"A net laced with sea stone? That's indeed a powerful tool against Devil Fruit users."

Zenkichi stood still, surrounded by marines and Celestial Dragon guards, a mocking smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"But let me ask you this—who told you I was a Devil Fruit user?"

Their smug expressions faltered.

Zenkichi's body shimmered and transformed into golden light, letting the massive sea stone net pass harmlessly through him.

The warship fell into stunned silence. Not a single soul moved. Eyes widened in disbelief.

Impossible!

Everyone knew that once a Devil Fruit user came into contact with sea stone, their powers would be neutralized. It was an absolute fact.

"The one with the Glint-Glint Fruit is Admiral Kizaru—not me."

"Yes, I can use the power of light, but that doesn't mean I consumed a Devil Fruit."

"The result might look the same, but the origin makes all the difference."

"My powers aren't bound to a fruit, so your traps for Devil Fruit users are meaningless to me."

Zenkichi grinned coldly at the stunned soldiers, their expressions twisted in disbelief and fear.

Suddenly, a shot rang out. A Celestial Dragon had fired at him in panic.

The bullet passed straight through Zenkichi's head, doing nothing.

His gaze, calm and cold, locked onto the trembling Celestial Dragon. A silence heavier than death hung in the air.

The Celestial Dragon turned in a panic and screamed at his guards, "What are you waiting for?! Kill him now!"

Though the marines and guards hesitated, fear for their lives and families pushed them forward. To disobey a Celestial Dragon was to invite ruin.

"Kill him!"

"Use Armament Haki, it's our only chance!"

They rushed forward with desperate roars, trying to mask their fear.

Zenkichi's expression didn't change. He raised his fist slowly. A white aura of Armament Haki wrapped around it as if the very air began to tremble.

He struck.

A sharp shockwave exploded outward, the very space around it cracking like glass.

Boom!

Dozens of guards and marines were blasted off the deck like dolls, crashing into the sea like thrown stones.

"The Tremor-Tremor Fruit…?" gasped one of the Celestial Dragon's more experienced guards. "First Admiral Kizaru's powers… now Whitebeard's?"

After clearing the trash, Zenkichi stepped toward the Celestial Dragon.

The few remaining guards broke into cold sweat. None dared block his path. They knew they couldn't stop him.

But letting him lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon?

That was suicide.

Just then, reinforcements from the other two nearby World Government ships arrived. Powerful elite soldiers leapt over the railings and surrounded Zenkichi.

"Protect the Celestial Dragon!" one of them ordered.

Zenkichi's smile turned dangerous.

"Still think you've got a chance?" he muttered.

A wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body like a tidal wave.

Dozens of elite soldiers dropped to their knees instantly, crushed under the sheer spiritual pressure, gasping like fish out of water.

The Celestial Dragon, now alone and terrified, emptied his pistol at Zenkichi in a panic. Every bullet passed through Zenkichi's golden light form harmlessly.

"You pampered pigs actually dare to call yourselves descendants of the God of Creation?" Zenkichi said mockingly. "How stupid can you be?"

"You'll pay for this!" the Celestial Dragon shrieked, eyes bloodshot. "You're dead! You hear me?!"

Zenkichi didn't respond with words.

He slapped the Celestial Dragon across the deck like a ragdoll.

Blood sprayed from the noble's mouth. Trembling, eyes wide in fear, he looked up at Zenkichi.

"I'll give you another chance to think about what you just said. Now then—do you still think you're a god?"

"Y-yes!" the Celestial Dragon cried out, terrified.

"Wrong answer."

Zenkichi cracked his knuckles and leaned closer. "I'll let you live… but only if you call me daddy."

The Celestial Dragon froze.

Zenkichi's eyes darkened.

"Say it."

"D-Dad!" the Celestial Dragon sobbed, tears of humiliation streaming down his face.

A soft chime rang in Zenkichi's mind. The Whitebeard Template surged to 98% completion.

Zenkichi gave a twisted grin. "Good."

"Now die."

With a swing of his sword, he cut the Celestial Dragon down.

Blood painted the deck.

The entire fleet stood frozen. No one moved. No one spoke.

A Celestial Dragon had been killed right in front of them.

As the silence stretched, Zenkichi turned toward the stunned navy and the elite guards still standing.

"I didn't want it to come to this."

"But you disrespected me."

"A 20 million bounty? That's an insult."

"There was a fool among you who said it himself… that a man with such a low bounty was no threat."

He looked down at the body of the Celestial Dragon.

"Let this be your message."

"Twenty million is far too low."

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Read ahead of WN on patreon.com/Zphyr_