Boom—!
All the cannonballs exploded midair.
Tap!
With the sharp sound of high heels striking the ground, a tall, slender woman landed gracefully. Her figure was flawless, her black hair pinned up neatly, and a delicate beauty mark sat just below her right cheek.
"Phew~~~"
"What a beauty!"
"Yeah!"
"Since when did the Marines start fielding such women?"
The pirates jeered and whistled, but their eyes were wary. They had all seen that slash just moments ago—something no ordinary person could pull off.
"Hm~~~"
Arthur's gaze sharpened with interest. "Barely into her teens… and already this strong? That's monstrous."
"Hmph!"
Kaido snorted. Despite his pride, he admitted: "She is powerful. The Marines really do have their share of talents."
Even Kaido, usually unbearably arrogant, had been humbled somewhat after being repeatedly put in his place by Arthur.
The pirates, who had been teasing just moments ago, now glanced sideways at Arthur in silence. Wait a second… aren't you seventeen yourself? And Kaido's only twenty? Aren't you two just as much 'little brats'? Who are you calling monsters at this age?
"Black Arm—Shigan!"
"Wave Slash!"
Meanwhile, Zephyr and Shiki's battle had already erupted.
Arthur raised his hand. "The war begins."
"ROAR!"
Though Shiki's men didn't technically take orders from Arthur, his sheer strength gave weight to his words. With a thunderous roar, the pirates surged forward.
The Lionhead drew alongside the fortress, and Shiki's elite charged.
"Kill them!"
"Slaughter every last Marine!"
"Let them learn the price of provoking the Rocks Pirates!"
The battlefield erupted in chaos. Marines, too, surged forth, their elite soldiers meeting the pirates head-on.
"Hm?"
Arthur tilted his head as a blade wrapped in Armament Haki swept past his throat. The hand wielding it was slim and elegant, deceptively beautiful.
"You're one of the Rocks officers, aren't you?"
The woman's slash came straight for Arthur's neck.
Clang!
Arthur raised his Haki-clad hand, blocking the strike. His palm split slightly from the force, but the blade went no further.
The young woman leapt back instantly, her eyes locked on Arthur.
Arthur smiled faintly, as if unfazed by the pain. "No. I'm not an officer—just a trainee."
"Thunder Bagua!"
"Earth Fist!"
At the same time, Kaido roared, his kanabo clashing against a massive fist made of hardened earth.
Its wielder was a lame-legged young man, barely older than Arthur himself.
In that instant, four figures faced one another—Arthur, Kaido, the swordswoman, and the crippled man.
"Marine Headquarters, Commander—Gion!"
"Marine Headquarters, Commander—Gaji!"
Arthur recognized them immediately.
The future Vice Admiral candidates of Marine Headquarters.
Back now, they were still just teenagers. True Marine prodigies groomed by Headquarters itself. Later admirals like Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino would rise and eclipse them—but here and now, Gion and Gaji were the "supernovas" of the Marines.
"The Marine Supernovas…" Arthur's lips curled. "I like it. I look forward to this fight."
Because it was true—in their youth, Arthur, Kaido, Gion, and Gaji were close in ability. At such an age, it was nearly impossible to pull far ahead. But fate would split them wide open in years to come: Kaido would rise to become one of the Four Emperors of the New World, while Gion and Gaji would remain only Vice Admiral candidates. Strong, yes—but not enough to reach the rank of Admiral.
"Rabbit Leap!"
Gion struck first. Her long legs kicked off the ground, moving with a blur. Faster than "Soru," this was its evolved form. In an instant, she was at Arthur's side.
Shhh!
Her blade—Konpira, one of the Fifty Skillful Grade swords—swung down wrapped in Armament Haki.
Clang!
Arthur raised his invisible blade to block.
For a moment, Gion froze, then darted back swiftly.
Swish! Swish!
Her speed was unreal—like a snow-white rabbit darting across the battlefield.
But—
"What—?!"
The instant she landed, Arthur was already in front of her.
"Speed is just explosive strength of the body, isn't it? Gion, was it? My explosive power is probably greater than yours."
Arthur's invisible blade slashed toward her throat.
Clang!
Gion's instincts saved her. The unseen edge grazed her skin, chillingly sharp even though she couldn't see it.
"Rabbit Slash!"
If she couldn't evade, she would counter. Her blade lashed out in a storm of cuts, each one faster than the last, a blinding flurry of steel.
Arthur's response was simple:
"Hammer of the Wind King."
The blast shattered her assault, forcing her back.
He didn't hold back at all… Gion thought grimly.
Her eyes dropped to Arthur's right hand. Even with Observation Haki, she couldn't sense what weapon he was holding. That unknown factor was a dangerous threat for battles to come.