One Piece: Peace Shattered By Roger (Completed)

"Whitebeard! Don't get too arrogant. Since you're here, we'll capture you now and save ourselves the trouble of hunting you down!" Akainu growled, his fists clenched, eyes blazing with determination.

Whitebeard cast a dismissive glance at him. "Where did this dog come from? Such shameless Marines. Where's Garp and Sengoku? They're the ones I want."

"I am Vice Admiral Sakazuki of Marine Headquarters. How dare a mere pirate talk so arrogantly," Akainu sneered, adopting an aggressive stance to attack.

"Hold on, Sakazuki!" A stern voice rang out. Zephyr strode forward, his gaze sharp and unyielding, followed by an entourage of high-ranking Marines.

"Whitebeard, do you really want to meddle in a battle that has nothing to do with you?" Zephyr demanded.

Whitebeard chuckled. "Nothing to do with me? Hah! As long as I'm on this island, it's my territory, Zephyr."

"Think it through, Whitebeard. This is an act of defiance against the Marines. Can you handle the consequences?" Zephyr's voice was cold.

"Haven't I always been your enemy?" Whitebeard replied, scratching his ear dismissively.

Zephyr gestured toward the fleet behind him. "Look closely, Edward Newgate. We brought hundreds of warships this time."

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed. "Call Garp. We still haven't settled things from last time!"

Whitebeard's voice boomed as he playfully adjusted his massive naginata, his towering figure as imposing as a mountain. Zephyr's expression grew darker at this blatant disregard.

"Fine! I'll be your opponent!" Zephyr tore off his cloak, revealing a body covered in scars and muscles.

"Boring," Whitebeard muttered with a smirk.

"Tch!" Zephyr lunged forward, his powerful body rocketing toward Whitebeard. But halfway through, Kaizen intercepted, and their fists clashed, the dark Haki-infused energy erupting in a high-pitched roar.

Whitebeard's men cheered from behind. "This kid's got guts, standing up to a Marine admiral like that!"

"Oi, kid, back off!" Vista, Whitebeard's foil swordsman, called out. "We'll handle the admiral."

"Whether he's an admiral or Marine, he's no big deal. I only ask one thing of you—help me save the villagers," Kaizen replied casually, blocking Zephyr's attacks.

"Ha, with that attitude, you won't last long in this world," Vista commented.

"Long life or short, it doesn't matter. It's about living with purpose. I don't care when I die if it's for a cause," Kaizen replied, resolute.

Whitebeard laughed approvingly. "Gurarara! I'll not only protect the villagers but take you with me too, Kaizen-kun. You're too valuable to waste here."

"What?!" Kaizen and Zephyr shouted simultaneously.

"Whitebeard! Don't get cocky. None of you will escape today!" Akainu, losing patience, launched a blazing fist toward Whitebeard. But Whitebeard countered with a sweeping slash from his naginata, forcing Akainu back, his arm bleeding.

"Your name is Sakazuki, right?" Whitebeard taunted. "Remember this. Come back in a few years and challenge me then."

Kizaru and Aokiji observed cautiously, knowing their current strength wasn't enough to take on the legendary pirate. This was no time to be rash.

"I won't allow the Marines' dignity to be ruined on my watch. I swear on my rank to hunt down every last one of you!" Zephyr growled, throwing Kaizen aside and charging at Whitebeard.

"Edward Newgate, prepare to die!"

Whitebeard merely yawned. "Such impatience! You leave openings everywhere with that reckless style."

Aokiji and the others sensed the imminent danger and shouted a warning, but Zephyr had already leapt into Whitebeard's range.

Slash! In an instant, Whitebeard's naginata struck, and Zefa fell, blood spilling from his severed arm.

"Remember this, Zephyr. Impulsiveness is the devil. Let this lost arm be your lesson." Whitebeard looked down at him.

Aokiji and the other officers rushed to Zephyr, helping him up. But Zefa, looking up at Whitebeard, showed only despair and shock.

The gap in strength was undeniable. There was an insurmountable distance between Whitebeard, Roger, Garp, and others who stood at the summit. It left Zephyr questioning his own limitations and the unfairness of such power in the hands of pirates.

"Teacher… Teacher…" his student's voice broke through his despair, bringing him back to reality.

"Retreat! The battle is lost!" Zephyr commanded, his spirit shaken.

"It's wise to know when to back down," Whitebeard replied, turning his back and walking away.

With those words, Zephyr felt the sting of his second failure that day—both in the loss of his arm and in the final, parting words Whitebeard had left him.