The New World
Hiro's Shadow Dominion surged around him like a living entity, thick tendrils of darkness stretching and coiling across the ship. The atmosphere grew heavy, and even the seasoned marines felt an unnatural chill crawling up their spines.
Zephyr, however, remained unimpressed.
"I've fought enough Devil Fruit users to know—power means nothing without control."
Without hesitation, Zephyr lunged, his massive Battle Smasher whirling with destructive force. Hiro barely managed to twist his body, a shadowy tendril slamming against the mechanical arm to redirect its trajectory. The impact still sent a shockwave through the deck.
"He redirected Zephyr's attack…?" Hikari muttered, eyes widening.
"Of course he did." Demetrius smirked. "That's our captain."
Zephyr didn't pause. He brought his haki-coated fist forward, aiming for Hiro's stomach.
"Rokushiki: Shigan!"
Hiro's eyes flashed. He stepped backward, letting the shadow beneath his feet ripple unnaturally. The attack passed through empty air, and before Zephyr could adjust—
"Shadow Grasp!"
A dozen shadowy hands erupted from the deck, clamping onto Zephyr's limbs. Hiro clenched his fist, and the hands yanked the Admiral downward, slamming him into the wood.
CRACK!
The entire ship trembled from the force.
Hiro exhaled. "Not bad for a kid, huh?"
But before anyone could celebrate—
BOOM!
The shadows exploded apart as Zephyr rose, barely fazed. His Armament Haki flared, black veins covering his fists.
"You still don't get it, boy." Zephyr's voice was dangerously low. "You think your Devil Fruit makes you untouchable? You think your willpower alone will let you stand before the strong?"
Hiro didn't answer.
Zephyr raised his Battle Smasher, its mechanisms whirring as it built up energy. "Then let me show you—what true experience means!"
In the blink of an eye, Zephyr vanished from sight.
Hiro's instincts screamed at him—
"Haki up!" he roared, coating himself in full-body Armament Haki just as—
"Smash Impact!"
Zephyr's fist connected.
BOOOOM!
The sheer force of the attack ripped through the ship's deck, sending Hiro hurtling into the air. His body spun violently before he crashed onto a nearby marine ship, denting its hull.
"CAPTAIN!" Soruto shouted, eyes wide.
"Damn it!" Hikari gritted her teeth. "This isn't just some normal Admiral… he's a monster."
Zephyr cracked his knuckles, watching as Hiro slowly stood back up. "Now do you understand, Monkey D. Hiro?"
Blood dripped from Hiro's lip, but his eyes held a dangerous gleam.
"Yeah…" He wiped his mouth, a slow grin forming. "I understand that I've been holding back too much."
His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, the sky above them darkening.
Zephyr narrowed his eyes. "So you do have it."
Hiro exhaled, his shadow tendrils retreating into his body. His aura felt different now.
"I'm done testing the waters."
He slammed his foot down, the ship cracking beneath him.
"Now let's fight for real."
Night Guild's Piece – Chapter 45: Unshackled Battle
---
The New World – Marine Warship
A heavy silence spread across the battlefield, the very ocean seeming to hold its breath. The sheer clash of wills between Monkey D. Hiro and Admiral Zephyr warped the air, sparks of Conqueror's Haki crackling like a brewing storm.
"He's serious now..." Hikari muttered, gripping her blade tighter. Even from afar, she could feel the weight of Hiro's unleashed presence pressing against her skin.
Demetrius smirked, his sword resting on his shoulder. "It's about damn time."
The marine soldiers on the warship trembled as Hiro took his first step forward. Shadows rippled under his feet, swallowing the light before reforming into tangible tendrils writhing in anticipation. His Night Night no Mi was fully active now—no more testing the waters.
Zephyr exhaled, his Battle Smasher glowing ominously. "So you still have more to show? Good. I was worried you'd disappoint me."
Hiro grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I'll make sure you remember my name, old man."
And then they moved.
A loud BOOM split the air as both combatants launched themselves at each other, the force of their movement sending debris flying in every direction. The entire marine ship lurched violently, nearly capsizing from the sheer impact of their clash.
Hiro's shadow-coated fist met Zephyr's Haki-infused punch.
The resulting shockwave split the ocean around them, sending a towering wave outward in all directions.
---
The Battle Rages On
Hiro twisted his body, shadows coiling around his arm as he lashed out. "Abyssal Strike!"
A crescent-shaped blade of darkness shot forward, slicing through the very air itself. Zephyr braced, his Armament Haki flaring as he took the attack head-on.
BOOOOM!
The ship beneath them shattered, planks of wood exploding into the sea below. The marines scrambled to find their footing as the battlefield was reduced to floating debris.
Zephyr emerged from the smoke, his coat tattered, but his gaze as sharp as ever. "Not bad, brat. But you're not the first 'D.' I've fought."
Hiro's grin widened. "Yeah? Then let's see if you can handle another."
He vanished.
Zephyr's instincts screamed at him. "There!" He turned just in time to see Hiro appear above him, fist pulled back.
"Nightfall Barrage!"
A flurry of Haki-infused punches rained down upon Zephyr, each one faster than the last. He raised his metal arm to block, but the sheer force of Hiro's attacks sent shockwaves rippling across the ocean.
With a roar, Zephyr countered.
"Smash Impact!"
His massive mechanical fist slammed into Hiro's ribs, sending the young pirate captain rocketing through the air.
BOOOOM!
Hiro skipped across the ocean's surface, leaving a trail of white foam before finally coming to a stop on a broken section of the warship. He wiped blood from his mouth, breathing heavily.
"That all you got?" he taunted, despite the pain flaring in his ribs.
Zephyr exhaled, lowering his battle arm slightly. "Still standing? Heh. You're one stubborn bastard."
The marines watching from a distance were in disbelief.
"That pirate... he's still fighting even after taking a full-force hit from Zephyr?!"
"This is insane!"
But Hiro wasn't done yet.
---
Zephyr adjusted his stance, his Battle Smasher humming with renewed energy. "You're strong, Monkey D. Hiro. But strength alone won't take you to the top."
Hiro scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "You sound just like my old man."
For a brief moment, Zephyr's eyes darkened. "Garp… Hmph. That idiot never knew when to give up either."
The atmosphere between them shifted. The fight was no longer just a clash between pirate and marine—it was a battle of wills, a test of legacies.
Hiro clenched his fists, the shadows around him writhing like a living storm.
"Let's finish this."
Zephyr smirked. "Agreed."
And with that, they charged once more.