"?!"
Aldo froze.
It was the first time he had ever encountered such a strange counter.
The pirates on deck who noticed the scene were equally stunned.
What kind of move is that?
Looks… kind of enviable—wait, what am I thinking?!
"Aldo! Shake her off!" Marcus shouted urgently.
Aldo snapped out of his shock and roared in anger, reaching back with his hand.
"Get the hell off—!"
But Brugras moved faster.
Her hand struck his neck like lightning.
Buzz—
A strange ripple spread outward.
Then something unbelievable appeared.
From beneath Aldo's skin, a semi-circular handle shaped like a saddle grip suddenly emerged.
Brugras grabbed it firmly.
"Perfect," she said with a small laugh.
"Then you'll be my first mount."
"Run, big guy."
In the next second, something that shocked every pirate happened.
Aldo's eyes became slightly unfocused.
Then he turned his massive club—
And smashed it toward one of his own crew members who had been about to ambush a Marine.
"Aldo! What are you doing?!"
Fortunately the pirate reacted quickly and dove aside.
The spiked club smashed into the deck, carving a deep crater.
"Watch out! Aldo's being controlled!"
"Stop him! No—get away!"
Several pirates rushed forward to restrain him—
But Aldo's furious sweeping strike blasted them away.
They crashed into the crowd with painful screams.
"Damn it! Give Aldo back!"
Marcus's eyes turned bloodshot as he rushed forward with his sword—
But a swift figure intercepted him.
"Your opponent is me, Mr. Pirate."
A young male voice spoke lightly.
The man standing before him looked rather delicate.
In his hands were two metallic spikes shaped like giant acupuncture needles.
"Major Colin, G-2 Marine Branch."
"Medical officer and Special Operations unit."
"A pleasure."
"Get lost!"
Marcus slashed in fury.
But Colin parried with precise needle thrusts.
Steel clashed repeatedly.
Marcus found himself temporarily unable to break through.
Meanwhile—
Under Brugras's control, Aldo had turned into a rampaging monster across the deck.
Guided by her commands, he charged wildly.
Not only did he smash apart the pirates' formation—
His indiscriminate attacks forced his own crewmates to scatter.
Unable to fight properly, they struggled against the Marine soldiers closing in.
The battle situation changed dramatically.
Brugras sat high on Aldo's shoulders.
Through the chaos, her gaze locked onto Sammy.
"Predator Sammy."
"Aren't you going to act?"
"Letting your own crew slaughter each other… that's hardly what a proper captain would do."
Sammy narrowed his eyes, staring at the strange handle in her hand.
"A Devil Fruit ability…"
"Paramecia?"
"Good eye."
Brugras smiled.
"I ate the Ride-Ride Fruit."
"I am a Rider Human."
"Right now… this big fellow obeys my command."
"So?"
"Still planning to resist?"
"A manipulation-type fruit…"
Sammy muttered.
"Then we just have to get her off Aldo."
But Brugras stood too high.
Using Aldo's massive body and brutal attacks as cover, it was difficult to reach her.
"You guys handle the other Marines!"
"This colonel—leave her to me!"
Before the words finished—
Sammy shot forward like an arrow.
"Trying to capture the leader first?"
Brugras sneered.
"Good idea. Too naive."
She guided Aldo to swing the spiked club downward.
Sammy slid low, barely dodging.
His poison-coated fist shot toward Brugras.
But she reacted instantly—
Aldo leapt sideways under her command.
At the same time his free left fist slammed toward Sammy.
Sammy was forced to block.
BANG!
Their arms collided.
Sammy staggered back two steps, shocked.
His strength…
It's even stronger while controlled.
"Useless, Predator Sammy."
Brugras smiled coldly.
"Surrender."
"You don't really want to fight your own crewmate, do you?"
As she spoke, she drove Aldo into an even fiercer assault.
The club spun like a destructive black storm.
Sammy was forced to dodge repeatedly.
He couldn't close the distance.
Across the deck, the Swordfish's situation worsened.
Their core fighter Aldo had turned against them.
Though the Jellyfish Pirates were individually stronger—
The Marines held overwhelming advantage in numbers, coordination, and equipment.
Pirates began to be pushed back.
Casualties started appearing.
This can't drag on…
A dangerous thought flashed through Sammy's mind.
Suddenly—
He stopped targeting Brugras.
Instead, he attacked Aldo's legs.
Poison gathered on his right foot.
His leg whipped out like a lash—
A low sweeping kick smashing into the back of Aldo's knee.
The impact was partially absorbed by Aldo's thick muscles—
But the paralyzing toxin activated instantly.
Aldo's enormous body tilted.
His balance collapsed.
His rampaging attack stalled.
Now!
Sammy seized the moment.
Ignoring the massive arm swinging toward him—
He coated his entire right arm in poison.
The limb turned dark violet as he thrust upward toward Brugras.
It was a desperate strike to force her off.
Brugras's pupils shrank.
There was no time to dodge.
She immediately kicked off Aldo's shoulders.
Her body flipped backward through the air.
The instant she left—
The strange saddle-handle behind Aldo's neck vanished.
Sammy's poison punch grazed Aldo's shoulder.
The venom corroded part of his clothing and skin.
The pain jolted him awake.
"I… what just…"
Aldo shook his head in confusion, looking at the wrecked deck and the club in his hands.
Then fury exploded.
"You sneaky Marine!"
"Stand back."
Sammy stepped forward, blocking the enraged Aldo.
"This one's mine."
Brugras landed lightly on the deck.
Smoke, corpses, and broken planks surrounded them.
For a brief moment—
The two faced each other.
Her feet had barely settled—
When Sammy lunged again.
Close combat.
Sammy's specialty.
"Grapple Ride!"
Brugras did not retreat.
Instead, she advanced.
Her hands shot forward like eagle claws.
They locked onto Sammy's shoulders and neck—
The opening movement of a grappling throw.
If successful, she could establish a riding position again.
But in the instant she grabbed him—
Human-Human Fruit – Partial Beast Form!
Sammy's muscles rippled.
A layer of slick translucent mucus covered his shoulders and arms.
Brugras's perfect grip suddenly lost all traction.
Her hold slid off.
Even worse—
Sammy twisted his hips with her forward momentum.
A powerful rising roundhouse kick exploded upward.
It struck directly between her chest and abdomen.
BOOM!
The heavy impact halted Brugras's charge instantly.
She staggered backward.
Her riding attempt shattered.
She stumbled several steps before stabilizing.
For the first time—
Pain and shock appeared on her face.
She raised her head and stared at Sammy.
His upper body had transformed.
His arms had become longer and more flexible.
Thin translucent membranes fluttered faintly along his shoulders and back.
His skin carried a pale pink hue.
Brugras coughed lightly and wiped the corner of her mouth.
"So… you really did eat a Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit: Jellyfish Model."
Her eyes gleamed brighter.
"I didn't expect such refined control…"
"You can transform partially and counter strength with technique."
"It seems I underestimated you…"
"Predator Sammy."
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