Chapter 22: Chapter 20 Shock!!!
I was thinking of keeping the encounter simple but, then I decided that there should be an version where Aizen Shows his dominance over Roger Pirates It's up to you, You can ignore it if you want
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For a man like Roger, someone who sacrificed himself to ignite an era, Aizen could acknowledge the spirit behind such a choice.
But in his eyes, it was equally foolish.
Aizen had no interest in ideals like world peace, uncovering historical truths, or dismantling the World Government. For him, the world and its conflicts were nothing more than a stage to strengthen himself. The rest was irrelevant.
The only thing that mattered was power—power to break past limits, to ascend higher, to remain unconstrained.
This was Aizen's philosophy, and it mirrored his actions now.
As he stood aboard the *Oro Jackson*, surrounded by the Roger Pirates, Aizen adjusted his glasses with a calm, unbothered demeanor. His gaze swept across the ship, pausing on the famed captain himself.
"Is this how the legendary Roger Pirates welcome a guest?" Aizen said, his voice even but with an edge that silenced the murmurs around him. "Staring in silence doesn't seem particularly... hospitable."
His words immediately caused a shift in the atmosphere.
The crew of the Roger Pirates, rough and seasoned, weren't accustomed to being spoken to so boldly by a stranger. Yet Aizen's calmness, despite standing amidst one of the strongest pirate crews in the New World, unnerved them.
Many of them had witnessed fear and trembling from others just at the sight of their flag. But here was someone who seemed utterly unshaken.
Jokes and murmurs quieted as tension replaced them.
"Hey, kid, watch your words!" one of the pirates barked, his hand drifting toward his weapon.
But before the situation could escalate further, Aizen smirked faintly. "It seems I need to remind everyone here of something..."
The moment he spoke, a shift rippled through the air.
Rayleigh's sharp instincts flared, and without hesitation, he stepped in front of Shanks, sensing what was about to happen.
**Boom!**
An invisible wave burst forth from Aizen's body—a surge of Reiatsu.
It wasn't just an aura; it was a force so dense and oppressive that it slammed into the ship like a tidal wave. A blue current spread across the deck, instantly covering every corner of the *Oro Jackson*.
Pirates staggered and collapsed.
Those with weaker wills fainted on the spot, groaning under the weight of the spiritual pressure. Even seasoned fighters offering bounties over 100 million could barely keep their footing. The entire ship seemed to tremble under the sheer weight of Aizen's power.
Rayleigh grimaced, reinforcing his Haki to shield Shanks and the nearby crew members. Roger, standing at the bow, remained steadfast, though his gaze narrowed in intrigue.
In the midst of the chaos, Aizen calmly clasped his hands behind his back.
"It seems we can have a proper conversation now," he said, as if the oppressive aura around him were merely an afterthought.
For a moment, silence reigned.
More than half of the Roger Pirates lay incapacitated, unable to withstand Aizen's spiritual pressure. Those who remained standing—Roger, Rayleigh, Shanks, and a few others—were visibly on edge.
Even Shanks, the future Yonko, was visibly shaken, though he managed to hold his ground.
"Amazing..." Roger finally spoke, breaking the silence. His tone wasn't angry, but genuinely impressed. "That wasn't Conqueror's Haki. Was that... some kind of Devil Fruit ability?"
Aizen pushed his glasses up, a faint smirk gracing his face. "Not quite. It's called Reiatsu—a force that belongs to me alone. No one else in this world can wield it."
Roger's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Reiatsu, huh? Interesting name. It feels... even stronger than my own Conqueror's Haki. And yet..."
He paused, studying Aizen carefully.
"Your strength is still growing," Roger concluded. "I can tell—you're strong, but not quite at our level yet. You're around... 500 million, give or take. But this aura of yours..."
He glanced at his crew, many of whom were still struggling to recover.
"With just that alone, you've already commanded their fear. Impressive."
The praise wasn't misplaced. Even Roger's crew, famed for their resilience, had been overwhelmed by Aizen's Reiatsu. If this was merely the beginning, the potential he held was staggering.
"Boy," Rayleigh interjected, his tone sharp. "What are you really here for?"
The tension in his voice was clear—while Roger seemed intrigued, Rayleigh wasn't willing to let his guard down so easily.
Aizen met his gaze calmly, as if the first mate's wariness was expected. "Relax, Silvers Rayleigh. I didn't come here to pick a fight. In fact, I find this meeting rather... fortuitous."
His words only deepened the confusion among the crew.
"Fortuitous?" Roger echoed, a grin spreading across his face. "Hahaha! I like you already. Alright, let's have that chat then. No point keeping everyone on edge."
Rayleigh hesitated but didn't press further. Roger's intuition was rarely wrong, and if he deemed Aizen worthy of a conversation, then so be it.
Aizen gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Let's."
The tension on the deck eased, but the unease lingered in the air. For the first time in a long while, the Roger Pirates found themselves facing an enigma.
And Aizen, as always, thrived in the midst of uncertainty.