A luxury ship exclusive to the Celestial Dragon lineage drifted quietly across the endless blue.
Following Jaeger's orders, the crew had already dispersed, leaving the deck empty—
except for one man.
Then—
A flash of golden light carved open the air.
Three figures appeared before Jaeger.
At the front stood a woman around 1.8 meters tall, long black hair cascading like a silk waterfall down to her waist. Her features were sharp, refined, yet carried undeniable strength.
She wore a black undershirt beneath white feathered garments, a long sword at her side—
a wandering swordsman in every sense.
Yamamoto Mei.
A Reincarnator from the world of Bleach, with her own legend.
In the chat group, she had obtained [Straight Death].
No one knew her blade's true nature, but Jaeger understood better than anyone—
she was not someone to underestimate.
Behind her stood two familiar faces.
The first, dressed in a crisp white military uniform and high boots—
Esdeath.
The sadistic general, long blue hair trailing like icy silk to her calves.
Next to her stood a beautiful blonde high school girl, fidgeting nervously—
Erina Nakiri.
"This is… another world?
And that man… that's Jaeger?"
Erina hadn't watched the live broadcasts. She stared at Jaeger with wide, curious eyes—a faint blush creeping across her cheeks whenever she dared to look at him.
Remembering her own reckless thoughts…
her grandfather's stern advice…
she quickly looked away, heart pounding.
"Hah… the air in the One Piece world is different."
Esdeath inhaled deeply, letting the sea breeze fill her lungs.
Her battle-hungry gaze locked onto Jaeger instantly.
"The energy here is stronger than back home… Hey, how about we warm up with a fight?"
"No need to rush."
Yamamoto Mei calmly stopped the bloodthirsty general, her voice smooth as flowing water.
She turned to Jaeger, her dark eyes flickering with curiosity.
"All this… for the sake of Portgas D. Rouge? Isn't it a bit excessive?"
Jaeger smiled warmly—almost gentle.
"For her? No.
Even if she's Roger's wife, I wouldn't mobilize this much power just for her."
He stretched lazily, voice casual.
"I'm here to test a new Phantasm, hunt the legendary Golden Lion to forge a relic, and announce myself as a king to the world… Rouge was just caught in the tide."
"…I see."
Yamamoto Mei nodded lightly.
She wasn't judging his ruthlessness.
How could she?
She once held privilege in the Soul Society far above common souls.
As for Esdeath—
Strength was everything.
Men, women, weaklings—none of that mattered.
Only power deserved her recognition.
Even Erina, standing silently beside them, was beginning to understand.
Jaeger's methods seemed cruel.
But wasn't she the same?
With her "God's Tongue," she could destroy a chef's entire life with a single critique.
She wasn't innocent...ruining lives wasn't new to her, it was simply dressed in a different form.
The realization hit her softly.
We're all rotten, in our own ways.
A tiny smile formed at the corner of her lips.
Her heart, previously trembling around Jaeger, slowly settled.
Maybe being Jaeger's "personal chef" wasn't so bad…
Especially when this world overflowed with ingredients she'd never dreamed existed.
In mere days, she had seen beasts and Sea Kings beyond imagination.
To a gourmet, this was paradise.
Under the blazing sun, Jaeger and the others lounged lazily on deck chairs, savoring Erina's exquisite desserts.
"The South Sea's close," Jaeger said, stretching.
"Finally," Esdeath grinned, crossing her long legs.
Her icy gaze snapped toward him.
"Come on, a little warm-up fight? I'm itching for it."
Jaeger frowned slightly—he had limited patience for battle maniacs.
"This is the second time you've asked.
You WANT to be beaten that badly?"
"Well, battle maniacs will be battle maniacs," Yamamoto Mei chuckled, resting her chin in her hand.
Her fighting spirit wasn't lower.
"As the fastest Shinigami—even Yoruichi, the Flash Goddess, can't outrun me.
I want to see what your 'Hercules' Belt' can really do."
Jaeger sighed, rising to his feet.
He gently moved the still-bewildered Erina behind him.
"You want a live broadcast too?"
"I'm in," Esdeath said immediately.
[Group member Esdeath has started a live broadcast.]
The chat instantly erupted.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Eh!? The mission hasn't even started! What's happening!?"
Luo Hao: "A duel before war. Obvious. Curious whether it's 1v1 or a group brawl."
Jibril: "Fufufu~! Another-world battle! How delightful!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Ara ara, World Noble-kun shielding Miss Erina behind him… how sweet."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Saint Jaeger please say 'Nah, I'd win.' It increases your chance of winning. I say this for a good ending."
Nerona Jaeger: "…"
The chat exploded with excitement.
But Kasumigaoka's comment carried a strange undertone—a hint of jealousy disguised behind teasing.
Jaeger chuckled, rolling his neck.
"I'll go first," Esdeath announced.
Before anyone could react—
A terrifying cold burst from her body.
BOOM—!
"Makahadoma——!!!"
The sea froze instantly.
An endless ice field spread beneath their feet.
Even the moisture in the air crystallized, forming shimmering diamonds suspended in silence.
The world turned into a frozen dream.
Everything was still.
Everything was silent.
Esdeath exhaled, satisfied.
"…Huh? Did I… actually stop spacetime?"
Even she hadn't expected it to work so easily.
The chat grew tense.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Is it time-stop? Could this be Jaeger's weakness?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "My time-freeze worked even in Naruto. It might hold him."
Tōsaka Sakura: "Is Jaeger-nii… okay?"
Jibril: "Kuku~ That's not Jaeger.
It's just an afterimage."
"What?!"
Esdeath's eyes widened.
At that moment—
Jaeger's voice drifted behind her.
"Did you really think I'd fall for the same trick twice, Esdeath? And your time stop isn't even at Utaha's level."
Blue mist curled around him like a living serpent.
Before she could turn—
Jaeger's fist ripped through the icy air.
BOOM—!
Space twisted around the impact.
With the Hercules' Belt, his enhanced Sage Body, and the Seventh Gate opened—
Jaeger's raw physical power could obliterate an island.
"Stop him!
Ice Cavalry Formation!!"
Esdeath roared, her life force surging.
From the frozen sea, countless ice soldiers rose, piling atop one another to form a massive glacier shield.
CRACK——!
One punch.
That was all it took.
The entire ice fortress shattered like thin glass.
Crystals scattered like broken stars.
And before Esdeath could blink—
Jaeger appeared like a thunderclap.
His fist drove deep into her abdomen.
Esdeath body curled sharply, like a shrimp folding in pain.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips.
The chat went dead silent.
•••
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