Chapter 18: Admiral Fujitora and Kratos (Patreon)

The next day, near the docks of Grove 66, Axis looked in surprise at the blind, elderly man standing before him. The man wore a purple robe and a Marine Admiral's coat, leaning heavily on a walking stick.

Axis hadn't expected to travel to Dressrosa on an Admiral's ship. With this kind of escort, their safety was absolutely guaranteed. At the very least, Kratos wouldn't have to lift a finger along the way.

It was far too early to reveal Kratos's true combat power. The Spartan was strong enough to crush the Four Emperors.

As the two approached Fujitora to offer their greetings, the blind man suddenly spun around. Sweat poured down his face. His hands gripped the hilt of his sword in a defensive stance, as if facing a terrifying enemy. A closer look revealed his legs were actually trembling.

"I never imagined Admiral Fujitora himself would escort us to Dressrosa," Axis spoke up, trying to ease the man's visible tension. "Sharing a ship with a Marine Admiral is a massive honor for us."

"...Truly exceptional youth!" Fujitora gasped upon sensing them for the first time. "You two... especially Mr. Kratos... your very existence terrifies me."

Hearing the Admiral's words, the surrounding Marines couldn't help but smile. Their commander had a habit of overpraising everyone, even Marine recruits and rookie pirates. He constantly threw around phrases like "exceptional youth," "your attacks are like a fierce warrior," "what monstrous strength," or "I didn't have half your power when I was your age."

Many Marines felt this quirk was remarkably similar to Admiral Kizaru. Kizaru's catchphrase was always, "How scary, these rookies are truly terrifying," right before he effortlessly wiped the floor with them.

Fujitora seemed to do the exact same thing. Did they share the same bizarre hobby? Shower their opponents in exaggerated praise, only to brutally remind them they were absolute trash in comparison.

However, the Marines severely misunderstood their commander this time. Fujitora was genuinely terrified. Though he lacked physical sight, his Observation Haki allowed him to see clearer than anyone else. The moment this man named Kratos approached, Fujitora felt as if he had encountered the most horrifying entity in the world.

It was an indescribable shock, a fear that defied words. It felt like a crushing suppression of life itself. He felt as though he wasn't facing a human, but a higher-dimensional lifeform entirely leagues above him.

The sheer presence was far more terrifying than the Conqueror's Haki of any Emperor. Even when facing Kaido, Shanks, Big Mom, Blackbeard, or Whitebeard, he had never felt such overwhelming dread. How could such a monster exist in this world? Even Kaido wouldn't dare call himself the strongest creature in front of this man.

"You must be joking," Axis laughed smoothly. "We're just two ordinary bounty hunters. How could we compare to a monster like you, Admiral Fujitora? You and Admiral Ryokugyu were handpicked through the World Military Draft as the absolute best of the best. We can handle pirates with bounties over a hundred million, but that's our limit."

'Incredible,' Axis thought. 'He can actually sense Kratos's true nature.'

Then again, Kratos's aura was notoriously difficult to mask. Frenzied, savage, cruel, bloodthirsty, vicious, warlike, unstoppable—all these words described Kratos, yet they still fell short.

Considering Kratos was a demigod, it was natural for Fujitora to feel such primal terror. The gap in life hierarchy between a mortal and a deity was insurmountable. Furthermore, Kratos wasn't just any demigod; he was the son of Zeus, the King of the Gods.

"I am not joking," Fujitora replied, his expression deadly serious. "I speaks only the truth. Out of everyone present, I am likely the only one who can truly comprehend Mr. Kratos's strength."

"Hmph," Kratos grunted, completely ignoring Fujitora's assessment. "When do we set sail?"

In his eyes, the world only contained allies, enemies, and obstacles.

"Apologies for the wait. Please, step aboard," Fujitora offered. "I have business in Dressrosa, so giving you a lift is no trouble. However, something major seems to be brewing there. Initially, I intended to advise you against going due to the danger. But after witnessing Mr. Kratos's presence, I only pray he won't cause too much destruction."

Fujitora's mission to Dressrosa was undoubtedly tied to the Flame-Flame Fruit tournament. If these two decided to take the fruit by force, Fujitora honestly had no idea who could possibly stop them.

"We just have some personal business to handle there," Axis replied.

"I understand. Please, board the ship," Fujitora gestured toward the gangway. "Forgive any lack of hospitality during our voyage."

"Thank you for having us, Admiral Fujitora," Axis said.

Once the Marines finished inspecting their equipment and loading daily supplies, they raised the anchors and set sail. A fleet of four Marine warships, carrying roughly six to seven hundred soldiers, embarked toward Dressrosa.

After settling into the guest quarters assigned to them, Axis turned to his companion. "Kratos, that blind man back there... if you fought him, how long would it take to kill him?"

It was the perfect benchmark to gauge a true Marine Admiral's combat power.

"He is no match for me," Kratos stated simply, resting on his bunk.

It was the absolute confidence of a legendary Spartan warrior who had bathed in the blood of countless foes. He had slaughtered mythical monsters, demigod heroes, the Furies, and even the Hecatoncheires.

"Is that so? Got it."

'Tch! What a tsundere,' Axis thought.

"However, you must be careful if you face him," Kratos warned. "The Amulet of Uroboros will only slow him down. It will not freeze time completely and render him immobile. That blind man possesses considerable strength."

"I know my limits. Just get some rest," Axis replied. "Once we reach Dressrosa, we can pick up some souvenirs for Athena."

He could only hope this trip to Dressrosa would allow his plan to go off without a hitch.