"Dammit!!!"
Puh—!
In an instant, everyone whose name had been called out by Orin burst into sprays of blood without exception.
Especially Kaido.
Still just an intern of the Rocks Pirates, this young man had taken a bullet infused with Conqueror's Haki head-on, and was almost instantly left gravely injured.
He collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
If not for his strong foundation and the toughness of his Oni bloodline, he would have been blown apart by a single shot.
There was no need to even mention fragile types like Golden Lion.
Even someone like Charlotte Linlin, with her natural constitution, was instantly broken through under the combined effect of Conqueror's Haki infusion and spatial power.
Blood streamed from her hands, dripping down Napoleon, falling drop by drop until it pooled into a small stream...
"Mama!!!"
"Mama!!!"
The Homies gathered around her, panic written across their anthropomorphic faces as they stared at their wounded Big Mom.
"Hey!!! Who the hell are you?!"
"Helping Roger like this—are you really trying to go against the Rocks Pirates?!"
Her pretty face was heavy with tension. Big Mom was still Big Mom—her physique was as monstrous as Orin's. She hadn't completely lost the ability to fight.
Clutching the gaping wound in her side, she glared angrily at Orin, who was sitting on the lookout calmly flicking away ash from his cigarette.
But all she received in return was a detached glance.
What kind of eyes were those?!
Indifferent to everything, unmoved even when facing one of the strongest pirate crews in the world, those crimson glowing pupils looked down upon the captains aboard the enemy ship.
"Tch…"
Linlin gritted her teeth, staring straight into those crimson eyes.
But in the blink of an eye, that gaze was suddenly right before her, locking directly onto her.
A chill ran down her spine.
"So beautiful after all…"
Those scarlet eyes appeared right in front of her. The young Big Mom instinctively stepped back, but quickly steadied herself.
She was the woman destined to become Queen of the World!!!
How could she be afraid of some unknown brat?!
"I don't care who you are—prepare to die!!!"
Her long pink hair whipped in the wind as black-and-red lightning of Conqueror's Haki burst from her body. She gripped Napoleon, Prometheus blazing atop the blade, her towering figure exuding the might of a sea overlord.
It was a slash straight from Elbaf, the land of giants!
A strike wrapped in both Conqueror's Haki and flames swung down from her hand, carrying monstrous force as it aimed for Orin's head.
Clang—!!!
Ssshhhhh…
Like a volcanic eruption, the terrifying shockwave blasted all the small fry pirates clean off the ship.
But Orin? His arm, coated in Haki, blocked the slash with ease.
The power was great—but not enough to break through. At this point, Big Mom was still young, and her Conqueror's Haki was far from its peak.
With a forceful swing, Orin easily overpowered Charlotte Linlin, the so-called possessor of monstrous strength, sending her stumbling.
He pressed the advantage—
A single kick sent the young Big Mom flying.
...
At this moment, the wounded Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and the others leapt from their ships, intending to head to Big Mom's vessel to assist her.
Not out of kindness, of course. On Rocks' ship, there was only scheming and backstabbing.
They came purely because of Orin's earlier gunfire—and because they wanted to test this mysterious stranger's strength.
"Hey!!! Orin, watch out!!!"
Roger shouted, Ace gripped in his hand, his Conqueror's Haki leaking outward. Just as he was about to leap over, Rayleigh stopped him.
"Wait, Roger…"
"What the hell are you doing, Rayleigh?!"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his lips curling as he glanced toward Orin, who seemed almost excited.
"Do you really think Orin can't handle Newgate and the others? Think about his abilities."
"This…"
Roger scratched his head, recalling Orin's elusive powers and how badly the Roger Pirates had once suffered against him.
And now… it was the Rocks Pirates' turn?
Perfect!!!
Roger glanced at his own bandaged body, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
"Well… you're right. If Orin needs it, we'll back him up."
"After all, he's my son!!! Wahahahahaha!!!"
...
Meanwhile, completely unaware that Roger had claimed him as a son, Orin was leisurely sitting atop the fallen Charlotte Linlin's waist.
One hand pinned her wrist. No matter how tough she might be, or how monstrous Big Mom's body was, against the world's strongest physical might, she could only be pressed helplessly into the ground.
"To think you've already given birth to several kids, yet still kept such a figure?"
Orin didn't feel much desire—he had long since become immune to such things.
It was simply a sigh of nostalgia. The beautiful figure he'd once seen in newspapers at eight or nine years old was now so easily subdued by him. Time truly changed everything.
Charlotte Linlin ground her teeth, glaring at Orin.
She wanted to fight back, but her only usable weapons—the Homies—had already been kicked into trauma by Orin.
The small fry aboard the ship dared not approach. They had seen Orin's eerie powers and overwhelming strength—no one wanted to be the first to die.
And just then, a figure stepped forward.
Dual blades in hand, eyes stern yet brimming with Rocks Pirate pride.
Others didn't dare challenge Orin—he would!
"Nani???"
"Who is that? So bold!!!"
"I know him—that's Keek, one of the ship's fighters!!!"
"How the hell does he dare…? Don't tell me he's acting on impulse because I mocked him earlier?!"
Tap…
Keek stood before Orin, blades drawn. Even though he knew he had no chance of winning, there was no fear.
If you're afraid of death, you shouldn't be a pirate!
He hadn't even feared Roger—he'd cursed him to his face! This young man before him was just another lunatic.
"…"
Orin twitched at the sight.
Was the old man really this fearless in his youth?
How did he even survive God Valley… sheer dumb luck?
Orin usually expected respect from others, but when it came to a few—like this old man, Roger, or even Buggy—he was willing to show respect in return.
"You're… not afraid of death?"