One Piece: The Avengers

Saron's sharp questioning jolted Shanter out of his reverie.

As his dreams shattered, Shanter's heart gradually turned cold.

"Is this really what justice looks like?" Saron raised his fist in fury and struck at Kuzan. "Can you still stand there with your head held high?"

Kuzan easily leapt backward, rendering Saron's attack null and void. His tone remained calm: "I never intended to be as foolish as that idiot."

Then, Kuzan casually released an Ice Age, effortlessly knocking Saron to the ground.

Saron collapsed. "Shanter, Robin, you two run!"

He gasped for breath, his voice weak. "Run, run for your life! If you stay on the island, you'll die! Use my raft to escape!"

Little Robin looked at the fallen Saron. "What about you?"

"I'm finished. I've been captured," Saron squinted, probably because his lower half was frozen solid, making even speaking a struggle. "Go now!"

"I won't leave! We'll leave together!" Little Robin refused.

"This is my first battle, but I won't abandon my comrades." Shanter stood firm, adjusting his glasses with his left hand.

"Girl, you have to run," Shanter turned to Little Robin, his voice serious. "Run! Be obedient!"

"No! We'll go together!"

Slap! Shanter spun and slapped Little Robin hard across the face, sending her staggering backward and crashing to the ground. Her face quickly swelled.

"Nico Robin! I didn't raise you all these years to have you defy me today!"

"Get out! Leave!"

Little Robin was stunned, terrified by the fierceness in Shanter's eyes. After all, he had always been kind to her over the years, never once raising a hand against her.

"Listen, girl," Shanter's voice softened as he looked at Little Robin's fragile form, his heart aching. He slowly approached and gently stroked the handprint on her face, inwardly regretting how hard he had struck. I'll survive this... I have the will of a D-man! Shanter then struck a self-important pose, trying to suppress his guilt.

"I won't go! I have no one out there!" Little Robin still refused to leave.

"Listen carefully, Robin! Even if you're alone now, one day, you will find comrades—people willing to protect you with their lives!" Saron, seeing Shanter's resolve, joined in, trying to convince Robin.

Little Robin stared at Saron, murmuring, "Comrades?"

"Yes, the sea is vast, but one day, you'll find people who will protect you! No one in this world is destined to be alone forever!" Kuzan slowly approached, his voice comforting yet firm. "Run, Robin! Don't look back! When things are hard, remember to smile! Like I do— Teh-leh-hee, teh-leh-hee-hee-hee." With that, Kuzan reached out to touch the area of Saron's leg that had been frozen solid.

"Frozen Time!" Ice rapidly spread, encasing Saron into a giant ice sculpture. "Out there, somewhere, your comrades are waiting for you! Go find them, Robin!"

"Run, girl! Saron's right! You'll meet comrades again, ones even better than I am!"

"And I'm not dying that easily. I swear to find you again! This is a promise from a man with the will of a D!"

"Goodbye, girl!" Shanter said, lowering his head and kissing Robin's swollen cheek. "I will definitely find you!"

Seeing that there was no turning back, Little Robin broke down, crying as she ran toward the shore.

"Come on, Kuzan!" Shanter saw Little Robin fading into the distance, and his heart finally settled a little.

"You little brat, you can't beat me," Kuzan raised his eyebrows with a cool expression.

"I know," Shanter replied, fully aware that he was no match for Kuzan. After all, it only took Kuzan two moves to take down Saron—how could he possibly stand a chance?

"So, you still want to fight me? Is it for that little girl?" Kuzan quickly figured out the reason behind Shanter's actions.

Shanter nodded. "I'm Shanter Fuster D. When I was five, pirates attacked my country. All my family and friends were killed..."

"That's truly tragic," Kuzan said, his tone flat and indifferent.

"Heh," Shanter forced a smile, one more twisted than a cry, "At the time, I fled with two of my friends. We swore that whoever survived would join the Navy because we didn't want our tragedy to repeat. We wanted a peaceful world..."

Kuzan said nothing, just silently listening.

"But today, what are you doing here?!" Shanter roared, "You've killed every person on this island, regardless of age or guilt!"

"I ask you! What did they do wrong to deserve such a brutal punishment?!"

"Is this what justice looks like? Tell me!"

"To ensure the safety of a thousand people, you can wipe out a hundred! Is that what you call justice? It's nothing more than tyranny of the majority!"

"For justice, can everything be sacrificed? Hahaha! This kind of heartless, merciless justice, I don't want it!" Shanter's voice rose, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"I never intended to be that way!" Kuzan, now visibly angered, snapped. Over the years, no one had dared shout at him like this.

"Oh? Well, thank you then!" Shanter responded with a cold laugh.

Ignoring Kuzan's increasingly ugly expression, Shanter continued: "You Marines, hiding behind the name of justice, acting recklessly, what's the difference between you and pirates? You're even worse than pirates! At least pirates' wrongdoings are well known and punished, but who punishes you?"

"Today, you've shattered my dreams. Do you want to take my last family member too?!" Shanter's voice was low, yet it resonated deeply.

"Are you done talking?" Kuzan's voice was icy, and it was clear that he was truly angry now.

Ignoring Kuzan, Shanter wiped the blood from his lips, his words full of defiance. "I cannot let you pass! Even if it costs me my life!!"

"Because behind me, there's something I have to protect until the very end!"

Normally, unless it was strategically advantageous, Shanter wouldn't waste words before a fight. But today was different. First, he knew he stood no chance against Kuzan—his chance of winning was almost zero. Second, the heavy weight of depression in his chest felt like a stone crushing him, and he couldn't hold it in anymore.

"So, do you understand now? I have no choice but to fight!"

With those words, an indescribable will surged from Shanter's body. His determination transformed into an immense aura that spread in all directions.

"Haki!"

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