Although Zephyr had long since retired from the front lines, his standing within Marine Headquarters had always remained extraordinary—much like Garp's.
He possessed an intimate understanding of the Marines' intelligence networks and internal power structures.
Because of this, Zephyr knew very well that the suddenly emerged "Fifth Emperor," Roxing, was anything but ordinary. At the very least, Roxing's strength was not inferior to his own.
Furthermore—
Drought Jack had clearly consumed a higher-tier Monster Cell. During the battle of Dressrosa, he had clashed head-on with Sakazuki. That alone made him an existence capable of standing against Zephyr.
As for Vergo, Zephyr had just fought him personally.
Though Vergo had not yet reached Zephyr's level, holding him off for a short time posed no issue.
Facing three such opponents at once—
Had this been Zephyr at his peak, escape might still have been possible.
But with his body already failing, death was inevitable.
The best outcome he could hope for—
Was to drag Roxing and the others down with him.
It was precisely because Zephyr had reached this conclusion that madness surfaced on his face as he pulled out the Dyna Stone, intending to annihilate the entire island.
Even if it meant killing Roxing and the pirates—
Even if it meant killing his own students of the Neo Navy—
Zephyr did not hesitate.
From the moment he defected from the Marines, he had already prepared himself to sacrifice everything.
"Die with me, you unforgivable pirates!"
Zephyr threw his head back and laughed, madness burning in his eyes.
Without hesitation, he hurled the Dyna Stone toward a nearby volcanic crater.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens.
Flames roared skyward. Ash and smoke engulfed the island.
It looked like the end of the world.
Even the G-5 Marines and Neo Navy forces fighting along the shoreline were stunned by the shockwave.
Smoker's face changed instantly.
"This is bad! Teacher Zephyr used the Dyna Stone—he's going to destroy the entire island! Tashigi is still over there!"
Worried for her safety, Smoker transformed into smoke and rushed toward the island's center.
But—
His intangible body was suddenly bound by thick black vines.
Forced to stop, Smoker glared furiously at them.
"Armament Haki again… damn it! Does everyone in the New World know this technique?!"
Bins, Zephyr's student, stepped forward calmly.
"White Hunter Smoker. I've heard of you back when I was stationed at Marine Headquarters. You were also Teacher Zephyr's student."
"But you stayed at the entrance of the Grand Line for too long. Your strength has fallen behind the times."
Smoker's mouth twitched.
That was exactly why he had volunteered to come to the New World.
Suppressing his anger, Smoker took a deep breath.
"Teacher Zephyr has already detonated the volcano. Everyone here—including you Neo Navy—will be burned alive by the eruption. Aren't you afraid to die?"
Bins replied without hesitation:
"From the moment we chose to follow Teacher Zephyr, we abandoned all concern for life and death."
"And we trust him completely. If he chose mutual destruction, then he must have had a reason that could not be avoided."
"We were prepared to die alongside Teacher Zephyr from the very beginning."
Smoker froze.
For a long time, he could not speak.
Finally, he muttered bitterly:
"You idiots… willing to die for your sense of justice."
Yet in his heart, he held no hatred for Zephyr or the Neo Navy.
Instead, his fury toward the true culprit—the World Government—only deepened.
Island Center
Roxing was not surprised in the slightest by Zephyr's decision to detonate the Dyna Stone.
He had anticipated this outcome before arriving.
That was precisely why he had brought Drought Jack.
Roxing spoke calmly:
"Jack. Use your body. Seal the volcanic crater."
The words stunned everyone present.
Zephyr's eyes widened.
Ain stared in disbelief.
Tashigi—still held in Roxing's arms—finally snapped out of her earlier shock and opened her mouth in amazement.
Even Vergo swallowed unconsciously.
Looking at the violently erupting volcano, he felt a flicker of unease.
He won't ask me to block one next… right?
Only Jack himself showed no fear.
The moment Roxing finished speaking, Jack charged toward the crater without hesitation.
ROOOAR!
A deafening elephant's cry echoed across the island.
Jack transformed—
Into a colossal mammoth towering hundreds of meters tall.
With overwhelming mass, he sat directly atop the volcanic crater, sealing it shut.
Molten magma scorched his hide, turning it red-hot.
But to Jack—now evolved into a Mythical Zoan: Vajra Mammoth—
Such heat would require at least half a day to cause serious harm.
That was more than enough time.
Enough for Roxing to finish this battle.
Zephyr stared, utterly stunned.
Compared to Jack—
His own earlier madness seemed almost insignificant.
As Roxing approached, Zephyr let out a bitter smile.
"The Beasts Pirates truly hide monsters among monsters… No—more accurately, your inventions should never have existed in this world."
A deep sense of powerlessness surged through him.
The medicine Ain had given him was wearing off.
His body could no longer hold.
"It seems this is the end for me… I can't even drag you down with me."
Supporting his heavy body with his mechanical arm, Zephyr forced himself to stand tall.
Even now—
He refused to surrender.
Worthy of the name Black Arm Zephyr.
Roxing stopped and spoke solemnly:
"Zephyr. Though aged, you still possess the bearing of a world-class warrior. Out of respect, I will send you off with my strongest technique."
Zephyr was genuinely surprised.
He stared at Roxing, the hatred in his eyes fading slightly.
"So this is a pirate's mercy… You really are different from the pirates I've known."
"Very well. To witness the strength of a Fifth Emperor more mysterious than the Yonko before dying—this, too, settles a regret."
Zephyr straightened his back.
He burned the last of his life force, coating his mechanical arm in the strongest Armament Haki of his life.
"Come, boy!"
Roxing gently set Tashigi down and drew Enma from his waist.
The moment the blade left its sheath, overwhelming Haki surged outward.
Tashigi, now fully conscious, stared at the sword in awe.
"So this is Enma… the legendary Great Grade blade said to be forged in hell."
"Just the aura alone is terrifying…"
Then her gaze shifted to Roxing himself.
"And the man who can wield it…"
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Under the pressure radiating from Roxing, she could not even summon the strength to flee.
Roxing raised Enma high.
An immense torrent of Haki poured into the blade.
Then—
He swung.
"Purgatory — King of Hell."
A technique even more terrifying than the one he had used against Shiki.
A massive black slash tore across the land, carving a bottomless trench.
Everything in its path was erased.
Zephyr felt a crisis unlike any he had ever faced.
His muscles trembled—not in fear, but exhilaration.
"Excellent! This strike… is worthy of my grave!"
With a roar of laughter, Zephyr hurled his fully Haki-coated mechanical arm forward in a final punch.
BOOOOOM!!!
A catastrophic explosion erupted.
The shockwave blasted Ain and Tashigi away.
Even the clouds above the battlefield split apart.
When the dust finally settled—
A crater hundreds of meters wide scarred the land.
At its center lay Zephyr—
His mechanical arm destroyed, his body drenched in blood.
"Teacher Zephyr!!"
Ain crawled to his side, sobbing uncontrollably.
Roxing stepped forward and stood beside him.
"With what you've seen of the World Government's ugliness," Roxing said quietly,
"Had you not hated pirates so deeply… you might have joined us."
Zephyr coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
"Join pirates? Never crossed my mind. Marines or pirates—your justice and evil bring no benefit to this world."
He turned his head toward Roxing.
"But you… you do seem different."
"Tell me—what is your ambition?"
Roxing answered without hesitation:
"I'm just an ordinary scientist. A collector by interest."
"As for ambition… my wife Yamato once said she wants to create a world where everyone can eat their fill."
He paused.
"And before that dream is realized—"
"I will destroy the world."
Zephyr's body trembled.
Ain and Tashigi stared at Roxing with the same complex disbelief.
Zephyr collapsed onto the ground, silent for a long moment.
Then, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"To become a savior who destroys the world…"
"How interesting…"
He raised his remaining hand toward the sky, as if trying to touch the clouds.
"I truly wish… I could see such a world."
His hand fell.
His eyes closed forever.
Thus ended the life of Black Arm Zephyr—
A former Marine Admiral, a teacher to countless elites, a man who gave his family, his life, and his soul to the Marines—
Only to be betrayed by the World Government.
A heroic figure.
Laid to rest.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442