Bonus Chapter for 100 Powerstones
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The plan here was simple: Support forces who wanted to fight Kuro, weaken future threats, hurt morale, and force a retreat.
Hancock refused to use her Love-Love Fruit even though she could disable almost all Marines at once. It was important the Marines learned how strong Kuro's "soldiers" were.
If the Captain has not contacted us, he must be somewhere other than the West Blue—likely somewhere along the Grand Line. Once this fight ends, I must go pick him up… but that means splitting our soldiers.
The West Blue—Mopuchi Country—was Kuro's most important stronghold and future key point to the New World.
It could not be left unguarded.
They could have slaughtered more Marines here, but doing so might force the Navy to get even more serious. That would be dangerous.
"…If magma hardens as it cools, seawater works even better. If the Guard holds him, only Zephyr remains. Then it will be close combat between their Marines and our soldiers… or so I thought. I was too hopeful."
If they could push back Navy Headquarters with soldier-based tactics, even while splitting their forces later, they would still earn respect.
Mihawk thought the same—fighting in groups to give soldiers more experience.
But battles never go as planned.
A huge blast exploded, throwing seawater high.
The steam even reached Hancock's flagship.
Seawater mist was hard for Devil Fruit Users to handle.
Before it hit, a Guard squad cut the mist apart. Their sword stroke was so sharp it cut air itself. The steam cleared.
"…So. They dare mock us like that," Akainu growled.
The mist fell away, leaving only cold air—which was soon burned away by rising heat.
"That only means they fear you. I cannot ask you to forgive them… but I am sorry," Hancock said, taking off her Admiral's coat and handing it aside.
Akainu, completely dry—but covered in burnt salt—snorted angrily.
Hancock let Haki cover her body.
Akainu's magma began bubbling again.
Admiral of the Navy vs. First Fleet Admiral of the Black Cat Pirates.
Whoever fell first would decide the sea battle.
Her Guard had already boarded the Marine ship to support her jump-in point.
Akainu lit his cigar with his ability, took a breath—
But then suddenly a blast shook the nearby sea.
It came from where another Marine ship had just begun fighting.
"We're using tricks too, little girl," Akainu smirked.
"…I see. Clever. Well, he does stand beside Kuzan," Hancock acknowledged.
—We have wounded, but thanks to Chris, Mihawk, and the others, the damage is small! The fish-men are pulling everyone out of the sea now! Robin whispered through her ability.
Hancock panicked for a moment, but Robin's whisper through her power calmed her. They had not suffered a loss big enough to decide the battle.
"You used your own ship as a cannonball to block us, yes?" Hancock asked.
"If that man was here, he would've noticed, girl."
"…You may be right."
Using observation Haki, she sensed the sea.
Two Marine ships—both loaded with explosives—were blown apart.
Their huge, sharp wreckage floated in the water, making it hard for the Black Cat fleet to move forward.
And they had to save injured people too.
"They've split us cleanly…"
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"Target: the Black Cat flagship! Keep moving!"
On the deck of a Marine ship loaded with the survivors of the blown-up vessel, Special Admiral Zephyr stood at the front and shouted to fire up the troops.
The Black Cat Pirates aren't aiming to wipe out our forces… they want to weaken us and push us back…
He realized this the moment he saw the first seawater counterattack.
They want more time before a full war with the Navy. So they're avoiding a slaughter that would stir up revenge among my men… I expected that. But I did not expect them to have the skill and planning to make it real…!
They didn't kill Marines—they killed their will to fight.
Easy to say. Nearly impossible to do.
But the Black Cat fleet had done it.
Instead of throwing Devil Fruit Users at them, they used regular weapons and regular soldiers to neutralize Admiral Akainu's deadly magma cannon.
After that, they left the rest to the Guard—known as former Marines—and kept ship damage at zero.
The half-trained Rokushiki users sent as extra Government support froze as they realized they had no role.
After watching the First Fleet—with the three-claw marks and snake emblem—wipe out the ship full of reinforcements, they were even more shaken.
The World Government… always making a mess!!
The nine elite West Blue ships the Government prepared to hold Mogwa—likely already taken by Black Cat—had shown no movement.
Mogwa was close to Mopuchi Country, the Black Cats' key base. They were probably locked in a long fight with the defense fleet.
If they had won, they would have arrived already and hit Black Cat from behind.
Zephyr frowned.
"Don't fear enemy fire! It's far weaker than their normal power! And those medium ships can't handle the long-range Mogwa cannons—they strain the whole hull!"
Zephyr knew every detail about Mogwa-made weapons.
If fired flat, the recoil was massive and could destroy the ship.
"And the enemy flagship can barely move! With those water hoses hanging everywhere and firing water that long and that hard, they must have pumped seawater into huge tanks! The ship must weigh a lot! In speed, we are better!!"
"We take down their commander, Steel Blade, and end this battle!"
"Charge!! Marines!!!"
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—Enemy fleet coming straight at us! Confirmed: Special Admiral Zephyr in command!
—The barrels are overheating! We can't cool them fast enough! The shots are unstable! It's hard to adjust! Damn it!!
—Use seawater for cooling! The enemy is less trained than expected! Even if the barrels burn, keep the pressure up!!
While the booming of cannon fire shook the air, a young pirate stood on the flagship with his eyes closed.
"Horohorohorohorohoro! Of course they won't make it easy!"
A girl holding a parasol laughed, doubling the number of ghosts floating around her as she prepared to fight.
"They're coming straight. They've noticed our ship is heavy, Daz. They also know we cut our firepower. Daz, what should we do?"
After checking and reporting the First Fleet's situation, a black-haired girl asked nervously.
Steel Blade opened his eyes. "Tell Troy and Kika's sub-fleets to intercept. Their job is to distract and disturb the remaining Marine ships heading here. But ignore the ship carrying Admiral Zephyr."
The girl nodded hard and sent orders to the ships around them using her devil fruit.
Those escort ships didn't carry water cannons, so they had more firepower. They raised their sails and began to move.
"Amisu," Daz called out.
"Yes."
"Use all Guard except those protecting Robin and Perona. Are they ready?"
"They are."
"Good."
Daz stepped to the railing, his body turning into steel.
"We meet them head on. Move out."
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