Just how terrifying were the pirates of the Rocks era? Ruthless killers? Monstrously cruel, even three of the future Four Emperors once hailed from the same crew.
But even the strongest crews had their weaker links.
And unfortunately for Captain John, he was one of them.
"Twin Blades, Sky Cleaver!"
John swung his twin blades, unleashing two pale purple slashes that looked utterly menacing.
But Hammer was no longer the greenhorn who had first set sail.
"Heavy Hammer Spark!"
One hand wielded his giant hammer, the other clenched into a fist, and two flames erupted at once.
One spiraled, one roared forward, both clashed head-on with Captain John's twin slashes.
Sakazuki scowled as his opponent suddenly switched targets, watching as John charged at Hammer. Hefting Rhitta over his shoulder, he slowly walked over.
His stance made it clear, he was standing guard, ready to back Hammer up.
Not that he'd forgotten his own men were still locked in a brutal battle, it's just that with his Observation Haki sensed more reinforcements were arriving.
"Doberman, duck! Use Tekkai!"
"Shield-Shield! Explosive Shield!"
Doberman, now sporting a fresh X-shaped wound from Scorpion's last strike, heard a sharp voice behind him and didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately ducked and activated Tekkai.
Just as he lowered his head, Scorpion's dagger stabbed down, but so did a small, gleaming shield appeared between them.
A faint spark flickered on its surface as Scorpion's dagger struck.
An explosion engulfed both Scorpion and Doberman.
The difference? Scorpion was blown clear by the blast, while Doberman, right in the center, suffered little thanks to Tekkai.
When the explosion faded, Doberman staggered up, covered in soot.
"Shirley, next time you pull something like that, could you give me more of a heads up?"
"I did warn you. 'Duck, use Tekkai.'"
Doberman: …That's not what I meant! I meant the explosion!
"Cough… you little b#tch! I'll skin you alive!"
Scorpion crawled from the blast, burned and battered from the shockwave. But the pain seemed to flip a switch inside her; her killing intent only grew fiercer.
"Assassination Style, Stinger Tail!"
Like I care! Shield-Shield! Fortress!"
The two women moved simultaneously, one activating her Devil Fruit to blur around them at high speed, the other summoning layers of shields to encase herself and Doberman.
One focused on offense, the other on defense.
"Hmph. Come break it if you dare!"
Who was Sherry? A woman who'd spent plenty of time around Hammer.
"I won't come out. You come in if you have the guts!"
Doberman stared at the two women shouting at each other through the shield wall, veins popping on his forehead.
Still, he tightened his grip on his katana.
"Shield-Shield: Jet Shield!"
Of course, Shirley wouldn't just hide behind a shield forever. Using Observation Haki, she pinpointed Scorpion's position and pressed her palm to the shield's back.
In an instant, the shield blasted forward like a cannon shot.
"Doberman! I'll block, cover me!"
Shirley struck first, her Rankyaku! cleaved through the air.
Doberman followed up immediately, his sword slicing downward in a vicious arc.
The three clashed once more in a swirling melee.
Unlike Scorpion's side, which burned hot with chaos.
Tyrant's side was strangely… calm.
Onigumo couldn't beat him, but Tyrant couldn't land a hit either. They were locked in an endless stalemate.
But with Lance's arrival, that deadlock finally broke.
The first to hit the field wasn't Lance himself, but a bullet from his massive sniper rifle.
The terrifying round made Tyrant's blood run cold; he crossed his arms and tail in front of him to shield himself.
Over the years, Lance had awakened both forms of Haki, still raw, but he'd mastered their basics.
The bullet, clad in Armament Haki, smashed into Tyrant's scales and cracked them instantly.
If Tyrant hadn't also coated himself in Armament Haki, he'd have lost an arm on the spot.
Wounded, Tyrant flew into a frenzy. Onigumo simply lifted his twin blades, glaring coldly.
"I'll hold him. Find a chance to finish him."
He said this for Lance's ears, then lunged straight back at Tyrant.
He couldn't break through Tyrant's scales, but he could keep him busy.
All across the battlefield, the fighting raged on.
Only Sakazuki stood idle, his opponent stolen from him.
He couldn't just go steal someone else's fight either.
So, with a shrug, he slowly drifted toward King Riku's entourage.
At that moment, Scarlett's eyes held only Hammer. Her rapier trembled in her grasp, excitement and tension mingling in her grip.
"Go Hammer! You can do it!"
King Riku looked at his precious daughter, secretly cheering for someone else.
His feelings were… complicated.
King Riku's gaze at Hammer grew more and more hostile.
In contrast, Kyros looked at Hammer with a hint of newfound respect.
'So this was the power of a Marine Vice Admiral? Able to fight on equal footing with a pirate captain that strong, and even kill his officers.'
Above, Hammer's fight had hit its peak.
Hammer and twin blades clashed in a frenzy.
Slashes and hammer strikes collided again and again.
The more Hammer fought, the stronger he burned, his whole body blazing like a flame.
His right arm glowed red from constant hammer blows and searing heat.
But instead of pain, all he felt was pure exhilaration.
The air hammer condensed again, this time cloaked in Haki. Hammer now wielded a hammer in each hand.
And damn, he looked cool doing it.
If they were green, he'd basically be the Hulk…
Captain John stared at Hammer, who was only growing fiercer, and felt a twinge of doubt.
Both hammers swung in unison. Hammer launched another furious attack.
John didn't have time to think; he could only clash again.
"Brat! Don't think I'm scared of you!"
"Twin Blades, Falling Sea!"
Frustration boiling over, John's swords turned pitch-black as Armament Haki flooded them.
He raised both blades high and slashed down, two giant slashes merged into one colossal purple arc.
Fused slashes. This was only the second time Hammer had seen the technique, but John's version was far more refined than Mihawk's.
And the power behind it was monstrous. Hammer knew he had to take it seriously.
"Spiral Skyward! Hammer!"
"Air Hammer, Big Hammer Eighty!"
Hammer roared, he hurled his spiral flame hammer straight at the slash.
The next instant, the air hammer smashed into it, too.
Hammer struck hammer, the spiral flame exploded into a sky-scorching inferno.
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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