Night had fallen over the Grand Line. The moon hung high in the sky, clear and cold, yet its silvery light could not cool the burning passion radiating from the deck of the Oro Jackson.
A roaring bonfire had been lit, casting a warm glow across the faces of the crew. They had just survived a thrilling battle against the Marines, yet exhaustion was nowhere to be seen. Instead, their spirits soared higher than ever.
Miller Pine hoisted a barrel of rum and sang an unknown tune at the top of his lungs, the sheer volume threatening to wake Sea Kings for miles around. Spencer, for once abandoning his usual composed demeanor, was locked in a heated debate with Bluemarine about which cannonball's trajectory during the battle had been the most "elegant." Meanwhile, Rayleigh leaned against the main mast, a faint smile tugging at his lips, quietly observing his boisterous companions.
"Kuhahaha! This is what pirates are all about!" Roger bellowed, tilting his head back as he chugged a generous mouthful of liquor. Wiping his mouth, his hearty laughter rang across the deck like cannon fire. "Being chased by the Marines and leaving them in the dust! What a thrill!"
The Oro Jackson itself seemed magical in this moment. Its spacious deck, sturdy hull, and gleaming figurehead instilled in everyone a profound sense of freedom and security, as if the ship could carry all their ambitions, dreams, and even reckless whims.
Kyle sat quietly on a stack of wooden crates, sipping orange juice. The move he had used to escape the Marine encirclement had drained most of his stamina, yet now, immersed in this joyful atmosphere, fatigue melted away like morning mist.
"Hey, Kyle!"
Jabba's voice cut through the chatter. Shirtless, bronze skin glinting in the firelight, he approached with a determined gait. His twin axes rested casually across his shoulders, but the fierce gleam in his eyes betrayed his intent. "What's the point of drinking and singing all night? This deck is huge! Why don't we get some exercise?"
The challenge immediately grabbed everyone's attention. Singing stopped. Arguments ceased. All eyes turned to the two veterans preparing for combat—a duel between crew giants. The excitement was palpable.
"Oh oh oh! This is going to be amazing!" Nozdon shouted, rubbing his hands together with glee.
"Are they really going all out? Mr. Jabba is incredibly strong!" Punk Rock muttered, swallowing nervously.
Roger, never one to miss a spectacle, planted one foot on a rum barrel and shouted, "Alright! Fight! Let's see how much you've both improved!"
Kyle placed his cup aside and drew his long naginata from his back. Its polished blade reflected the flickering firelight. "Damn Jabba! Let's do this!"
The two moved to the center of the deck, standing opposite one another. The crew immediately formed a large circle around them, the air crackling with anticipation.
"Bets are open! Bets are open!" Nozdon's voice rang across the deck. "I'm putting one hundred Berries on Kyle! His ability is too tricky to predict!"
"I'm going with Mr. Jabba!" Miller Pine slammed his rum barrel onto the deck. "Three hundred Berries! Strength is king!"
"I'm betting on a draw, with Captain Roger stopping it in the end," Spencer muttered, adjusting his glasses, attempting a rational judgment.
Rayleigh watched silently, a playful smile on his face. "I bet Jabba will win… but he won't come out unscathed," he whispered to Colonel Mu Gulian.
With a thundering thump, thump, thump, Jabba crossed his axes in front of his chest, assuming a solid stance. He didn't rush in; Kyle was no ordinary opponent. Underestimating him could be fatal.
Kyle tapped his naginata lightly on the deck, sending a subtle wave of Observation Haki outward. He could sense the air currents, the rhythm of Jabba's muscles, even the tiniest nuances of his breathing.
Devil Fruit ability plus Observation Haki… double insurance. I've seen through everything. Who else could do this? Kyle thought, channeling his inner strategist.
"Here I come, kid!" Jabba growled, launching himself forward. But he didn't charge straight—he moved in a high-speed, zigzagging "Z" pattern, each step leaving a shallow imprint on the deck, designed to disrupt Kyle's predictions.
"Tremor Fist – Sonic Burst!" Kyle advanced instead of retreating, unleashing a left fist into the air. The attack generated a compressed shockwave and a circular sonic boom, hurtling toward Jabba's face with enough force to collapse a building.
Jabba didn't flinch. With a swift upward sweep of his right axe, covered in black Armament Haki, he cleaved the shockwave in two. The violent force split around him, shattering two rows of railings behind.
As expected from the man capable of felling a female giant, Jabba's skill and Haki were formidable. Kyle's heart tightened—Jabba was already closing in.
"Too slow!" Jabba roared, swinging his other axe like black lightning. Kyle barely evaded, sliding across the deck.
"Light Illusion Mirage!" Kyle countered, creating three identical illusions of himself, attacking Jabba from multiple angles.
"Such petty tricks!" Jabba snorted, unleashing his own Observation Haki. He ignored the illusions and twisted sharply, smashing his twin axes together precisely where Kyle's true body was.
"Light Blade – Heavenly Rainbow Slash!" Kyle's seven-colored energy coiled around his naginata. The axes clashed with his blade in a brilliant explosion of light and sparks. The scorching aura seared the air.
The two combatants separated, reestablishing distance. The crew erupted in cheers, enthralled by the skill and intensity of the duel.
"Kyle, your abilities are truly troublesome," Jabba said, shaking his arm slightly numb from the clash. "But in a real fight, you won't have this much time to prepare!"
He charged again, the twin axes forming a whirlwind of death. Kyle maneuvered with Sonic Step – Instant, blocking and evading in tight spaces. Sparks flew as axes clashed with blade, wind pressure making even his precise movements difficult.
Kyle's options were limited—large-scale attacks could damage the ship, and Jabba neutralized small-scale shockwaves and light waves effortlessly.
This can't continue! Kyle thought.
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes. Plunging his naginata into the deck, he unleashed:
"Reverse Flow Echo!"
A peculiar sound wave spiraled outward. Jabba's movements faltered—he could hear the whooshing axes, his own roars, and even the echo of his breathing, all overlapping chaotically.
Now! Kyle thrust his naginata, tip crackling with electromagnetic energy:
"Thunder Pierce – Aurora Spear!"
Jabba bit down on his tongue, breaking free of the mental interference. Eyes clearing, he barreled forward, shoving through the lightning spear while swinging an axe, striking Kyle's side.
"Bang!"
"Iron… Iron Mountain Lean!" Kyle rolled across the deck like a kite with a snapped string, recovering just in time. His naginata skidded from his grip.
Jabba's shoulder bore a scorched mark from the lightning spear, his torn clothing still smoldering.
The duel concluded.
The deck fell silent before erupting into deafening cheers.
"He won! Mr. Jabba won!" Miller Pine shouted, pumping his fists.
"Kyle was incredible too!" Nozdon admitted, despite losing his bet.
"Ara, a single misstep and I'd have been Berba!" Jabba laughed, extending a hand to Kyle.
"That really hurt, you bastard!" Kyle grimaced, taking Jabba's hand and being pulled to his feet.
"Kuhahaha!" Roger laughed, draping his arms around both. "Well fought! Truly impressive! Lads, let's keep drinking! Celebrate having two monsters like these on our ship!"
The party surged back into full swing. The losers lamented their bets, while the victors boasted loudly. Rayleigh approached Jabba, handing him a cup of sake with a knowing smile, pointing to the scorch marks on his shoulder.
Jabba downed the sake in one gulp and looked at Kyle, who was being pestered by Nozdon for battle details. Their eyes met, both filled with anticipation for the future.
The Oro Jackson rocked gently beneath them, but the deck was alive—not with fear, but with laughter, energy, and the wild spirit of pirates ready to carve their legend across the Grand Line.
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