Jebit advanced toward Tiger with a cruel grin.
Don't worry, he said, you are my precious cargo. I won't kill you with poison, just make you temporarily weak.
Tiger tightened his jaw and lifted his fist.
I won't let you succeed!
Fish‑Men naturally have extremely high physical limits, and Tiger was no exception. Even after the poison he had consumed, a normal person wouldn't even be able to stand. Staying conscious would be considered fortunate.
Jebit paused, realizing Tiger could still take a fighting stance, then said excitedly,
This is excellent, you are the strongest Fish‑Man I have ever seen! I'm truly going to make a fortune this time!
The moment he said that, it sparked a burning rage in Tiger. His eyes blazed.
Tiger spread his fingers, and a dense droplet of seawater formed on his palm. With a roar of effort he launched it at Jebit.
Water Shot, he shouted.
The drop struck like a compressed steel orb. Jebit barely twisted out of the way, and the impact tore a massive hole in the ship's hull.
Jebit's pupils narrowed, impressed and unsettled by the raw strength. He had misjudged Tiger's condition. He had assumed the poison would cripple him quickly, but Tiger was still capable of powerful attacks.
Still, Tiger was far from healthy. That single strike had drained his energy, and he panted while cold sweat dripped from his brow.
Jebit's eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists, the sound of knuckles cracking as they hardened with Armament Haki. Seeing this, Tiger's heart sank.
Any Fish‑Man who has trained knows how formidable Haki can be. Even average humans become dangerous fighters when using it, and those who master it can overwhelm Fish‑Men through sheer spirit force alone.
Tiger tried to activate his own Armament Haki in response, but his weakened body felt unbearably heavy, unresponsive as if weighted down. His physical state was too deteriorated, and he simply lacked the strength to form Haki.
With no other choice, he lifted his arms, gritted his teeth, and prepared to absorb whatever blow Jebit delivered.
Jebit approached with a sinister smile.
Boom!
In an explosion of force, Tiger's body flew upward like a cannonball, bursting through the ceiling before crashing through the main door with a shower of splintered wood. His inertia carried him across the deck until he skidded to a stop.
Jebit climbed out of the hole right behind him. A distinct fist imprint marked his chest, evidence of the ferocity of Tiger's Shark Tile Straight Punch.
Jebit's face was pale with rage.
What are you all standing around for? he barked at Laji and the others. Grab this stinking Fish‑Man! Damn it! Good thing he's poisoned, otherwise I wouldn't be able to handle him!
At Jebit's command, the crew snapped back to attention. They rushed forward toward Tiger. But as they neared, Tiger staggered to his feet, and the sight of his strength, still standing despite everything, stunned them into hesitation.
Tiger breathed heavily. The wound on his forehead bled fiercely, staining his vision and distorting his sight. A film of seawater covered his palm, which he used to wipe his eyes as best he could.
The crew swallowed hard, seeing his ferocity. Few had ever seen such an intense Fish‑Man warrior.
Tiger glanced at them with burning resentment, spat a mouthful of blood, and then staggered toward the railing.
Jebit wasn't alarmed. He called to Laji,
That stinking Fish‑Man wants to escape. Laji, go make him behave. He doesn't have much strength left.
Laji laughed lewdly. Then, transforming suddenly, he sprinted toward Tiger on all fours. His body rapidly became covered in thick black and white fur, with a bushy tail and animalistic features.
He was a Zoan Devil Fruit user, having eaten a skunk‑based fruit that let him assume a beast form, complete with enhanced limbs and the ability to emit a noxious spray from his tail. As a Zoan, his form granted increased physical prowess and bizarre traits common in animal transformations.
Mid‑run, Laji shifted his momentum and turned around in mid‑air, presenting his rear toward Tiger. With a series of explosive puffs, foul yellow‑brown gas spewed out, engulfing Tiger.
Tiger's breathing was already strained, and inhaling that toxic cloud nearly made him collapse. The intense, fermented stench assaulted his senses until he fell heavily against the edge of the railing.
He stared down at the deep blue sea below, despair filling his eyes. Even poisoned, he never expected these subordinates would include a Devil Fruit user like this.
Laji landed behind him, claws extended, leering as he placed a hand on Tiger's trembling head, preparing to call the others to bind him.
Suddenly, a roaring noise echoed in Laji's ears. His eyes shot upward.
A sleek speedboat was cutting through the ocean toward them at high speed.
In the boat lay a tall man with his hands behind his head, seemingly relaxed or asleep. A black book covered much of his face, obscuring his features.
Laji's attention snapped to the approaching vessel. The speedboat was clearly on course to crash directly into the large ship.
Terrified, Laji tried to shout a warning to Jebit, only to see the boat strike the hull like an arrow before it slowly came to a halt against the wood.
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