Amid the dense fog, the Lark sailed silently across the sea.
Inside the helm, Hans' expression suddenly changed.
"Boss! Starboard—something's approaching! It's huge!"
Riberra Sami immediately turned toward the fog on the right.
A massive shadow slowly emerged, its outline growing clearer through the mist.
A Marine warship.
"Damn it… Marines!"
"As expected," Hans gritted his teeth, staring hard through his lenses.
"The ones watching us since the tavern… it was them."
As if to confirm his words, a voice amplified through a loudspeaker pierced the fog:
"Unidentified vessel ahead—halt immediately!"
"I am Vice Admiral Hack of G-10 Branch!"
"Jellyfish Pirates—you are surrounded!"
"Surrender now, or we will open fire!"
At the same time—
the warship's gunports opened in unison.
Rows of dark cannons extended outward, all aimed at the much smaller Lark.
"Surrender?" Riberra Sami let out a cold laugh.
"You think one sentence is enough to make us give up?"
"Dream on."
On the command deck, Hack lowered the loudspeaker, completely unsurprised.
He had never expected pirates like them to surrender.
"Target: enemy vessel."
"All batteries—free fire."
"FIRE!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunderous cannon fire shattered the silence of the sea.
Dozens of flaming blasts erupted from the warship.
Heavy cannonballs tore through the fog, screaming toward the Lark—
exploding into towering pillars of water around it.
Several shots flew directly toward the hull.
CLANG!
A flash of steel.
Marcus had already leapt to the bow.
With a single slash, his blade split a cannonball clean in half midair.
"Damn it!"
He retaliated with a flying slash—
but at such distance, the attack dissipated before reaching the warship.
Meanwhile, the crew—awakened by the bombardment—rushed onto the deck.
"What's happening?!"
Aldo stormed out, mace in hand.
"Why is there a Marine ship here?!"
No one answered.
Hans had already pushed his Observation Haki to the limit.
Both hands locked on the wheel—
maneuvering the Lark through a forest of exploding water columns.
But the barrage was too dense.
"Aldo! Left side!" someone shouted.
"Leave it to me!"
Aldo roared—
his massive spiked club swung with a howl—
BOOM!
He smashed a cannonball away.
But the recoil cracked the deck beneath his feet, wood splintering loudly.
Riberra Sami's eyes sharpened.
As expected.
The Lark was an excellent adventure vessel—
but not a warship.
It couldn't withstand sustained bombardment.
And worse—
it had no cannons.
No way to fight back.
At this rate—
sinking was only a matter of time.
In a flash—
Riberra Sami made his decision.
"Bring out the Wind Dial waver we got from the sky island—now!"
"Boss… you're not—?"
"Remember what I said?"
Riberra Sami spoke rapidly, eyes locked on the warship ahead.
"An average Vice Admiral isn't my match."
"The Lark can't take this."
"If they want to crush us with cannons—"
"Then I'll board them."
"And tear those cannons apart."
"Aldo. Marcus. Feiqi."
"You hold the ship."
"Break through!"
"I'll catch up after I deal with them!"
"Boss! I'm coming with you!" Aldo roared.
Riberra Sami pressed a firm hand onto his shoulder.
"Trust me."
"It's just a Vice Admiral."
"Nothing I can't handle."
Moments later—
the sleek waver, equipped with dual Wind Dials, was pushed to the edge of the ship.
Riberra Sami leapt onto it.
WHOOOOOM—!!!
The Wind Dials exploded with power.
The waver shot forward like an arrow—
cutting a white trail across the sea—
charging straight at the Marine warship.
"What is that thing?!"
A lookout shouted from the warship.
Hack raised his telescope.
Through the fog—
a small object sped toward them at an unbelievable speed.
"All cannons!"
"Target that fast-moving object!"
"Intercept!"
Too late.
Riberra Sami was too fast.
Too small.
The cannons couldn't lock on.
Every rushed shot missed.
In the blink of an eye—
he reached the warship's side.
He stood on the waver—
threw a grappling hook—
CLANK!
It latched onto the ship's railing.
He secured the line—
and leapt.
Landing cleanly on the warship's main deck.
"ENEMY BOARDING!!"
"Pirate on deck!!"
The Marines snapped into formation instantly.
Dozens of rifles and blades pointed at him.
Riberra Sami stood up slowly—
brushing seawater from his clothes.
His gaze passed over the soldiers—
and landed directly on Hack, standing above on the command platform.
Hack stared back.
Hand resting on his sword.
Silence.
Tension.
" ·Riberra Sami…"
Hack spoke coldly.
"I'll admit—your courage is impressive."
"But boarding this ship alone…"
"Will be the stupidest—and last—mistake of your pirate career."
Riberra Sami cracked his neck.
His lips curled into a defiant grin.
"Stupid?"
He chuckled.
Then raised a finger—pointing at Hack.
"Vice Admiral Hack, right?"
"I'll give you two choices."
"First—turn around and leave."
"Pretend you never saw us tonight."
"Second…"
Riberra Sami's gaze swept across the armed Marines—
before returning to Hack.
He grinned—
baring his teeth.
"I'll personally send you all to drink Meng Po's soup."
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