Punk Hazard—
once a secret research facility of the World Government, later reduced to a dead zone due to Caesar Clown's poison experiments.
However, because it still contained SAD, the raw material for artificial Devil Fruits, the World Government never truly abandoned it.
This brought them into direct conflict with the Beasts Pirates, who required the same resource.
The outcome was decisive.
The Beasts Pirates achieved total victory.
Ten Pacifista units—secret weapons developed over years—were completely destroyed by the Cybertronians.
From that day on, Punk Hazard officially became a Beasts Pirates war base.
The lingering poison gas was blown away entirely by King's pterosaur wings.
The island, once lifeless, had returned to a state of dense vegetation.
When Roxing arrived, King the Wildfire and Sasaki of the Tobiroppo personally came to receive him.
Roxing said to King:
"You've worked hard. This place is too close to Marineford. Without you guarding it personally, I wouldn't feel at ease."
At full speed, the Marines could reach Punk Hazard from Marineford in less than half a day.
Only a top-tier commander could secure it.
King—already stepping into the threshold of Emperor-class power—was the optimal choice.
With Sasaki, two hundred Gifters, and the Cybertronian units, Punk Hazard was effectively impregnable.
King replied respectfully:
"With the Cybertronians you created, Lord Roxing, the workload has been minimal."
Five Cybertronians had been deployed.
Four were stationed in the cardinal directions, monitoring the sea at all times.
One remained at the island's center, reserved for emergencies.
The layout was strict, efficient, and disciplined—
a true war base.
Roxing was satisfied.
He further improved the SAD production system, significantly increasing output efficiency.
That night, Roxing remained on Punk Hazard.
After a long banquet with King, Sasaki, and the Gifters, he returned—not to his own quarters, but to Tashigi and Ain's residence.
He intended to station both of them on Punk Hazard.
Wano already had Hiyori and Carrot. Adding two more there would inevitably alert Yamato.
Still, this created another issue.
Nami and Nojiko in Cocoyasi Village.
Perona on Thriller Bark.
Viola and Rebecca in Dressrosa.
Tashigi and Ain here on Punk Hazard.
And more might follow.
Separated across the seas, neglect was unavoidable.
Fortunately, Roxing already had a solution.
Once the system upgraded further, he would be able to create Anywhere Doors.
Distance would cease to matter.
That was their true value.
The residence prepared for Tashigi and Ain was a spacious estate with multiple rooms and a large courtyard.
When Roxing arrived, he saw Tashigi practicing swordsmanship with Shigure.
"Hah—!"
"Hup—!"
She alternated between upward slashes, thrusts, and downward cuts, shouting rhythmically.
Her training was intense.
Soon, sweat soaked her clothes.
As she paused, she caught sight of Roxing in her peripheral vision.
Her body tensed instantly.
She raised her sword and pointed it at him.
"You… why are you here?"
Her face was pale.
She already knew what had happened to Ain.
Roxing stepped closer, his tone calm.
"Relax. I was watching your practice. Your movements have several flaws. I can correct them."
Tashigi's expression changed.
"No. I don't want you teaching me."
Before she could retreat—
Roxing vanished.
In the next instant, he was behind her.
He placed one hand over hers on the sword hilt, the other stabilizing her stance.
His voice was low and controlled.
"A sword is a weapon meant to end lives. Speed. Precision. Intent. Your strike must be decisive."
He guided her movements step by step.
Tashigi panicked at first.
If not restrained by positioning alone, she would have fled.
But gradually, she realized something unsettling.
He was genuinely teaching her.
And the swordsmanship he demonstrated was profound.
Her eyes filled with conflicted emotion.
What exactly was this man's purpose?
Why go this far?
Her thoughts became disordered.
Yet as a true sword enthusiast, she was soon absorbed completely.
An hour passed unnoticed.
Tashigi suddenly swung—
A blade of compressed air sliced cleanly through a large tree.
Her eyes widened.
"My swordsmanship… it improved!"
Not merely improvement.
It was a leap.
Roxing's voice followed calmly:
"The path of the sword is vast. Do not rush. You still have a long way to go."
"You're exhausted. Go rest."
That night passed in silence.
When Roxing left the estate the next morning—
Tashigi and Ain lay side by side, tear marks still visible.
Ain sighed quietly and wiped Tashigi's face.
"We can't escape him, Tashigi."
Tashigi sobbed softly.
"He's horrible… last night he taught me so seriously, and then—"
Ain, having seen more of the world, seemed to understand Roxing better.
She spoke faintly:
"Every kindness that man shows… comes with a fixed price."
Grand Line — Near Alabasta
Marshall D. Teach stood laughing wildly.
"Zehahahaha! Whitebeard's era is ending! The future belongs to me!"
"Ace—why don't you join my crew?"
Opposite him stood a muscular man wearing a hat, the Whitebeard emblem carved into his back.
Fire Fist Ace.
Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Teach had once been his subordinate.
But Teach murdered Thatch over a Devil Fruit.
Ace would never forgive that.
Ignoring the pleas of other commanders, he pursued Teach alone—
and finally caught him here.
Hearing Teach's invitation, Ace scoffed.
"Teach. You're as arrogant as ever."
"The future is yours? Ridiculous. You'll die here today."
Bang!
Van Augur fired.
The bullet passed straight through Ace's body, trailing flames.
Teach laughed darkly.
"Pointless. Ace is a Logia user—
even in Whitebeard's crew, his strength ranked near the top."
Ace cracked his neck.
"If you know that, Teach, then stop resisting. I might give you a quicker death."
"Zehahahaha!"
Teach roared with laughter.
"The Flame-Flame Fruit is strong—
but the fruit I took from Thatch…"
"…is the strongest Logia of all."
"The Dark-Dark Fruit."
"In absolute darkness, your flames are nothing more than sparks."
"Understand that, Ace."
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