This was indeed a remarkably powerful weapon.
While its shape was unusual, it was clear that a lot of "science" was packed inside.
Its complex mechanisms and design were fundamentally different from ordinary firearms.
At the same time, the exposed pipes and wires showed that this weapon wasn't mass-produced; it was a one-of-a-kind item, perhaps one of only a few ever made!
Something like this was either some junk a lowly scientist tinkered with, or a truly amazing piece of tech!
The moment it fired, that question was answered.
It was indeed a "good thing."
...
Hummm—
You could clearly see a terrible power building up inside the cannon's opening.
The weapon was mounted on a wheeled base with a stabilizing mechanism, making it easy to move and secure.
But rather than calling it a "cannon," it was more like an oversized "gun," at least that's what its shape suggested.
As the humming sound grew louder, a strange aura emanated from the cannon's opening.
Hot, scorching...
The cannon's opening, originally painted red, was now an even deeper crimson.
That was extreme heat!
Also, because the paint job was rather crude to begin with, the paint near the muzzle was starting to flake off.
The whole situation looked shoddy.
But Baro, who was directly in the line of fire, felt his hair stand on end.
Years of combat experience told him that whatever was accumulating in that muzzle was extremely dangerous, something even he would struggle to defend against!
His life was in danger!
But Baro had no intention of dodging.
Because he wasn't the only one in the cannon's sights; there was also the Four Seas Alliance merchant ship in the distance, and the abandoned troops rapidly approaching the pirate ship from the direction of the merchant vessel.
Baro didn't know the range of this unknown weapon, but he wasn't about to risk his comrades' lives.
So, in that instant, Baro made up his mind: he absolutely would not dodge!
Swish!
Black Armament Haki surged through Baro's body.
He crossed his arms over his chest, preparing to endure this unknown blow head-on!
And when the "cannonball" finally shot out of the muzzle, an icy chill suddenly washed over Baro.
Immediately following that was a terrifying heat, almost enough to burn a person!
Baro looked up and saw a sight that utterly astonished him.
A stream of crimson lava erupted from the cannon's opening, transforming into a ferocious, red hound that roared and lunged at him!
Lava?!
Honestly, Baro was quite "familiar" with lava.
After all, the Marine Headquarters had a Logia-type lava Devil Fruit user!
But that was precisely what made Baro so surprised.
The Logia-type lava Devil Fruit user, Sakazuki, known as Akainu—
The most iconic image of this Marine in battle was that fearsome lava, which took the form of a red beast!
Why... why was an attack similar to that erupting from that special gun at this very moment?
Could it be that these pirates had captured Sakazuki and stuffed him into that cannon opening?
...No, that joke was too lame.
Baro had no idea what was happening or why the pirates' weapon was unleashing an attack similar to Akainu Sakazuki. But there was one thing he was sure of.
Even he couldn't easily block this attack.
Looks like I'll have to go all out!
Baro thought to himself.
He suddenly dug his heels in, anchoring himself firmly to the deck beneath his feet.
Baro had no intention of taking a single step back.
But then, a dark shadow flashed before Baro's eyes.
It was a small black shadow, like a tiny bug... no.
It was a grain of sand!
Baro blinked and watched as the sand particles in front of him grew more and more numerous, eventually forming a sand soldier clad in heavy armor and wielding a sword and shield!
Swish!
The instant the sand soldier took shape, the lava cannon blast arrived!
While Baro was still stunned, the sand soldier turned its head, glanced at Baro, and then shook its head slightly, signaling him not to worry.
The next moment, the sand soldier suddenly opened its mouth, letting out a silent roar, and then violently slammed its right shield onto the deck!
Crash!
A large crater was blasted into the pirate ship's deck, allowing the sand soldier's shield to be firmly embedded there.
—Holding the shield in the right hand helps protect the "heart" when facing strong impacts.
Although the sand soldier didn't have a "heart" concept, old habits die hard.
"Kala-la-la..."
Faintly, the sand soldier emitted strange rumbling sounds, as if it were taking a deep breath.
The second after the sand soldier "inhaled deeply," the ferocious lava hound collided head-on with the sand soldier's shield!
Bang!
A deafening thud echoed in the ears of everyone on deck.
The clash of lava and sand warped the very air around them!
"Ch-ch-ch-ch..."
The sand soldier's head spun rapidly, and a large amount of sand from its body was channeled into the shield in front of it.
But it seemed that still wasn't enough.
Suddenly, the sand soldier's left hand, which had been holding a sword, "dissolved," and a large quantity of sand was poured into its right shield, further increasing the shield's size and volume!
At the same time, more sand extended from behind the sand soldier's body, securing it to the deck.
"Kala-la!"
With another strange "roar," the sand soldier suddenly raised its entire shield high into the air and slammed it down towards the sky with tremendous force!
Bang!
In that instant, the heavy sand shield acted like a hammer, relentlessly striking the surging lava!
Boom!
At that moment, the hound-shaped lava was dispersed, turning into a pool of ordinary lava, and was forcefully blasted into the sky.
Finally, the lava fell into the sea, its movement ceased.
"Kala-la-la..."
The sand soldier "panted," its left hand gone, and its right shield already melted into a ragged mess by the lava.
Baro knew he wouldn't have been able to withstand such a terrifying attack.
And he also knew who had saved him.
But the pirate captain didn't.
He let out a furious shout, "Who!"
But no one answered.
Only a figure clad in golden light armor slowly walked across the deck and approached the special weapon.
He gently touched the scorching hot cannon barrel with his hand, observed it closely, and then murmured:
"It looks a lot like Akainu's attack, but it's definitely 'not.'"
Suddenly, Rowan's eyes lit up.
He remembered that earlier, when he had confronted CP0 on Drum Island, CP0 had produced a weapon capable of unleashing the power of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit all at once.
A theory formed in Rowan's mind.
"Did the Marines mass-produce that kind of weapon?"
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