27 Marines are just Lifeguards

(A/N: Please leave a review on the novel, if we reach 20 + then I will drop an additional chapter this weekend. If we reach top 5 in power stones by Friday, I'll drop one more chapter as well!)

*Marineford - Sengoku's Office*

The news slammed into the office like a sucker punch. A suffocating silence descended, thick enough to choke on. Faces, usually hardened by years at sea, were etched with raw, primal fear. Kizaru–the freaking Kizaru, admiral, powerhouse, walking deterrent to any pirate with a bad idea–was gone. Not just dead, that would have been a blow, but obliterated. Destroyed in a way that defied logic and left a cold dread clinging to the air.

His limbs were like twisted wrecks, shattered beyond recognition. It wasn't a clean break, not a wound you could patch up. It was as if some unseen force had reached in and devoured the very essence of him–bone, muscle, blood–leaving behind a hollow husk. Even worse, his heart, ripped from his chest with a savagery that made stomachs churn, lay discarded beside him like a broken toy.

"It checks out," Sengoku rumbled, his voice heavy with a weariness that even the most dire battles couldn't usually inflict. "He found the scum who dared hurt a Celestial Dragon. Name's been bubbling under the surface for a while now. I'm sure you've all heard the whispers. Saitama from Bald Island was a cover. Real name's Kasper."

A man with a presence as imposing as a battleship loomed near the wall. Akainu, his face etched with a permanent scowl, towered over the room. Every inch of his light skin seemed stretched taut over an absurdly muscular frame. He wore the standard Marine cap, but his otherwise standard-issue attire was marred by a jarring detail - a bright pink rose pinned to the lapel of his crimson double-breasted suit.

Akainu slammed his fist against the wall. "That bastard will pay!" he roared. "Kizaru may have been weak, but I'll show this scum what a real Marine looks like!" He stormed towards the door.

Sengoku, weary but ever the tactician, slammed a hand down on the table. "Hold, Akainu!" His voice boomed with barely controlled fury. "This isn't some two-bit pirate we're dealing with. Look at the report. Kizaru was obliterated. There wasn't a scratch on his opponent. We can't afford another reckless charge."

Sengoku understood that sending a lone Admiral would be a nightmare, and another loss for the Marines. Losing Kizaru, along with his Devil Fruit, would cause many plans to change, and many pirates would become more reckless. Kasper's killing of Kizaru was not just a simple fight for survival.

The message was horrifyingly clear: he possessed a power so absolute, so utterly ruthless, that it could dismantle even a monster like Kizaru. A shiver ran down the spine of even the most seasoned marine present. This wasn't just another bad day at the office. This was a game-changer.

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*Unnamed Ship, 3 hours earlier - Kasper*

Kasper launched himself back onto the ship's deck with a soft thud, the world tilting slightly as his sea legs reacquainted themselves with the rocking vessel. Robin was there in a flash, her usual calm replaced by a flurry of worry etched on her face. Her eyes darted over his clothes, searching for any sign of injury, any rip or tear that might hint at a hidden wound.

Her frantic inspection finally came to a halt, and a bewildered frown creased her brow. Here she was, expecting to find him battered and bruised after the ear-splitting explosions that had rocked the damn ship just moments ago, and yet... nothing. Kasper looked like he'd wrestled with a enthusiastic chimney sweep, covered in dust and sporting a suspicious smear of crimson across his knuckles, but otherwise completely unharmed.

Robin's voice hitched. "You fought an Admiral, right?" Her brow furrowed further, the confusion warring with a sliver of dawning horror. "But... how? Didn't I hear the explosions? And you look like you just... wrestled in the mud."

Kasper chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "Something like that," he said, his grin widening. "Let's just say the old geezer wasn't expecting a punch with the force of a meteor." He flexed his hand again, the memory of the fight still sending a thrill through him. "Yeah, Kizaru's toast. Took a bit of doing, that's for sure–dude was quick, I'll give him that."

He winked at Robin, the amusement dancing in his eyes. "Besides, who else gets to come back from a 'hunting trip' looking like this and get greeted by the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Robin stared at Kasper, her jaw slack enough to swallow a sea-king whole. No question anymore. Her captain was a certified monster. There wasn't a single soul on this earth–or any sea they sailed–who could argue otherwise.

"Alright, alright," Kasper chuckled, the memory of the fight still buzzing under his skin. "Let's get this show on the road. Fishman Island beckons." He strode towards his quarters, barking orders at the ship's systems to plot their course. Time to freshen up and get this ship sailing. 

As Kasper rinsed the crimson stain from his knuckles, a thought flickered across his mind. 'System,' he called out, his voice echoing in the quiet of his quarters, 'show me that notification I missed during the... fight.'

[As the Host has defeated Admiral Kizaru, the following rewards have been distributed.]

[1 x Merge and Combine Ticket]

[1 x World Travel Ticket]

'World Travel. Finally. I was waiting for this to pop up. I thought I'd have to do something ridiculous to unlock this function. Turns out it was simple.'

With a mental nudge, he pushed past the initial message and delved deeper. 'System,' he said, with a hint of curiosity, 'tell me about this Merge Ticket.'

[The Merge and Combine Ticket allows the Host to selectively merge compatible skills to create a new and unique skill, martial art, or technique from the myriads of the multiverse.]

Kasper roared with a laugh that echoed through his quarters, the sound raw and laced with pure excitement. "Hell yeah!" he bellowed, the word punctuated by a celebratory fist pump. This Merge Ticket–this was a game-changer. A chance to forge something entirely his own, a skill or fighting style unlike anything the world, or perhaps even any world, had ever witnessed.

His mind buzzed with possibilities. He could fuse the raw power of his Haki forms–Observation, Armament, and Conquerors–into a single, devastating force. Or maybe he could take his mastery of various martial arts and blend them into a chaotic, unpredictable dance of destruction, something straight out of a nightmare. The options were exhilarating, overwhelming even.

Kasper knew he couldn't rush this decision. This Merge Ticket held the potential to be a defining moment, and he needed to choose wisely. With a deep breath, he quelled the spark of impatience and strode back towards the deck, Robin's concerned face waiting for him.

Robin arched an eyebrow, her sharp gaze flitting across Kasper's face. "Screws loose?" she questioned, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "That wouldn't be entirely surprising after the dust-up you just had. You sounded like a hyena having a good time in there."

Kasper chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Nah, nothing like that, Robin. Just got a wild idea tickling the back of my brain, something I gotta mull over later. Anyway, buckle up, Fishman Island it is! No grand plan this time, just some sightseeing and a chance to soak up the local flavor. Consider it a pit stop before the real storm hits." He winked at her, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

'Sure, there's always a juicy Marine fight waiting to happen, but to be honest? My kill list ain't exactly a phone book. Just a few names scrawled real big at the top–that walking sunburn Akainu, those Celestial Dragon pricks, the Five Elders, and the ever-so-elusive Im-sama. Those are the ones who deserve a dirt nap.'

Robin's perceptive eyes caught Kasper's fleeting frown, a telltale sign his mind had wandered. "Lost in thought already, Captain?" she teased. "Don't tell me the thrill of the fight has worn off that quickly."

Kasper snapped back to attention, a sheepish grin replacing his contemplative frown. "Just a detail, that's all," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Fishman Island, right? From what I've skimmed, that whole place is underwater. We'd need some kind of fancy coating for the ship to survive the depths," Robin remarked.

Suddenly, a flicker of pride sparked in his eyes. "Except," he declared, puffing out his chest a tad, "that's where you're wrong, my brilliant first mate! This beauty,"–he gestured around the impressive ship–"is more than just wood and sails. It's got some serious upgrades under the hood. Self-navigation, top-notch defense systems, and the coolest of all–a special field that lets us breathe underwater!"

A bead of sweat trickled down Kasper's temple as the weight of his earlier boast settled in. Had he gotten ahead of himself? Just to be safe, he issued a silent plea to the ever-present system. 'System!' he called out mentally, a hint of nervous urgency creeping into his voice. 'Please tell me I wasn't just spewing bullshit earlier. Do we actually have that underwater breathing field thingy?'

The system's response washed over Kasper, a wave of relief washing away the prickle of sweat on his brow.

[Host has nothing to worry about. As the ship was designed to aid in traveling the seas of this world, it has been fitted with all the tools for a safe and fun journey.]

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as a translucent bubble appeared around the ship. "See, Robin?" he said, a triumphant smirk plastered on his face. "Just like I said. This ship is loaded with surprises." He winked at her, the earlier worry replaced by a cocky swagger. "Fishman Island, here we come!"