One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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"Shut up!" Caught upside down with his head submerged and a fishhook in his mouth, Crocodile's expression twisted, and he roared in fury. 

"You idiot! Do you have a death wish?"

He had never imagined one of his subordinates would be brazen enough to reveal his secrets. 

At this moment, shame and humiliation washed over him, compounded by fear. 

He was out on a mission assigned by Arashi, yet a foolish whim had led him to challenge this man, ultimately landing him in this humiliating position.

"Gurarararara!" Whitebeard laughed, his eyes glinting with intrigue. 

"So, Arashi, huh? I didn't expect that's where you come from." His laughter turned into a thoughtful smirk. 

"I'm curious—will he have the guts to come here to rescue you after hearing about this?"

Crocodile gritted his teeth, his face dark with frustration. If Arashi were to show up here, it would be akin to walking into a lion's den. 

The hideout of the Whitebeard Pirates was one of the most dangerous places in the world, bar none. 

After personally challenging this man, Crocodile had gained a clear understanding of his power. 

Whitebeard's title as the world's strongest man was no exaggeration.

Crocodile couldn't help but think that even the legendary Roger might not have surpassed him. 

The mere idea of Arashi putting himself in such a perilous situation because of him filled Crocodile with guilt and dread.

"Father!" Marco spoke up softly from beside Whitebeard.

"Oh? Marco? What do you want to say?" Whitebeard asked with a calm smile.

"Father, shouldn't we make some preparations?" Marco asked, his expression tense and serious. "After all, this is Arashi we're talking about."

Whitebeard's expression froze for a moment as he turned to look at his "sons." 

Marco wasn't alone—most of the others had similarly grave expressions. 

Some even broke out in a cold sweat at the mere mention of that name, their bodies trembling faintly.

It was a testament to the immense pressure Arashi's reputation exerted. 

To Whitebeard, however, it made sense. Arashi's achievements were nothing short of astounding. 

Even Whitebeard couldn't dismiss the weight of his feats or the echoes of Roger's evaluation of the man.

"Preparation?" Whitebeard's face grew serious momentarily before he slapped Marco on the head. "Do you know who your old man is?"

"If I need to prepare to face that brat, then I don't deserve the title of the world's strongest man!" he declared. 

Pausing for a moment, his tone dropped as his gaze turned sharp. "And I'd be disgracing the name of Roger, who once stood as my equal!"

Whitebeard stood abruptly, the fishing rod in his hand snapping up. 

Crocodile's head was plunged underwater, bubbles rising as he struggled.

"If he dares to come, so be it!" Whitebeard roared with laughter. "I've been itching for a good fight anyway!"

Since Roger's execution, Whitebeard hadn't had a truly serious battle. Hearing about the most renowned man of the current era stirred his blood.

However, 

Marco, Jozu, Vista, and others remained grim. 

Despite being on opposing sides, they couldn't deny the oppressive strength Arashi possessed. 

His feats—capturing Roger and defeating the Golden Lion—were legendary. Just those two achievements alone were enough to shake the world.

Some pirates even called Arashi the "Pirate Bane," a devil among the Marines.

"I didn't think this guy would have such a formidable background," one of them murmured.

"But this is the Moby Dick," Marco thought, slowly relaxing. 

"That man wouldn't have the audacity to storm in here just to save his subordinate, right?"

Looking ahead at Whitebeard's towering figure, Marco chuckled. "And besides, Father is in his prime."

If anyone understood the strength of the world's strongest man, it was his sons. 

A fully enraged and unleashed Whitebeard was a force of nature capable of shaking the entire world.

After glancing at Crocodile, Whitebeard chuckled and lifted the fishing rod slightly. 

Crocodile's head broke the surface, and he gasped for air, his face furious. 

His body was battered, several ribs fractured, and his internal organs shaken. Yet, there was nothing he could do but endure.

"A Marine once mentioned by Roger..." Whitebeard muttered with a faint smile, his eyes narrowing. 

"If you dare to come, let me see what kind of strength you possess."

West Blue, New Headquarters.

Arashi was overwhelmed with work. As the Marine forces expanded, the amount of paperwork passing through his hands increased exponentially. 

His attention was demanded by financial statements from Vegapunk's experimental department, inventory reports, trade deals, tasks for regional branches, dealings with the West Blue mafia, and remnants of the Ohara incident.

For a brief moment, he understood why emperors in ancient history often died young. 

The endless grind of administrative duties left little time for rest or activity, taking a heavy toll on one's health.

What frustrated him even more was that much of this work couldn't be delegated to Eveya; it required his attention.

"Vice Admiral Arashi!" Hurried footsteps echoed as Eveya burst into his office, looking visibly alarmed.

"What happened?" Arashi asked, frowning.

"Crocodile has been captured!" Eveya said, her face pale.

"Old Sand got caught? By whom? Marine Headquarters?" Arashi asked, startled. 

That shouldn't be possible. 

He was a formidable fighter with Crocodile's current strength, mastery of the Marine's Rokushiki techniques, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki. 

As long as he remained cautious, the Marines shouldn't have been able to touch him.

"No!" Eveya took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "It's Whitebeard!"

Arashi's entire body froze, his pupils contracting sharply.

It took him a long moment to regain his composure, his expression finally calming.

"He didn't follow my orders after all," Arashi said softly. "Crocodile!"

Arashi sighed and shook his head. His right index finger tapped rhythmically on the desk, producing a soft knocking sound. 

Eveya stood to the side, waiting nervously. As a Marine, she understood all too well what the name Whitebeard meant to the world.

The strongest man alive.

One of the three legendary pirates and the only one still standing. The uncrowned king of the New World's second half.

Even Marine Headquarters treated him with caution, avoiding unnecessary confrontation. 

That Crocodile had fallen into his hands was an extraordinarily grave matter. Mishandling the situation could very well spark a world-shaking war.

What would her superior decide? Rescue him, or leave him to his fate?

"Even if he decides to rescue him, it'll be a monumental challenge," Eveya thought, trembling. 

Although Arashi had recently defeated the Golden Lion Shiki and withstood the combined assault of Sengoku and Shiki, she still wasn't convinced he could prevail against Whitebeard.

During the Ohara Incident, they were both Marines and held back out of camaraderie. But this time, they were firmly on opposing sides.

"Eveya!" The tapping on the desk stopped abruptly as Arashi stood.

"Vice Admiral!" Eveya snapped to attention, startled by his sudden movement.

Arashi smiled faintly. "Prepare the ship at the base port."

"Yes, sir!" Eveya responded quickly.

Arashi nodded and strode towards the door. Eveya blinked, and then her expression shifted as she hurried to catch up. "Where are you going?"

Arashi's pace was swift ahead of her, his Justice cape billowing behind him. After a few steps, his calm voice reached her ears.

"Such a foolish question. Don't ask it again next time," he said with a faint laugh. 

Pausing momentarily, he continued, "One of my men has been captured. As their commander, how could I sit idly by?"

"Of course, I'm going to rescue that fool who didn't follow my orders."

The nonchalant tone in his voice made Eveya's steps falter.

"But...!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "The enemy... the enemy this time is Whitebeard!"

Her fear was evident. The damage Shiki had inflicted on the G-18 Fortress years ago had left a lasting shadow on her heart. 

Even after all this time, the oppressive fear lingered, and now, the enemy was someone even stronger than the Golden Lion.

"Heh."

"Whitebeard? Yes, he's terrifying," Arashi said with a soft chuckle. "But I'm Arashi."

The quiet confidence in his tone sent a shock through Eveya. She trembled, her eyes widening as his words settled in. 

Realizing what he meant, she quickly caught up.

"You're going, then?"

"Of course," Arashi replied without hesitation, his steps unyielding as he exited the office building.

"Then... I'll go with you!" Eveya bit her lip, summoning her courage.

Arashi stopped for a moment, a smile crossing his face. Then, without turning, he began walking again.

"That won't be necessary," he said gently. "Stay here and wait for the good news."

Lightning crackled and flared in front of Eveya, and the next moment, Arashi's towering figure vanished. 

His voice lingered, accompanied by the rumble of thunder.

"I can handle this alone."

"Arashi..." Eveya stared blankly at the port, where the Marine vessel was docked.

Two or three breaths later, a small warship shaped like a sceptre enveloped in arcs of electricity launched from the port. 

Its speed increased dramatically as it ascended, and within ten breaths, it had transformed into a dazzling streak of lightning on the horizon, disappearing instantly.

Eveya returned to the office in a daze. At some point, the Den Den Mushi rang.

"West Blue Headquarters, Vice Admiral's office," she answered mechanically.

"Where is Arashi?" A stern voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

Eveya instantly recognized the speaker and stiffened. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

"Where is Arashi? Has he seen the report about Crocodile?" Sengoku demanded in a low voice.

"Vice Admiral Arashi has already left!" Eveya replied, her voice trembling.

In the office of the Fleet Admiral at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's expression froze. His fists clenched tightly before slowly relaxing.

"This is bad..." he muttered, his face shifting between worry and frustration.

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