Lugart's pupils shrank violently as he stared at the fully unleashed Black Blade · Eight Desolations in Gern's hand.
The dark-red fissures crawling across the blade and the high-frequency vibration screaming through the air stabbed painfully into his eardrums.
"That's a fine blade…" Lugart muttered.
Not every weapon could withstand Devil Fruit power being channeled through it—
and the blade in Gern's hands was clearly far beyond ordinary weapons.
"Captain! That— is that a Devil Fruit ability?!"
The Blood Spear Pirates finally reacted, swallowing hard as they shouted.
"Paramecia, huh…"
Lugart's expression twisted into something feral.
"No wonder you dared to come alone.
But… this ability feels oddly familiar."
"Captain—"
"What are you afraid of?!"
Lugart snapped, whipping his cloak aside as Marine rank insignias clinked sharply.
"I've seen countless ability users in the Grand Line!"
Before the words even finished—
His body exploded forward.
The spear Blood Beak shot out like a venomous serpent, hooked tip ripping through the air straight for Gern's throat.
"Die, you Marine brat!"
Gern didn't move.
He didn't even blink.
HUM—
The spear passed through his body as if stabbing an illusion—no blood, no resistance.
"What?!"
Lugart's eyes widened in disbelief.
In the next instant, Gern's body dissolved into countless trembling particles—
then reassembled behind him.
"Just as I thought," Gern's voice came calmly from the rear.
"You mistook me for a Paramecia."
Lugart spun around—
Gern was already three steps behind him, a glowing vibration sphere blazing in his palm.
"No wonder you ran back from the Grand Line," Gern said mockingly.
Lugart's face darkened instantly.
With a furious roar, Blood Beak split apart and reassembled into twin short spears, their tips glowing with a sinister red light.
"Don't underestimate me, brat!"
He crossed the spears and lunged like a phantom.
"Twin Beaks—Heart Piercer!"
Gern merely raised one hand.
Vibration particles flowed around his arm like liquid.
"Quake Wall."
BOOM!
The twin spears slammed into an invisible barrier.
A shockwave erupted outward, blasting surrounding pirates into the air.
The ground cracked, rubble flew—
yet Gern's clothes didn't even flutter.
Sweat beaded on Lugart's forehead.
His hands trembled as repeated strikes slammed uselessly against the vibrating barrier.
He jumped back abruptly, pulling distance, his expression twisting.
"Damn it… a Logia…"
His voice warped into a furious scream.
"That's why I hate you bastards blessed by fate!"
He stomped the ground—
it shattered instantly.
The spear spun in his hand as black metallic sheen coated the hooked tip.
"You lucky trash who think a single fruit makes you invincible!"
"I've seen plenty like you in the Grand Line—"
"They all died like stray dogs!"
Gern vanished.
"Quake Flash · Slide Rail!"
Transparent vibration tracks appeared in the air.
Gern was launched forward like a projectile.
Eight Desolations rose high.
White vibration light condensed into a visible blade as he brought it down.
Before the strike even landed, the ground split apart like brittle biscuits.
Lugart grinned instead of dodging.
Blood Beak surged upward, coated in Armament Haki.
CLANG!!
Sparks exploded as blade and spear collided.
"Strong!"
Lugart froze for a split second.
But Gern was equally startled—
Lugart's Armament Haki had actually withstood the vibration shock, even numbing his grip.
"Oi, Marine brat," Lugart spat.
"Your combat experience is terrible."
Black Haki coiled around the spear like smoke.
Gern answered by raising Eight Desolations.
"Quake Rend."
The blade fell.
A massive vibration slash erupted outward, pulverizing ground and buildings alike—
even space itself seemed to fracture.
Lugart lunged head-on.
"Blood Feast Thrust · Piercing Sea!"
BOOOOM!!
The collision blasted Lugart backward, his grip splitting open as blood dripped down his wrist.
At the same time—
A thin line of blood appeared on Gern's chest.
His Logia body—
had been cut.
"Haki…?"
Gern stepped back half a pace, eyes flashing.
"Hahahaha!!"
Lugart burst into manic laughter.
"You don't even know Armament Haki?!"
Gern glanced down at the wound, genuinely surprised.
Lugart slammed his spear into the ground arrogantly.
"I fought real monsters in the Grand Line!
Haki—that is proof of a true strongman!"
He lunged again.
"Blood Feast · Thousand Spears!"
Blades and spear clashed repeatedly, sparks raining.
Then Lugart noticed something else.
Gern wasn't just inexperienced.
His swordplay had no structure—
pure brute force fueled by Devil Fruit power and blade quality.
No technique.
No finesse.
"If you like the chapter please vote using power stones . Ps target:20"