Jerry's flurry of kicks was a technique born from pure improvisation, a high-speed aerial assault inspired by the legendary martial artists from his old world's tales. While it might have lacked the refined grace of a true master, the raw power and blistering speed were more than authentic enough.
"Rear Admiral!"
A stunned silence fell over the hall as Sigmon was sent flying. It was broken a moment later by the horrified cries of the Marines and the auctioneer. The soldiers, snapping out of their shock, stopped their pursuit of the fleeing pirates and immediately turned, their weapons raised as they formed a closing circle around Jerry on the stage.
Before they could advance, the mountain of rubble against the far wall began to tremble. Bricks and debris flew as Sigmon erupted from the wreckage, staggering to his feet. His uniform was torn and ragged, his face and body were covered in scuff marks and dust, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He stood there, gasping for breath, his eyes burning with a wild, fiery hatred as he stared at Jerry. He was beaten, but he was far from broken.
Seeing their commander rise, the advancing Marines paused, though they remained clustered together, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
"You…!" Sigmon roared, his voice a guttural snarl. "I will make you pay!" He twisted his neck, producing a series of sickening cracks, and took two heavy steps forward.
"Fist of Justice: Instant Barrage!"
BOOM!
The floor exploded under his feet once more. He vanished, combining the incredible speed of Shave with the ferocious boxing style he had emulated from the legendary Vice-Admiral Garp. He reappeared before Jerry, his face a mask of pure rage, his fists a blur of motion.
But Jerry had no desire to prolong this fight. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Dora, Kotatsu, and the two other mermaids had successfully reunited and were quietly making their way toward the large hole Sigmon had conveniently blown in the side wall—their exit to the street outside. It was time to end this.
As Sigmon's fist neared his face, Jerry ducked under the blow, the wind from the attack whipping through his hair. He dropped into a low horse stance, planting his feet firmly on the stage. His right fist clenched, and a brilliant azure light began to swirl around it, shimmering as he coated it in a dense layer of Armament Haki.
"Try this on for size!" Jerry roared. Taking advantage of the moment Sigmon was overextended from his missed punch, he generated explosive power from his feet, spinning on his heel and launching a devastating uppercut aimed squarely at the Rear Admiral's chin.
"Water Dragon Fist!"
The moment the punch connected, a colossal dragon made of pure, condensed water erupted into existence. It coiled around Rear Admiral Sigmon, its roaring head pointed to the sky, and carried him upward with irresistible force. The dragon smashed through the magnificent ceiling of the auction hall, bursting into the open air and climbing high into the sky before it finally dissipated, dissolving into a fine mist of water droplets that rained back down to the earth.
Debris from the shattered roof rained down onto the stage. Bright sunlight streamed through the new, massive hole in the ceiling. As the light hit the mist from Jerry's attack, a brilliant, beautiful rainbow arched across the opening.
"Ah, the sweet smell of freedom," Jerry grinned, admiring the beautiful, destructive scenery he had created.
His expression then hardened. He turned his head and swept his gaze across the terrified onlookers still trapped in the hall. His Conqueror's Haki washed over them, a wave of pure intimidation that froze them in their tracks. "Listen up!" he announced, his voice cold and indifferent. "This place is under new management. Mine. Anyone who doesn't want to die will stand perfectly still."
The Marines, who had been about to charge, were crushed by the overwhelming pressure. A cold sweat broke out on their skin, and they found themselves unable to make a single move. The remaining pirates and criminals didn't dare even breathe.
Jerry snorted with contempt, ignoring the living statues for the time being. He walked over to the hole Sigmon had punched in the stage floor and leaped down without hesitation. He had already crashed the party and rescued Dora's sisters; he might as well free every last slave in this hellhole.
Landing in the dim preparation area below, Jerry grabbed the nearest terrified staff member. "Are all the slaves down here?" he demanded.
"Ah… yes! Yes, sir!" the man stammered.
Jerry's Observation Haki had already swept through the entire building, but he wanted to be certain he hadn't missed a hidden room. Hearing the confirmation, he shoved the man aside and got to work. In a whirlwind of activity, he moved from cage to cage, snapping locks and breaking shackles with ease. Soon, all the captives were free. He gathered the dazed and fearful group, quickly scanned their faces, and pointed to a large, stern-looking man who seemed to have a spark of defiance in his eyes.
"You're in charge," Jerry said simply. "Lead your people out of here. The marine is in chaos, so this is your best chance." He was a pirate, not a shepherd. He had freed them from their cages, but now it was up to them to seize their own future. Taking them with him would only put them in more danger. "Be smart, be careful, and good luck."
As for the auction house staff, Jerry let his Haki guide him, vaguely sensing the nature of their hearts. For every individual whose soul was stained with malice and cruelty, he answered with a single, silent water bullet.
A few moments later, he jumped back up onto the stage. The hall was now almost completely empty. The Marines and pirates alike had taken advantage of his brief absence to flee. He wasn't surprised. While he was downstairs, he had sensed Sigmon's men frantically calling for reinforcements.
"Ahem," he said to the empty room, striking a pose as if concluding a grand speech. "Well, I don't really have a closing statement, so… I wish you all prosperity in your future endeavors!"
Then, his figure blurred. He zipped around the grand hall, moving from corner to corner, using a simple lighter to set fire to the lavish curtains, expensive furniture, and wooden decorations.
"And… scene," he said, clapping the dust from his hands as flames began to rise all around him.
With the warm, cheerful roar of the fire at his back, he walked calmly out of the auction house, the sounds of the building beginning to collapse behind him. He followed the path he had seen Dora and the others take.
He found them hiding in a small patch of woods not far from the main street. The three mermaid sisters were chattering excitedly, recounting their harrowing experiences to each other. He glanced up at the sky; it was already noon. He pulled two more cloaks and a generous amount of food from his system space.
After handing the cloaks to Dora's sisters, they all began to eat as they walked deeper into the woods. Jerry was contemplating his next move when a deafening explosion ripped through the air from another part of the archipelago. An instant later, a colossal pillar of orange-red flame erupted into the sky.
"Hmm? Ace, you dummy…"
His Observation Haki flared to life, instantly locking onto the source of the commotion. It was exactly where he had last sensed Ace and Deuce.
"Kotatsu," Jerry said, squatting down to pat the lynx's head. "Take Dora and her sisters back to the ship. Go straight there. Skull and Wallace will know what to do."
"Meow~" Kotatsu licked his hand in understanding.
Jerry turned to the mermaids. "Dora, follow Kotatsu. There's a Fishman on our crew named Wallace, you'll be safe with him. Don't worry, our next stop is Fishman Island. We'll get you home."
"Okay! Thank you so much, Brother Jerry!" Dora and her sisters said, bowing their heads solemnly. "Please be careful!" With that, they turned and followed Kotatsu, disappearing into the cover of the giant trees.
Jerry stood alone for a moment, watching them go. Then, he turned and sprinted in the direction of his captain's fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~