Eric's fists struck again and again, but Norman's Armament Haki blocked every attempt. Even his corrosive acid couldn't eat through that iron defense.
Norman's martial arts dominated the rhythm of the spar, suppressing him completely.
Eric could unleash stronger, deadlier techniques if he wished but this was a spar with his brother. He couldn't fight as if it were a battlefield.
As the clash dragged on, Eric realized Norman's intent. Don't rely on Devil Fruits. Martial arts are the foundation.
Yes, Devil Fruits were powerful, but in battles between true monsters, they served as support, not the core.
Eric adjusted. He began to dodge more cleanly, counter more sharply, shift his weight better. At first he was smothered, but gradually, he found his rhythm.
In minutes, he grew before their eyes from a fighter overwhelmed by Norman's technique to one standing as his equal. His progress was shocking.
Then, with a surge of instinct, Eric slipped past Norman's guard and hammered a fist into his chest. Norman staggered back, body slamming into the ground. Dust rose, silence fell.
The spar was over.
Norman stood slowly, brushing dust from his clothes. A smile tugged at his lips.
"From today," he declared, voice ringing across the training ground, "you are the captain of the Eric Pirates. Norman is the past. Eric will be Norman's rebirth. Take my will and gallop across the seas."
Eric froze, stunned. The young generals standing nearby were equally shocked. None of them had expected Norman to relinquish his legacy so suddenly.
But the older veterans quickly understood. They smiled, knowing this was the true passing of the torch.
Norman stepped toward the younger officers and bowed slightly. "I entrust Eric to you."
The gesture overwhelmed them.
To be entrusted directly by their king Norman himself was a weight heavier than steel.
Khufu finally broke the silence, his brow furrowed. "But… what about the kingdom?"
Before Norman could answer, White chuckled, hefting his iron hammer. "Don't worry. We old dogs are still here. If you don't make a name for yourselves, don't bother coming back, hah!"
Laughter rippled through the veterans. The declaration was set.
From this day forward, the Eric Pirates were born carrying the will of the once-feared Norman Pirates. What waves they would stir upon the seas, no one yet knew.
Teach, meanwhile, walked the city streets with Mobius, Voss, and Pito. He suddenly stopped. His gaze slid toward the shadows.
"Come out," he said lightly. "You've been tailing us long enough. Must be exhausting."
The street fell silent.
Then, from every alley and corner, pirates emerged, dozens, then hundreds, blades and guns in hand, circling the four.
Their leader grinned greedily, eyes fixed on Teach's backpack. "Hand it over. I saw you in the arena, you walked away with at least a hundred million Berries."
The words lit a fire in the mob. A hundred million, more than they'd ever dream of. Their hungry stares locked on the bag at Teach's back.
Mobius glanced at Teach in surprise. "One hundred million?"
Teach smirked.
In truth, his winnings were even greater. By betting on Mobius and Voss, he'd raked in a total of 150 million Berries.
He narrowed his eyes. "And what if I don't hand it over?"
The leader barked a laugh. "Then we'll carve it out of your corpse! You think you four brats can resist us?" His gaze flicked dismissively to Voss and Pito, who looked like children beside Mobius and Teach.
Teach crossed his arms. "You guys take care of it," he told his crew casually, not moving an inch.
"Hmph. Trash like this dares to rob us? Let's slaughter them," Mobius sneered. He charged, Snake Hand whipping forward. Every strike smashed pirates to the ground. But his pace frustrated him, a single hit didn't always kill. So he grabbed two swords, spinning into a whirlwind, bodies falling faster.
Beside him, Voss darted like a shadow, his short sword always striking a fatal point. His movements were fluid, almost beautiful—a deadly dance.
The mob faltered. Recognition dawned. These were no nameless rookies. These were the two monsters of the arena; the Viper and the Snake King, the ones who had earned ten and nine straight victories just hours ago.
Fear shivered through them.
"Damn it… it's those two?" the leader cursed, but greed still burned in his eyes. He jabbed a finger toward Teach and Pito. "Ignore them! Go for the man with the bag! Kill him and the girl!"
The pirates shifted, eyes locked on Teach's backpack.
Pito stepped forward.
With one explosive leap, she appeared in front of two charging pirates. Her hands morphed into gleaming claws, two flashes, two bodies dropped in bloody heaps.
Gasps echoed.
Pito grinned faintly, her hood sliding back to reveal her young face. But there was no hesitation in her eyes. Only sharp delight in the kill.
When Teach chose not to move, no one was allowed near him. Not while she still drew breath.
She darted through the mob, claws tearing, her speed dizzying. Blood splattered the cobblestones. Pirates screamed, unable to even touch her.
The leader's bravado cracked. Terror spread through the ranks. They began to break.
"Run!" he shouted, already retreating himself.
But Teach's voice froze them in place.
"Stop them," he said coldly. "No one leaves."
His hands slid to his belt. Two gleaming pistols, one gold, one silver. Flintlocks, but in his hands, instruments of death.
"Leave your lives here."
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Invisible Haki coated each bullet. Headshots tore through skulls. One bullet could punch through two, sometimes three bodies. Teach never missed. Never hit his allies.
The pistols roared until their chambers clicked empty.
Twenty-four shots. Twenty-four kills.
When the smoke cleared, silence reigned. The street was carpeted with corpses. Blood ran in rivulets toward the gutters.
From the windows, hidden eyes watched in horror.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
Teach reloaded with calm precision, sliding bullets back into the chambers. He holstered the pistols, then looked at his companions.
"Let's go. You must be hungry after wasting time on trash like this." He pulled papers from his pack and handed them over. "Clean up, then we'll eat."
They wiped the blood from their faces and followed him.
Night had fallen. Too late to leave the city. Teach planned to depart at dawn.
At the tavern, the moment they stepped inside, the crowd shrank back. Tables near them emptied, whispers spreading. Everyone knew what had happened. No one dared sit within reach.
But news traveled fast, faster than blood dries. In the royal palace, Eric and the generals had already heard.
"It's them," Eric said, a faint smile tugging his lips. He could still picture the four figures, especially the one leading them. "So it was bound to happen."
"Who?" Yasuo asked curiously.
Turner answered before Eric could. "A monster. A young one. Barely twenty, if that. But strong enough to make Eric feel threatened. If not for him, Eric might never have chosen to set sail."
Gasps circled the table.
"Under twenty years old?" Conley exclaimed. "And even Captain Eric feels threatened?"
Turner nodded gravely. "Yes. He has two companions with him, both still teenagers. Today they achieved ten and nine consecutive victories in the arena."
Root frowned. "Didn't you try to recruit them?"
"Impossible," Turner said flatly. "Monsters like that aren't recruited. Anyone who tries would only end up their subordinate instead."
Eric's eyes gleamed with resolve. "I want to fight him. Before I set sail, I need one last battle. Against someone like that, I'll know how far I've come."
At the head of the table, Norman put down his fork. His voice was calm, but his eyes were serious.
"Then invite him. But Eric, be prepared. My Observation Haki can cover this entire island. Yet when I search for him, I find only darkness. A curtain I cannot pierce."
The room stilled.
Norman's tone sharpened. "It means his Observation Haki far surpasses mine. Perhaps even now, he's hearing our conversation."
Shock rippled through the generals.
Norman's Haki was legendary, honed over decades. To cover an entire island was a feat few could match. And yet this young stranger was beyond his reach.
Teach himself, sitting in the tavern, paused mid-motion. He'd already sensed Norman's attempt and chosen not to hide, letting the king feel his presence. If he wished, he could have vanished completely. But this was better. This was a declaration.
A duel with Eric would be the perfect crucible. Since his journey began, only the Ant King and Barton the Blood Scythe had tested him fully. Against Vice Admiral opponents, against his own crew, he had always held back.
But Eric... Eric was different. His power was said to rival even Marine Admiral candidates. Armament, physique, Devil Fruit, all beyond Teach. Only in Observation and technique did Teach hold the edge.
Yes… this is what I've been waiting for.
On the street outside the inn, a figure approached. General Turner. He had already volunteered to be the messenger.
He knew where Teach was staying. And he carried the invitation to a battle that might shake the kingdom.