The deep blue sea stretched endlessly beneath the sky as Gern Reginald Sigmar's warship cut steadily through the waves.
For several weeks now, they had been following the Marine patrol routes, all while searching for any trace of Zunesha's movements.
"Vice Admiral Gern!"A sharp voice rang out from the crow's nest."Something abnormal ahead!"
Gern raised an eyebrow and strode toward the bow.At the same time, through the observer's scope high above, a silhouette slowly emerged on the distant horizon—a ship bearing the unmistakable banner of pirates.
"That insignia… that flag…"The marine on lookout gasped, his hands trembling as the telescope nearly slipped from his grasp.
"Alert! All hands, alert!" His voice quavered despite his effort to stay composed."Pirate ship sighted ahead—it's the Flying Pirates of Golden Lion!"
The moment those words fell, the deck went deathly silent.
Every marine froze where they stood.A crate of ammunition slipped from someone's hands and hit the deck with a dull thud.A few younger soldiers began trembling uncontrollably, while the veterans instinctively reached for their weapons.
"G-Golden Lion…? That Golden Lion?" a young marine whispered.
"Shut it!" the sergeant barked. "It's only one of his subordinate crews!"
He quickly rushed to Gern's side, lowering his voice."Vice Admiral Gern, the lookout confirmed it's a Flying Pirates vessel. We—"
"Besides the pirate ship," Gern cut in calmly, "did you see anything else?"
"Something else?"The lookout lifted the telescope again—and then froze.
Far in the distance, beyond the pirate ship, was a massive shadow…A colossal shape that appeared to be moving, yet somehow wasn't.
He swallowed hard before reporting it aloud.
When Gern heard this, his expression brightened rather than tensed. He took the telescope from the sergeant and peered through it himself.
There it was.
Beyond the pirate ship, a gargantuan silhouette loomed across the horizon.Even from this distance, its outline was unmistakable—
An elephant.
"So I finally found you… Zunesha," Gern murmured.
Only after confirming that did he shift the scope slightly.
"And it really is the Flying Pirates…"
A faint smile curved his lips."What a coincidence."
At that moment, a familiar figure came into view atop the pirate ship's deck.
The man wore a black top hat and a dark crimson coat.Resting casually on his shoulder was a golden rifle engraved with intricate patterns, while his other hand idly toyed with a pocket watch.
"Well, well…"Gern lowered the scope, a cold chuckle escaping his lips."So it's you."
"Bounty: 1.9 billion Berries.Third Division Commander of the Flying Pirates—'Death Knell' David."
Meanwhile, aboard the pirate ship…
David seemed to sense something.He slowly lifted his head, his gaze piercing across the sea as his Observation Haki locked onto Gern's presence.
Lowering the brim of his hat, he revealed a grim smile.
"Heh…"
The pocket watch in his hand clicked softly as he flicked it open and shut."It seems we've run into an old acquaintance."
His voice was calm, almost amused.
"Captain David… that's…"A pirate beside him swallowed hard. "That's the Marine's 'Heaven-Shaker'…"
"Indeed."David's lips curled into a cruel grin as he spun the golden rifle effortlessly in his hand."The same brat who hid behind Zephyr during the Admiral's assault on G-3."
His movements were unhurried—deliberate, like a predator savoring the moment.
"He slipped away back then…"His voice dropped, killing intent flickering in his eyes."But this time—he won't be so lucky."
In David's mind, Gern was nothing more than a lucky upstart.
Golden Lion himself had said it—the wounds he suffered that day were inflicted by "Black Arm" Zephyr.
That Marine brat had merely taken advantage of the chaos.
Because of that belief, the Flying Pirates had never truly regarded Gern as a threat.Even now, David saw him as nothing more than an opportunist riding borrowed glory.
Back on the Marine warship
The air felt suffocating.
"Vice Admiral Gern…"The sergeant's voice trembled, sweat beading down his forehead as he clutched the documents in his hands."The lookout confirms it's the Flying Pirates… and they've locked onto us."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice."According to HQ orders, unless an Admiral is present, we are not to engage the Flying Pirates directly."
"Should we… withdraw?"
"Heh."
Gern's fingers brushed lightly against the hilt of his weapon, a dangerous smile forming.
"You want me…"His voice dropped, razor-sharp."…to retreat from him?"
His cloak snapped violently in the sea wind as he turned.The pressure rolling off him made the sergeant instinctively step back, his throat tightening.
"B-But Vice Admiral, HQ's orders clearly state—"
"So what?" Gern cut in coldly, a chilling smile spreading across his face."You think I care about headquarters' orders?"
The sergeant exhaled heavily, then straightened his posture.
"Reporting, Vice Admiral Gern! Unknown pirate vessel ahead—requesting authorization to engage!"
"Very good."
Gern's gaze sharpened like a drawn blade as it locked onto David in the distance.
"Since that's the case—relay the command."
His voice was calm… far too calm.
"All hands, prepare for battle."
He paused, then added:
"And remember—do not fire near Zunesha."
"That thing…"A faint smirk curved his lips."When it gets angry, it makes even Golden Lion look tame."
"Yes, sir!!!"
On the pirate ship
David stood at the bow like a statue, the gilded tip of his rifle tapping rhythmically against the deck.
Clink. Clink.
His narrow eyes glinted as Observation Haki locked firmly onto Gern.
"Captain… should we—" a pirate began, only to be pulled back.
"Quiet," an older pirate whispered. "Captain's timing something."
David's slender fingers rolled the silver pocket watch across his knuckles, its chain gleaming coldly.
Then—
Click.
The watch snapped shut.
"Time's up."
His form blurred.
In a single instant, his body vanished like a mirage.
The golden rifle traced a perfect arc through the air, muzzle flaring with blinding light.
"Ring—!!!"
The thunderous gunshot tore through the sky like a funeral bell.
A specially forged Seastone bullet, coated in Armament Haki, tore through the air at impossible speed—so fast that even the sound lagged behind it—
Straight toward Gern's forehead.
This was David's signature technique—
"Instant Hell: Execution Shot."