Chapter 279: "Leader" Pepper
Scáthach herself transformed into an extraordinary divine spear, radiating immense power. The crimson thunder crashed down, and the sharp spear tip pierced the Jade Ice Bed. The unbreakable ice layer was instantly torn apart, with a massive crack following the straight line of the spear's edge, splitting open!
A few members of the Eight Treasure Navy in the distance stared with wide eyes, incredulously shouting, "She... she shattered the Jade Ice Bed!"
This crack even crossed the entire ice layer and was more powerful than their boss's "Dragon Spire Nail." How could they not be amazed?
"Quickly, go find the boss!" Several pirates from the Eight Treasure Navy, knowing they were no match for these people, immediately turned to find their leader, Pepper.
"Is it really okay to let them escape?" Deidara curled his legs and sat on his flying clay puppet, the black cloak billowing in the wind.
"Should I chase them and take care of them all? Hmm?"
"It's fine." Eric shrugged, "As a member of the Dawn Pirates, it's useless to chase down small fry. If we're going to hunt, let's go for bounties above '100 million.'"
"Right, right~" Deidara muttered, having seen that Eric , Esdeath, and the others had been handling most of the fights recently, so he was getting a bit restless.
Taking food from Esdeath's tiger mouth?
Better not think about it.
"That's too much! The treasure room is already packed!" The ship's treasure room couldn't even fit one percent of the wealth stored here.
Leaving like this, many of them felt reluctant.
"Alright." Eric clapped his hands. "Only we can open this for now, so we'll come back when we need the money. Life isn't all about treasure."
Hearing Eric 's words, Chiron and Scáthach nodded in approval.
[Chiron and Scáthach 's affection increased, bond level unchanged.]
"Esdeath, it's up to you." Looking at the huge crack, Eric was unsure how long it would take for the ice layer to close. What if Pepper takes most of the treasure before that? Where would Eric go to find a bank that could liquidate large sums at any time?
A pale hand rested on the shattered ice bed. "Freeze!"
The splitting glacier quickly closed, the smooth ice surface glowing with a bluish light, reflecting Esdeath's beautiful face.
"Who did this? Who broke open the Jade Ice Bed? Who took my treasure?!" A furious roar, accompanied by a multitude of footsteps, grew louder as it approached.
"This place carries all my past pain and joy, and our future hopes. It's the treasure our clan has accumulated over hundreds of years!"
His bloodshot eyes widened, and the massive beard beneath his chin flared up as his huge body stomped heavily on the ice.
His copper-ringed eyes scanned the ice surface, some scattered coins rolling across it.
"Sure enough… You've opened the Jade Ice Bed and taken the treasure!" His eyes narrowed as he carefully examined the group in front of him, sneering, "Aren't you the so-called 'Emperor of the Sea' kid?"
"Thanks for the treasure. I'll put it to good use." Eric gestured as he was about to lead the group away.
Bang!
Pepper stepped forward, blocking Eric 's path. His entire body shook with fat. "Leave the treasure you took behind. I'll pretend this never happened."
Pepper was an old, shrewd pirate. Even a year ago, when Eric was crowned one of the Four Emperors by the world government, many people sneered at him.
But recently, the legendary Flying Pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, who was as famous as Roger and Whitebeard, was killed by Eric 's crew. That already said enough.
Since they had the ability to kill Golden Lion Shiki, they naturally had the ability to deal with him. He knew his own limits—he hadn't been a match for Shiki in the past twenty years, living like a zombie.
However—what Eric took was the accumulated treasure of the Eight Treasure Navy over centuries! What pirate would ever give up treasure right in front of them?! Especially when it was their own!
For true pirates, death wasn't even a threat!
'I've already taken part of the Eight Treasure Navy's treasure, but the system didn't prompt me about completing the task. Is it because I haven't taken everything, or are there additional conditions?'
Eric wasn't worried about his opponent's strength; he was only concerned that the system wouldn't give him the chance to complete the mission.
"Deidara, looks like it's your turn to fight." Eric tilted his head. "This guy was once a big pirate with a bounty over 500 million. It's up to you now."
"Oh!" Deidara took out several small flying clay birds, "Seems like it's worth blowing up. Hmm."
"What?" Pepper raised his left foot, slamming it onto the ice, glaring at Eric . "You're not going to fight me?"
"Me?" Eric shrugged. "As a king, why would I fight an outdated pirate from the old era? Besides, you've already lost your value as an opponent."
"What did you say?!" The vast white beard moved as if blown by the wind, covering half of his chest, and the frail old man erupted with a murderous intent, "How dare you look down on me?!"
"Old man, calm down." Lao Cai, who stood beside him, quickly intervened. "He's just provoking you, don't fall for it!"
"Provoking? No, I'm just stating a fact." Eric said disdainfully, "For someone who relies on their sharp head to break open the Jade Ice Bed, even if you can still throw a punch, your dreams probably vanished along with your spike, didn't they?"
"!"
"Your head was flattened, your spine broken, and your dreams lost. You're not qualified to fight me now."
"Hey!" Deidara yelled in dissatisfaction, "You mean I'm supposed to fight a piece of trash? Hmm?"
"...Hahaha, hahaha…!" Pepper laughed loudly after being mocked by a junior.
Lao Cai looked worriedly at him. "Old man…"
"Well said, kid!" Pepper threw off his coat, exposing his bare arms as he began to gather power, the overwhelming strength building in his muscles. His fists became wrapped in intense Haki.
"I'll show you the power of those of us who've fought for years in the old pirate era!"
His rage turned into power, his battle intent turned into fighting strength. The veins on his forehead bulged as his huge body charged forward at an incredible speed.
"Eight Fist Fist Mystery—No-Spike Dragon, No-Spike Nail!"
Pepper's body charged straight toward Deidara like a heavy-duty truck.
"Ha…" Deidara quickly controlled the flying clay birds under his feet to take off and evade the incoming heavy blow.
"Hey, kid!" Pepper roared, missing his target. "You talked so much but you won't even take one blow?!"
"Hey, old man." Deidara corrected from the air. "That was all Eric 's words, not mine. Hmm."
"Still, I should thank the boss. Fighting an enemy who ignites my battle spirit is much more fun. Hmm." He casually threw out two explosive clay figures.
Boom Boom
Two white clay birds, about the size of a human, dove toward Pepper below.
"A Devil Fruit user? How boring!" Pepper swatted at the birds with his Haki-covered hand, crushing one bird after another with each punch.
Deidara made a hand sign, and the moment Pepper's fist connected with the bird, he shouted, "Art is an explosion! Ha!"
Boom!
The white clay birds exploded into orange-red flames, the blast wave bringing intense heat toward Pepper.
"Old man!"
"Boss!"
Lao Cai and the Eight Treasure Navy pirates screamed in shock.
"You think you can defeat me with this little power?!"
Pepper swung his large palm, bigger than a fan, dispersing the smoke and clearing the air.
Pepper stood unharmed, though his white beard and coat were scorched with black smoke.
"Tch, people's physical conditions in this world are really annoying!" Deidara muttered in dissatisfaction. "Everyone's like monsters. Hmm."
"The C1's power was useless. I'll have to use the C2 version. Combined with Haki, it should be able to pierce through his defense."
He gathered more chakra and mixed it into the explosive clay birds that were taking shape.
"Since I know you can make explosives, I won't give you a chance anymore!"
Pepper charged toward Deidara like a missile, with a storm swirling under his feet, flying toward the airborne Deidara with his flat head leading the way.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen10