CHAPTER 15
"BOOM!!"
An axe and a giant steel bar collided, ringing like thunder and showering sparks across the ruined staircase of Impel Down.
"Rahaha! The last time I felt a clash like this was with my old man!" Brocky bellowed, veins bulging as he pushed back against the Marine giant.
"I do not understand why you would smear the pride of Elbaf to become a criminal," the Marine giant thundered. "I might as well knock the sense back into your head!"
"Rahaha… rahaha…" Brocky's laugh twisted into a snarl. His eyes burned red, something unlike him.
"When my Dad was captured, WHERE were the Elbaf giants? When I fought back and got arrested, WHERE were the Elbaf giants? Don't give me that bullsh*t!"
The two titans clashed again, steel screaming as the floor trembled beneath their weight.
---
"Drrinng!"
Ross' mind rang as danger flashed, he leapt to the side just in time to avoid a fatal slash.
"Hahahahaha… you're pretty lucky," Momonga sneered as he gently slid his blade back into its sheath, preparing another strike. "I almost took your head."
"You don't have the dignity of a swordsman," Ross growled. "Drop that sword." Turning his back to face him. "It doesn't deserve a master like you."
"Shut up," Momonga snapped, eyes narrowing. "You criminals keep blabbing like you're saints. My job is to hunt people like you, and I'll use ANY means necessary."
"I don't care." Ross raised his sword, flames of will flickering in his eyes. "Call me a criminal or not. But you're not defeating me."
"You will rot in this prison," Momonga hissed, stepping forward.
"People like you don't deserve mercy."
Ross tilted his head. "The world isn't shaped by your rules or your justice. H
The Victor decides everything."
Momonga lunged.
"Then talk after I've beaten you!"
Their blades collided again— CRRRAAANG!!
Momonga's armament haki surged, overwhelming. His observation haki sharpened, reading Ross' movements like pages of a book.
"Do you even HAVE haki?" Momonga mocked.
Ross blinked. "Haki? I've heard of it before… somewhere."
Momonga's brows furrowed.
Should I finish him? He's catching up to my observation… and his strength is abnormal. Is he even human?
Ross lifted his blade and took a deep breath.
"Let me ask you a question," he said, his eyes darkening, will overflowing.
"Are you actually going to fight or keep blabbing?" monmonga asked.
Momonga's face twisted. "What!!"
Ross roared, voice cracking with suppressed pain:
"Imagine you have a father who spent his entire life helping others, but because his beliefs weren't the same as the government's, THEY KILLED HIM! They framed my mom! They destroyed our family!"
"BOOOOOMMM!"
The stairs shattered beneath them. The wall exploded outward, blasting debris across the burning floor of Level 4.
"I don't believe your lies," Momonga spat, though his stance wavered. "You're a pirate."
Ross stepped forward, his sword turning pitch black with a surge of raw emotion.
"Have you ever watched your mother die in front of you… for something she NEVER committed… just because the government decided it was true?"
Momonga's eyes widened, too late.
"BOOOOMMM!!"
Ross' strike sent him flying across the corridor, smashing him into the far wall.
Momonga collapsed, blood dripping from his lip.
Ross walked toward him, sword steady.
He placed the blade at Momonga's throat.
"I won," he said calmly. "And I've decided not to kill you."
Momonga let out a rough, broken laugh.
"Hahahaha… so you were serious… about all that?"
"I don't lie about my past," Ross said quietly, turning his back.