Roger was nearing his limit, his breaths heavy and ragged. Rayleigh had it worse, his body riddled with sword wounds from Orion's relentless blade and Wind-Wind Fruit powers, leaving him battered and scrambling. Gaban, somehow, had escaped Brelco's attacks with barely a scratch!
It wasn't that Rayleigh and Gaban were worlds apart in skill—Orion's swordsmanship was just on another level compared to Brelco's. How did a guy like Brelco, with a 700-million-Belly bounty, seem so underwhelming? What kind of shady deeds had inflated his reputation so much?
Angelie and Bull led their crew against the Roger Pirates' elites, overpowering them one by one. This time, they bound the defeated pirates, planning to use them as leverage against Shirokiri, Orion, and Brelco.
Their top-tier fighters were outmatched, so stalling was the only option. Captain Brook should be arriving soon—but Roger and Rayleigh looked like they couldn't hold out much longer.
"Shirokiri, Orion, Brelco! Stop fighting, or we'll slaughter your crew!" Angelie shouted, brandishing a pistol at the captives.
Shirokiri's onslaught faltered, hesitation creeping into his strikes.
Orion, however, sneered, unfazed. His attacks grew fiercer, aiming to finish Rayleigh and then take out Angelie and Bull before casually freeing his crew.
Brelco? He saw his men as mere tools. He'd joined the Vesper Pirates hoping for a higher rank, only to find himself outranked by veterans with bounties half his own. Disillusioned, he was ready for a truce—but with Shirokiri and Orion still fighting, he didn't dare back down. Instead, he and Gaban started putting on a show.
Their moves became flashy, all flair and no substance, but to outsiders, it looked like a brutal clash. Neither wanted to admit they were running on fumes.
Angelie, stone-faced, didn't hesitate. She fired, executing several of Orion's men on the spot. Orion's expression darkened. After slashing at Rayleigh, he sent a flurry of sword aura slicing toward the Edward Pirates' crew.
Bodies hit the ground, cleaved apart.
"You kill my men, I kill yours," Orion seemed to say. He knew his sword aura couldn't touch Angelie or Bull, both with bounties over 500 million, but their weaker crewmates were fair game.
Furious, Angelie and Bull ignored Rayleigh's no-interference rule and charged Orion. Their intervention gave Rayleigh a rare moment to catch his breath.
He hated others meddling in his fights, but he couldn't deny their help had saved him from Orion's relentless assault. His body was burning up from the high-intensity battle, but he felt sharper—honed by the life-or-death stakes.
Even with Angelie and Bull joining the fray, Orion fought with ease. Their lack of coordination gave him openings to exploit.
Soon, sword marks marred Angelie and Bull's bodies, blood soaking their clothes.
"Why don't you help your buddy out? Let's switch opponents—I'll take those two!" Brelco whispered to Gaban, still play-fighting. He couldn't beat Gaban, but he figured he could handle Angelie and Bull. Plus, he'd been itching to take out Angelie—she'd be trouble if she ever became Shirokiri's wife.
Gaban considered it. He and Rayleigh had better synergy, and Angelie and Bull could probably hold their own against Brelco for a bit.
"Fine. Send me flying!"
No sooner had he spoken than Brelco launched him into the air, crashing into the chaos of Orion, Rayleigh, Angelie, and Bull's fight.
"Gaban, you okay?!" Rayleigh shouted, thinking Gaban had been overwhelmed.
"I'm fine! Angelie, Bull, take that guy! Orion's ours!" Gaban roared, charging Orion without a hint of weakness. Rayleigh, catching on, rushed in to back him up, the two friends syncing perfectly against their foe.
Angelie and Bull turned on Brelco, their eyes blazing with hatred. Former allies or not, they wanted him dead—and Brelco was just as eager to eliminate Angelie, the thorn in his side.
...
Brelco went all-in, determined to crush Angelie. He tanked Bull's attack, unleashing a devastating blow that sent Angelie flying.
She hit the ground hard, coughing up blood, her face deathly pale. Brelco, wincing from Bull's hit, stood back up, barely fazed. Bull hadn't gone full force, but Brelco's strike on Angelie was a full-throttle deathblow.
He smirked inwardly. Her organs must be pulp now. Let's see Shirokiri marry her corpse!
"Angelie!" Bull roared, stunned. How could Brelco, that heartless bastard, go for the kill so ruthlessly? No loyalty at all?
"Damn you!" Angelie choked out, blood and fragments of her insides spilling from her mouth. Her wounds were catastrophic—beyond saving, it seemed.
Hatred burned in her fading eyes. She hadn't avenged her father or led the Edward Pirates to glory. To die at a traitor's hands? Regret, pain, and sorrow flashed through her mind as tears streamed down her face. Was this really the end?
Her thoughts drifted to that infuriating man who'd forced her crew's surrender. He'd stolen a kiss once, hadn't he? Shame she'd never see him again.
Angelie's pupils trembled, then dimmed, her life force fading in the Observation Haki of those around her.
Bull wept, clutching his head. She was Edward's only daughter, and he'd failed to protect her.
Shirokiri, locked in combat with Roger, froze. His face paled, then twisted into rage as he glared at Brelco.
...
The sky darkened as a golden airship streaked into view. A white cloud plummeted, carrying Brook and ship doctor Crocus.
Seeing Brook, Angelie managed a faint, relieved smile before losing consciousness.
Brook rushed to her side, prying open her mouth and stuffing in a handful of Blood Dandelion herbs.
"Captain Brook, you're too late! Angelie… she's gone!" Bull sobbed.
But then, a glow enveloped Angelie. Her ashen face flushed with color, her vitality returning. Shirokiri, Roger, and Brelco stared, dumbstruck.
Their Observation Haki had sensed her life force vanish—how was she coming back?
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