Chapter 22 — Ambush
"Captain, a Marine ship ahead!"
"Hah! Marines, huh?"
The burly man with a metal arm gleaming like polished steel rose from his seat, a wide grin spreading across his scarred face.
"I thought my Iron Fist Pirates would be the first ones here—but it looks like those Navy dogs came to die early!"
The lookout squinted through his telescope.
"Doesn't look like they're from the Grand Line, Captain. Markings show… the 315th Branch—West Blue Marines. Should we go around them?"
The iron-armed captain snorted, contempt thick in his voice.
"Go around? Hah! You think I, Iron Fist Durgo, a man worth 120 million Berries, would yield to a bunch of weak West Blue flunkies?"
He slammed his metal fist into the ship's railing, splintering it with a crack!
"Tell those trash Marines this: if they stop their ship right now, maybe—maybe—I'll let them keep their pathetic lives.
Otherwise, I'll pound them into paste."
"Aye, Captain!"
---
Moments later, a booming voice echoed across the waves from the pirate ship's loudhailer.
"Oi! You trash Marines ahead! Stop your ship and surrender!
Our Captain is the great Iron Fist Durgo, bounty—120 million Berries!
If you cooperate, maybe we'll spare you a few limbs!"
The words hit the Marine deck like a shockwave.
Every sailor froze, wide-eyed.
"Did he say Iron Fist Pirates?"
"That's the same crew that wrecked an entire North Blue branch and got away!"
"Yeah! Their captain supposedly killed a Marine Colonel bare-handed!"
Fear spread like wildfire.
Several marines turned toward Eiger, pale-faced.
"Lieutenant Eiger, sir… what do we do?"
But the man at the bow didn't even blink.
His tone was calm—almost bored.
"Follow orders," he said quietly.
"Maintain course. Full speed ahead."
The sailors hesitated—but his eyes left no room for argument.
He lifted his gaze toward the afternoon sun—still blazing though past its peak—and reached for the single-bladed axe strapped to his back.
The weapon gleamed faintly in the light as he stepped forward, planting himself firmly at the very front of the deck.
Eiger's expression remained unreadable.
Only the faint reflection of sunlight in his eyes betrayed the surge of power building within him.
It was 4:00 PM.
The sun was still strong—
enough for him.
---
Meanwhile, some distance behind, on the small rescue boat—
"They've caught up?"
"Yeah." Binz's tone was uneasy. "The Iron Fist Pirates—bounty, one hundred twenty million. That's not someone a branch lieutenant can handle."
Zephyr's single remaining fist clenched, his jaw tightening.
"Pirates…! Row faster. We need to catch up to them, now!"
"Yes, Zephyr-sensei!"
Colonel Enchi dug his oars into the water with renewed fury, cursing under his breath.
"Damn it—who designed these lifeboats? No engines, no power wheels—what is this, a gym exercise?! My arms are gonna fall off!"
But before he could complain further—
Ain's voice cut through sharply.
"…Wait."
She was staring ahead, frowning.
"That idiot… he's driving the warship straight at them."
"???"
All three turned in shock.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Binz muttered, eyes wide.
"Is he seriously planning to ram a pirate ship head-on? Does he think a branch warship's hull can take that kind of impact?"
"Hell no!" Enchi snapped. "I take it back—he's not a coward, he's a lunatic! Since when did that kid turn suicidal?!"
Then he groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Damn it, maybe marriage does change a man…"
"You've got time to talk nonsense?" Zephyr barked, and his left fist slammed down on Enchi's skull with a thud!
"That's your subordinate up there! Stop whining and row!"
He shrugged off his torn coat and flexed his shoulders, muscles coiling like iron cables.
"Forget it. I'll go myself."
A grim smile touched his lips.
"Didn't think the brat who slapped me twice would need me to bail him out so soon."
But just as Zephyr was about to leap into the sea—
A faint, steady voice drifted over the waves.
"Scorching Sun—Dust Slash."
The words carried like a whisper through the wind.
And as that flat, quiet voice fell, something impossible happened right before everyone's eyes — a vast, blazing slash erupted from the Marine ship and tore straight toward the pirate vessel ahead.
The horizon exploded in gold.
In the blink of an eye the huge pirate ship was cut cleanly in two.
"…" (four heads snapped toward the wreck, mouths open.)
"A flying slash? A—swordmaster?!"
"A great… swordmaster!" Ain's shocked exclamation snapped Binz back to himself; he shivered and stammered in disbelief, "That bastard's a swordmaster?! Swinging a flying slash with an axe?"
"No — not quite a true swordmaster yet. A charging technique? Or… a devil fruit user, judging by that golden light?" Zefah's face went grave as he shook his head. "But—"
Before he could finish, a thud! — Enchi's head received a solid punch. "You fool… why didn't you push to have such a talented subordinate recommended to Headquarters? Are you afraid he'll eclipse you?"
"I did recommend him! I did! They said he was too old and refused!" Enchi clutched his head, indignant. "And he wasn't this strong before — splitting a whole ship in two?! Maybe he ate a devil fruit?"
"Rejected? Are Headquarters blind? 'Too old' my foot." Zefah snorted, then slammed Enchi once more and barked, "Enough — row! Chase them down!" His expression hardened. "More ships are approaching!"
---
Meanwhile, as the Marine launch slipped safely through the split hull and sailed past the sinking pirates, the crew erupted in cheers.
"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!"
"Eiger is incredible — he's the strongest one here! Even Enchi didn't do this!"
"Why don't we make Lieutenant Eiger our captain? Enchi could be a lieutenant instead!"
"I'll remember that," Eiger said flatly to the blustering sailor. "I'll tell Enchi what you asked for."
"No— Eiger, please don't!" the marine cried in mock despair.
The cheering didn't last.
"Another pirate ship!" the lookout's voice trembled. A cannonball slammed into the sea with a thunderous boom. The shot missed, but a taunting laugh rode the wake.
"Unbelievable — a surprise, and we get someone who's almost a swordmaster."
The pirate voice carried: the captain at the prow was a hulking man, at least four meters tall, bare-chested and roaring with laughter. "I'm the captain of the Evil Tusk Pirates, bounty 240 million! Kid — come join me! I'll take you to the New World, where the strong feast. I'll make you the most famous great swordsman on the seas!"
The boast rang loud and arrogant. Even though this era had not yet seen emperors of the sea or a full Seven Warlords system, bold claims still abounded — and a 240-million-belly pirate swaggering about as a kingmaker was a little much.
Eiger's mouth twitched. He didn't hesitate.
"I refuse. I have no interest in garbage."
"Refuse me? Hah — that's hilarious!" the Evil Tusk captain bellowed, slamming his fists together. "I'll make you change your mind! Bring the ship closer!"
How tedious. Eiger simply shrugged off his shirt, slung his axe over his right shoulder so the sun could wash over his trained muscles, and with a deadpan curl of his lip waved a single hand.
"Come over here, you piece of trash."