"It's over!"
Smoker's head condensed above, looking down coldly at Hiroto below. His manifested hand gripped the jitte, its protruding L-shaped structure catching Shigure's blade.
Even if the opponent let go to break free from the white vines' restraint, a swordsman's strength would drop significantly without their sword. Besides, he wouldn't even give him that chance.
A large amount of thick white mist descended overhead, surging toward Hiroto's head as if it were alive.
He intended to use this method to suffocate Hiroto and incapacitate him.
"Yes, it's over." Hiroto looked up, his gaze calm.
Even though Shigure was caught, it didn't seem to affect him in the slightest.
"You certainly have a sharp tongue."
Smoker didn't hesitate to envelop him in smoke, only to see a spark of scorching fire suddenly erupt within the white expanse.
Hiroto repeated his old trick. A violent gale accompanied by flames turned into a firestorm, shattering the restraining white vines.
However, Smoker, having already suffered once, had prepared a countermeasure.
The jitte firmly caught Shigure's blade. As long as Hiroto didn't abandon his sword, Smoker could hold onto him.
The shattered smoke condensed once more. In less than a second, the previous situation would be replicated.
Ultimately, Hiroto lacked the ability to truly wound him.
Just then—
Smoker, whose head had manifested, suddenly discovered something.
Hiroto, having broken free from the restraints, leaped up and threw a fierce, crashing punch down at him.
"It's useless..."
Thinking the opponent was just trying a different approach, Smoker spoke with a sneer.
But before he could finish, his pupils constricted because a thick, pitch-black metallic hue suddenly appeared on his opponent's fist.
A single glance made Smoker recall Zephyr's heavy punches.
Armament Haki!?
It was even more than that. The moment the heavy punch was thrown, Hiroto's fist was wrapped in blazing flames.
Boom!
A crimson torrent exploded within the courtyard along with a loud bang, and scorching streams of fire surged, swallowing everything around.
In the firelight, Smoker, whose head had taken a heavy blow, was charred all over, crashing into a severed tree. The ground trembled, and a charred human-shaped pit was dented into the tree trunk, with Smoker embedded inside.
Taking advantage of the other party's hazy consciousness, Hiroto snatched the jitte and used [Thrust], lunging with the wind.
Squelch!
The tip of the jitte made of Sea Stone viciously pierced Smoker's abdomen, puncturing flesh and pinning him firmly to the tree trunk.
"Gah!"
Smoker spat out a mouthful of blood.
His first injury since the start of the battle was a defeat.
"Captain Smoker!"
Tashigi was horrified and shocked.
The invincible Captain Smoker had lost?
She didn't understand why the situation had reversed in less than a minute.
Even less did she understand why Smoker, a Logia type, would be injured by his own weapon.
Aren't Logia types immune to physical attacks?
"Captain Smoker... lost... he lost!"
"How can this be? He's a Logia type Devil Fruit User!"
"That monster... why is he so strong!"
The Marines watched in horror at Smoker pinned to the tree, and at Hiroto, who had many bruises from the intense battle but hadn't actually bled.
A monster even more powerful and terrifying than Smoker.
"It's stupid to put Sea Stone, which can counter you, on the tip of your own weapon."
Hiroto shook his head, looking at Smoker, who was wide-eyed, spitting blood, and still struggling. The Sea Stone entering his body made it impossible for him to pull the jitte out.
"As you said, it's over."
"You..."
Smoker seemed to have much to say, but Hiroto simply gave him a punch to let him sleep peacefully.
The den den mushi in his pocket rolled onto the ground and started ringing "purupuru" the next second.
Hiroto was stunned for a moment, then bent down to pick it up. As soon as he connected the call, he heard an aged voice.
"Smoker? After dealing with Hiroto, remember to go to Marine Branch 16 and investigate it according to my orders."
"The subordinates of Kurouma, the Director of the Marine Bureau of Investigation, have gone too far. After you handle Nezumi, send him to the Marine 189th Branch base. Then return to Loguetown and wait for instructions. If all goes as expected, you'll be returning to Marineford this time."
Tsuru?
Hiroto looked at the appearance mimicked by the den den mushi in his hand, and the other party's identity immediately came to mind.
One of the Marineford Vice Admirals, Vice Admiral Tsuru, who, like Sengoku, is known as a skilled tactician.
Although she only holds the rank of Vice Admiral, her seniority is extremely high. During the Marineford War, when she was about to take action, she was stopped by a group of Vice Admirals who urged her to let them handle it.
She is a contemporary of Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr, and is also a Vice Admiral with genuine authority.
Hiroto's lips curled into a smirk. "Smoker is asleep. I have things to do on my end, so I'm afraid I can't pass on your message."
"...Who are you?"
Clearly not the procedure of a Marine soldier reporting, Tsuru looked down at the den den mushi on the table.
The appearance the den den mushi mimicked...
She glanced at the bounty poster placed beside her, it actually bore a resemblance to the one on it.
Sure enough, a light laugh sounded from the receiver. "Hiroto."
Tsuru remained silent, somewhat shocked.
No matter how unruly Smoker was, at most he would hang up on a superior. He wouldn't just hand over the den den mushi to an enemy.
This meant Hiroto had won, but as a Logia type user, even if the opponent was a swordsman capable of using flying slashes, Smoker shouldn't have lost.
"Don't overthink it. His weapon was embedded with Sea Stone, and as for Haki, I know it too."
Hiroto nonchalantly changed the subject, "Let's talk, Vice Admiral Tsuru. The life and death of the Marines here all depend on your answer."
"...Except for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Marines don't negotiate with any pirates." Tsuru said coldly.
"The position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is not something that can be influenced by a mere Smoker and a few Marines."
If she had decided to give up on them, she would generally say some harsh words, but Tsuru didn't. For such a calculating person, knowing when to stop is the best response. Either way, she wouldn't lose any further.
Hiroto nodded. "Fine."
He understood more or less. Negotiations were possible, but he hadn't shown enough yet.
The call was simply cut off.
Tsuru looked at the den den mushi as it returned to its original state, her eyes showing a rare ripple of emotion.
She seemed to have underestimated Hiroto. The opponent wasn't just a giant fish in the pond of the East Blue, but a ferocious shark in the open sea.
This level of talent would be considered rare even if placed within the Marine Headquarters.
"Let's see a bit more." Tsuru murmured to herself.
As she said, the position of the Seven Warlords of the Sea wasn't something that could be reached at this level.