Note: Original Character.
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Kuja Pirates.
On the pirate ship, Jasmine—the current Empress of Amazon Lily and captain of the Kuja Pirates—lowered her bow.
Beside her, a guard put down the telescope and turned toward her. "Your Majesty, the marines detected our attack. Should we continue?"
Jasmine frowned slightly as she gazed at the distant warship. Her cold voice rang out.
"Continue. Close the distance and launch a full-scale attack."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Upon receiving the order, the guard commanded the crew to prepare for battle. At the same time, the Kuja Pirate ship, dragged by three giant serpents, surged forward at full speed.
...
On the Marine Warship.
Carlo lowered his own telescope, flipped through his notebook to a specific page, and reported to Sakazuki.
"Vice Admiral, the flag belongs to the Kuja Pirates."
Sakazuki's voice was indifferent. "The warrior tribe, 'Kuja'?"
Hearing this, Carlo glanced at his notes and continued, "Yes, sir. According to records, the Kuja Pirates hail from Amazon Lily, a nation built on Maiden Island within the Calm Belt. The Kuja Pirates serve as the island's military force.
"They frequently raid merchant ships, pirate vessels, and even marine warships that stray into the Calm Belt. Their ship, drawn by three giant serpents, allows them to navigate those treacherous waters with ease.
"Marine Headquarters has attempted multiple pursuits over the years, but without proper propulsion and with the constant threat of colossal Sea Kings in the Calm Belt, every attempt has ended in failure."
Sakazuki nodded. It made sense.
At this point in time, Vegapunk had yet to make a name for himself, and Seastone-coated warships wouldn't be developed for another few years.
The Calm Belt was home to the largest Sea Kings, some the size of entire islands. If they encountered one, a high-ranking officer might survive, but regular marines would be doomed. Without Seastone warships, the risk of Sea Kings attacking was ever-present.
On the other hand, the Kuja Pirates were intimately familiar with the Calm Belt's waters, making their escape inevitable.
Carlo flipped to another page in his notes. "Records indicate that the Kuja Pirates always start engagements with a probing attack. If their first strike lands, they immediately follow up with an overwhelming assault to test their enemy's strength.
"If they determine they have the upper hand, they close in for direct combat and slaughter. But if the initial attack is repelled, they resort to long-range suppression, using Haki-infused arrows and cannon fire to cripple their target.
"And if that fails, they retreat. This unpredictability is one of the reasons the Kuja Pirates are so difficult to deal with."
Finishing the last line, Carlo closed his notebook and looked at Sakazuki, awaiting orders.
"Long-range assault, huh?"
Sakazuki pondered for a moment before speaking. "Use the ship's cannons to keep the Kuja Pirates at a distance. Suppress them beyond their effective range. As for their arrows—our men will use Haki to block them."
"Understood!"
Carlo relayed the commands, mobilizing the marines. The warship's gunners adjusted their positions, loading shells into the cannons as the exhausted crew braced for battle.
Sakazuki, meanwhile, ascended to the highest deck of the warship.
Staring at the approaching vessel—an ancient-styled warship pulled by three massive serpents—he unleashed his Observation Haki.
In his mind, silhouettes and positions of every crew member aboard the pirate ship became clear.
...
Aboard the Kuja Pirate ship.
Jasmine's expression darkened. With a cold humph, she unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki, covering the entire ship.
Her aura rippled outward, disrupting Sakazuki's Observation Haki, clouding his perception.
The crew members flinched in surprise, confused as to why their Empress had suddenly exerted her will.
Just then, a guard stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we are within striking distance."
Jasmine gave a slight nod. Her icy voice carried through the deck. "Fire a probing attack. There's a high-level combatant on the other side. If ineffective, then—"
BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!!
A barrage of cannon fire rained down like a torrential storm, pounding the waters ahead of the Kuja Pirates' advance. The three massive serpents pulling the ship were forced to halt, their bodies writhing as the vessel rocked violently.
"Your Majesty!"
The sudden bombardment interrupted their conversation. The guard steadied herself and quickly turned to her Empress.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes slightly. Expressionless, a chilling aura of killing intent radiated from her.
"Launch a full-scale attack." Her cold voice echoed across the deck.
Moments later, waves of arrows—each coated in Haki—were fired in perfect formation, soaring toward the opposing warship.
The power of Armament Haki was undeniable. These arrows didn't just travel incredible distances; their impact was devastating. Each one that struck the deck exploded, leaving gaping holes in the planks.
...
Aboard the warship.
A rain of arrows descended.
Marines braced themselves. Some met the projectiles head-on, using Haki-coated limbs to deflect them. Others wielded weapons, their blades ringing out as they parried the incoming barrage.
One side was an elite force chosen from an entire nation, hardened by years at sea. The other, promising young recruits yet to fully mature into warriors.
Shouts of pain and alarm filled the warship.
"Hiss!"
"That hurts like hell!"
"How are these arrows this powerful?!"
"Argh!!"
"AHHH!!"
CLANG!
TINK! TINK!
Those who blocked with weapons gasped at the sheer force behind the arrows. Those without weapons suffered the full brunt of the attack, the impact sending them reeling.
Sakazuki remained on the highest deck, his Observation Haki fully unleashed. With the flick of a finger, he shot down arrow after arrow with precise blasts of compressed air—ensuring no fatal strikes reached his men.
Even so, the marines were battered, bruised, and bloodied.
Yet, as the battle raged on, their instincts sharpened. The longer they fought, the more refined their Haki became, their movements growing more fluid.
Suddenly—
SWISH!
A faint whistling sound.
Sakazuki's figure blurred. In a flash, he reappeared at the ship's railing.
"Fall back. All of you."
His voice was calm but commanding. Before the marines could react, he waved his hand.
A massive magma curtain, infused with Armament Haki, erupted along the side of the warship. Explosions thundered against the molten barrier, sending shockwaves through the ship and causing a ringing in everyone's ears.
Beyond the molten wall, under the relentless bombardment from the Kuja Empress, the Kuja Pirates' ship surged forward at full speed.
Sakazuki sensed it through his Observation Haki. His brows furrowed.
"You're asking for death."
The magma wall receded. Sakazuki raised his right hand, forming a finger-gun stance. His index finger glowed crimson, magma swirling violently around it.
"Shigan: Magma Tiger."
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jet-black magma bullets, each infused with Haki, blasted from his fingertip, tearing through the air toward the Kuja Pirates.
Upon seeing the incoming projectiles, the members of the Kuja warriors barely reacted. Confident in their strength, they leaped onto the ship's bow, drawing their Haki-coated swords to slash them apart.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
The moment their blades connected, an earth-shaking explosion erupted.
But the magma bullets didn't scatter. Instead, they expanded, swelling into massive, molten forms.
Furious roars erupted from within the blazing mass.
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