Yes!
Upon receiving the order, the warship cut power and began to decelerate. Simultaneously, several small boats were deployed, and navy officers quickly advanced toward the shore under a barrage of artillery fire.
"The navy is here! Brothers, charge!" Vic bellowed, raising his musket and firing.
Loya reached the beach just beyond the forest, witnessing the chaos. The Flying Fish belched thick black smoke, and in the distance, the blue seagull flag emblazoned with "MARINE" was unmistakable.
Loya's eyes widened as he took in the chaos. "Holy crap, is that... yep, that's the Marine logo alright." He rubbed his eyes, muttering, "One Piece? Seriously? What's next, am I gonna bump into Luffy?"
Watching the battle unfold, Loya frowned. "Fairy Tail magic in One Piece? That's... not how this is supposed to work." He shook his head, focusing on the pirates. "Well, beggars can't be choosers. Sorry, guys, but I need a ticket off this rock."
As he prepared to attack, Loya grinned. "Time to put on a show for the Marines. Let's hope they're in a good mood."
"Ice Dragon's... roar!" he bellowed, unleashing his attack.
The devastating results made Loya whistle low. "Damn, that's... more intense than I expected." He winced, watching the frozen pirates. "Note to self: dial it back a notch next time."
Dragon slayer magic, even of the ice variety, was ferocious. Otherwise, it'd be no different from Gray's ice modeling magic.
The ice storm's explosion brought a terrifying chill. Frost spread, instantly freezing everything nearby. Waves froze mid-crest, solidifying into ice blocks.
Even on distant warships, the navy felt the biting cold. The officers in the small boats felt it worst.
The freezing ability...
This scene exceeded Mole's expectations. He had anticipated Loya's attack on the pirates, but not this level of destruction, and with freezing powers!
No time for contemplation. Seeing the freezing sea encroaching on the vanguard, Mole drew his samurai sword and swiftly slashed.
Swish!
The light blue sword energy, powerful enough to halt waves, cleaved through the spreading ice. The strong sword energy left a trench on the sea's surface, making the sea look like sliced jelly.
The vanguard navy, caught off guard, fell into the sea. But being proficient swimmers, except for a few devil fruit users, they resurfaced quickly. However, they floated, shivering, teeth chattering.
It's so cold!
Mole sheathed his sword and ordered his adjutant, "Send a rescue team to the vanguard immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
The adjutant, grateful, relayed the order. Lieutenant General Mole was a leader who cherished his soldiers.
Seeing Mole's sword energy, Loya groaned. "Oh come on! I nearly turn myself into a popsicle, and this guy just waves a sword?" He sighed, watching the Marines fall into the sea. "Great job, Loya. Real smooth first impression."
Loya face-palmed, muttering, "Why couldn't I land in a nice, simple world? But no, it had to be One Piece with its crazy power scaling." He glanced at his hands, then back at the Marines. "Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Let's see how this plays out."
Despite the uncertainty, one thing was clear to Loya.
The person wasn't a general.
Since Garp and Zephyr's era, no generals specialized in swordsmanship. Kizaru, a swordsman, preferred his light-based attacks.
Generals had distinctive attacks. Consider Hawkeye, the world's greatest swordsman, and the few sword-wielding vice admirals. Sword energy, while powerful, was outdated.
...
The battlefield was hellish. Frozen limbs and chunks of flesh lay scattered, with several pirate heads frozen in bewilderment.
Loya leapt from the air and exhaled a frigid breath. The moisture in the air crystallized into glittering particles that drifted to the ground.
Killed...why don't I feel sick?
Loya pondered this existential question. Maybe his years as a desert island hunter had warped his worldview in ways he couldn't fathom.
In the distance, Lieutenant General Mole spotted Loya standing on the beach and ordered the warship to approach.
Regardless of why this stranger eliminated the Scissor Pirates—whether pirate, pirate hunter, or some reclusive master—Mole had to investigate.
The warship halted 50 meters away, obstructed by a thick layer of ice. With no ice-breaking equipment, the ship couldn't advance. Mole, uninterested in using sword energy to clear a path, leapt off the ship with a small navy contingent.
As they approached, Mole finally got a clear look at Loya, surprised by his youthful appearance. The earlier attack rivaled that of a young Kuzan, codenamed Aokiji. Mole had expected someone older, a seasoned master. Yet, this person seemed even younger than Aokiji when he joined the navy.
Admiral Kuzan, joining at 19, was a monster-level genius. The individual before Mole appeared even younger yet wielded immense power, astonishing him.
If Loya knew what Mole was thinking... "Younger than Aokiji? I just have a baby face! I look young! Among my peers, I'm the best because I look good and have a sweet demeanor."
The Ice Dragon's Roar was a formidable ultimate move, a testament to Loya's strength. In comparison, Kuzan's freezing ability wasn't as potent when he first joined the navy. But the energy cost was high—Loya's magic was reduced by a third with one attack. Even at full strength, he could manage such an attack only three times.
Recall the ten-day, ten-night war between Kuzan and Sakaski.
The two stood facing each other. Mole, seeing Loya's pensive expression, spoke first. "Thank you for your help. I'm Vice Admiral Mole of the Navy Headquarters. May I know your name?"
"Mole?"
Hearing Mole introduce himself, Loya snapped back to reality. His fuzzy memories cleared up. He scrutinized Mole: Mohawk hair, funny beard, samurai sword at his waist, cloak of justice. This was indeed Vice Admiral Mole.
Loya's eyes widened in recognition. "Holy crap, it's actually Mole!" he thought, barely containing his excitement. "Okay, play it cool, Loya. Don't fanboy."
Mole was upright, compassionate towards his subordinates, powerful but not as ruthless as Akainu. If Loya wanted to leave the island, Mole was the perfect ally. Even without defeating the Scissor Pirates, Mole would help a distressed Loya.
Loya, no longer the cold island hunter, was still the same geek at heart.
Aloud, he blurted, "Finally! Real people! Please, for the love of all that's holy, get me off this island!" He gestured wildly. "I've eaten every boar in sight!"
Mole blinked, taken aback. "Well, that's... unexpected," he muttered.
Under the navy's watchful eyes, Loya boarded the warship. Despite the earlier attack, they admired Loya's power, disregarding his refugee-like appearance.
In the One Piece world, strength commanded respect. A powerful individual, even in rags, was esteemed. Many strong individuals had eccentric styles.
Stepping on the warship deck, Loya suddenly clung to the fence, staring at the sea.
Lieutenant General Mole, overseeing battlefield cleanup, followed Loya onto the ship. Seeing his stance, Mole asked, "Mr. Loya? Are you..."
Loya raised a hand, swallowed hard, and grimaced. "Lieutenant General Mole, do you have any seasickness medicine?"
Mole raised an eyebrow. "What a peculiar fellow," he mused, before turning to his adjutant. "Fetch the doctor... and some clothes that aren't falling apart."
When questioned by the doctor, Loya's mind raced. "Devil fruit! That's my ticket!" He groaned dramatically. "It's this damn fruit I ate. Makes me sick as a dog on boats."
Mole frowned, thinking, "A devil fruit that causes seasickness? That's a new one."
As the doctor treated him, Loya silently berated himself. "Great going, genius. You forgot the biggest Dragon Slayer weakness. Some mastermind you are."
Accepting the medicine, Loya managed a weak smile. "Thanks, doc. You're a lifesaver." Internally, he sighed. "Well, Loya, welcome to life as a landlubber in a world of pirates. This should be fun."
After arranging Loya's care, Lieutenant General Mole went to the warship's command room and used the phone bug to contact Sengoku.
Naval Headquarters, Marineford
Blu blu blu blu blu blu blu
Click
Sengoku answered, "Mole, what news do you have for me?"