Chapter 90

Sabaody Archipelago, Island 55.

Night deepened; the moon shone bright, stars sparse.

On the deck of the East Sea Emperor, Seven stomped on Elaine Saint’s buttocks, gazing far off at the navy fleet glowing with lights.

The entire sea area was blanketed by electromagnetic-enhanced Observation Haki; not a single movement escaped Seven’s perception.

Any attempt by Kizaru or the Marines to approach would be met with purple lightning descending from the sky.

On the Dog-Head Warship, high-ranking Marines executing the Holy War Order gathered around a round table, with Kizaru reporting progress via a Den Den Mushi to Marine Headquarters.

“Barzab Seven’s Observation Haki covers an enormous range—every time we try to cross the three-nautical-mile line, lightning strikes down with pinpoint accuracy.”

“I just asked Vegapunk—”

“He says this is likely Barzab Seven amplifying his Observation Haki through airborne and electromagnetic waves.”

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Warlord’s tone.

“We assumed the guy was merely strong in Conqueror’s Haki; we never imagined his Observation Haki was this elite. No wonder he’s the Thunder-Thunder Fruit user. If so, we wait till dawn… to rescue Elaine Saint.”

Akainu interrupted.

“When will Kuzan return?”

To avoid repeating the Ohara Holy War, Akainu nearly wanted to summon Warlord too—not out of lack of faith in the Marines, but because he recognized this might be the last chance to eradicate the Morning Star Pirates.

Once Barzab Seven and his crew head to the New World, the Marines’ influence there will never again allow such a divine opportunity.

“Kuzan won’t return for at least three days.”

The Den Den Mushi paused, then continued: “We just received word from CP agents—the East Sea Emperor and the yacht will complete their coating before dawn.”

“This is our final chance.”

Only the Five Elders and Marine Commander Warlord knew about the coating craftsman’s sabotage—at least, that’s what the World Government believed.

They never imagined Tenghu’s hearing was so sharp that he had clearly heard the CP agents coercing the coating craftsman.

“Rest well, everyone. We’ll wait fresh and strike at dawn—we’ll crush the Morning Star Pirates.”

Thinking of wiping out a Sea Emperor, the Marine Vice Admirals became frenzied, eyes blazing red, howling with excitement.

“Yes, Commander Warlord.”

Garp had been sound asleep when the crisp replies jolted him awake—he sat up, glaring bitterly at the Vice Admirals.

You’re still too naive.

Though Warlord surely has more tricks up his sleeve, Garp believed: given Barzab Seven’s level of chaos, he’ll almost certainly escape unscathed to the New World.

After all, he’s the one Roger recognized.

Of course, Garp recognized him too.

Otherwise he wouldn’t have buried his cultivation insights in his own yard, waiting for Barzab Seven to dig them up—Rouji said they’d already been taken.

Kizaru felt the same, for since Barzab Seven entered the Marines’ sight, the man had never lost.

The closest he’d come to victory—

was two and a half years ago, when Kizaru personally went to Skypiea and found Barzab Seven’s crew.

On the Dog-Head Warship’s deck, the sea wind howled, whipping the back of Kizaru’s Zhengyi cloak as he stared at the East Sea Emperor and the giant yacht anchored offshore.

Brother, how are you planning to escape this time?

Most pirate ships dive to Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the sea, then pass through a submarine cavern to reach the New World.

For a man like Barzab Seven, he won’t take the usual path—the truth is obvious. Kizaru slowly lifted his gaze.

Fly over the Red Line?

Is it Tenghu’s Grav-Grav Fruit power, or Shiki’s Float-Float Fruit? If you could make the legendary pirate Shiki, whom you’ve captured, join you…

You’re terrifying, brother.

Barzab Seven, Mihawk, Tenghu—one, two, three—already enough to give anyone a headache. Add Shiki to the Morning Star Pirates…

So terrifying.

The only silver lining: brother, you’re heading to the New World to plague its pirates—Whitebeard, Kaido holed up on Onigashima, Charlotte Linlin who built the Wanguo , Wang Zhi who rules Beehive Island…

As Kizaru pondered, his peripheral vision caught a ship resembling Impel Down slowly docking near the East Sea Emperor.

“Impel Down… who could it be?”

…

Deck of the East Sea Emperor.

Seven regarded with interest his first crewmember to voluntarily join—

3.4 meters tall, powerfully built with balanced proportions, a cigar clenched between his teeth as if smirking, dressed in the uniform of an Impel Down warden, a white coat billowing behind him: a younger version of Rain Shura.

“Captain Barzab Seven, the Marines have assembled three Admiral-level forces to rescue the Celestial Dragon before launching a Holy War against the Morning Star Pirates.”

Shura expected to see at least a flicker of panic or fury in Barzab Seven’s eyes—after all, the Marines had mobilized a Holy War fleet.

Yet Shura saw no panic; instead, he saw disdain and amusement in Barzab Seven’s eyes.

No wonder I chose this captain!

“Thanks, Shura.”

Rain Shura was slightly startled: “A man like you… knows who I am?”

Seven didn’t answer. He pointed at the distant, brilliantly lit Marine fleet.

“Marine hero Garp, Admirals Kizaru and Akainu, dozens of unknown Vice Admirals, twenty Marine warships, at least twenty thousand Marines.”

“And yet you still want to join?”

Shura laughed even more wildly.

“Fighting alongside a man like you is an honor for Rain Shura. I crave worthy opponents, not the mindless drudgery of Impel Down.”

“Captain Barzab Seven, no matter what you do in the future, I, Rain Shura, wish to become your sharpest blade.”

Seven extended his hand, smiling sincerely.

“Welcome to the Morning Star Pirates.”

Shura froze for a few seconds, then reached out and gripped his hand.

Shura felt Barzab Seven’s hand was soft—like a woman’s—nothing like the hand of a 3-billion-berry Sea Emperor should be.

Seven pulled out three Devil Fruits.

“Logia Marshmallow Fruit, Paramecia Teleport Fruit, Paramecia Boom-Boom Fruit—pick one.”

In the original timeline, Shura joined Blackbeard’s crew and ate the Invisibility Fruit, once used by Absalom, one of Moria’s subordinates.

It was hard to understand.

What’s the point of an assassin hiding? When facing someone like Tenghu, whose Observation Haki is top-tier, you’d just blind yourself.

Seven’s control over electromagnetic waves completely negates the Invisibility Fruit—hiding doesn’t erase your reflection surface.

As Seven mocked the idea, Shura’s heart surged with shock: he was given Devil Fruits on the spot, and could choose freely among three.

“Aren’t you afraid I’m a Marine spy?”

Shura stared hard into Barzab Seven’s eyes, searching for suspicion or scrutiny—but met only clear, sincere trust.

“I trust myself. And I trust my crew.”

Whether it’s naive innocence or sincerity as the ultimate weapon—it didn’t matter.

What mattered was Seven’s belief in his own power: traitors, no matter how far they fled, would meet the fate traitors deserved.

Shura’s eyes flickered over the three Devil Fruits, but finally shook his head.

“Captain, I feel my swordsmanship still has room to grow.”

This answer surprised Seven—he hadn’t expected Shura to refuse Devil Fruits, like Mihawk.

After a moment’s thought, Seven understood.

This Rain Shura was only twenty-two, just one year older than Mihawk—right in the peak of his drive, the nuclear-powered ox phase of life.

“Alright, we’ll talk about it later.”

“Captain, I’ll take the night watch.”

Before coming, Shura had respected Barzab Seven for his bottomless strength and transcendent mindset.

That was a warrior’s instinctive assessment of another warrior—a cold, pragmatic judgment, like one blade recognizing another’s sharpness.

But—

When Shura stood before Barzab Seven, he wasn’t met with the expected exchange of equal strength.

Barzab Seven simply reached out and handed him three Devil Fruits capable of stirring bloodshed across the seas.

No testing. No collateral.

Pure, almost foolish generosity—not revealing strength itself, but something far more astonishing: the arrogance of treating treasures as common.

This reckless generosity shattered the last barrier in Shura’s heart.

Strength inspires awe. Mindset commands admiration. But this boundless generosity, beyond all calculation, made Shura willingly bow his head.

Seven nodded: “Thank you.”

He grabbed the fleshy mass that was Elaine Saint and went below deck to visit Shiki, who was too excited from removing the ship’s helm to sleep.

“Barzab Seven.”

“Your ship… is blessed?”