Boom. Boom. Rumble...
It was as if the heavens themselves had groaned—air rippled out in concentric waves from the clash of two fists. The ground beneath Aeridar's feet caved inward, forming a crater nearly three meters wide, its interior laced with spiderweb cracks.
The earth trembled violently. Cracks snaked out in all directions, and the forceful shockwaves—visible ripples of compressed air—tore up dirt and stone, sending debris flying. A circular burst of raw force swept across the battlefield like a rising wall of wind, tilling the ground within dozens of meters like a plow before finally dispersing as a wild gale, tossing the hair and cloaks of all watching spectators.
From within the swirling dust, a massive figure was hurled backward, soaring nearly five meters into the air before crashing down with a thunderous thud, slamming into the earth and carving out another crater. The impact sent the body tumbling helplessly across the forest floor—breaking through two ancient trees so large it would take three or four men to encircle them. After rolling nearly two or three hundred meters, the body finally came to rest beneath the skeletal canopy of a shattered treetop.
"Oi, oi... that much brute strength? That's insane!" muttered Arlan, scratching his head, his expression a mix of disbelief and forced cheer. Even at full power, he doubted he could've caused such massive destruction.
It wasn't that he was weaker than Backan—on the contrary, Arlan's fighting style focused less on raw power and more on precision and form. His techniques were built on skill and refined control, not brute force. In a real fight, he wouldn't lose to Backan.
Gorbo, watching silently beside him, didn't say a word—but from the scowl on his face, his pride had clearly taken a hit. Among all the Chris Pirates, he was famed for being the strongest in sheer physical power. Even Aeridar, without using a Devil Fruit, couldn't match him in raw strength.
Until now, Gorbo had never met anyone who surpassed him without relying on Rokushiki-style power bursts or the abilities of a Devil Fruit. That was why the Navy had dubbed him the Mighty Cook. But this guy... this guy's strength wasn't just a little higher—it was three times his own.
"He... he lost? That's impossible..."
"Captain Backan is that strong, and he still... still lost?"
"D-Damn it... There's so many of those Chris Pirates..."
The Mountain Pirates looked utterly defeated. Some sat down in stunned silence, others gaped in disbelief—how could their mighty Captain Backan have lost? Still others watched in growing dread as more and more members of the Chris Pirates surrounded them.
"Hell of a fight. Felt good to let loose. That guy really can take a beating!"
Standing in the center of the impact crater, Aeridar rolled his neck, limbs cracking audibly as he stretched. With a satisfied grunt, he stepped out of the hole and walked a few paces forward, stooping to pick up a battered black cloth bundle lying on the ground.
He weighed it in his hand and smirked. But his tone was annoyed: "What a hassle. Had to get it myself, huh?"
Arlan and Gorbo, seeing the fight was over, approached. From a distance, Arlan called out cheerfully, "Yo, Captain! You kill him?"
"Heh. That guy's built like a tank. Took the beating like a champ. Probably just heavily injured. Won't die," Aeridar replied without looking up as he unwrapped the black cloth, revealing a small, square black iron box.
"That the one?" Arlan didn't seem concerned. Backan might've been strong, but within the Chris Pirates, besides Aeridar himself, Arlan, Oliver, Gorbo, and Dimitri could all take Backan on or suppress him in a fair fight. Backan was no real threat.
"It's lined with Seastone," Aeridar said, tapping it lightly with his finger. The moment his fingertip made contact, he recoiled as if shocked. "Damn thing's like Kryptonite. Total counter."
Seastone—solidified ocean essence. No wonder they called it the sea's crystal. Just a brief touch was enough to weaken him to the point of nearly dropping the box. The thing was absurdly hard, too—hard as diamond. Even a swordsman who's mastered the Breath of All Things wouldn't be able to scratch it.
"No worries. We've got a lockpick expert onboard," Arlan said casually. Back when Aeridar and Arlan first formed their crew, they'd recruited a specialist just in case they ever found treasure locked behind something they couldn't open. Turned out to be a smart move.
As long as the box was in their hands, there was no rush.
Just then, Backan groaned and started to rise. He looked miserable—his body drenched in blood, one arm hanging uselessly at his side, probably broken. Still, he limped forward, coughing up blood with every step.
"Kh-kh... You... won. Got what... you came for. Anything else...?" Backan croaked, swaying as he walked. All the arrogance had bled from him. Beaten down in front of his own crew, surrounded by enemy pirates—his fate now rested in Aeridar's hands.
Aeridar didn't answer. Instead, he held the black box up and gave it a little shake.
"You know what's inside?"
Backan froze, confused by the question. Did this guy think he knew? He shook his head weakly. "Cough... Don't... know. Just... knew the Navy... wouldn't stop... chasing us for it..."
"There were two Navy ships on this island earlier," Aeridar said with a grin. "I smashed them to bits and got one of them to spill the beans..."
He trailed off, a sly, teasing smile forming.
"They said this box holds the legendary Mobile Treasure—the Sea's Secret... the embodiment of the Devil of the Ocean..."
Backan's eyes went wide.
He stared at the box with burning desire, momentarily forgetting his pain. So that was why the Navy had hounded them. If it was a powerful Devil Fruit, it could've elevated him—or someone else—into a powerhouse feared by the Navy itself.
"HAHAHAHA!" Aeridar laughed. "Even if you knew, it's useless. That box is sealed with Seastone. No way you could've opened it. That's why it's still locked."
"Damn it!!" Backan cursed. He'd tried everything—slicing it, smashing it, burning it—and nothing had worked.
Aeridar rewrapped the iron box and handed it to Arlan. Then he turned and walked toward Backan, who flinched slightly as the captain approached.
Stopping right in front of the wounded pirate, Aeridar looked him over—scrutinizing him like a weapon or a beast.
Backan, confused and wary, asked, "What... what do you want?"
Aeridar's reply came suddenly—and with the weight of thunder.
"Join me. Join my crew. What do you say?"
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