Chapter 64: Aftermath

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"Hah!" Arashi let out a long breath as he gazed down at the unconscious Golden Lion Shiki, whose eyes had rolled back into his head. 

The entire Marineford had fallen into complete silence. Every single person's eyes were focused on Arashi.

If there were doubts surrounding Arashi's capture of Roger, with some believing that the Pirate King had surrendered rather than being taken down by the young vice admiral, this battle left no room for skepticism. 

The fact that Shiki, one of the greatest legendary pirates, had launched a surprise attack on Marineford and lost to Arashi in such a short time shattered all doubts.

Now, with half of Marineford submerged in frozen tidal waves and the land scarred from countless sword strikes, the devastation was unimaginable. 

The remnants of the fight told the story of a brutal battle. Arashi surveyed the area with a slight smile and felt satisfied. 

His duel with Shiki was the perfect test of his current strength. 

Mastery of the Six Powers, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki, along with the destructive force of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, allowed him to truly stand at the pinnacle of the world. 

Though somewhat lacking compared to Observation Haki, the sensory awareness that came with his electrical field made up for any shortcomings in his overall combat ability.

"Rumble, rumble!" With a thought, thunderclouds above flashed, and countless lightning bolts snaked across the sky.

Clack, clack, clack! A series of footsteps echoed as large groups of Marines approached cautiously. 

They were awestruck when they saw Arashi, the tall, imposing figure surrounded by crackling lightning.

"Vice Admiral Arashi!" one Marine called out, saluting. 

There was no doubt that this young officer, based on sheer combat strength alone, was on par with the admirals Sengoku and Zephyr. 

Many now believed that his promotion to admiral was all but guaranteed.

"Bring me a pair of Sea Prism Stone cuffs!" Arashi ordered calmly. A Marine officer quickly and respectfully presented them with both hands.

"Thank you," Arashi nodded as the officer trembled excitedly and repeatedly said, "You're welcome!"

Arashi bent down and personally cuffed Shiki with the Sea Stone shackles, hoisting the fallen pirate over his shoulder.

Crackle! Accompanied by a flash of lightning, Arashi appeared before Sengoku and Garp.

"This guy needs to be sent to Impel Down, right?" Arashi asked with a smile, looking at his teacher, Garp, and Admiral Sengoku.

"That's right," Sengoku nodded with a smile. "Need any help?"

Despite being his old friend's student, Sengoku held Arashi in high regard, recognizing him as an equal in strength.

"Let him do it," Garp said with a booming laugh. "This is his victory trophy, after all!"

"I'll handle it. It's no trouble," Arashi said confidently. His figure blurred as he vanished in a flash of lightning, streaking towards Impel Down.

Sengoku watched him disappear, sighing as he remarked, "The Rumble-Rumble Fruit… it's said to be one of the strongest in destructive power."

"Hahaha!" Garp laughed heartily.

"Your disciple is incredibly sharp. He's even been careful about how he manages his power." 

"He didn't eat that Devil Fruit until he had maxed out his training in martial arts and Haki," Sengoku said seriously.

"He's grown beyond my reach now," Garp grinned. "I can't control him anymore."

"Still, you should keep an eye on him. As strong as he is, young people can be reckless." 

"One wrong step, and it could be too late," Sengoku said, giving his old friend a concerned look.

"Whatever path he takes, that's his choice to make," Garp said, unfazed. 

"As a Marine, I might be disappointed if he strays, but as his teacher, I'll respect and support him." 

"Besides, I trust Arashi. He's a good man with a strong sense of justice."

Meanwhile, at the entrance to Impel Down…

Boom! A bolt of lightning exploded at the port, and two rows of guards stood in formation.

As the figure of Arashi materialized from the lightning, they all stood straighter.

"Vice Admiral Arashi!" one of the guards shouted, saluting. 

Arashi returned the salute with a nod, then walked toward the entrance, dragging Shiki behind him.

Waiting at the gate was a massive man nearly five meters tall with two black horns atop his head. 

His identity was clear—it was Magellan, the deputy warden of Impel Down.

"Vice Admiral Arashi, welcome. Marine Headquarters have ordered me to take custody of the prisoner," 

Magellan said in a deep voice, his sharp eyes studying the man before him.

Though they appeared to be close in age, Magellan knew Arashi's strength far surpassed his own. 

That Arashi didn't even bother wearing a gas mask around him was a testament to that. 

Even most vice admirals kept a safe distance from Magellan's poisonous presence while the guards beside them already had their masks on, holding their breath.

"This is Golden Lion Shiki. Please send him to Level 6 of Impel Down," Arashi said with a polite smile, casually tossing Shiki to the ground. 

The crackling lightning surrounding him destroyed any poisonous particles in the air.

"Leave it to me!" Magellan nodded firmly. He picked up Shiki with one arm, glancing up as Arashi disappeared in another flash of lightning. 

The weight of Arashi's power left a lasting impression on Magellan, who couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and respect.

Golden Lion Shiki had been captured! The news spread quickly from Marineford, igniting excitement throughout the Marine Headquarters. 

Soon, the shocking news reached every corner of the world. 

When pirates across the seas heard that Shiki, one of the legendary pirates, had been defeated and captured, many fell into stunned silence.

This marked a crushing blow to pirates everywhere, especially following the recent capture of Pirate King Roger. 

In a short time, the Marines captured two of the world's most notorious pirates. 

Arashi was responsible for catching Shiki, the same man who had captured Roger briefly a while ago.

This instantly deepened the world's impression of Arashi. Nearly everyone knew that a Marine named Arashi had successfully captured two of the three legendary pirates. The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines. 

The ice, melting under the sunlight, turned back into seawater, flowing into the inner bay once more. 

At that moment, the base was bustling with activity. The Golden Lion Shiki's attack from the previous day seemed to have been forgotten. 

Compared to capturing Shiki, the Marines had more pressing matters today.

"Arashi," Sengoku said in a deep voice, "you will be responsible for the fleet's northwest direction. 

Keep a close watch on everything around us, and don't allow anything to approach. Once we reach Loguetown, the next deployment will be arranged."

"Yes, sir!" Arashi nodded. Even though there were no immediate threats, the atmosphere at the headquarters remained tense and heavy.

Arashi spotted three figures approaching as he waited on the warship a quarter of an hour later. "Arashi!" Kuzan, smiling, called out from the harbor. 

Beside him, Borsalino waved with a playful grin while Sakazuki, with a stern expression, crossed his arms and coldly stared straight ahead.

"So, the three of you are now assigned under my command for the upcoming mission in Loguetown?" Arashi asked curiously after they boarded the ship.

"Yes, Commander Arashi!" Kuzan replied with a smile. "Working under a strong leader like you will make things much easier."

Borsalino sighed, glancing at the others on the ship. 

When he saw Crocodile and Barrett, his smile froze, and he sighed again, "Commander Arashi sure has a crew of monsters."

At that moment, Sakazuki spoke coldly, "I don't quite understand the reasoning behind this arrangement, but I will follow all orders from the higher-ups."

Arashi glanced at him but remained silent. The tension between the two was obvious to everyone on board.

"Did you eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?" Kuzan asked, trying to break the awkwardness. 

Borsalino, meanwhile, turned his gaze elsewhere, pretending not to notice the tension.

At the same time, deep within Impel Down on Level 6...

"Shiki!" In the dim candlelight, sitting within his cell, Roger saw the Golden Lion Shiki, now wearing prison garb and thrown into Impel Down. 

His expression changed slightly.

"Vice Admiral Arashi is incredible. Not only did he capture Roger, but he also single-handedly defeated the Golden Lion Shiki!"

"The two legends, both taken down by one man!"

"And the most important thing is… he's still young!"

The guards' conversation echoed, making Roger's eyes narrow slightly. Gazing at the unconscious Shiki momentarily, he let out a slow breath.

"Arashi, huh?"

Afterward, Roger fell into silence. Having personally trained him for a year, Roger knew better than anyone just how terrifying Arashi's strength and boundless potential were. 

That strange, almost immortal bloodline made him nearly unbeatable against any formidable enemy. 

The closer one got to the peak, the more this immense advantage would reveal itself.

Suddenly, footsteps approached, prompting Roger to lift his head. Two familiar figures appeared.

"Garp!"

"Sengoku!" Roger smiled.

"It's time to go, Roger," Sengoku said in a deep voice.

Roger's face remained calm, with a faint smile still on his lips.

"You will be escorted to the East Blue, to Loguetown, where you will be publicly executed," Garp added.

"Loguetown, huh?" Roger exhaled softly, seemingly nostalgic.

"Beginning and ending there," he muttered before suddenly breaking into a wide grin. "The town where it all starts and ends. I like that place!"

Sengoku seemed slightly stunned by Roger's attitude toward his impending death.

Soon after, the guards opened Roger's cell, escorting him out. 

Stepping onto the long staircase and ascending until a beam of sunlight hit his face, Roger squinted, finding the light dazzling.

Following Garp and Sengoku onto the warship, Roger sat down cross-legged, finding a comfortable position.

"Golden Lion Shiki attacked Marineford yesterday, demanding we hand you over," Garp suddenly said.

"Oh?" Roger smiled, looking up.

"He didn't believe we captured you," Garp added.

Roger laughed. "That guy is always like that."

"To be honest, I don't fully understand why you did what you did," Garp said after a brief silence.

"You don't understand?" Roger chuckled softly, raising his head to look at the blue sky. "Time! There wasn't enough time."

After saying this, Roger fell silent once more. He wasn't born in the right era and didn't have enough time to turn the world upside down. 

But fortunately, some extraordinary people would be born to inherit everything.

The future… I wonder what it will be like. Too bad I won't be there to see it. But that doesn't matter.

Paving the way for the next generation has always been the role of the old guard, hasn't it? Legacy… that's what it's all about!

An hour later, the warship carrying Roger reached the Gates of Justice. 

Arashi's warship joined the fleet ahead, and the three future admirals displayed their distinct personalities—Kuzan napped on a sun chair.

Borsalino was daydreaming, and Sakazuki stood with his arms crossed, lost in thought.

Arashi hadn't expected these three to be under his command for this mission. 

But after thinking about it, it made sense. At the moment, Arashi held the rank of Vice Admiral while the three of them were still Rear Admirals.

Expanding his domain, Arashi immediately grasped the situation of the entire fleet. 

As the flagship responsible for escorting the Pirate King Roger, their ship was naturally surrounded by other Marine vessels. 

Senior vice admirals commanded the leading units, while Arashi and his group were responsible for the northwest direction.

Sailing from the west of the Grand Line, they passed through the Calm Belt and headed for the East Blue. 

With their mastery of Calm Belt navigation, the Marines undoubtedly possessed advanced seafaring technology.

The fleet arrived at Loguetown in the East Blue late afternoon without major incidents. 

The large-scale Marine fleet and the presence of high-ranking officers immediately stirred the previously peaceful town, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease.

Standing at the bow, Arashi gazed at the small town ahead. He knew very well that Loguetown would no longer remain obscure from this day on.

A moment later, Arashi and his team were informed of an important task.

"In the coming days, you and your squad will guard Roger."

Hearing this, Arashi was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

That evening, the squad settled into a house just a few meters from where Roger was being held.

<End Chapter>

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