"That's great… my brother's swordsmanship hasn't weakened at all..."
On the deck of the Twin Goddesses, Ayala watched the slash Erik had just unleashed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she smiled.
In that moment, it felt as though she had been carried back to her childhood.
Back then, their parents were still alive. She hadn't yet fallen ill with Amber Lead disease. Her brother, having succeeded in his training, stood before her by the sea, brimming with confidence as he unleashed an equally brilliant strike.
But after she became sick, her brother had rarely touched his blades again. Later on, he had even sold his swords.
Now, seeing him release that slash once more, Ayala knew it. Her brother, the youngest sword master Flevance had ever produced, had finally returned.
And all of it was thanks to the person standing before her, Brother Yemu.
"I'm sorry..."
Ayala wiped away her tears. Under the puzzled gazes of the others, she explained softly.
"The strike my brother just used was the ultimate technique of Shinto Style, the Five-Colored Peacock. Being able to unleash that means his strength hasn't declined at all over these years. That's why I… I'm sorry… I was the one who held him back. If it weren't for me, he could've become even stronger..."
Flare looked at the young girl with aching tenderness and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
"Alright, don't cry. Your health is what matters most to Erik. And besides, isn't everything getting better now?"
"Yes… thank you, Captain Brother. Thank you, everyone. I'll work hard at studying medicine and become a qualified ship doctor as soon as I can."
"We believe in you!"
...
If the battle between Erik and Achino was a contest between swordsmanship and Devil Fruit powers, then at this very moment, atop the massive shark-shaped warship, another battle was unfolding, a pure spectacle of raw strength.
Tiger had already taken off his coat, revealing a black tank top beneath. His muscles bulged powerfully, and both fists were coated in pitch-black Armament Haki.
He charged through Mad Treasure's ship like a living tank, unleashing his strength without restraint.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Faced with waves of densely packed mercenaries rushing at him, Tiger didn't budge an inch. He simply swung his fists.
Every punch sent a mercenary flying, eyes rolling back as they scattered like broken kites before collapsing unconscious.
Watching this scene, Mad Treasure wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Recalling the terrifying force that had sent him flying with a single punch earlier, he finally discarded his earlier contempt.
That power was unbelievable. That single blow had given him the feeling of something utterly unstoppable, like the might of thunder crashing down.
"So this is a fishman… this monstrous strength, this physical power… it's insane!!!"
Treasure grew excited. Only battles like this could give the treasures he sought their greatest sense of worth.
Even so, he didn't rush in right away. He was waiting, waiting for Tiger's stamina to wear down.
After all, someone who could become a famous treasure hunter on the Grand Line wasn't the type to charge in blindly without thinking.
But by now, Tiger had already swept through the mercenaries aboard Treasure's ship like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves.
As far as the eye could see, the deck was littered with mercenaries lying unconscious, eyes rolled back.
Only then did Mad Treasure finally step forward, laughing wildly.
"Jarararara! As expected of a pirate worth 680 million Belly… the World Government and the Marines didn't overestimate you at all… if anything, everyone underestimated you..."
After fighting for so long, Tiger wasn't even breathing heavily. He looked straight at Treasure and spoke calmly.
"If you understand that, then why did you still let your companions come up here to die...?"
Hearing Tiger's words, Treasure froze for a moment.
"Comrades!!!"
He glanced around at the subordinates who were still alive, then burst out laughing.
"How ridiculous. Hearing that word come from the mouths of evil pirates. You criminals actually dare to question me, a treasure hunter. Compared to you pirates, I'm a treasure hunter officially recognized by the World Government."
The moment those words were spoken, several high-ranking officers at Marine Headquarters, who were watching the battle, all felt as if they had been slapped in the face.
"As for them, they're nothing but trash. For the sake of treasure, they sold their lives to me. Their only value is unconditional obedience. If I tell them to die, they die. If I tell them to kill, they kill. That's the sole reason they exist."
At that moment, the mercenaries aboard Mad Treasure's ship who were still conscious all grew gloomy upon hearing his words. But this was the path they had chosen themselves. They had no one else to blame.
Seeing this, Tiger understood.
Perhaps his time with the Sky Pirates had made him forget just how dark this world truly was.
"I understand. In that case, I won't waste any more time."
As he spoke, Tiger glanced in the direction of the Twin Goddesses.
"Erik's fight is already over. I can't afford to drag things out here..."
Hearing this, Treasure grew excited as well.
"That's exactly what I was thinking. Against someone like you, I have to go all out from the very beginning..."
"Mad Chain!"
In an instant, countless thick chains burst out from Treasure's body, wrapping around him completely and turning him into a gigantic mass of chains.
"Once I beat you and deal with the others, all that gold will be mine..."
Watching the now-frantic Treasure, Tiger felt an unexpected sense of pity.
"What a pitiful guy."
As he spoke, Tiger assumed the stance of Fish-Man Karate.
This, instead, left Treasure stunned for a moment before he roared in fury.
"Are you pitying me?! Fishman!!!"
But Tiger didn't answer. He had no interest in wasting words on this man anymore. All he wanted now was to take him down.
Just then, an unexpected, bold and rough voice rang out.
"Pathetic. Of course this fishman is pitying you..."
The sudden voice startled not only Treasure, but everyone who was watching the battle.
"Who's there?!"
The scene felt eerily familiar, except this time, he was the one being mocked.
Treasure looked up toward the source of the voice and was instantly shocked.
At some point unknown to him, four enormous warships had appeared beside his vessel.
Their size rivaled that of Marine battleships. Even Treasure's ship looked small and frail in comparison.
On the lead warship stood two men.
One wore a green cloak, his black beard flowing freely, his face fierce like a demon.
The other had yellow skin, golden wavy hair, and wore a golden helmet.
Both men were tall and powerfully built. Even from afar, their terrifying presence could be felt. They were men who looked like monsters.
"!!"
"That's..."
"That flag..."
At that moment, the pirate hunters, the bosses of the Seven Shipyards, and the Marines all recognized the origins of these two forces.
"The Happo Navy… the Vinsmoke Family… they actually arrived together..."
"It's… it's over..."
"There's no chance left..."
Standing on the massive ships, the two towering figures, Chinjao of the Happo Navy and Vinsmoke Judge, the leader of Germa 66, looked down with disdain at the pirate hunters scattered across Scrap Island.
They had every reason to be confident. Whether it was their personal strength or the near-national military power behind them, they had no reason to care about these weak pirate hunters or any so-called Dark Emperors.
"Well then," Judge spoke calmly, "anyone not involved should step aside now..."