One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Grand Line, at the center of an uninhabited island.

The girls, led by Nami, stared blankly at the tall man standing before them, his face marked by an air of lazy indifference. Robin's beautiful eyes flickered with unease, and her expression was filled with nervous tension. However, feeling the warmth of Ace's hand in hers, she found herself much calmer than she had been in the original story.

"An Admiral of Marine Headquarters? This guy?" 

The girls scrutinized the laid-back figure of Aokiji and spoke in unison, clearly unimpressed. 

"Arara, it's not wise to judge someone by appearances," Aokiji said with a shrug.

Robin parted her lips, explaining softly, "The Admiral of Headquarters is known as one of the highest combat forces under the World Government. At any given time, only three Marines hold this rank, earning the title of the Three Admirals. Aokiji is one of them."

Hearing this, the girls tensed up, their gazes full of caution as they fixed on Aokiji.

"Indeed," Ace added, smirking slightly. "The Admiral positions are always filled by the strongest Marines of any era, representing the peak of Marine combat power. But this generation's Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji—are often regarded as the most formidable trio in Marine history."

There was a slight edge to Ace's tone as he sized up Aokiji. Admirals varied in strength, and even among them, there were gaps. While past Admirals like Sengoku were undeniable powerhouses, others, such as Black Arm Zephyr, hadn't lived up to their title's full potential. However, this current generation—the trio of Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji—stood unmatched, capable of contending with even the Four Emperors.

"Your tone is a bit disrespectful, boy," Aokiji replied, a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. If he hadn't known Ace had just entered the Grand Line, he might have thought this young pirate had already crossed paths with Kizaru. Such audacity was rare.

"Why would a Marine Admiral come after us?" Nami asked incredulously, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Shouldn't a guy like him be chasing down pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions?"

As the words left her mouth, a chilling silence fell over the group. Aokiji, the girls, and even Ace turned to look at her. Realization dawned on Nami as she mechanically glanced at her captain, Ace, who offered her a warm, yet knowing smile.

Their dear captain, Portgas D. Ace, had a bounty of 150 million beli. He had unleashed Conqueror's Haki in Loguetown, effectively dismantling the Marines stationed there and "kidnapping" a marine, Tashigi. After entering the Grand Line, he had killed Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, and exposed the Alabasta incident. His actions had disrupted a meeting between the Marine and the Shichibukai, leading him to publicly call out Emperor Kaido by name.

In essence, they were the cause of turmoil in the entire sea.

Nami clasped her head, on the verge of tears, as the weight of this realization crushed her spirit.

"Ahrara, you've certainly caused a lot of headaches for us," Aokiji said, his lazy expression fading. His gaze sharpened, and he stared directly at Ace. "Especially at the Shichibukai conference, where you unleashed Conqueror's Haki all over Mariejois. Even the Celestial Dragons were knocked unconscious."

The girls, shocked, turned to Ace, realization sinking in. Aokiji continued, "You've caused chaos in the seas, and if we cross paths with someone like you, it's only natural that we pursue you."

Despite his usually carefree demeanor, Aokiji couldn't ignore the chaos Ace had sown. The meeting held at Mariejois to determine the next Shichibukai had been utterly disrupted, with Ace's Conqueror's Haki knocking out both Marines and Celestial Dragons alike. The Five Elders had been outraged, and pressure had mounted on the Marine Headquarters to deal with Ace immediately.

Marshal Sengoku himself had labeled Ace a priority target, second only to the Four Emperors. It was an unprecedented level of importance for any pirate.

Though Marine Admirals were typically tasked with dealing with the Four Emperors, the Holy Land incident had shifted the balance. The pressure from the Five Elders had forced the Marines to take action. Ace, in just a short time, had begun to shake the entire sea.

Vivi, who stood among the girls, felt her heart race. She, more than anyone, understood what the Celestial Dragons represented. As the princess of Alabasta, she knew their power. But even as the Marine Admiral stood before them, the cause of all this trouble had been none other than Ace.

And despite everything—despite the Marine Admirals, despite the Celestial Dragons—she smiled.

Because Ace would never lose.

——

"You mean those pigs in Mariejois? So, they turned out to be the Celestial Dragons, the so-called nobles of the world. I thought it was a pig den. How terrifying~" 

Ace's lips curled slightly as he smirked at the thought. 

That day in Mariejois, when he released his Conqueror's Haki and subdued a group of Celestial Dragons—it was all just a casual move. 

There was no particular reason for it. He simply found these pigs displeasing. And as a king, when something bothers him, he cleans it up without hesitation.

As for the consequences? 

It's just the Admirals of Headquarters. 

Why should Ace fear them?

"Tsk, such arrogant words, Portgas D. Ace." 

Aokiji scratched his head, narrowing his eyes slightly as he observed Ace's demeanor. This man clearly didn't take the Celestial Dragons seriously, referring to them as pigs without hesitation.

Ace truly was a reckless man.

"Are you looking for a fight?" 

The girls immediately tensed when they saw Aokiji start to make his move, their eyes vigilant.

"Whoa, relax. Despite what I've said, I'm not here to capture you this time." 

Aokiji waved his hand dismissively, returning to his usual lazy demeanor. 

Then, his gaze shifted to Robin.

"After the Alabasta incident, Nico Robin vanished. I'm here to confirm her whereabouts." 

Aokiji's expression became more focused.

"Robin?" 

The girls were taken aback. 

Could she really be important enough to draw the attention of a Marine Admiral?

"What do you know about this woman?" 

Aokiji's eyes gleamed as he continued. 

"At the age of eight, she already had a bounty of 79 million beli from the World Government. A bounty doesn't only reflect strength but also how much of a threat you are to the World Government." 

"Even as a child, she carried that burden and survived. When betrayed, she ran. When accepted, she exploited. Is that how you've survived all these years?" 

"You've fled, used people, betrayed them—all to stay alive in the underworld. And now, you've chosen to use this group of people, haven't you, Nico Robin?"

As Aokiji's tone grew colder, Robin's expression shifted, her face paling with each word.

"Six Wheel Flower: Anchor Flower!"

Robin's face twisted with anger as she activated her Devil Fruit ability, summoning six arms that sprouted from Aokiji's body.

"Swish!"

"Ahrara." 

A hint of surprise flashed in Aokiji's eyes as he looked down at the arms protruding from his torso.

Nico Robin, attacking him before he had even made a move? How bold.

"They—Ace and the others—are different for me!" 

Robin's voice was fierce, and her six summoned arms clenched with all their might. 

In Ace, she had found a sense of belonging—a true place to call home. The suggestion that she would betray him, as she had others, was unforgivable.

"Crack!" 

The six arms squeezed hard, shattering Aokiji's body into pieces of ice.

"Click! Click!" 

In the chilling sound of ice reforming, Aokiji reassembled himself from the fragments.

"Aokiji has the powers of the Logia Frozen-Frozen Fruit," Robin muttered gravely, watching him recover from the attack.

"If you attack me first, aren't you worried about dragging them all into this?" Aokiji asked, cold energy seeping from his form as he looked at Robin.

"Vivi." 

Ace's voice was calm but commanding.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, a massive sword of sand erupted from the ground beneath Aokiji, piercing his newly formed body.

"Desert Greatsword," Vivi said, pressing her hand into the ground, her face brimming with confidence. 

"Ahrara, Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit ability, wrapped in Armament Haki. So, you're the princess of Alabasta, Neferutali Vivi, right?" 

Aokiji, who had already turned into his elemental form, dodged the Haki-coated attack but eyed Vivi warily.

The Sand-Sand Fruit, once belonging to Crocodile, had somehow ended up in the hands of the Entei Pirates. Although not as powerful as his own Frozen-Fruit, it was still a formidable ability. But what concerned Aokiji more was how they had acquired it so quickly after Crocodile's death.

Could it be…?

Aokiji's expression turned serious. The idea of Devil Fruit regeneration technology—something the government had researched—came to mind. But as far as he knew, it was limited to Zoan-type fruits. How had Portgas D. Ace obtained a Paramecia, let alone a Logia?

And then there was Vivi's Armament Haki. For someone so young, her mastery of Haki was impressive, even capable of attacking Logia users. According to the records Aokiji had seen, the princess of Alabasta wasn't supposed to have this kind of combat talent.

"Princess of Alabasta? No."

A proud smile spread across Vivi's face.

"I'm no longer the princess of Alabasta. I'm the Entei Pirates fighter!" 

Vivi raised her voice, her pride palpable.

"Indeed, your father, King Nefertari Cobra, has officially severed all ties with you. The World Government also allowed it to resolve the Alabasta incident," Aokiji said calmly. "It was a clever move."

Then, his gaze returned to Ace.

"Portgas D. Ace, are you really going to fight me over this woman?" 

"It seems your bond with them runs deep, Nico Robin. But do you know how dangerous she is? Every organization that has taken her in has been destroyed."

Aokiji's breath released a frigid chill into the air.

"That's enough, Aokiji. You talk too much."

Ace stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Robin, who was trembling once more. 

Robin looked up, her eyes wide as she stared at Ace's face.

"Robin is my historian," Ace said firmly. "That's all there is to say."

The girls smiled, their fighting spirits surging.

"!!!"

Robin's entire body shook, and tears streamed down her face.

It feels so good... to be your historian.

"And besides," Ace added, his smile deepening as he looked directly at Aokiji, "don't take yourself too seriously."

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!"

The next moment, a terrifying roar shook the air.