Not bad," Arashi nodded, his gaze shifting to Crocodile. 

"But right now, it seems we have a troublesome individual to deal with." 

Upon hearing this, Smoker's face relaxed into a slight smile. He knew that in this man's presence, even one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile, had no room for resistance. 

"Crocodile!" A deep voice rang out the next second. Crocodile's body tensed as he locked eyes with the man before him, still doubting what he saw. 

That youthful face, unchanged from his memories, was nearly identical to before—only the depth in his eyes hinted at the passage of time. 

His powerful muscles seemed ready to burst through the thin Marine uniform. 

At a glance, his very presence radiated an oppressive aura of pure strength.

"For the sake of Pluton, you dared to lay a hand on my brother." 

"You're too bold!" Though Arashi's voice was calm, the air around them instantly grew heavy. 

Even the Marines behind Smoker flinched, a flicker of fear flashing in their eyes. 

They didn't know who this newly arrived figure was, but the mere sight of his back made them tremble. 

Crocodile remained silent for a long moment before slowly taking a cigar from his coat. 

With a soft flick, he lit it, placing it between his lips and taking a deep drag.

Lifting his gaze, he looked at the man before him and suddenly smirked. "I was taking a big risk too." 

"After all, not just anyone can withstand your wrath," Crocodile said quietly. 

Smoker noticed that the veteran warlord's hand, the one holding the cigar, was subtly trembling. 

Whether from fear or something else, he wasn't sure. "Do you think you can withstand it?" Arashi asked. 

Long before this, his Observation Haki had already enveloped all of Alabasta, allowing him to see the palace, where Vivi stood beside Cobra, who sat on his throne, lost in thought.

"Since you've returned, then my failure is nothing more than a wasted effort." 

"But for everyone else, this is good news," Crocodile said with a shake of his head. 

"Over the years, I've built Baroque Works into a sizable organization." 

"They're useful people." His tone was serious. 

"If possible, I hope you'll treat them well." 

Exhaling a long puff of smoke, Crocodile's body fully relaxed, and a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes. 

"Since I chose this path, I always knew what consequences I might face." 

"Whatever punishment or price comes, I am willing to accept it."

"Against you, I have no reason to resist." Arashi listened silently, watching as Crocodile showed no intention of fighting back. 

He seemed to be contemplating how to deal with this reckless man. 

Kidnapping Nefertari Cobra and threatening him for the Poneglyph's secrets—this was undoubtedly audacious, a direct provocation. 

However, unlike what he had expected, Crocodile aimed to obtain Pluton's power to rescue him. "You still—"

Before the words were fully spoken, arcs of blue lightning burst forth from Arashi's body, and he vanished in the blink of an eye. 

His speed was so extreme that almost no one could react in time. Smoker's pupils shrank, about to shout for him to stop. 

But Arashi was faster. In a flash of lightning, a hand wreathed in electric arcs reached out, pressing down on Crocodile's head.

"How utterly foolish!" A deep voice echoed as that lightning-clad hand descended. 

Crocodile shut his eyes tightly, preparing to accept his inevitable fate. Laying hands on his superior's family—such a mistake was unforgivable. 

Yet, in the next moment, as the hand landed, Crocodile's eyes flew open in shock, his expression one of disbelief.

"Why?" he muttered. The lightning dissipated, replaced by a firm slap on his head—like a father scolding a reckless child.

"Foolish beyond belief!" 

"Even if you had obtained Pluton's secrets, so what?" 

"It's nothing more than an ancient superweapon. What real impact could it have on the World Government?"

"Did I not tell you before? A person's greatest strength is their own power!" Arashi's voice carried a hint of anger, leaving Crocodile momentarily stunned.

"Besides, the real Pluton is still out there!"

Crocodile's eyes lit up with interest as he stared at Arashi. This man knew Pluton's true whereabouts.

"You need to understand something!" 

"True power is far more terrifying than Pluton itself!" Arashi smirked coldly, mocking Crocodile's naive thoughts. 

Crocodile's expression flickered, but he remained silent.

"Vice Admiral of the West Blue Marines, Crocodile!"

The sudden shout made Crocodile freeze. His eyes widened in shock a second later, and his demeanour shifted. 

In an instant, his posture straightened—rigid, disciplined, militaristic.

"Present!"

"As a Marine Headquarters Admiral and Supreme Commander of the West Blue, I order you!"

"Your undercover mission ends now." 

"Effective immediately, you will return to duty!" Arashi commanded in a firm voice.

Crocodile's eyes burned with emotion. His whole body trembled slightly, and he seemed choked up momentarily.

"Yes!" His voice rang out, strong and unwavering.

"In the years I was gone, you guys sure stirred up a lot of trouble," Arashi said casually. Crocodile lowered his head slightly.

"But no matter." "I will go to each of them, one by one, and ask them—"

"Do they still remember me?"

His words drifted through the air as he stepped forward. Smoker followed closely behind, and after taking a deep breath, Crocodile did the same.

From this moment on, his undercover mission was over. His new identity—Marine Vice Admiral.

Memories of years past resurfaced in his mind—when Arashi first assigned him to go undercover as a pirate to establish Baroque Works. 

A mission that spanned years, pushing him to his limits. 

From infiltrating the Whitebeard Pirates as a rookie, founding Baroque Works, gathering countless subordinates, and eventually becoming a Warlord of the Sea. And still, the mission hadn't ended!

Who could endure such a thing?

Inside the royal palace of Alubarna, Cobra sat blankly on his throne, seemingly still struggling to process what had just happened.

His former subordinate had incited a rebellion in Alabasta, leaving him with deeply conflicting emotions. 

The reason was even more shocking—it was all for the mysterious stone their family had safeguarded for generations. 

He knew a little about the Poneglyphs, but as time passed, he had long forgotten the exact words inscribed on that stone.

"Father." Vivi stood beside him, calling out softly, concern evident in her eyes. 

Crocodile had been defeated, but her father's condition seemed far from normal. 

Suddenly, within the grand hall of the palace, a bolt of lightning flashed across the room.

In the blink of an eye, it appeared before Cobra. 

A brilliant blue glow erupted, accompanied by the sharp crackling of electricity that filled the vast hall. 

"What is that?" Vivi's eyes widened, a trace of fear creeping into her heart. 

The untamed lightning made her uneasy. Cobra froze momentarily, then fixed his gaze on the electrifying light. 

That flash of lightning awakened memories that had long been buried in his mind.

"I deeply regret that, during my absence, Crocodile dared to act so brazenly!" 

A deep voice echoed through the hall as a figure stepped forward, emerging into view before the father and daughter.

Igaram, who had just entered the palace, stood frozen, his eyes locked on the figure, too overwhelmed to speak. 

Cobra's mouth opened slightly, his eyes gleaming with astonishment. But only Vivi remained filled with doubt.

"Arashi!" Cobra's voice trembled, and tears wstreameddown his face before he realised it. "My brother… you've finally returned!"

Arashi looked at the now-aged Cobra, feeling a mix of emotions welling up in his heart. 

"Yes." He nodded firmly. 

"I've returned!" "And this time, I will make the entire world hear my voice!"

"The tragedy caused by Crocodile will not happen again!" Upon hearing this, Cobra took a deep breath and sighed as he shook his head. 

"I don't blame him. In the end, his actions were for you." 

"But the Poneglyph, the stone our family has protected for generations…" 

"I could never entrust it to just anyone."

Arashi smiled faintly. "I'm glad you understand, brother."

"Of course, I understand!" Cobra nodded. 

"Both you and Crocodile—Ashura—are fighting for true justice. You are both brave men!" 

"And besides, he was always respectful to me and never crossed the line."

Cobra sighed in reflection. Arashi's expression softened slightly while Vivi stood there, utterly bewildered.

Who was this man?

And if her father hadn't suffered at all after being captured, then what was the point of everything she had been through? 

Braving storms, enduring hardships, seeking help from pirates—had she been the only fool all along?!

"Father… who is he?" Finally, Vivi couldn't help but ask.

"Call him Uncle!" Cobra turned to her and spoke firmly.

"Uncle?!" Vivi was dumbfounded. In all her life, she had never heard of such an uncle!

"Don't you remember?" Arashi smiled as he looked at her. 

"When you were little, I used to hold you in my arms." His tone was filled with nostalgia. 

"Time flies so fast! You've grown into a fine young lady, just as beautiful as your mother."

His words of familiarity left Vivi completely stunned, even more confused than before. 

If she wasn't mistaken, the towering man before her—standing over three meters tall and built like a mountain of muscle—was a Marine, right?

Did that mean she, Nefertari Vivi, actually had an uncle in the Marines?!

If that were true, why had a notorious pirate captured her father? Why had Alabasta nearly been overthrown?

"My name is Nefertari Arashi," he declared. "And I am indeed your uncle."

After a brief pause, Arashi sighed. "The reason you haven't seen me all these years is because of… an unexpected incident."

At the mention of "incident," Cobra's expression turned serious, his eyes silently questioning Arashi for confirmation.

Arashi gave a slight nod.

Cobra fell into deep thought. Now, he finally understood why Crocodile—Ashura—who had once protected Alabasta from the shadows, had suddenly changed and sought to seize the Poneglyph.

"But… he's a Marine?" Vivi asked hesitantly.

"That's right." Arashi nodded. "I am also an Admiral of Marine Headquarters."

"An Admiral?!" Vivi froze, her eyes filled with shock.

She knew exactly what that title meant—Admirals were the strongest forces within the Marines.

Her uncle… was an Admiral?!

But then, why had she never heard of him before?

"I heard you've made some pirate friends recently?" Arashi suddenly asked.

Before Vivi could respond, he spoke first. "As a Marine, I stand in direct opposition to pirates. Vivi, you'd best not get too involved with them."

In an instant, her uncle had become the annoying type of elder in her eyes.

"Luffy and his crew are good people! They're different from other pirates!"

Arashi chuckled. "Straw Hat Luffy, huh?" "He seems to be a promising young rookie. If I encounter him, I will personally ensure he is imprisoned in Impel Down."

"If they were truly good people, they wouldn't choose to be infamous pirates. If they are pirates, then they belong behind bars." He looked at Vivi playfully.

"Hey, hey, hey! As a Marine, can't you tell the difference between good and evil?" Vivi fumed. "Luffy and his crew are the best pirates in the world!"

"If they represent goodness, then what does that make me, a Marine?" Arashi countered, staring at her.

Vivi was at a loss for words. But then, something clicked in her mind, and she fired back.

"Then what about Crocodile?" she demanded. "When he was wreaking havoc in Alabasta, where was the so-called 'justice' of a Marine Admiral like you?!"

Arashi sighed. "I was… delayed."

Vivi scoffed. "A 'righteous' Marine unable to rid the world of evil, yet it took 'evil' pirates to save Alabasta?" She smiled wryly.

"Enough, Vivi! Apologize to your uncle at once!" Cobra snapped, his voice firm.

Vivi was taken aback. Just then, a figure stepped into the hall.

"To lay a hand on King Cobra was a selfish and foolish act on my part." "That has nothing to do with Admiral Arashi."

A deep voice rang out as the man stood before Cobra and Vivi. Then, he bowed deeply.

"I apologize for my past mistakes, to both you and Princess Vivi."

"But Admiral Arashi is the truest embodiment of justice in this world. He is the very symbol of those who pursue true justice."

"I will not allow anyone to question that." His voice carried an undeniable steeliness.

Arashi remained silent.

Vivi stared at the infamous Warlord before her. Was he bowing and apologizing to her?! She struggled to process the situation.

"Ashura!" Cobra finally spoke after a long silence. "You are not at fault." He let out a deep sigh. 

"What's done is done. As long as you follow Arashi and stay on the right path, there's no need for an apology."

Crocodile slowly straightened up, standing tall. 

Though he wasn't dressed in Marine attire, his stance and demeanour were already indistinguishable from a Marine's.

"Vivi, apologize!" Cobra ordered again.

Vivi hesitated, then finally lowered her head and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Uncle Arashi."

Arashi smiled gently and nodded.

Now that the misunderstandings had been cleared up, he saw no longer reason to linger.

"I still have a lot to take care of!" Arashi sighed. "When I get the chance in the future, I'll return to Alabasta to see you again, brother."

"Go on!" Cobra nodded. 

He understood the immense pressure his younger brother faced and felt a deep sense of guilt—despite being the older sibling, he had been unable to help him. 

Worse yet, when his brother's subordinate demands the Pluton clue to save him, he ultimately refuses.

Three days later, the Thunder set sail from Port Rapeseed. Smoker stood at the deck, staring at Buggy in silence. 

The two locked eyes, glaring at each other without saying a word.

"Oh? A distinguished Marine officer, huh?" Buggy was the first to break the silence with a mocking tone.

"Tsk tsk tsk, if it isn't the so-called infamous little pirate of the East Blue, Captain Buggy?" Smoker shot back without hesitation.

Back when they left the West Blue, both had tried to get the other to join their respective paths, but in the end, they had parted ways—something that still lingered in their minds today.

"You haven't made much of yourself either!" Buggy sneered. "I heard you got captured and sent to Impel Down?"

Smoker smirked. "And I heard you ran away like a clown!" Each exchange hit harder than the last, fueling their rage. 

Their eyes turned bloodshot, and they launched at each other, fists flying.

Crocodile, now dressed in a Marine uniform with a cigar in his mouth, glanced over at the fight but quickly looked away as if seeing nothing. 

Kuina and Fisher Tiger stood nearby, utterly dumbfounded, watching the fierce brawl with wide eyes.

After a moment, Arashi, who had been reading over a bounty poster, turned his gaze toward the two combatants and furrowed his brow. 

The next second, his figure vanished in an instant. 

His fists crashed hard on their heads when he reappeared, slamming them onto the deck with a loud bang!

"Owwww!" Buggy howled.

"Tch!" Smoker sucked in a sharp breath, clutching his head.

"Enough! Quiet down!" Arashi's voice was cold and commanding.

Crocodile, puffing on his cigar, narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched silently. 

Over the years, both Buggy and Smoker had noticeably improved—awakening both Armament and Observation Haki, growing stronger in combat experience and reflexes. 

Yet, neither had the slightest chance to dodge Arashi's punch.

It wasn't that they chose not to use Observation Haki but that they physically couldn't. They couldn't even predict his attack.

This only meant one thing—the man standing before them was now far stronger than before.

With a flicker of movement, Arashi returned to his seat and frowned, focusing on a newspaper in his hands. 

It was from a lesser-known publisher, dated two days ago. 

One small article caught his attention—it mentioned a sighting of Fire Fist Ace near the G-2 Marine Base.

"How far is it from G-2 Base?" Arashi asked.

Crocodile calculated quickly. "Not far. At the Thunder's speed, we should arrive by evening."

"Set course for G-2 Base!" Arashi ordered without hesitation. 

He was curious—what had become of that boy who once shouted about becoming the Marine King?

His gaze shifted to the group of bewildered individuals standing on the deck. He pointed at them. "Get them properly trained and straightened out!"

"These are the kind of misfits you've been recruiting all these years?" Crocodile's eye twitched as he sighed, reluctantly nodding.

Standing at the front of the group was Daz Bones, followed by Mr. 2 Bon Clay and Mr. 3 Galdino. 

They were still adjusting to their new identities, looking completely lost.

By evening, the warship arrived near the G-2 Base waters. Arashi expanded his Observation Haki, quickly enveloping the entire base in his senses. 

After just a few breaths, he withdrew his Haki.

"Head for Mock Town!" Arashi declared.

Crocodile was puzzled but didn't question him.

At the ship's bow, Arashi gazed at the sun sinking halfway into the sea, sighing softly. "I was a step too late."

His Haki had confirmed it—Ace had appeared at G-2 Base not long ago but had already fled. The Marines didn't know his exact whereabouts.

Fisher Tiger adjusted the ship's course, and under the cover of night, they sailed toward Mock Town.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight touched the sea, Arashi opened his eyes and smiled.

"Southeast—full speed ahead!" he commanded.

Fisher Tiger complied immediately. An hour later, a small boat came into view. 

Standing on it was a young man wearing a cowboy hat, his freckled face turned toward them.

Arashi crossed his arms, smiling. Observation Haki made him sense everything about the man ahead with absolute clarity.

"Marines?" The freckled young man turned slightly, frowning as he noticed the approaching warship. "Did the G-2 Base send pursuers?" he muttered.

The distance made it hard for him to see their faces, but he could see something shining at the front of the ship—a golden object reflecting the sunlight.

"This is annoying!" Ace sighed. "Alright, let's pick up the pace and shake them off!"

Flames erupted beneath his feet, propelling his boat forward like an arrow.

Two hours later, however, his expression darkened.

No matter how much he sped up, the warship remained behind him, perfectly maintaining its distance. He couldn't shake them off.

"This is getting troublesome." Ace murmured, his eyes flashing with determination.

He suddenly stood up and turned to face the warship.

"If you're so intent on chasing me down—" Ace's gaze grew sharp. "Then let's see what you're made of!"

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