Chương 5: Chapter 5 Vice Admiral Mole, Seasick Loya
But even so, there was one thing Loya was certain of.
This wasn't a general.
After the era of Garp and Zephyr, there hadn't been any admirals in the Navy who specialized in swordsmanship. Kizaru, who could match Dark King Rayleigh in swordplay, still relied on his speed and light-based attacks.
If it were one of the admirals, their attacks would be more distinct and recognizable. Take Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, or other vice admirals who were seen less frequently—while sword energy was a powerful ability, it was often overshadowed by other skills.
...
At this moment, the battlefield was pure chaos. Scattered limbs and frozen pieces of flesh littered the area, and a few pirate heads stared blankly from the ground.
Loya landed on the beach, exhaling a cold breath. His breath condensed into tiny, star-like ice particles that fell to the ground.
"I killed them... so why don't I feel any guilt?"
Loya pondered this philosophical question. Perhaps being a hunter on the deserted island had changed his perspective on life in ways he couldn't understand.
In the distance, seeing Loya standing on the beach, Vice Admiral Mole ordered the warship closer.
Regardless of why he attacked the Scissor Pirates—whether as a pirate, a bounty hunter, or a hidden master living alone—Mole, as a vice admiral, had a duty to investigate.
The warship halted a hundred meters away, blocked by a thick layer of ice. Without ice-breaking equipment, it couldn't pass. Mole didn't bother clearing the ice himself; instead, he leaped down with a small squad of navy officers.
As he approached, Mole finally got a clear look at Loya and was shocked by his youthful appearance. Considering the strength of his recent attack, Mole had expected someone much older. The young Kuzan—later Admiral Aokiji—had also been considered a prodigy when he joined the navy at 19. But the person in front of him seemed even younger.
If Loya knew what Mole was thinking, he'd find it funny. "Younger than Aokiji?" he'd think. "I just have a baby face!"
The Ice Dragon's Roar, a powerful move Loya could only use after leveling up, naturally had a high impact. Even so, that single attack had drained a third of his magical energy. By comparison, when Kuzan joined the navy, his freezing abilities were still underdeveloped. And though the Ice Dragon's Roar was formidable, Loya could only use it three times at most before depleting his energy.
Recalling the ten-day battle between Kuzan and Sakazuki in the original story, Loya couldn't help but feel a bit envious of their stamina.
The two men now faced each other. With Loya deep in thought, Mole spoke first. "Thank you for your assistance. I am Vice Admiral Mole of the Navy Headquarters. May I ask your name?"
"Mole?"
Hearing his name, Loya remembered a faint memory and looked him over: the mohawk, the funny beard, the samurai sword, and the justice cloak. It was indeed Vice Admiral Mole.
Mole was known as a good man—honorable, kind, and caring toward his subordinates. Though powerful, he wasn't as ruthless as Akainu. If Loya needed to leave the island, he was the ideal choice.
Trying to lighten up, Loya dropped the tough island hunter persona. He hadn't seen anyone in weeks, and tears nearly welled up in his eyes.
"Thank goodness someone's here! Please, get me out of here! I've been stuck on this island for weeks, and I'm down to eating all the wild boar here!"
Mole blinked. "..."
For a moment, he was at a loss. Where was the cool expert from a moment ago? How had he suddenly turned into such a desperate castaway?
But seeing the tattered, filthy clothes and bare feet, Mole believed him.
...
Under the curious gaze of the navy, Loya boarded the warship. Even from a distance, they had felt the chill of his attack and now looked at him with admiration, overlooking his ragged appearance.
In the world of One Piece, strength is respected, and those with strength are revered. Many powerful figures have their quirks, so to the crew, Loya was just another strong but eccentric figure.
Just as he stepped onto the deck, however, Loya suddenly grabbed the railing and stared at the sea, motionless.
As Mole came over after arranging for his men to clear the battlefield, he asked curiously, "Mr. Loya? What are you doing?"
Loya raised his hand, swallowing hard, and managed a weak smile. "Vice Admiral Mole, do you… have any medicine for seasickness?"
Mole: "...What a strange guy."
Turning to his adjutant, Mole said, "Fetch the doctor immediately... and bring a set of clothes." He glanced at Loya's ragged appearance and added, "He needs them."
The ship's doctor, a gray-haired man, arrived quickly, making Loya lie half-against the railing. Checking his eyes, he asked, "The symptoms are quite severe, and the ship hasn't even started moving yet. Have you always been seasick, or is this recent?"
Loya didn't know how to explain it. In his eagerness to leave the island, he had forgotten the most significant drawback of a Dragon Slayer—motion sickness.
Pale-faced, he replied, "It started after I… ate a Devil Fruit. Is there anything you can do?"
"Devil Fruit?" Mole looked thoughtful. Indeed, the most logical explanation for Loya's ability was a Devil Fruit. But what kind of fruit would cause seasickness?
Typically, Devil Fruit users are cursed by the sea; they lose their powers and become weak upon contact with seawater. But seasickness on top of that?
Mole felt a mix of sympathy and relief. "How unlucky! Glad I never ate a Devil Fruit myself."
In truth, Loya had used this as an excuse. Dragon Slayer Magic didn't belong in this world, so he needed a cover story. Devil Fruits provided the perfect cover. With such strange powers in this world, it was easy to hide behind them.
Hearing Loya's answer, the ship's doctor grew serious. He handed Loya a bottle of medicine and dabbed alcohol on Loya's temples with a piece of cotton.
"If this is a side effect of your Devil Fruit, it's unfortunately incurable. Drink this; it should help temporarily. I'll give you some medicine to help you sleep."
"Thank you, Doctor," Loya replied weakly.
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