"Get out of my way! Gomu Gomu no Gattling Kugi Punch (Rubber Gatling Spike Fist)!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Luffy launched his spiked fists in rapid succession, knocking down a large swath of Krieg Pirates who had rushed forward.
These pirates weren't particularly strong to begin with, so in an instant, the ground was littered with unconscious bodies. The rest of the pirates stood paralyzed, not daring to interfere in the fight between Zoro and Mihawk.
At that moment, Nami and Usopp arrived.
"Nami, Usopp. I'll leave those two to you."
"I need to keep my eyes on Zoro."
Without turning his head, Genrou kept his gaze locked on the duel and spoke to the two beside him.
Though Mihawk wasn't going all out, and his sword swings hadn't reached an unseeable level, Genrou still didn't dare let his guard down while observing such fearsome swordsmanship fused into basic strikes.
He worried that at any moment, Mihawk might casually release a swing capable of cleaving meteors in half.
To ensure Zoro's safety, Genrou concentrated his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) on both Zoro and Mihawk. On top of that, he also activated the power of Kokushibou's Sukitōru Sekai, (Transparent World)
Just like Observation Haki, the Transparent World greatly enhanced his perception, allowing him to see through flesh and perceive an opponent's internal state.
With both perception abilities layered together, Genrou's vision of Mihawk's swordsmanship became even clearer. And as expected of the world's number one swordsman, Zoro still had a long way to go—even if he could now release Flying Slashes and was worthy of the title "swordsman."
"Leave it to me, Vice-Captain Genrou," Nami said playfully, showing no fear toward Gin and Pearl as they charged forward.
Usopp, on the other hand, began to panic again upon seeing Gin's terrifying, demonic expression.
"Hey, all of you get lost already!"
"Are you trying to raise a hand against a lady!?"
Sanji lit a cigarette and stepped in front of Gin and Pearl.
"Sanji, step aside. I have to take Captain Krieg with me," Gin said, stopping just a meter from Sanji and looking at him with a complicated expression—this was the man who had once given him a lifesaving meal.
Pearl, seeing Gin stop, still stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Krieg, afraid his captain might not get back up.
"Too bad, Gin. You're no longer starving. I no longer have any reason to listen to your demands," Sanji said, expression serious. "Besides, you're trying to hurt a lady."
"If you want to harm Miss Nami, you'll have to step over my dead body!"
With a wide sweep of his leg, Sanji sent Pearl flying like a kite with a broken string.
But his heroic pose lasted only a few seconds before he turned back to Nami with a pervy grin.
"Miss Nami, rest assured—your prince will protect you."
"Sure, sure, I got it." Nami waved him off with a blank stare.
Still, with someone holding off the enemy, Nami happily took the opportunity to squat down and start stripping Krieg's golden armor for valuables.
"Tch, this stuff's heavy. Usopp, come help me."
"Nami, we're still in the middle of a fight! Can't we loot the spoils later?!"
Usopp gulped and immediately declined. If Nami could trust Sanji to protect them, then so could he.
Still, Usopp felt nervous just taking his eyes off Gin or Pearl for even a moment.
"What's the problem? It's not like they're shy," Nami said, dragging Usopp over to help her strip Krieg.
"Bastard, stop that!" Gin bellowed, furious at the disrespect shown to his captain.
In his rage, his speed surged, and in a blink he was next to Sanji.
"What?!"
Sanji widened his eyes and reflexively kicked toward Gin, but the chef's footing couldn't match Gin's sudden acceleration.
Sanji stumbled, and Gin stormed right past him toward Nami and Usopp.
"Bastard! Don't even think about it!"
Sanji's eyes went bloodshot as he chased after Gin, completely abandoning defense.
But just as he was about to catch up, Pearl—his body still clad in his massive shield—stepped in and blocked his path.
Meanwhile, Nami and Usopp both froze with strained smiles.
"This guy's coming this way!?" Usopp's heart pounded as Gin approached like a demon.
That's when the Engine ignited.
A thundering heartbeat—DUN DUN DUN—roared in the air.
An invisible wave of pressure hit Gin, causing his body to momentarily seize up.
And that fleeting pause sealed his fate.
"Card Magic—The Fool's Temperance!"
Nami flung a card toward Gin. A thick mist erupted from it, instantly wrapping Gin in a dense fog.
"What the—?!"
"What is this power?!"
Gin stood firm, gritting his teeth against the haze, glaring at Nami. Having experienced Krieg's sleeping gas before, he instinctively assumed this was a similar trick.
"You sly woman!"
With a furious shout, he gathered his strength to escape the mist.
But the fog only grew thicker.
"Exploding Star!"
BOOM!
Usopp launched a shot from his slingshot, striking Gin dead-on.
The explosive star, crafted from Nami's explosive arrows, detonated spectacularly, hurling Gin into the air.
But it didn't end there. Nami followed up with another card—this time summoning scorching flames that enveloped Gin.
Already weakened by the gas and explosion, Gin couldn't hold out any longer.
He crashed down onto the deck of Baratie, unconscious.
"Hmm… Is it over?"
Sanji, having just knocked Pearl away, stared in disbelief at Gin lying at his feet.
He hadn't expected the person he was trying to protect to defeat such a tough opponent so quickly.
"Huhuhu... In Genrou's words, you basically protected air," Usopp quipped, his Ō-sama Enjin (King Engine) still rumbling as he patted Sanji's shoulder.
"I'll take care of this guy too."
He casually tossed three cards at Pearl's feet.
Already terrified by Gin's defeat and Usopp's looming presence, Pearl couldn't take the pressure.
Turning on his heel, he sprinted away in terror.
"Heh... Turning your back on a sniper—now that's a bad habit."
Usopp let fly another Exploding Star, slamming it into the back of Pearl's head.
The direct hit, compounded by a precision strike to a weak spot, ensured that Pearl followed Gin into unconsciousness.
"Whoa, that was almost too easy."
Usopp shrugged and powered down the King Engine.
Turning, he found Sanji still staring at him, dumbfounded.
Usopp laughed and gave a big thumbs up. "So? Pretty cool, right?"
Sanji's mouth twitched. He looked at Usopp, then at Nami who was happily stripping Krieg's armor.
In that moment, he couldn't help but feel... maybe he was just extra baggage.
Meanwhile, Zoro and Mihawk's duel had reached a turning point.
"Santoryu, Tsuki no Kokyū·Kata: Yagetsu·Muken! (Three Sword Style, Moon Breathing · Form: Night Solitary Moon · Eternal)!"
Zoro swung his three swords rapidly, unleashing dozens of slashes in the blink of an eye.
Yet still, his speed couldn't surpass Mihawk.
Each slash was deflected, and in the next instant—
Mihawk's blade was already pressed against Zoro's chest.
...
(End of Chapter)
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