"What?! John's dead?!"
The last two remaining officers, Scorpion and Tyrant, watched in horror as John was reduced to ashes, scattering in the wind. Their eyes bulged in disbelief.
With their leader gone, their will to fight evaporated. What was the point of risking their lives now? Survival was all that mattered.
If it came to escaping, Scorpion's ability was the best fit; she had the Swift-Swift Fruit, all about speed.
Unfortunately for her, her opponent was Shirley, a member of the Mink Tribe.
"Don't even think about running! Soru"
The moment Scorpion turned to flee, Shirley relying on her sharp combat instincts, blitzed forward. A visible surge of electricity crackled across Scorpion's body.
The paralyzing current made Scorpion's muscles spasm, instantly disrupting her Devil Fruit ability.
"You ruined my escape! Assassin Style, Stinger Tail!"
Scorpion was ruthless, realizing her escape was ruined, she immediately gave up on running and turned to attack.
Twin daggers coated in dense Armament Haki stabbed straight for Shirley's neck.
"One-Sword Style: Fighting Dog!"
But Sherry wasn't alone.
Though slower, Doberman was still an elite graduate of the Marine training program. His movements were sharp as he swung his Tang Dao, also reinforced with Haki.
A fighting dog, what is that? A fiercely aggressive dog bred for protection, labor, or combat. Such breeds are sometimes called "fighting dogs."
Doberman? He wasn't here to protect, nor to do a job; he was here purely to take down his enemy.
A fearless charge, a sharp blade, hardened with Haki, Doberman himself was a fighting dog, ready to tear his enemy apart with a single bite.
Blade and dagger clashed, and a crisp metallic echo rang out.
Scorpion's dagger couldn't compare to Hammer's forged blade. It snapped instantly.
Doberman's blade didn't stop. With a fierce swing, he slashed Scorpion across the chest.
A pained shriek, Scorpion's chest was left with a deep gash. Even with her instant Haki defense, she barely avoided being cleaved in two.
But with that wound, she was done, unable to fight or flee.
Scorpion, one of Captain John's top three officers, was defeated!
The Tyrant tried to break free, but Lance and Onigumo had no intention of letting him go.
That drove the Tyrant mad; he became a rampaging beast, launching indiscriminate attacks.
With his near-impenetrable scale armor, he smashed forward like a living tank.
"Hey, Lance, got any ideas?"
Onigumo's arms were sore from hacking away, while the Tyrant seemed totally fine.
Lance's face turned grim as he stared at the monster, then slowly said:
Onigumo's eyes lit up instantly.
"Close-quarters, point-blank shot."
Lance hefted his Barrett onto his shoulder, a trace of madness flickering in his eyes.
"Oi, Lance, are you kidding? Point-blank with him?!"
Onigumo pointed his blades at the Tyrant, his face twisting in disbelief.
Even he could only stay at a safe distance, looking for openings, but get too close and you'd be torn apart!
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
"If two of us can't take down one pirate, how pathetic would that be?"
"So here's the plan, you keep him busy. I'll move in."
Imagine a sniper who kills from afar suddenly telling you he's going to melee brawl and shoot point-blank.
No one would believe it, except Lance's crazed eyes made it clear he meant it.
Onigumo didn't argue, he gripped his dual blades and charged the Tyrant again.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!"
Twin blades gleamed coldly as they stabbed for the Tyrant.
Enraged, the Tyrant crossed his arms to block, his scale-covered tail whipped viciously at Onigumo.
Hearing the air crack as the tail came, Onigumo switched from offense to defense, crossing his blades to parry.
Suddenly, a figure burst in between him and the Tyrant.
Onigumo saw Lance's grim face appear, snipper in hand.
The Tyrant didn't care who it was; anyone who dared charge him would die.
His claws slashed straight for Lance.
Lance reinforced his body with Haki and tekkai, shielding his rifle at all costs.
Even so, the Tyrant's raw power broke through Lance's defense. Claws ripped into his right side.
Yet Lance stayed calm, twisting his body so the claws raked his side instead of tearing him open. Gritting through the pain, he dove under the Tyrant's chest.
Onigumo didn't hesitate; he lunged again.
"Two-Sword Style: Spider Fang!"
His blades stabbed for the Tyrant's hands, powerful enough to pin them, even if they couldn't pierce the scales.
A pangolin, armored in scales all over, its only weak spot was the underbelly.
Lance knew it and acted on it.
He jammed his rifle right into the Tyrant's chest.
A deafening gunshot, the massive bullet ripped through the Tyrant's torso in a spray of blood.
Lance gasped for air, clutching his rifle, blood streaming from his side, his face pale.
Onigumo kept the Tyrant's arms pinned, not daring to relax.
A hoarse, unwilling growl escaped the Tyrant's throat, his strength fading, life draining away.
As the Tyrant reverted to human form, Onigumo and Lance knew, they'd won.
"Now go get me a doctor, this hurts like hell!"
Only then did Onigumo snap out of it. Lance was still badly wounded.
"Medic! Medic! Someone's about to die over here! Hurry!"
With the officers defeated, the John Pirates were finished. The remaining pirates were sent to the afterlife under Sakazuki's orders.
Dressrosa's crisis, resolved.
After killing Captain John, Hammer immediately went to Scarlett's side, carefully scanning the pink-haired girl.
Once he confirmed she was safe, he finally relaxed.
"Lance! Prepare to head back!"
Now that he was closer, that intense pull toward her only grew.
Hearing that Hammer was leaving, Scarlett's eyes widened in shock.
Seeing that look, Hammer knew he had to run; he quickly barked the order to retreat.
"Lance is hurt, you don't have to rush back, Vice Admiral Hammer."
Suddenly, a man with thick brows and a mocking smile appeared, axe slung over his shoulder.
Though smiling, his grin dripped with mischief.
Hammer: 'Oh you thick-browed bastard, Sakazuki… you absolute dog!'
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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