One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

CHAPTER 29: ADMIRAL AOKIJI

The midday sun blazed overhead, casting long shadows across the debris-strewn battlefield of Arlong Park. The once-proud fortress of the Fish-Man Pirates lay in ruins, testament to the fierce battles that had raged within its walls. Yet, the sense of victory was fleeting as the thundering footsteps of Marines encircled the park, tightening their noose around the Straw Hat Pirates and the villagers of Cocoyasi.

Admiral Aokiji, towering and imposing, led the charge. His tall, lean figure was clad in the pristine white uniform of the Marines, a long, dark blue coat draped over his shoulders like a cape. A sleep mask hung around his neck, a stark contrast to the icy, calculating gaze of his eyes. His demeanor was cool and detached, as if the chaos around him was merely a minor inconvenience.

"Surround the area and round up all the pirates," Aokiji ordered, his voice calm yet commanding. His presence alone exuded authority, and the Marines moved swiftly to execute his commands.

Captain Nezumi, his rat-like features twisted into a greedy smirk, echoed the Admiral's orders with his own spiteful twist. "And don't forget to seize all their treasure and belongings. Leave nothing behind."

Nami, her heart pounding with anger and fear, stepped forward, gripping her bo staff tightly. She marched up to Nezumi, her eyes blazing with determination. "Not again," she declared, and with a swift, practiced motion, she slammed Nezumi to the ground with her staff. The blow landed with a resounding thud, and the Marine captain crumpled in a heap.

The surrounding Marines gasped in shock, the tension in the air thickening as they murmured amongst themselves. Nami stood over Nezumi, her chest heaving with rage. "You will never take my treasure again," she spat, her voice trembling with fury.

Aokiji's eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold. With deliberate slowness, he began to walk towards Nami, his long strides exuding a menacing calm. "You know there are consequences to attacking a Marine officer," he said, his voice low and chilling. "Are you prepared for that?"

Nami straightened her shoulders, refusing to back down. "I'm not afraid of you," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Aokiji's arm moved, appearing almost languid in its motion, but the speed of his reach was deceptive. He aimed to grab Nami's hand, but before he could, a powerful grip intercepted him. Goku appeared between them, his hand clamping down on Aokiji's wrist with unyielding force.

"No one touches my woman," Goku growled, his eyes locking onto Aokiji's with fierce protectiveness. The air around them grew tense, an ominous chill settling even as the sun beat down from above.

Sanji, watching the confrontation, dared not take his eyes off Aokiji. A chilling fear gnawed at him, his instincts screaming of the danger the Admiral posed. Zoro's hand drifted towards the Wado Ichimonji at his side, readying himself for a fight. Usopp, always the cautious one, mentally prepared himself to run if things went south.

Aokiji eyed Goku with a mixture of curiosity and cold indifference. "You have guts, kid," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "But they won't save you from defying the law."

"We'll see about that," Goku retorted, his grip tightening. The temperature around them continued to drop, the cold seeping into the very air they breathed. Aokiji pulled his hand away, and Goku noticed with a start how cold his own hand had become from the brief contact. He looked at Aokiji, a mix of confusion and awe. How was this man even alive?

"Why are the Marines here?" a voice called out from the crowd of villagers. "We've been suffering under Arlong for nearly a decade, and you only come now after he's already been defeated?" Another voice joined in, full of anger and betrayal. "That rat Nezumi was paid off by Arlong and left us all to suffer!"

The villagers' anger surged, their voices rising in a cacophony of accusations against the Marines. "So go away now!" one of them shouted, and others chimed in, demanding justice and questioning the integrity of the Marines who had stood by and watched their suffering.

Goku turned to Aokiji, his eyes burning with righteous anger. "Why doesn't your so-called law punish Nezumi and his men for exploiting these villagers and leaving them to suffer? Is this the kind of Marine my grandfather trained?"

Aokiji's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "So you know of me," he said, more a statement than a question.

Goku nodded, his resolve unwavering. "My grandfather talked of you as his replacement."

"Whats your name, kid?" Aokiji asked, a hint of curiosity in his otherwise detached demeanor.

"Monkey D. Goku," Goku answered, his voice clear and strong.

Aokiji's eyes widened just a fraction, recognition dawning. "So this is him," he thought to himself. He glanced behind Goku, taking in the sight of the ragtag crew that stood by his side. Just a handful of people and the girl. His lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "You know, your grandfather nearly captured Gold Roger numerous times. And now here you are, playing pirate with a bunch of misfits and daring to judge the organization that has protected justice for eight long centuries."

He paused, letting his words sink in, his voice carrying an edge of both disappointment and challenge. "I think I should teach you a lesson your grandfather taught me early on but didn't seem to teach you."

Aokiji's movements were slow, almost lethargic, as he shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the ground. "You think fighting a small fry like Arlong is enough to warrant such false confidence? Let me show you just a tiny bit of what the world is really like."

In an instant, he reached for Nami, but Goku was faster. He grabbed her by the waist and leapt high into the air, his movements a blur. The air around them grew even colder, and even the Marines began to back off, sensing the imminent danger. The villagers followed suit, their eyes wide with fear and awe.

Usopp's panic was palpable as he watched the scene unfold. "We're going to face an Admiral?" he cried, his voice high and strained. "This is insane! We're all going to die!"

The air itself seemed to tremble as Aokiji prepared to make his move, and the fate of the Straw Hat Pirates hung in the balance, their courage and resolve about to be tested like never before.

Usopp's panicked cries echoed through the battlefield, his fear palpable as he watched the chaos unfold around him. "We're all going to die! We can't face an Admiral!"

Goku landed lightly beside him, his presence immediately calming the frantic sniper. "Usopp, calm down," he said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Nami and Usopp, you stay out of this," he ordered, letting go of Nami. "Sanji and Zoro, back me up how you can, but be careful. If I remember correctly, he has some sort of cold power."

"So that's why the air feels like winter," Zoro added, his breath visible in the frigid air.

"Don't be so naive," another voice interjected. They turned to see Aokiji standing behind them, his expression unreadable. His arm shot out towards Nami, but Goku pulled her away just in time. However, Aokiji's other hand reached Usopp, and in an instant, Usopp was frozen from head to toe, transformed into an ice sculpture. Goku had moved, but not fast enough, his fist shattering through Aokiji, who crumbled into pieces.

Despite the shattered form of Aokiji, Goku knew he was still alive. His attention snapped back to Usopp, who stood frozen, a silent testament to Aokiji's power. "What do we do?" Nami asked, panic in her voice as she saw the worry etched on Goku's face.

"Nothing. He could still be alive in there," Goku answered, though his expression betrayed his uncertainty.

"Of course he's alive," Aokiji's voice echoed, his body reforming perfectly. "But if I were to do this..." He formed a fist, aiming to shatter Usopp. Goku, moving with desperate speed, grabbed Usopp's frozen form and bent down, cradling him gently. He whisked Usopp away, placing him near the villagers.

He looked to Nojiko, Johnny, and Yosaku, who stood with the villagers. "Watch his body and make sure not to shatter anything. He just needs to be thawed out," Goku instructed before rushing back to face Aokiji.

"You really are fast, aren't you?" Aokiji remarked, ice and snow protruding from his body as he approached Goku.

"Of course I am," Goku shot back. "Now, Sanji!"

Sanji reacted instantly, launching himself at Aokiji with a powerful flying kick aimed at his head. Simultaneously, Zoro came in low, his sword targeting Aokiji's legs. For a brief moment, Goku felt a flicker of hope, but it was extinguished as Aokiji smirked, disappearing and reappearing behind Nami. He wrapped his arm around her, freezing her into another ice sculpture before Goku could react.

Goku's heart pounded with uncontrollable rage as he saw Nami encased in ice. Aokiji stood tall behind her, forming another fist to smash her. But instead of reaching for Nami, Goku charged with his arm extended, firing a large Ki blast at Aokiji. Using the momentum, he grabbed Nami, shielding her from the explosion. As the dust and smoke settled, he walked up to Sanji and Zoro, Nami in his arms.

"This guy is no joke," Zoro said, his voice tense.

"He seems so slow, but when he wants to, he's incredibly fast," Sanji added, eyes never leaving Aokiji.

The debris cleared, revealing the shattered pieces of Aokiji, which began to reassemble, forming back into his icy body. Aokiji stood there, unharmed and not even breathing heavily.

"Zoro, do you remember the feeling of doom we talked about yesterday?" Goku asked.

"I think it was because of him," Zoro replied, gripping his sword tighter. "I am feeling a little doomed right now."

Only now did they realize the true powers of the Grand Line. The might of a Marine Admiral became all too clear as a trail of ice and snow expanded with every step Aokiji took towards them.

The overwhelming sense of dread filled the air, and the reality of their situation settled in. The Straw Hat Pirates stood their ground, bracing themselves for the battle ahead, knowing they were up against a force far greater than anything they had ever faced.

[A/N: Read 10 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]