The atmosphere suddenly turned suffocating.
Everyone around—both Marines and pirates—began to tremble unconsciously.
That brutal presence… it radiated from Tiberion's body with just those words.
It felt like if anyone got too close, they'd be crushed just by being near him.
And now, Tokikake, Vice Admiral Chaton, stood right at the center of that pressure.
Everyone who knew Tiberion, everyone who had seen him in combat, was inwardly sweating for Tokikake. Regardless of his rank, no one in their right mind dared provoke him without consequences. No one, except an idiot… or a man in love.
And Tokikake was both.
Because when it came to Gion, it didn't matter who stood in front of him.
Tiberion Hanma—a monster who had wiped out Whitebeard Pirate captains like they were trash—wasn't enough reason for him to step back.
Fully convinced of himself, he stared straight ahead, standing tall with his arms folded behind his back.
"Sir Tiberion," he finally said, speaking slowly, "you are not a pirate… you're the husband of the Princess of the Ryugu Kingdom. There's supposed to be no conflict between you and the Navy."
He spoke with elegance, trying to steer the conversation toward a reasonable truce.
"If you go to war with the entire Navy over a few wounded pirates, I fear you wouldn't be making a wise decision. That's beneath someone like you."
"…"
There was silence. A tense one.
And then…
"Bwahahahahaha!"
Tiberion's laughter thundered through the air.
His eyes gleamed with mockery, rage, and murderous intrigue. The arrogance on his face was so intense, it was like he was laughing at the very idea of peace.
"Wise, you say?" he roared, his forward step cracking the ground under his weight, "Then take a punch and show me your worth!"
He didn't give anyone time to react.
His figure vanished in a flash, and his fist turned into a blur. The blow struck like a contained thunderbolt straight into Tokikake's chest.
BOOM!
Tokikake barely managed to cross his arms, coating them in Armament Haki.
He was shot backward like a bullet, his body flung through the air like a shattered doll. He crashed through several pillars before slamming violently into a stone wall, which completely collapsed.
"…"
Tiberion began to walk forward calmly, slipping his hands into his pockets like nothing extraordinary had happened.
With each step, his silhouette seemed to grow larger. It was as if a mountain was walking toward Tokikake.
"…You're too weak."
Tokikake felt his arms go numb, and for a second, he thought his kidneys were going to pop out through his mouth. Every nerve along his spine vibrated.
But being underestimated so blatantly by Tiberion, as if he were an insignificant insect… that was something he simply couldn't allow. Not in front of Gion. Not while she was watching.
THAT WAS SOMETHING HE DEFINITELY COULDN'T TOLERATE!
"Heh… Guess it can't be helped," he muttered with a half-smile. "I'm just a Marine vice admiral… nothing more."
His voice was a venomous whisper, and in an instant, he vanished.
He had used Soru with expert precision.
And reappeared right behind Tiberion.
!
Without hesitation, he launched a kick at his waist. But the moment it connected, a flash of horror crossed his face.
'What the…?!' he thought, feeling as if he'd struck a mass of solid steel.
Still, he didn't stop. In a flurry of swift, precise movements, he launched multiple strikes at Tiberion's legs, sides, head, and shoulders.
But every punch, every kick, every attempt crashed against a body that felt like compressed volcanic stone. The spots where he hit began to heat up and release steam.
Tokikake's eyelid twitched. Inside, an alarm went off.
'This is bad!' And without hesitating, he leapt back, trying to create some distance.
But just then, Tiberion slowly turned his head—his face twisted with fury.
"Dwarf!" he roared. "You dare challenge me with those shitty punches!?"
At that very instant, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Tokikake, his fist raised like a death sentence.
Tokikake's heart jumped.
'What the—?! He's using Soru too! But he's… faster!'
Both of them had mastered Soru, but the gap between them was astronomical. It was like comparing a firefly to a thunderclap.
There was no time to cross his arms—he bet everything on his final defense.
'Tekkai!'
He had perfected his Tekkai to the point where he could withstand even Akainu's punches with just a fracture. He had faith… faith in it.
But Tiberion's punch wasn't just physical. It wasn't just muscle.
It was pure destruction.
Tiberion's fist struck his chest with a violence that screamed through the air. Heat engulfed him. Pressure crushed him.
BOOOOM!
Tokikake was launched again like a cannonball.
His body blasted through building after building, shattering walls, ripping off rooftops, dragging debris like leaves in a storm.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He flew thousands of meters… until he finally smashed into the massive protective bubble surrounding Fishman Island.
"WAAAH!"
Tokikake coughed up a thick stream of blood, his body arching in pain. The blow had shaken him to the very core of his bones. It felt like his spine had been crushed by a hydraulic press.
He didn't die instantly only because he had activated Tekkai at the last moment and reinforced his vital organs with Armament Haki. Even so, several ribs were splintered, his organs were trembling, and his breathing was a mess.
The lesson was clear.
Relying too much on Tekkai... against a true monster was the same as signing your own death warrant.
That punch wasn't something a human could endure.
At this moment, a single punch from Tiberion carried a force of approximately 15,000 tons.
With Thermal Release: a single punch could reach over 20,000 tons.
With Armament Haki added: a single punch could reach over 25,000 tons.
Thermal Release + Armament Haki: over 30,000 tons.
Armament Haki + Thermal Release + 10% of Demon Back's power: it could reach an incredible 50,000 tons.
And the scariest part? That was only at 45% purity.
No… it should already be 46%.
After tearing off the arm of a swordsman on Vista's level, the system confirmed a 1% increase.
"Holy shit, what the hell is that guy?!"
"Did you see that?! He sent Vice Admiral Chaton flying with one hit!"
"Hey… should we do something? Help maybe?"
"Are you insane?! Can you just pretend you didn't see anything? Just… act like an NPC. Like you have no dialogue."
"How many of our comrades do you think already died trying to play the hero?"
"Survival rule: if the enemy doesn't move, we don't move. If he does move, we run."
"And if the boss reacts… just stand to the side, raise your hands and shout, 'Boss! That was amazing! GOAT! Incredible!'"
Dozens of Marines were slowly stepping back, sweat running down their foreheads, trembling before the silhouette of Tiberion.
He stood firm, colossal, his torso slightly leaning forward, arms still in his pockets, observing in silence. His red mane whipped violently in the wind, and his gaze was icy—a silent threat that spoke without words:
"The next one who breathes wrong… dies."
The Marines felt it—no one had to say a thing.
That feeling of imminent death wrapped around them like an invisible noose.
One of the younger ones, unable to bear the pressure, swallowed hard and, with a trembling voice, muttered:
"Vice Admiral Momousagi… what if… we just let half the pirates go?"
Gion clenched her teeth tightly, feeling the fury rise into her chest. She was frustrated and completely powerless.
There was nothing she could do against that monster.
Tiberion wasn't just strong: he was a lunatic—no conscience, no limits—someone who attacked as he pleased, with no logic, no brakes, no fear.
The worst part was… no one, absolutely no one, had been able to stop him so far.
And she had been forced to endure it all. Not just the personal humiliation, but watching as he trampled over the authority of the Navy in front of everyone.
The helplessness burned her soul.
In the end, she had to swallow her pride—for the greater good.
With a steady voice, though her heart was in pieces, she ordered her men:
"…Let half of the pirates go."
The Marines looked at her, hesitant, but did not question it.
Then Gion, locking eyes with the monster before her, let her pent-up rage spill out in sharp words:
"Hmph! Tiberion Hanma, you may be strong… but you can't take on the entire Navy. I'm warning you: you'll be declared a top priority target. Sooner or later… you will fall."
"And you and I…" she continued without looking away, "This isn't over. I swear it on my pride as a woman and an officer… if I ever get the chance, I'll kill you with my own hands!"
"…"
Tiberion didn't even flinch. He simply stared at her, smiling a blood-chilling smile.
"Disobedient again? Heh… I already told you."
He took a few steps forward, leaning slightly so only she could hear.
"Every time I see you… I'll 'train' you. It doesn't matter when… or where. Until you learn to obey."
His tone was soft—almost gentle—but the meaning behind it was devastating.
Gion's entire body tensed. Her face flushed, not from embarrassment, but from pure rage.
This bastard… This bastard!
Did he really think he could talk to her like that? Like she was some kind of animal? A possession? Something that belonged to him?
HE WAS INSANE.
Utterly deranged.
"Hmph… we'll see who ends up training who," she muttered, eyes blazing with fury. But she didn't attack. She knew it was pointless.
Instead, she turned around coldly, raised her arm, and pointed directly at Vista and the few remaining commanders still standing.
"Take only them," she ordered. "The rest aren't worth it. Let them go."
The Marines obeyed without a word.
Vista, still weakened and bleeding, took a shaky step forward. He looked at his comrades and nodded. If his capture meant his brothers could escape… then he'd accept it without complaint.
The few remaining captains also handed over their weapons without resistance.
They knew they'd be sent to Impel Down. And they knew Whitebeard would come for them.
But more importantly: they had to tell him.
To tell their father that this man… Tiberion Hanma… wasn't who they thought he was.
…
As for the one responsible for all the chaos—he returned to the bridal chamber.
The atmosphere in the room was different now. More intimate.
The dim light gave the space a perfect ambiance.
Shirahoshi, still seated in the center of the massive bed, looked up as he entered. Her cheeks were flushed—not only from excitement but from a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
When Tiberion approached, she sat up even straighter, nervously crossing her arms over her lap.
"H-Husband… you're back…" she whispered, her face glowing red, gaze lowered as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
Tiberion walked toward her without haste, letting the atmosphere soak in his presence. Then, with a light jump, he landed on her tail, now standing right in front of her.
"As I promised, here I am," he said with absolute confidence.
The contrast between them was overwhelming. He stood just shy of two and a half meters. She was a colossal princess. And yet, the way she looked at him… it was as if Tiberion were the one towering over her.
"Is everything okay outside?" Shirahoshi asked at last, looking at him. "Is everyone safe…?"
Tiberion nodded calmly.
"All taken care of. No one dared interrupt our night. And no one will."
"…"
Shirahoshi let out a sigh of relief. Even though she didn't fully understand the outside world yet, she knew Tiberion would always protect her.
That's when he realized, gazing at Shirahoshi's immense body—he still hadn't transformed!
With a single leap from her tail, he distanced himself by several meters, preparing for what was to come.
"Shirahoshi," he murmured with a half-smile full of intent, "Tonight… I want to look into your eyes from a little closer."
"…?"
She looked at him, slightly confused, though excitement sparkled in her eyes.
Without another word, Tiberion inhaled deeply: air filled his lungs, and his entire body tensed in preparation.
Closing his eyes, he focused his mind on every corner of his being.
What he was about to do wasn't magic or anything supernatural, but something far more physical—Seimei Kikan, the art of controlling the body's functions at will.
Now, in silence and with unwavering determination, he concentrated his inner energy. His heart began to pump with measured force, increasing blood flow; his breathing slowed and deepened, saturating his tissues with oxygen. Every fiber of his being was in perfect sync, awaiting the final command from his mind to unleash the colossal change.
His back arched unnaturally as an invisible pressure began to build inside him.
Crack
Suddenly, a faint sound of muscle contraction echoed as his shoulders abruptly widened. The muscles on his back swelled, twisting beneath his skin, forming the faint outline of a demonic face.
He needed it—for what he was about to do.
The temperature in the room seemed to rise; thick veins bulged across his neck and arms like serpents, while a reddish flush spread across his skin due to the torrent of blood and adrenaline coursing through him.
!
Shirahoshi instinctively recoiled, stunned by the sudden murderous aura flooding the room.
The space around her husband distorted—as if she were no longer looking at the man she loved, but something else entirely.
Tiberion's eyes snapped open, revealing a fixed, determined gaze, while a slow, confident smile curled on his lips.
With that, everything was ready for the next step.
"Grrr…"
With a deep growl escaping his throat, he concentrated his will even further, now directing it to every bone, every muscle, and every organ in his body.
The time for expansion had come.
!
Suddenly, his entire body began a bone-rattling transformation.
On a microscopic level, his cells obeyed a single, unified command: to grow. Millions of cells began dividing in a carefully orchestrated frenzy. The rate of cellular division accelerated far beyond normal, but without chaos—it was a guided growth.
He personally regulated the release of hormones and internal growth factors, ensuring that every new tissue formed in a stable and controlled manner.
His mastery of Seimei Kikan, at a level unimaginable thanks to the system's gift, allowed him to oversee what would be an unconscious process for anyone else: he could feel the DNA within the nuclei of his cells replicating, each new cell taking its place and strengthening his body.
A searing heat radiated from his body as his metabolism surged, supplying the energy needed for this miracle.
He began to grow.
His skeleton was the first to yield and adapt to the new size demands. His bones creaked, sounding like thunder. Under his conscious guidance, bone cells worked feverishly, depositing new layers of tissue.
The shafts of his long bones stretched centimeter by centimeter; joints expanded as new cartilage synthesized to maintain flexibility and stability.
His spine crackled as it lengthened, vertebra by vertebra, bearing the increasing weight of his expanding body.
Standing on the bed, Tiberion's height increased slowly but visibly: 3 meters… 5 meters… his torso and legs extended, his body's proportions remaining astonishingly harmonious.
Despite the dramatic change, there were no uncontrolled fractures or deformities—every bit of skeletal growth occurred under the strict coordination of his will. Tiberion endured the pain that could have come from the internal pressure, meeting it with a grimace and transforming it into fuel for his determination.
With his skeleton expanded, his muscles took over the transformation.
Each muscle fiber tensed to the limit, then expanded beyond its original threshold. He directed nutrients and oxygen to the growing muscles, fueling a wild, instant hypertrophy.
The individual muscle fibers thickened, and astonishingly, new fibers formed to reinforce the structure. It was as if hundreds of extreme training sessions were occurring within seconds: his chest swelled, his arms increased in circumference, revealing biceps and triceps thicker than trucks, and his legs expanded massively, now able to bear his towering frame.
His skin stretched to cover the growing mass; for a moment, veins and muscles formed sharply defined contours beneath the taut epidermis, but his control ensured that enough new skin cells were produced to prevent tearing. Sweat poured from every pore, beading his forehead and back, glistening under the light as it slid across the now vast surface of his body.
Tiberion let out a deep roar, channeling the immense effort into a sound that shook the island:
"GUOOOOHH!"
As the transformation progressed, his internal organs also underwent monumental adjustments to sustain his new size.
His heart pounded with tremendous force—each THUMP echoing like a war drum in his expanded chest. The cardiac muscles thickened and enlarged to pump torrents of oxygenated blood through an expanding circulatory system.
His arteries and veins dilated and lengthened, forming a broader network that carried life to the tips of his now gigantic limbs. His lungs expanded within his widened ribcage: each deep breath filled two massive pulmonary sacs, packed with newly formed alveoli, ensuring that even a 12-meter body received enough oxygen.
Every inhale was an audible gust, and each exhale came out as a warm roar that shook the room.
Other organs kept pace: his liver grew to metabolize the surge in nutrients and waste; his kidneys enlarged to filter greater volumes of blood, and even his stomach and intestines adapted—ready to sustain the energy demands of a colossus.
The coordination was perfect; once again, through Seimei Kikan, Tiberion orchestrated this bodily symphony, ensuring nothing was left behind.
The massive bed beneath him groaned with loud cracks.
Heavy beams and mattresses designed to support the enormous mermaid now whimpered beneath something far denser: the ever-growing mass of Tiberion Hanma.
Splinters of wood fell to the floor as one of the bed legs buckled slightly under the new weight, but Tiberion remained unmoved, fully focused on the process, oblivious to any material threat.
"…"
Shirahoshi stared in stunned silence as her husband expanded before her like a growing mountain.
She felt her heart race—unsure if the tremor in her chest came from fear, awe, or both. Her lips parted, wanting to speak, but no words came out. She could only watch, overwhelmed and mesmerized by the impossible.
Finally, the growth began to slow.
With one last act of will, Tiberion ensured that every part of his body reached equilibrium. The final cells finished dividing and specializing; his bones completed their last stretch with a sharp snap, and his muscles locked into their new, formidable form.
The titanic figure of Tiberion now stood beyond all human limits. Where there was once 2.5 meters of contained fury, now stood 12 full meters of power made flesh.
And at that height, Tiberion now stood just above the colossal Shirahoshi, who stared at him, mouth agape.
"H-Husband…!" she murmured, eyes wide as saucers.
He was now taller than her—even if only by thirty centimeters. But it was enough.
"Now we're on the same scale."
Shirahoshi was so stunned she forgot to speak… and forgot something very important.
She simply lifted her arms and threw herself at him, wrapping them around him as if trying to melt into him, while her tail instinctively coiled around him.
In the instant she hugged him with that kind of force, Tiberion didn't hesitate.
He held her firmly by the waist with one hand, and with the other, gently lifted her chin, forcing her now to look straight up at him.
"You're mine," he whispered dominantly—then kissed her.
It wasn't a gentle kiss. Nor a shy one.
It was deep, direct, and possessive. The kind of kiss that claimed.
Tiberion pressed his lips against hers and instantly parted them with his tongue, invading her mouth like conquered territory.
Shirahoshi's tongue, timid and trembling, barely reacted at first, but the heat emanating from him, his scent, and the certainty in his touch wrapped around her completely.
She blushed so deeply it looked like she was on fire, her eyes squeezing shut as her large hands clutched his bare chest with more desire, more need.
Tiberion's tongue caressed hers, teased it, played with it, dominated every corner of her mouth as if teaching her what a real kiss was supposed to feel like.
Every movement of his was confident, deliberate, and filled with a restrained desire that was beginning to overflow.
"Mmmmm~~…"
Shirahoshi moaned softly into the kiss, the sound more a breath than a voice, lost between their joined lips. Her enormous body trembled, not with fear, but with a new emotion. Her tail moved involuntarily, her cheeks burning red.
Tiberion didn't stop until he felt it: she had stopped resisting inside, completely surrendering to the kiss.
"Uff… Ufff…"
When their lips finally parted, just a few centimeters, Shirahoshi was breathing heavily, eyes half-lidded, like she had just awoken from a dream.
And he, his voice even deeper now from the excitement he held back, whispered beside her ear:
"That's how you kiss…"
Shirahoshi stayed silent for a few seconds, eyes still half-closed, breathing unevenly after a kiss that had left her completely disarmed.
But when she finally opened her eyes fully… her gaze slowly dropped.
!
And then she saw it, that one thing… she had studied about it, knew males had it… but she never imagined it would be that big!
THAT THING WAS BIGGER THAN HER ARM!
She froze instantly.
"KYAAAAA!"
Her already blushing face turned into molten lava as she backed away abruptly, waving her hands in nervous panic.
"H-Husband! Y-Your… thing—I mean, your clothes!"
She covered her eyes with both hands, yet between her fingers, she couldn't stop peeking, curiosity getting the better of her.
Tiberion stood tall in the center of the bed, his colossal body completely exposed.
He knew Shirahoshi was watching him, even if she tried to hide her face.
He made no effort to cover himself. On the contrary, he placed his hands on his hips and swayed them slightly, making his "little brother" sway with them.
And he held her gaze, a playful glint in his eyes that seemed to say:
"There's nothing left between us to hide anymore."
And that was when she, unable to resist any longer, fully spread her fingers and looked at him directly.
"Ah!" She let out a small, stifled gasp, bringing both hands to her cheeks. Her eyes widened like saucers, and her breathing quickened.
"You're… you're completely…! Oh, heavens!" she stammered, hiding her face again, as if she had seen something she shouldn't—though it was obvious she kept peeking through her fingers.
Tiberion gave a faint smile, crossing his arms with a triumphant air. He didn't speak at first—just watched as Shirahoshi squirmed between embarrassment and curiosity, her tail timidly curling in response.
Then, with a deep and teasing voice, he spoke:
"So now you finally noticed?" he asked playfully, stepping toward her, making the bed creak under his weight.
"I… I didn't know that when you grow, also… I mean… I didn't think…!" she tried to explain, but each word only deepened her blush.
Tiberion leaned his head slightly forward, closer to her hidden face.
"Relax, Shirahoshi," he whispered, sending shivers down her spine, "Don't be afraid. I just want you to look at me as your husband—with no barriers."
Without saying another word, he slowly pulled her hands away from her face and placed his massive hand against her cheek, almost covering it entirely—and Shirahoshi didn't pull back.
She simply lowered her hands… dropped her gaze… and nodded.
Her breathing was still uneven. But the fear was gone. Only nerves remained… and a strange warmth rising from deep in her lower belly, spreading through her entire body
________
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