"Damn you… Finger Pistol!"
"An interesting trick, but your execution is too slow. Go to sleep."
"—Slash!"
One by one, the 'Marine Hunter' lived up to his name.
Mihawk fought with a combination of offense from Kris and defense from Miakis, a three-person cell formation that the Royal Guard specialized in. He was somewhat surprised to find himself fighting more freely than he had initially imagined. At the same time, he found himself inwardly puzzled by the state of the enemy soldiers.
Hmm. They are certainly not new recruits. They seem accustomed to battle. And yet… as Kris said, they lack the unique tenacity of marines. In fact, they feel more like pirates.
In a one-on-one fight, his own soldiers would likely be defeated easily. But just as in the battle with Germa, they had forced the enemy into a situation on board a ship where cooperation was essential. Furthermore, by using anti-personnel ammunition like grapeshot, they had sown even more chaos, making the enemy brittle.
They lack experience in—no, exposure to—naval warfare. They are individuals trained only for powerful singular attacks… I can assume they scraped together anyone with Cipher Pol training for this assault.
This time, a pair of opponents who could move through the air like Kuro attacked from above in a pincer movement. But compared to Kuro's technique, theirs was far too noisy, far too slow. To the Royal Guard, and even to some of the regular soldiers, they might as well have been standing still. One was cut down by a flying slash from Kris, while the other had a knife, thrown from Miakis's hand, plunge into his stomach, sending him falling unceremoniously to the deck.
They have the numbers and the unshakable authority of the World Government on their side. We, on the other hand, struggle to increase our own strength. For them to attack with such a flimsy pretext… Is it because Kuro is not here?
If they had simply underestimated his forces, that was one thing. But if not, it meant the Government had judged this to be their only opportunity. And if that was the case, something about Kuro had made them desperate.
Heh heh heh…
The moment he reached that conclusion, a laugh escaped Mihawk's lips. He tried to stifle it, but it slipped out nonetheless.
"Teacher? What's wrong? You're suddenly grinning."
"Their techniques are interesting, I'll grant them that, but I didn't think they were skilled enough to pique your interest, Teacher."
The boarding party consisted of himself, these two, and one other Royal Guard cell from the First Fleet, for a total of five people. It was a perilously small number to board a Marine warship, but the tide of battle on this vessel was overwhelmingly in their favor. The other cell, with cover fire from Hancock, was systematically disabling the ship's ability to maneuver. Soon, this vessel would be nothing more than a helpless obstacle.
"No, it is nothing. I was simply looking forward to hearing Kuro's souvenir story."
"Ah…"
"When my grandfather, who is waiting back in Mopuchi, heard that he had fought the Golden Lion, he laughed so hard he cried."
The trump card that not even the Navy knew about—the former king and his retinue, who had been asked to flee to a hidden base in case of emergency—had been held back as a final failsafe by Daz and Robin. They had hesitated to include the guest royalty in their battle plans, making them a card to be played not for offense, but for survival.
"Now then, the boat Hancock arranged is circling around to the rear. It is time to withdraw."
Hancock's First Fleet was providing suppressive fire, switching ammunition types to keep the other warships from attempting to come alongside Mihawk's position. Under the umbrella of that cannonade, the boat assigned to retrieve Mihawk's party had quietly pulled up to the warship's blind spot—its stern, where there were no gunports.
"I had thought that girl was more like me, but… it seems she has a talent for leading troops."
"She has participated in many tabletop exercises and discussions with the Director."
"That is true."
"So, if you could perhaps go a little easier on us in our daily training when the Director returns, it would be a great help to our overall military improvement."
"I will consider it."
"That's the kind of consideration that ends with you doing nothing, isn't it?"
"Ha ha ha."
Mihawk laughed it off, then glanced at Miakis. She shrugged with a weary sigh, brought a whistle that hung from a cord around her neck to her lips, and blew three sharp, short blasts. A distinctive high-pitched sound echoed across the deck. After a beat, she repeated the rhythm. From a short distance away came a reply: two short blasts, then two long ones. It was the signal from the other Royal Guard team. After another beat, they repeated the melody to confirm.
"—They've completed their mission as well. Gunnery capabilities completely destroyed, navigational capabilities moderately damaged."
"Good."
As a final touch, Mihawk swung his sword, unleashing a flying slash that swept away the last remnants of enemy resistance. If his only goal had been to annihilate them, he could have simply cut down the mast. But that would have robbed the marines of any means of escape, so he had fought while minimizing damage to the hull. It was a way of wielding his sword he would never have considered before, yet he surveyed the battlefield with a look of satisfaction. Their boarding capability was sufficiently reduced, and anyone who might have obstructed their operation was lying on the deck. He had seen a few try to board their ship in retaliation, only to be shot down by the Royal Guard waiting for them.
"We will continue to whittle down the Government's forces while controlling the flow of the battle. The Admiral should be making his move soon. Once we return, switch out with Valeria's squad and rest."
""Sir!""
The battle was going well. At least, for now.
Honestly, that Kuro. What in the world did he do in the Holy Land?
◆ ◆ ◆
The New World.
The second half of the Grand Line, a sea of pirates feared by all sailors. A graveyard of ships.
"Heavenly Cloud-Gathering Sword!"
"First Kuzan, now you! You ability users who can create weapons out of thin air are… so damn annoying!"
"I think the one fighting that head-on with his bare hands is the strange one, you knooow. How about it? Why not surrender and become a marine?"
"I've never heard a recruitment pitch disguised as a demand for surrender before!"
Seriously, why was a pirate trying to solidify his power base in the West Blue having an aerial dogfight with a Marine Admiral? Hey, Kizaru! Don't you give me that "you knooow" crap, you bastard! This old guy rode a cannonball over the moment I sent Hina's ship off, I hit him with a preemptive strike and knocked him into the sea, and I thought that was it, but then he just teleports back up and starts a melee! Seriously! If he had started firing his ability at Hina's ship, I would have been completely on the defensive with no way to counter! As it is, fighting while constantly using Moon Step just to stay airborne is incredibly taxing!
"Why is an Admiral even out here in the first place!? I mean, it helps me out, but still! Did I do something wrong!? You know I worked my ass off in the Holy Land, right!?"
"Weell… even if you say that to meee…"
"Who else am I supposed to complain to in this situation!? Don't mess with me!"
"Oh, uh… yeah, sorry about that?"
That smug look on his face is so irritating! Damn it! Why!? Why did all my desperate work to maintain the balance of power lead to this!? Well, fine, my opponent is the Navy in the middle of a massive reorganization, the biggest threat, Kuzan, is on lockdown, and Kizaru is here, so I can probably manage this!
For now, I have to deal with this guy!
He had considered the possibility of a running battle, but nobody expects to have two aerial fights in a row! Thank you, Shiki! If I hadn't fought you, I would have had a hard time tracking this guy! Next time we meet, I'll sink you to the bottom of the sea with the utmost care!
"Why did the Government suddenly decide to capture me!?"
"When there's a pirate, the Government tries to catch them, right?"
"If you haven't been told, just say so!"
"Ooh… I wonder if it's that obviouuus."
Surprisingly, it seemed Kuro had a slight edge in terms of aerial combat experience. Kizaru's power was so overwhelming that he probably had fewer fights against evenly matched opponents. As a result, Kuro had significantly more airtime. Because of that, reading the flow of the battle was easier. The tells for his decisive blows were incredibly clear.
Kizaru swung down with his sword of light, but Kuro deflected the tip with a Haki-infused shoe and aimed his other foot at the Admiral's neck. In that instant, Kizaru used his ability to create distance, moving just to the edge of visual tracking.
Don't you dare point—!
Kuro instinctively kicked off the air, shifting his torso just slightly. A thin beam of light shot through the space where his body had been. By the time the unique, high-pitched sound passed by, Kizaru was already closing in at the speed of light, his leg extended for a kick.
But—
"I can see it!"
"—Ungh!"
As the kick came in, Kuro shot out his own Haki-clad leg to intercept it. He kicked back a man moving at the speed of light, with the speed of light. He had wanted to aim for the throat to end it, but the speed was too great, blurring his fine motor control. He settled for a high-percentage shot to the chest. The moment his foot connected, a shockwave shot from his toes to his head.
Ugh! With the difference in mass and the added velocity, even intercepting an attack does this much damage to my own body!
If he had his Cat Claws, he could engage in a slash-based offense, but against an opponent with this level of speed, his options with foot techniques, which required a split-second preparatory motion, were limited.
That's it! From now on, no matter the situation, I'm keeping Amis and at least one other person by my side! He had plenty of subordinates who could fight in the air at his level now. It was time to start relying on them a little more!
"Cough… To think you'd be this strong at your age. I see why Sengoku-san was so reluctant to let you go."
"If you feel that way, would you mind letting me go? We may have parted ways with the World Government, but we have no intention of starting an all-out war."
That was the honest truth. He meant it. Because of Robin, he would fight with all his might if they were attacked, but his goal was a state of coexistence. If he were being greedy, he wanted to establish a stable production and economic zone that the other side would be forced to depend on! That was the whole point of the original five-island economic plan including Mopuchi! The plan to conquer Canette and develop the shipping routes connecting them was the replacement for that after the Pirate Alliance blew it all up! And now they were trying to blow this one up too! Seriously, give me a break!
"I don't think the Government sees it that waay. I don't know if that's the reason, but they're afraid of your power growing any further."
"Shouldn't you be paying attention to other things? What about the search for the Golden Lion, who caused the unprecedented attack on the Holy Land?"
"…Maybe they decided you're more trouble than the Golden Lion?"
"WHY!?"
Explain to me, in 25 to 40 words, why the one who defended the Holy Land is seen as worse than the one who attacked it, you bald geezers! If they didn't cut it out, he was going to turn into a full-blown delinquent!
…Wait, he was already a pirate, so he was already a delinquent. Also, sorry, on second thought, calling them bald was out of line. No matter what, using someone's hair to insult them was an act unbecoming of a man—no, of a person. He was truly sorry. He would be more careful from now on.
"More importantly, are your hostages alright? It looks like we'll be able to secure them at this raaate."
"Oh, that's not a problem."
Just as he said that, a terrible noise echoed from the direction Hina's ship had taken. It was the sound of a ship's heavily armored hull failing to withstand an impact and shattering. He could tell what had happened just by looking at the expression on Kizaru's face.
—W-We're disabled! We can't move! We've run aground in the shallows!
—We're taking on water! Colonel, your orders!
—Impossible! The escort ship is proceeding without any trouble!
Perhaps because of his enhanced Observation Haki, he could hear their voices even from this distance if he concentrated.
"…What's this?"
"You may have forgotten, since I've been busy with paperwork and site supervision lately, but I am a pirate." He wasn't trying to navigate a sea with no sonar or radar for nothing. He had given a great deal of thought to tactics and how to traverse unknown waters. "I am well-versed in how to pass through the sea." He tried provoking him, a little payback for the experts of the sea, the Navy.
"First," he began.
Kizaru just sighed. "Pirates don't usually do paperwork, you knooow?"
…
"Well… yes. I suppose you're right…"
◆ ◆ ◆
"Colonel Wired, I've spotted one of the devices, stationary, dead ahead! Distance 150, it's painted! I see slack in the connecting line!"
"Damn it! Reduce speed! Furl the sails! Hard to port!"
Ever since Kuro had begun his battle with Admiral Kizaru, the crew of the escort ship had been focused on escaping. With Colonel Wired in command, they were evading the pursuing fleet. Their speed was quite slow. And yet, they navigated the treacherous waters with ease, while the Marine warship that had been chasing them directly had run aground and was now immobilized. Deciding it was better than letting them escape, the stranded ship began to fire its cannons. Hina instinctively flinched.
"It's alright, Corporal Hina! We have sufficient distance from the pursuing ships! Their shells won't reach us! Focus on observation and helm control!"
"Sir! My apologies!"
Kuro had prepared a way for them to escape.
—Fortunately, we have a good amount of anchor chain left. We also have some timber, and empty barrels and crates from the dummies.
—Use them to make markers.
—Barrels, crates, anything that will float. Tie a uniform length of rope to them, then attach something to act as an anchor.
—If you have enough chain, make three different lengths. If not, two lengths, long and short, will do. Make sure the lengths are consistent.
—The long ones should be longer than the ship's draft. The short ones should be slightly shorter than what you think is a dangerous depth.
—This place used to be an island. Most of the land is gone, but the sea isn't as rough as the open waters of the Grand Line. The currents are fast but not overly chaotic.
—Let the currents carry the devices. They will get snagged according to their chain length. Use them to mark a safe path.
Some of the soldiers had been skeptical of the contraption Kuro had devised on the spot, but it was working perfectly. The short ones, the floats, were painted red; the others were left unpainted. All they had to do was release them and proceed while watching their positions. If a marker was unpainted and the rope between the float and the anchor was taut, the passage was clear. If a red barrel was snagged, the water was shallow and there was a risk of running aground. Even if it was unpainted, if the rope was slack, it was likely also dangerous. By carefully watching for these signs and proceeding without rushing, they could navigate this complex sea with a degree of safety.
—Even if you do run aground, it's not a problem. As long as you escape beyond the reach of the pursuit fleet, that's all that matters.
—In that case, after I stop Kizaru, I'll just steal one of their ships and escape. Just wait for me.
…Kuro.
Now, Hina could clearly see the kind of battle he waged, something she couldn't during the defense of the Holy Land. In the sky above this New World sea, Kizaru and the Black Cat clashed. Amidst a storm of light projectiles, Kuro weaved through what seemed to be an impenetrable barrage and closed the distance for another melee. This must have been what it was like when he fought the Golden Lion. A man who shouldn't be able to fly zipped freely through the air, impossible attacks of light flew about, and a cat dodged them to strike back.
If only I were stronger…
If only I had the power…!
◆ ◆ ◆
"I knew this was a dangerous sea, which is why I chose it again, but… what kind of magic trick is this?"
Again!?
"I'd prefer you call it tactics."
That phrasing means you've conducted unspeakable operations here several times, doesn't it!? Could it be the slave documents, the ones with the falsified numbers and purchase histories!? Which means you, the Navy!
I thought it was impossible, but you really did lay your hands on the royalty of member nations! And you did it brazenly, through the Navy!
For non-affiliated nations, there would be no need for such covert work. For the civilians of member nations, their human rights would simply be ignored, and even more so for pirates! Which meant the only ones left were the nobles! For a non-affiliated nation, they could get away with just suppressing and manipulating information. But for a member nation, it was a different story. They would need at least a plausible cover story. A place close to the Holy Land, yet a ship's graveyard that was difficult to navigate. A target gets lost by mistake, their ship runs aground. The important person on board goes missing, and the Navy is searching but cannot find them. A story like that wouldn't make waves.
…Why do you always manage to be more hideous than my worst-case scenarios, Celestial Dragons!? Give me a break!
—Yasakani no Magatama!
A curved jewel, radiant like the treasures of myth—thrown as a diversion.
Along with a storm of high-pitched, grating sounds, his vision was filled with orbs of light.
—But!
The close range made it more dangerous, but there were still gaps! It was better than Mihawk's point-blank, scattered slashes! It was wider than the double omnidirectional slash from Rayleigh and Mihawk combined! And most importantly—!
◆ ◆ ◆
Among the pursuing Marine warships, one hung back slightly. It was Admiral Kizaru's flagship. With a whoosh sound, Admiral Borsalino, Kizaru, reappeared on its deck. Seeing his state, his subordinates' faces twisted in shock. It was the first time. The Admiral, who had always captured pirates with a cool expression, was exhausted. The suit that was his trademark, under the mantle of Absolute Justice that symbolized the Navy, was tattered in several places.
"Sakazuki once told me—"
He was trying to calm his ragged breathing, but the words slipped out, not meant for anyone in particular. "He met a pirate he should kill, but couldn't. I didn't know what he meant at the time, but…"
He let out a deep breath.
"This is certainly… a difficult fight."
—If you find it so difficult, then I would appreciate it if you would withdraw here.
The voice, appearing out of nowhere, startled every soldier on the deck. Even Admiral Kizaru himself.
"Wh—?"
As Kizaru instinctively looked around, a black foot slammed into his stomach.
"Pardon me. I have a bad habit of kicking."
In the next instant, Admiral Kizaru vanished as a thunderous boom echoed across the ship. He had been kicked through the door leading to the cabins below. The soldiers instinctively raised their rifles and aimed them at the pirate.
He was a boy. Some of the soldiers had sons around the same age. But they all feared this boy. Because this was the pirate who had forced the Government's hand.
"It's… the Black Cat."
"The Black Cat is here…!"
◆ ◆ ◆
(The Glint-Glint Fruit's abilities are certainly versatile and annoying. No openings from close to long range. Among the three Admirals, he is truly top-class.)
The marines all had their guns aimed at him, but they were afraid. The younger ones, the rookies, were trembling. Hey, stop it, you're making it look like I'm the bad guy here. Oh, wait, I am.
(That's why I was lucky to fight him at sea. Unlike Sakazuki, it's only to a relative degree, but…)
He had flown backwards to kill the momentum when Kuro kicked him, so he probably hadn't taken any real damage. He didn't know where the Admiral would come from, but…
(The most troublesome part is his mobility. It's impossible to completely shut it down. But—)
(In a naval battle, his footing is limited. That makes him easier to predict.)
It was how he had managed to intercept him just now. The Navy, the World Government's forces, had made a tactical error, just as the initial CP agents had. They should have chosen a land battle, where they would have had more options, not a sea battle where both sides were constrained.
(Though, perhaps they thought that a battle at sea, their specialty as the Navy, had a higher chance of success.)
He could hear them. The voices of the marines who had their guns trained on him but could do nothing. Or maybe it was more like a sound than a voice. Rayleigh had said he had a natural talent for Observation Haki. He didn't take the claim at face value, but it was true that the more he trained it, the more he could see and hear. The more he concentrated, the more he could see images of a few seconds into the future, sense the emotions and thoughts of others as… colors, sounds, sometimes even tastes. A taste? Anyway, he could feel it intuitively with all his senses. And right now, he had it cranked up to the max.
(None of them really want to fight, do they?)
Aside from the ones who had chased Hina's ship and run themselves aground—oops, there goes another one—most of the men here were regular marines.
(Damn it, this would be easier if they just showed some hostility.)
From each of them, he could see colors and hear sounds of doubt and confusion, apart from their fear. None of them could find any meaning in this battle. That was why they hesitated to shoot. Not that it mattered; the moment they squeezed their triggers, he would just kick them in the jaw.
(On the other hand…)
He didn't know what it was, but there was a cheerful idiot somewhere nearby. He could hear the sound of a strange drum, beating a rhythm as it circled around him. But there were no ships there… right? What was this? Who was this? Where was that sound coming from? He didn't know who it was, but they should be taking this situation more seriously. Seriously, now was not the time for festival drums.
◆ ◆ ◆
—It must be erased.
—It must be destroyed.
—When I saw that man, I heard it clearly.
—It reached my ears.
—That cursed…
—That cursed drumbeat…
—It must be erased.
—It must be destroyed.
—That man's existence…
—Cannot be forgiven.
***
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