Yuta Okkotsu, known as the Cursed King, was a living legend. As the first crewmember of Gojo's crew, this 2.05-meter-tall giant, aged 29, had mastered all three types of Haki to an exceptional level. Calm and serene, he carried one of the twelve supreme-grade swords at his waist.
His Devil Fruit, the Noroi Noroi no Mi, an extremely rare Mythical Zoan type, allowed him to summon a supernatural entity named Rika. His ability to copy any technique - except those from Devil Fruits - made him a feared threat. His bounty? 1,475,000,000 Berries.
"What did you just say?!" Robin exclaimed in shock, staring at Yuta.
"You know him, Robin?" Nami asked, examining the dark-haired man.
Chopper, busy treating Luffy, Zoro and Sanji who were still numbed by ice, looked up at the two titans. Luffy, grimacing, muttered: "Agh... Who's this guy?"
"Never mind that! We need to get out of here!" Usopp cried in panic.
Robin, her face grave, whispered: "He's a legendary pirate... Yuta Okkotsu, one of the core members of the Infinity Pirates."
Sanji, limping from his frozen leg, raised an eyebrow. "That strong?"
"Yes..." Robin replied, a drop of sweat running down her forehead.
"No time to talk!" Chopper interrupted, panicked. "We need to remove this ice before their tissues become necrotic!"
Meanwhile, Yuta and Aokiji observed each other, one calm, the other with his usual nonchalance. The tension was palpable, but neither seemed ready to fight.
"Aokiji, couldn't you let them go?" Yuta asked, his voice soft but firm.
"Ara, ara... You know they could become a problem. Your captain and you are alike in spreading chaos." Aokiji slid his hands into his pockets, an amused smile on his lips.
"I was just traveling peacefully on the Grand Line. Do you really want us to get serious?" Yuta's hand brushed his katana, a subtle but threatening gesture.
Aokiji, hands in pockets, tilted his head with a sly smile. "Ara, ara... Traveling peacefully? With a bounty like yours, Okkotsu, you don't exactly blend in." His tone remained casual, but his eyes sharpened as he studied the legendary pirate. "Those kids over there..." He nodded toward the Straw Hats retreating to the Going Merry. "They're already a thorn in the Marines' side. If you protect them, I'll have to see if you're worth the trouble."
Before Yuta could respond, an icy energy exploded around Aokiji as he murmured: "Ice Age." Instantly, a glacial storm swept across the island, freezing everything in its path. Trees turned to crystalline sculptures, the ground cracked under thick frost, and the sea itself solidified into a shimmering mirror. The ice advanced terrifyingly fast toward the Straw Hats, threatening to trap them in a frozen prison.
On the Going Merry, Usopp, watching from the stern, felt a chill run down his spine. "What the...?" His eyes widened as he saw the ice wave rushing toward them, swallowing everything. "AHHHH! WE'RE GONNA BE FROZEN ALIVE!" he screamed, legs trembling like leaves.
"Chopper, do something!" Nami cried, gripping the helm as the ship rocked on the half-frozen sea.
Chopper, busy bandaging Sanji's leg, looked up in panic. "I... I can't stop this!!"
Luffy, still groggy from his frozen arm, suddenly stood up, eyes shining with excitement despite the situation. "Wow, what kind of power is that?! This guy's so cool!" His grin widened, but he winced from his frozen arm's pain.
Zoro, already drawing a sword, growled. "Shut up, Luffy! If that ice reaches us, we're done for." He prepared to slash, but knew his attack wouldn't stop such a massive wave.
Suddenly, an energy flash split the air. A massive arc-shaped blade, charged with crushing aura, struck between the Straw Hats and the ice. The ground trembled as a gigantic fissure formed, splitting the frozen wave in two. Ice shards flew in all directions, glittering like diamonds in sunlight. The Ice Age's advance halted abruptly, leaving the Straw Hats safe on the other side of the chasm.
A shocked silence fell over the crew. Zoro, jaw clenched, stared at the gaping fissure. "What... was that?" he murmured, stunned by the raw power.
Sanji, leaning against the mast, lit a cigarette despite his numb leg. "Hell of a slash..."
Nami, hands shaking on the wheel, turned to Robin. "Robin, that's him, right? The Cursed King?"
Robin, gaze fixed on Yuta's distant figure, nodded slowly. "Yes..."
Luffy, still sitting on the deck, burst out laughing. "Shishishi! This guy's amazing! He cut through ice like it was nothing!" His eyes sparkled as if already considering recruiting Yuta.
Usopp, still shaken, collapsed on deck. "We're lucky he's on our side... for now! We need to get out of here before things escalate!"
Chopper, returning to his medical duties, urged the crew. "Quick, we need to remove this ice from your wounds! Otherwise, your tissues will necrotize!"
Zoro, sheathing his sword, frowned at Robin. "Hey Robin, who exactly is this guy?"
"Yes," she replied, glancing back. "He's one of the most feared pirates in the world. His bounty speaks for itself."
"How much is his bounty?" Luffy asked, his usual ignorance lighting up his face.
Robin hesitated, throat tight. "1 billion 475 million berries."
A heavy silence fell. Even usually carefree Luffy's eyes widened. "WHAT?! 1 billion 475 million?!" he shouted, jumping up despite his pain. "This guy's crazy strong! He should join our crew!"
"Are you serious?!" Usopp wailed, panic tears streaming down his cheeks. "With a bounty like that, he could pulverize us in a blink! We're lucky to escape! Besides, he's already in a crew!"
"What kind of power warrants that bounty?" Nami asked more seriously.
"This world still has monsters we haven't met..." Zoro murmured, gazing at the horizon.
"Hurry! We need to remove this ice!" Chopper pressed urgently.
"Whatever, that old guy saved us! He's alright, shishishi!" Luffy declared with his carefree grin.