After a long pause, Kizaru finally spoke.
"This is quite troublesome." He scratched his head, then, to everyone's astonishment, walked away from the bow and sat down, as if the entire confrontation had never happened.
"Admiral… Kizaru? What are you doing?" The nearby Marines stared at him, bewildered. Was this some kind of tactic?
"Hmph hmph hmph, it seems you're not entirely without brains, Kizaru." Zavia sheathed the Yamato. He had anticipated this.
Kizaru, despite his perpetually relaxed demeanor, was not a fool.
He wouldn't engage Zavia in battle under these circumstances. While he often appeared indifferent, he wouldn't gamble with the lives of over eighty percent of the Marines present.
Engaging Zavia here would be disastrous for Kizaru.
Firstly, they were at sea. Devil Fruit users were vulnerable to the ocean. While seawater didn't nullify their powers like Seastone, it weakened them considerably.
Secondly, his opponent was Zavia. While Kizaru hadn't fought him directly, he had access to plenty of intelligence as a Marine admiral.
What struck him most wasn't Zavia's swordsmanship, but his spatial abilities, particularly Spatial Teleportation.
Spatial Teleportation was different from lightspeed travel. While lightspeed might appear instantaneous, there was still a minuscule time lag.
Spatial Teleportation, however, was truly instant. It moved a person from one point to another without any time lapse, giving Zavia a slight edge in terms of speed.
Furthermore, even if lightspeed movement was instantaneous, Kizaru still couldn't match Zavia.
Why? Because Kizaru couldn't truly move at the speed of light. Even if he could, his reaction time wouldn't be able to keep up, and his body wouldn't be able to withstand the strain.
If he could move at lightspeed, Zavia reasoned, Kizaru would be the strongest man in the world, not Whitebeard. He would be the one capable of destroying the world, not Whitebeard.
Of course, this was all hypothetical.
Thirdly, and most importantly, Kizaru had seen Mihawk on Zavia's ship. Even as an admiral, he couldn't face both Mihawk and Zavia simultaneously.
While he didn't know how Zavia had persuaded Mihawk to accompany him, seeing the swordsman enjoying a meal with a child suggested some kind of connection.
At the very least, he suspected that if Zavia asked for assistance, Mihawk would likely intervene. This guaranteed Kizaru's defeat in a direct confrontation.
Therefore, for the sake of the Marines present, Kizaru couldn't risk provoking two dangerous individuals. If these Marines were sacrificed because of his actions, Sengoku wouldn't be able to protect him. He might even be discharged from the Marines.
While the vice-admirals present weren't weak, especially considering they were from Marine Headquarters, they were still no match for Zavia, whose strength was at the peak of vice-admiral level, on the cusp of admiral level.
Even if they attacked together, they wouldn't gain any advantage. This wasn't an exaggeration. Zavia's spatial abilities were formidable.
Coming from the 21st century, the era of information explosion, Zavia's approach to developing his spatial abilities was incredibly creative. Coupled with the Legacy of the Demon God, which refined and perfected his powers, he had a vast arsenal of spatial techniques, though untested in actual combat.
He wouldn't hesitate to use these Marines as guinea pigs to test the effectiveness of his techniques.
However, it seemed unnecessary. The Marines, recognizing the disparity in strength, weren't foolish enough to attack. Kizaru might be able to put up a fight, but the others were a different story.
Arthur steered the ship past the Marine warships, the Marines on deck glaring at them.
It's worth noting that while Zavia was considered a pirate, and presented himself as such, his ship lacked one crucial element – a pirate flag.
This was why it was referred to as a ship, not a pirate ship.
So, rather than a pirate, Zavia was more of a dangerous individual traveling the seas under the guise of piracy.
This was another way he avoided trouble. A pirate flag would attract unwanted attention. Without one, he could be mistaken for a castaway or a merchant vessel.
This not only minimized unnecessary confrontations but also lowered people's guard. If anyone showed hostile intent, Zavia could exploit their lowered defenses and eliminate them swiftly.
The Marines could only watch as Zavia's ship passed. Their superior, Admiral Kizaru, had chosen to ignore them.
The vice-admirals weren't fools. While some might not know Zavia's true strength, they knew Mihawk.
As one of the Seven Warlords and the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk's reputation was no joke.
Provoking him would result in heavy casualties, a price the Marines weren't willing to pay.
Besides, there were only twenty or so warships present, with a little over ten vice-admiral class vessels. The rest, excluding Kizaru's ship, were commanded by officers below vice-admiral rank.
While an admiral and a dozen vice-admirals might be able to subdue Mihawk, that was in an ideal scenario. They also had to contend with Zavia. The moniker "Sword Demon" wasn't a fabrication; it was earned through bloodshed.
Typically, skilled swordsmen were called "sword masters" or "sword demons," but Zavia's title carried a darker connotation.
While his swordsmanship was undoubtedly masterful, thanks to the Legacy of the Demon God, it was his ruthless, demonic efficiency in killing that earned him the moniker "Sword Demon."
Zavia remained impassive, unfazed by the angry glares of the Marines who were itching to capture him but couldn't. He had grown accustomed to such reactions.
He was numb to the jealousy, anger, and envy of those who viewed him with disdain due to their own inadequacy.
Even if the Marines looked ready to devour him, he remained calm and composed, his expression serene.
Mihawk, as always, was unperturbed. Arthur, having spent a year with Zavia, had also grown accustomed to such situations and remained equally calm.
Unimpeded, they reached the dreaded thunder zone, where even Sea Kings were instantly vaporized.
Upon arriving, Zavia finally understood.
(No wonder the Marine ships are keeping their distance. The island's lightning storms have extended into the surrounding sea. Judging by the range, it's about 300 meters.)
He instructed Arthur to stop the ship twenty meters from the edge of the thunder zone. He would proceed alone. Mihawk and Arthur couldn't accompany him.
They would be instantly incinerated by the terrifying lightning, which carried a voltage of at least a hundred million.
"I'll go from here." Taking a deep breath, Zavia turned to the others, his tone dramatic, as if embarking on a suicide mission.
"Wait. Before you go, can you answer a question, Zavia? Who are you, really?" Mihawk's question surprised Zavia.
The swordsman, who had shown little interest in Zavia's past or motivations, was now asking about his identity.
Zavia didn't know what Mihawk was thinking, nor did he care. Perhaps Mihawk had wanted to ask this question all along but had hesitated for some reason.
"That question… To be honest, Mihawk, you're not the first to ask. All I can tell you now is that I am both human and not human, yet I transcend humanity. If you want to know more, I'll tell you in a year. For now, can you do me a favor? Look after Arthur. He's strong, but not strong enough to handle these Marines." Zavia chose not to lie, but he gave Mihawk the same answer he had given others: In 1520. He would reveal his identity then.
"Emmm… very well. I accept. But don't you dare die. If you perish before our duel, I won't forgive you." Mihawk considered Zavia's words for ten seconds before agreeing to look after Arthur.
"Thanks, Mihawk. After this little trip, I look forward to another taste of your cooking." Relief washed over Zavia.
Despite having only known each other for a few months, they had formed an unlikely bond, a strong friendship.
"Big brother, please be careful!"
"Don't worry, I'll be back. And when I return, I'll take you to Skypiea, an island in the sky."
"Okay! I believe you!"
Zavia ruffled Arthur's hair, a gentle smile gracing his lips. The tender moment left the observing Marines bewildered.
Standing at the bow, Zavia took another deep breath, opened his eyes, and fixed his gaze on Raijin Island.
He retrieved the Yamato from his spatial bag, along with supplies that would last two people for six months at sea – several bulging backpacks.
With his preparations complete, Zavia bent his knees, gathering power in his legs. Then, with a bang, he vanished, leaving only a small, black footprint on the wooden deck.
Propelled by his explosive jump, he reached the thunder zone in an instant.
The already violent lightning intensified as he entered the zone. Dozens of bolts, each ten meters thick, descended upon him.
Just as they were about to strike, the trench coat he wore activated.
A translucent, pale blue barrier shimmered around him, similar in appearance to his spatial barriers.
The barrier absorbed the purple lightning bolts.
(Hmm, not bad. Their technology is quite impressive. To think they could absorb such powerful lightning.) Zavia narrowed his eyes. Those outsiders were indeed skilled scientists. Their award was well-deserved.
He had been skeptical, assuming the coat would only absorb a portion of the lightning, leaving him to endure the rest. It seemed he had underestimated them.
With the lightning no longer a threat, Zavia increased his speed. The momentum from his initial jump had dissipated, so he used Geppo to propel himself towards the island.
However, his initial burst of speed had brought him within 150 meters of the island, and he reached the shore in no time.
Upon landing, the lightning subsided, as if it had lost interest. Zavia smiled, relieved that he no longer had to worry about the lightning.
"Impressive. You've passed the first trial."A majestic, ethereal voice resounded through the sky, putting him on high alert.
He gripped the Yamato. Years of bloodshed had given his killing intent a tangible form – a crimson mist that swirled around him.
He spun around, scanning his surroundings, but found no one. He looked up, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of a colossal being in the sky.
"Is that… a dragon?"