Chapter 821: Chaos of Battle
Chapter 821: Chaos of Battle
On another side of the island, a fierce battle had erupted.
"Whoosh—heya!!"
With a wisp-like figure darting through the air, two streaks of pale blue light sliced through the sunlight, striking downward toward a man shrouded in sinister aura wearing a navy admiral uniform.
"Slash Torrent!!"
Crash!
The blade cleaved down like a roaring waterfall.
The figure below sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike as the twin blades slammed into the ground, carving two massive gashes into the earth.
"You brat!" Feglie growled, his tone dark. "You dare challenge me?"
Around him, countless pirates lay sprawled and unconscious.
"Heh!" 'Shimmering Blade' Austin missed his strike but straightened up, casually slinging his right blade over his shoulder with a grin. "Uncle, when we meet, can't we skip the formalities? We are rivals, after all."
"Dare you even compare yourself to me?" Feglie narrowed his eyes, contemptuous. "You're just a newly-debuted brat. I've slaughtered countless like you."
"Then come try!" Austin laughed brightly, suddenly lunging forward. His left blade thrust ahead, condensing a surge of water into a spiraling torrent that propelled him straight toward his foe.
He wasn't a Devil Fruit user, but in the Grand Line, extraordinary feats weren't exclusive to them. Among the Whitebeard Pirates' captains, 'Thunder Lord' Mark Guy wielded lightning from his blade—a technique, not a Devil Fruit power.
"Granting your wish."
Feglie sidestepped the thrust and raised his fist to strike.
Yet Austin spun outward, his twin blades whirling like a tempest, swirling water around him. As he leaped upward, completing a half-rotation mid-air, he drove his blades downward toward Feglie's head.
"Vortex Sea Current!!"
Clang!
The strike landed with a sharp impact as Austin chuckled. "Tough one, this uncle of mine!"
The twin blades had precisely struck Feglie's neck but were halted by a barrier of Haki. Strengthening his body, he withstood the blades' slash, his muscles taut as he growled, "Iron Body."
...
Elsewhere, another battle unfolded.
【Red Dragon's Wrath Pirates】captain 'Prime Minister' Humphrey stood calmly before a group of foes outnumbering him several times over. He performed a noble bow, pressing his white-gloved palm to his chest in a courteous salute, bowing slightly. "So many against me? If I may suggest, why not ally instead?"
"Cut the chatter!" a pirate roared. "Your head's worth a fortune! Besides this treasure, claiming your heads will make us famous!"
"Exactly! Die, Humphrey!"
The group raised their firearms.
"What a shame", Humphrey mused. "There are stronger foes on this island than me. If we cooperate, I could help you claim their heads. Surely that's more convenient?"
His words wavered some pirates.
"You'd help us?"
"Of course, if you follow my commands. So, what say you?" Humphrey's eyes narrowed.
After deliberating, a pirate nodded. "If you're sincere, partnering's fine. Just don't pull tricks."
"Fallow my commands, then?" Humphrey leaned closer.
At their hesitant nods, he smiled, his gloved finger tapping downward. "Then let me command. First—fire at the enemy."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The wavering pirates suddenly turned on their comrades, bullets ripping through the air. Blood sprayed as their former allies collapsed.
"What's this! Humphrey, what did you do!?"
The cries came not just from the wounded but also the stunned trigger-pullers.
Humphrey circled his hand mid-air, shifting his foot into an old noble bow. "As you see... I command."
"Unforgivable!!"
Uncontrolled pirates aimed at him.
Humphrey smirked. "Come, become meat shields."
A burly pirate charged forward at lightning speed, blocking the bullets with his body before the shooters could react.
Puh-puh-puh!
Riddled with bullets, the man fell like a sieve.
As the burly corpse crumpled, Humphrey's subordinates raised their guns, targeting their former allies.
"Fire. Aim for the heads."
Bang!!
At his command, a unified volley rang out, piercing the opposing pirates' skulls in an instant. Half their number fell.
Humphrey chuckled. "I command Devil Fruits... and I command men."
He pointed forward. "Hold them down!"
The controlled pirates lunged, restraining the remaining foes.
"Fire. Three-stage rapid fire. Aim for the heads."
Another command. His subordinates fired in unison, bullets finding the heads of both restrained enemies and their captors alike.
Within moments, the encircling pirates lay lifeless, none left standing.
Humphrey retrieved a handkerchief from his chest, disgustingly covering his nose to block the stench of blood. "Despicable men... worthy of cooperating with me, Humphrey?"
"Ah!! The captain of the ‘Flying Rudder Pirate Group’ has neared the treasure! Will he be the first victor?!"
Suddenly, a broadcast echoed from below, reaching the island.
Humphrey, previously strolling leisurely, froze. He turned toward the island's highest cliff's edge, grinning. "Oh my, someone's already ahead. But the first to seize it isn't necessarily the winner. Let's go harvest. Increase our marching speed."
With mechanical precision, his subordinates marched faster toward the cliff's edge.
Meanwhile, Austin and Feglie paused their duel, casting glances toward the cliff. Austin halted first, dashing past Feglie.
"Let's continue our fight there. I won't be anyone's stepping stone to the treasure!"
"Foolish brat!" Feglie muttered, following.
Near the cliff's edge shipwrecks, Kuro and his two companions slowly approached. Having reached the cliff and neared the wreckage, their Observation Haki easily evaded nearby pirates, focusing solely on their goal.
While others clashed, Kuro arrived first. Stepping onto a pile of gold coins, he picked up a weathered wooden chest.
"What's this, then?"
As he reached to open it, his eyes suddenly narrowed downward—not toward the island's surface but beneath it, to Gregait's isle.
That aura...
Frenzied and brimming with battle intent!
"Damn it!" Kuro bared his teeth. "You hid well, concealing your aura so skillfully. But now, you can't hold back anymore, huh!?"
(End of Chapter)
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