Chapter 14
Aboard a fifty-meter medium-sized Navy warship.
A Marine Lieutenant Commander wearing a justice cloak gazed ahead with reverence.
Only when he spotted Vilin's vessel did Lieutenant Commander Rowva snap to attention and report solemnly to Colonel Jeremy Colin.
"Reporting to Colonel Jeremy Colin! We have located the target—Aitrias Vilin!"
"Vilin!"
"Finally found him?"
"Bring the ship in close—now."
"Yes, Colonel Colin!"
Rowva saluted sharply and hurried off to relay the order.
The Navy warship, flying the white seagull flag, closed rapidly on the Flying Bird.
"Reporting to Colonel Colin! The enemy is now within cannon range!"
Hearing the report, Colin's face lit up with triumphant confidence.
He raised his hand in a decisive sweep.
"Excellent. Open fire."
"I want every last pirate scum sent to the bottom of the sea."
Inspired by their commander's commanding presence, the gunners moved with renewed vigor.
Cannons swiveled, barrels aligned on the Flying Bird.
At Colin's final command—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Dozens of black cannon muzzles roared.
Cannonballs rained down like a deadly storm toward Vilin's small ship.
On the deck of the Flying Bird, Vilin watched the barrage approach.
In an instant, his body transformed into a towering tree-man form.
Thousand-Armed Kannon!
From his back erupted dozens of ten-meter-long wooden arms.
They moved with blinding speed, swatting cannonballs out of the air one after another.
The projectiles plunged harmlessly into the sea.
Seeing his bombardment neutralized,
Colin's eyes widened in shock.
"A Devil Fruit user!"
Jealousy twisted his features as he stared at Vilin.
"Damn it… why don't I have a Devil Fruit?"
"If I had one… I'd already be at Headquarters!"
"Fire everything! Keep shooting!"
Enraged, Colin ordered another volley.
The Marines poured fire relentlessly.
Even Vilin began to tire after half an hour of constant deflection.
Sweat beaded on his wooden brow as the last cannonball was swatted away.
Colin noticed the fatigue.
A satisfied smirk spread across his face.
"He's running out of stamina. Bring us alongside—board and capture!"
"Yes, Colonel!"
The warship closed the gap rapidly.
Vilin, meanwhile, drew deeply on his stored life force, rapidly recovering his energy.
As the Navy ship drew level,
Colin stood at the bow, sneering.
"Pirate Aitrias Vilin—surrender now!"
"You've got nowhere left to run!"
The Marines cheered at their commander's bravado.
"Hahahaha! Come and try it, then!"
Vilin leaped from the Flying Bird onto the Navy deck.
He refused to let his own ship take damage.
Seeing Vilin land aboard,
Colin drew his prized black longsword—a Good Grade blade he had painstakingly acquired in South Blue.
"Become my stepping stone to Headquarters, Vilin!"
Colin charged, sword slashing down.
Vilin met the strike with both hands forming a massive wooden palm that clamped around the blade.
Colin's confident expression faltered.
"Got you!"
Vilin tightened his grip.
Prisoner's Hand!
Another enormous wooden arm shot forward, seizing Colin and encasing him in a cage of living wood.
The once-arrogant colonel now stared in terror as sharp wooden spikes slowly closed in from every side.
"Aaahhh!"
One spike pierced his body.
Colin screamed in agony.
Seeing their commander gravely wounded, the Marines' excitement turned to horror.
Rowva shouted desperately.
"Everyone—charge! Save Colonel Colin!"
The Marines surged forward.
Vilin's body shimmered—fully entering Logia intangibility.
From his back sprouted countless slender willow branches.
They came alive, whipping through the air like deadly spears.
Screams erupted as branches pierced Marine after Marine.
Rowva froze in despair.
In that moment of hesitation,
a single willow branch snaked forward and drove straight through his heart.
Vilin licked his lips.
"Become nourishment for my growth."
Dark Forest – Life Drain!
Inside the wooden prison, Colin watched in horror as his skin wrinkled and aged at terrifying speed.
Soon the entire warship's crew had withered into desiccated husks.
With the slaughter complete,
a massive pink flower bloomed from Vilin's back.
It spun like helicopter blades, lifting him into the air.
Divine Tree Fist!
Vilin clenched his fist.
It swelled into a twenty-meter divine arm.
One devastating punch smashed downward.
BOOM!
The Navy warship crumpled and sank beneath the waves.
Vilin smiled in satisfaction and flew back to the Flying Bird.
The small ship quickly sailed away from the wreckage.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside a solemn office.
"Moshi moshi—this is Marine Headquarters."
"South Blue branch fleet… completely annihilated!"
"What?!"
"I'll report this to Fleet Admiral Kong immediately."
The intelligence officer hurried into the Admiral's office.
Moments later, Kong's furious roar echoed through the halls.
"Damn it! Send Headquarters Colonels to South Blue—capture Vilin at all costs!"
"I want that bastard locked in Impel Down!"
"And raise his bounty—from 30 million to 50 million Berries!"
"Yes, sir!"
The officer saluted and left.
Kong slammed his fist on the desk, veins bulging.
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