Thick smoke hung over the central area of the island, the heavy scent of blood lingering stubbornly in the air.
After a brief standoff, the two sides finally erupted into fierce conflict. The sea wind, laden with the rusty tang of blood, brushed across the faces of every combatant, as if laying the final groundwork for the imminent slaughter.
The pirates surged like a raging tide toward the defense line of the guards, their sky-shaking battle cries echoing above the island. They brandished all manner of weapons, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. The guards stood ready, the spears and shields in their hands flashing coldly in the sunlight.
Nix stood at the forefront of his troops, a long sword in hand, the sun reflecting dazzlingly off his silver-white armor. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, his long sword tracing fierce, swift arcs. The pirate charging at the front fell before he could even register Nix's movement.
Nix's every move was clean and precise, showcasing his exquisite swordsmanship. His actions flowed like clouds and water, as if he were not fighting but performing an elegant dance.
"Interesting!" Queen bellowed with laughter upon seeing this, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He raised his rifle and fired several shots at Nix in succession.
The bullets whistled through the air, only to be deftly dodged by Nix with a swift sidestep at the last second, sparking off the rocks behind him. Unfazed, Queen grew even more excited, licking his lips and revealing a ferocious grin.
"Protect the Prince!" the Captain of the Guard shouted loudly. More soldiers quickly stepped forward, forming a solid wall of men around Nix. Holding their shields, they created an impenetrable defense line.
However, Nix did not look pleased; on the contrary, he appeared displeased. "Move, now! Deal with these pirates as quickly as possible!" His voice carried an undeniable command.
Hearing this, the soldiers had no choice but to change formation and charge at the pirates. They advanced in uniform rows, spears like a forest, shields like a wall. Seeing this, the pirates roared defiantly and rushed forward to meet them.
Two torrents clashed violently at the center of the island, the clang of metal, battle cries, and screams of pain rising and falling in a chaotic symphony.
Simultaneously, the CP agents also sprang into action. Dressed in black uniforms, they flitted through the battlefield like phantoms. Every strike hit a vital point with precision, cleanly and efficiently eliminating enemies.
Their movements were swift and lethal; often, the enemy would fall before they could even react. The agents' faces were expressionless, as if they were merely carrying out routine duties.
Urouge swung his massive battle-axe, and after cutting down a soldier, he immediately targeted the leader of these CP agents.
"Let me see the strength of a World Government agent!" Urouge roared, his great axe whooshing through the air as he brought it down on his opponent. His voice rumbled like thunder across the battlefield.
"Soru!" the CP Squad Leader uttered lowly, his figure instantly vanishing from his original spot, reappearing at Urouge's side in the next second.
"Shigan!" the CP Squad Leader struck like lightning. Several bloody holes were instantly punctured in Urouge's right arm, blood gushing from the wounds. Urouge winced in pain, but the fighting spirit in his eyes blazed even hotter.
"Bastard!" the injured Urouge bellowed in fury, his great axe sweeping out horizontally, stirring up a gust of wind.
"Tekkai!" With a sharp metallic clang, the axe struck the CP Squad Leader's body as if hitting steel, producing a grating sound. Urouge's eyes widened, clearly not expecting the other to possess such a defensive technique.
At another corner of the battlefield, Sebastian and Gavin had each engaged other CP agents.
Sebastian wielded twin hammers, each swing carrying immense force. Soldiers who got close were directly pulverized into a bloody mess. His attacks were wide and powerful, every blow carrying destructive might.
"Rankyaku!" A blue-tinged, white crescent-shaped slash wave suddenly shot toward him.
Sebastian snorted coldly, swung his iron hammer, and directly shattered the slash wave before charging straight toward the one who had launched the sneak attack. Battle intent burned in his eyes, the twin hammers gleaming dangerously in the sunlight.
Gavin, meanwhile, brandished his dual swords. His swordplay was fierce and unrestrained, every strike carrying the force of a thunderbolt. The two long blades seemed alive in his hands, forcing the CP agent facing him to retreat repeatedly, forced to avoid their edge for the moment. Gavin's movements flowed seamlessly; the dual swords in his hands seemed to gain a life of their own, tracing beautiful arcs through the air.
Queen casually tossed aside his rifle, drew a strangely shaped longsword from his waist, and engaged Nix. Their weapons clashed repeatedly, sparks flying, the sound of metal striking metal ringing out incessantly.
Queen's swordsmanship was wild and unrestrained, each strike carrying astonishing power; Nix excelled in agility, his swordplay unorthodox, constantly seeking openings in his opponent's defenses.
The entire battlefield descended into chaos, battle cries and the clang of weapons rising and falling in a cacophony. Blood stained the earth, the moans of the wounded filling the air. But no one retreated; everyone fought with red-tinted eyes, as if they had forgotten life and death.
Seizing an opening in Queen's defense, Nix twisted his blade and thrust straight for the throat. Queen hastily leaned back, the blade grazing his neck, drawing a line of blood. Grinning ferociously, he wiped away the blood, his large sword suddenly changing its trajectory in a horizontal sweep, forcing Nix back three steps. Their battle had entered a white-hot stage.
"Mmmahahaha! Who would have thought a mere prince from a West Blue kingdom would possess such skill," Queen laughed loudly, a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes. His laughter held a note of appreciation, but more than that, a thirst for the fight.
"You bastard pirates! Do you have any idea what kind of huge trouble you've stirred up?!" Nix roared angrily, veins bulging on his forehead. He charged at Queen again, his sword techniques growing even more vicious. Rage burned in Nix's eyes, every strike carrying a killing resolve.
Their battle had lasted dozens of exchanges now; both their stamina was beginning to wane, but neither would yield. Nix's swordsmanship grew increasingly ruthless, every thrust aimed at a vital point; Queen relied on his rich combat experience, always managing to narrowly evade the fatal blows. Their fight was like a dangerous dance, every step taken on the edge of life and death.
Meanwhile, Urouge roared, swinging his great axe and splitting the ground open with a deep fissure, forcing the CP Squad Leader back. His wound was still bleeding, but his fighting spirit soared higher than ever. "Again!" he bellowed, charging at the agent once more, his great axe carving a terrifying arc through the air.
Urouge's strength was astonishing, every blow carrying a force that could smash decay and wither the rotten.
The sheer power meant that even the CP Squad Leader, trained through hellish regimes, was gradually becoming unable to hold his ground. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing grew ragged. Urouge's onslaught was like a violent storm, wearing him down.
On another flank of the battlefield, Sebastian had already taken down two CP agents, but his twin hammers now bore obvious cracks.
Gavin's twin swords danced in an impenetrable whirl, driving two agents back step by step.