"Boom—!"
"Clang—!"
Violent collisions echoed nonstop across the training ship.
The shockwaves from Zephyr and Weevil's battle alone were enough to nearly tear the vessel apart.
Karl watched intently, brows furrowed, quietly judging the fight.
At present, Weevil was able to hold Zephyr to roughly an even exchange, perhaps slightly worse—six–four at best. In terms of combat technique, however, Weevil was completely outclassed.
Or rather, Weevil didn't have technique at all.
His fighting style consisted of one thing and one thing only:
Overwhelming brute force.
That meant one thing—
his physique was utterly terrifying.
Monstrous strength, absurd toughness, and that familiar crescent-shaped white moustache…
No wonder people believed he was Whitebeard's son.
"AAAARGH—!"
Weevil suddenly let out a scream as his massive body was blasted backward, rolling across the deck in pain.
Zephyr had landed a clean hit to his face.
Karl didn't waste the opening.
"Holy Light, bless!"
A golden light slammed into Zephyr's body, easing fatigue and restoring his injuries. Trading blows with a monster like Weevil put enormous strain on the body—Holy Light was the perfect counter.
Zephyr spared Karl a brief glance and forced out a grin before instantly refocusing.
Karl wasn't being overcautious after all…
This bastard really is a monster.
Could he actually be Whitebeard's son?
That thought vanished the next second.
Weevil kicked off the deck and charged again, great blade swinging downward.
Zephyr took a deep breath and advanced instead of retreating, closing the distance so Weevil couldn't exploit the reach of his long weapon.
Just then—
"Son, are you done yet?"
Miss Bakkin's shrill voice rang out.
She had maneuvered her small ship right up alongside the training ship.
Weevil froze mid-fight, sniffled loudly, then turned his head.
"Mom! That old man is really strong… he hit me super hard!"
"Tch, he's just an old man," Miss Bakkin snapped.
"How strong could he be? Hurry up and kill him."
"Once you're done, you can eat as much as you want."
That line was lethal.
Weevil swallowed hard—several times.
Drool slid down the side of his sausage-like mouth as his aura visibly surged.
Watching from a safe distance, Karl curled his lips into a faint smile.
Finally… you've come to me.
"Step. Step. Step."
Karl kicked off the air with Geppo, shooting upward in an instant and streaking toward Miss Bakkin from above.
Then—
BANG!
A brutal kick smashed straight into her face.
"AAAAAH—! WEIVIL, SAVE MOMMY!!!"
Miss Bakkin screamed like a slaughtered pig, clutching her face as tears and snot poured freely.
When she spread her hands, a massive shoe print was stamped cleanly onto her wrinkled, ugly face.
"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY MOM!"
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Seeing this, Weevil instantly went berserk, trying to force his way past Zephyr.
Zephyr blocked him without hesitation.
"Out of my way!!!" Weevil roared.
In his rage, Weevil unconsciously tapped into Observation Haki, barely predicting Zephyr's position.
With a wild swing, he slapped Zephyr away, then charged straight for Karl with his long, awkward strides.
Karl stood calmly, blade pointed at Miss Bakkin, showing not the slightest panic.
He pushed Uwamari forward—just a little.
"AAAAH! You idiot—STOP!" Miss Bakkin screamed.
"Can't you see Mommy's about to die?!"
Weevil skidded to an abrupt halt, scratching his head like a confused child.
"S-sorry, Mom… I didn't see…"
Then he glared at Karl.
"You! Don't kill my mom, or I'll kill you!"
Hearing that utterly brainless threat, Karl almost laughed out loud.
So this terrifying enemy… is actually a genuine idiot?
The feeling was… complicated.
Miss Bakkin's beady eyes rolled.
Noticing Karl's momentary lapse, she shrieked at the top of her lungs—
"WEIVIL! KILL HIM!!!"
"OKAY!"
Weevil's blade came down instantly.
In that moment—
Karl felt the air freeze.
The world turned black.
Everything vanished except the gleaming arc of the massive blade.
Its trajectory was perfectly clear.
"NO!!!" Zephyr roared, eyes splitting.
At the instant the blade was about to cleave Karl—
A blackened blade intercepted it.
CLANG!
Sparks exploded.
Karl gripped Uwamari's hilt with one hand—and clamped the other directly onto the blade.
Blood flowed down the steel, dripping onto the deck.
His face burned red, veins bulging.
He had used every ounce of strength he had just to barely stop that strike.
Yet none of them noticed—
A faint black sheen had spread along Uwamari's edge.
Zephyr finally broke through and sent Weevil flying with a powerful kick, freeing Karl.
Weevil was blasted away.
Uwamari slipped from Karl's trembling fingers and clattered onto the deck.
Karl hastily summoned a ball of Holy Light and slammed it into his chest, finally stabilizing himself.
"…Monster," he muttered hoarsely.
Zephyr and Weevil collided once more.
Miss Bakkin had vanished.
Karl was temporarily safe.
But his heart was still pounding violently.
That had been the closest he'd ever come to death.
The closest… he'd ever been to Roger.
Then his eyes fell on the system panel.
[Observation Haki Lv.1 (Max Lv.10)]
[Armament Haki Lv.1 (Max Lv.10)]
Karl slowly curved his lips into a strained smile.
So this is what Zephyr-sensei meant by a life-or-death crisis…
Damn, that's brutal.
No wonder Zephyr always said fighting powerful pirates was the fastest way to awaken Haki.
Now Karl understood.
Activating his newly awakened Observation Haki, Karl instantly perceived—
Zephyr and Weevil locked in fierce combat…
And a sneaking presence shifting awkwardly in a dark corner.
There were only four people on the ship.
That left no doubt.
"Miss Bakkin."
Killing intent flashed through Karl's eyes.
He picked up Uwamari and moved—completely silently.
"That damned Marine is way too strong…"
"Even Weevil can't finish him quickly…"
"Hmph. Such bad luck—should've never messed with them…"
Miss Bakkin muttered while hiding—
Then suddenly froze.
A cold sensation brushed her neck.
"…You—"
"Shhh."
Karl's voice was soft, almost gentle.
"Be quiet. Or you'll die."
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