One Piece:Becoming the King of the World from the Rocks Era

"Arm Fist: Collapse!" 

Zephyr unleashed his most powerful punch, combining his immense physical strength, mastery of Armament Haki, and refined martial arts technique. 

"Ice Slaughter: Mokobotmo!" 

Esdeath, in a state of extreme exertion, concentrated all her strength into a single slash. As her Shura sword cut through the air, an overwhelming force of freezing energy erupted, slowing even the flow of space. 

The world around her seemed to freeze solid—trees, air, and even Zephyr himself. His movements and the speed of his punch were visibly slowed. 

This move, a testament to Esdeath's absolute strength, was designed to freeze a fragment of space, delaying Zephyr's actions and reactions. 

Just as she was about to evade Zephyr's punch and aim her sword at his neck, Zephyr's entire body erupted with Armament Haki. The powerful aura not only protected him but also disrupted the effects of her freezing power. 

With a thunderous impact, Zephyr's blackened fist clashed with Esdeath's Shura sword, shattering her attack and sending her flying hundreds of meters. 

However, Esdeath's ability to manipulate ice didn't end there. Through the Shura sword, she channeled an immense amount of freezing energy into Zephyr's surroundings. In an instant, Zephyr was encased in a massive block of ice. 

The ice beneath Zephyr's feet gave way, and the frozen admiral plunged into the sea below. 

"I can't beat this old man—I need to run!" 

Realizing that even her most desperate attack couldn't overpower him, Esdeath made the decision to retreat. 

Steadying herself mid-air with Moonwalk, she retrieved a scroll and summoned her silver motorcycle onto the ice. Wasting no time, she mounted it and revved the engine. 

"Stop her! Don't let her escape!" 

The Marines aboard Zephyr's ship began firing cannons at Esdeath and rushed to intercept her. 

But the six exhaust ports on Esdeath's motorcycle roared to life, propelling her forward at incredible speed. Within moments, she had vanished from sight, leaving only a cold wind in her wake. 

As Esdeath disappeared, a news bird that had been circling above also flew off. 

"What in the world was that? How could it move so fast?" 

The Marines stared in shock, witnessing the speed of her mysterious machine for the first time. 

"Damn it, I'll make sure Uncle Ashura Doji fights me seriously when I get back!" 

Reverting to her human form, Esdeath spat out blood, frustration written all over her face. She was furious at Ashura Doji for holding back during their previous sparring sessions, which had led her to overestimate her strength. 

If not for his leniency, she wouldn't have mistakenly sought out Zephyr for a fight. She should have waited until she was stronger before challenging him. Now, after being defeated in just two moves, she was forced to flee in disgrace. 

Fueled by her frustration, Esdeath twisted the throttle to its limit and sped toward the next island. 

Meanwhile, beneath the icy waters, Zephyr broke free from his frozen prison and surfaced. However, by the time he emerged, Esdeath was long gone. 

"Where is Esdeath?" 

Zephyr shouted toward his ship. 

"Admiral Zephyr, she escaped on some strange machine heading in that direction. It was too fast for us to intercept," a Marine captain reported. 

"Damn it! She got away!" 

Zephyr's frustration was palpable. He had nearly captured her, only to be thwarted at the last moment. 

Despite her young age, Esdeath possessed remarkable strength. With her Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and inherited swordsmanship talent, she was already a Grandmaster Swordsman at just seventeen. In the future, she would undoubtedly grow into a top-tier warrior, further bolstering the Infinite Pirates' strength. 

This was a missed opportunity, one he feared would never come again. 

"Break the ice and search the island. See if Doflamingo's crew is still there!" 

Unable to pursue Esdeath, Zephyr turned his attention back to his original mission. 

"Admiral Zephyr, we searched the island but found no trace of Doflamingo or his men," the Marines reported after a thorough investigation. 

"They must have fled during the commotion. Return to base!" Zephyr ordered, his mood sour. 

On the other side, Esdeath arrived at another island and located a branch of the Infinite Pirates' intelligence network. Using their Mirror World, she quickly returned to the Infinite Sea. 

"Esdeath, what happened to you?" 

Upon her return, Esdeath was greeted by her mother, Razili. Seeing her daughter pale and bloodied, Razili rushed over, worry etched across her face. 

"Mom, I'm fine. I just fought with that old man Zephyr and lost," Esdeath admitted sheepishly, her voice tinged with guilt. 

"You call this fine? Forcing your body with Life Return has left your muscles torn and your internal organs bleeding! Why didn't you take the healing pills I gave you?" 

Razili scolded her daughter, holding out the pills. 

"Mom, these are just minor injuries. Dad says it's better to let the body heal naturally to build resilience. Once I'm fully recovered, I'll soak in a medicinal bath to clear any lingering damage. That's the best way to grow stronger," Esdeath explained with a sigh. 

"All you do is listen to your father. Why don't you ever take my advice?" 

Razili grumbled as she put the pills away, though her frustration was softened by her understanding of Li Yuan's training philosophy. 

"Weren't you supposed to negotiate with Doflamingo? How did you end up fighting Zephyr? Did Doflamingo set you up?" 

Li Yuan approached, his expression stern as he examined his injured daughter. 

"No, Dad. Zephyr was here to capture Doflamingo. I just happened to run into him on my way back. Instead of avoiding him, I decided to challenge him. I didn't expect him to be so strong. I couldn't win and had to retreat," Esdeath admitted, lowering her head in shame. 

"You're only seventeen. Zephyr is over fifty and a former admiral. It's normal for you to lose. 

"But you were reckless. Even with Zephyr's declining strength, he's still not someone you can handle right now." 

Li Yuan's tone was strict. 

Esdeath had been raised with the best resources and training, and it was remarkable that she managed to escape Zephyr alive. However, her recklessness could not be overlooked. 

"I understand, Dad. I won't be so impulsive in the future," Esdeath promised, bowing her head. 

"Good. Go rest now." 

After she left, Razili turned to Li Yuan, her voice filled with concern. 

"You used to spoil her so much. Why were you so harsh just now?" 

"She's not a child anymore. She's the princess of the Infinite Pirates. If she can't handle failure, how can she bear the responsibilities that come with her position?" Li Yuan replied with a sigh. 

Despite his firm stance, Li Yuan's love for his daughter was evident. But too much coddling would only harm her in the long run. 

"Still, Zephyr dared to lay a hand on my daughter. He must be tired of living!" 

Li Yuan's demeanor shifted, his aura turning icy. 

The thought of someone harming Esdeath filled him with rage. 

"Are you planning to go after Zephyr?" Razili asked, recognizing the fury in his eyes. 

"Yes. I'll consult Shakky about Garp and Sengoku's movements and find an opportunity to deal with him," Li Yuan declared. 

Shakky quickly provided information, confirming that Garp and Sengoku were currently in the East Blue, with Garp spotted on Kamisin Island the previous day. 

"Excellent. Check Zephyr's itinerary next. I'll wait for him," Li Yuan said. 

"I'll join you," Shakky offered, entering the Mirror World with him. 

"According to his current schedule, Zephyr should arrive at Zamir Island for resupply in a day. We'll wait for him there," Shakky said as they stepped onto Zamir Island, where one of her mirrors was already in place. 

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