The tension on deck ignited completely.
But this time—
Riberra Sami didn't wait.
"You've been the one making the first move all along," Riberra Sami grinned, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Now… it's my turn."
Before the words even finished—
he vanished.
Only a fading pink afterimage remained—
and the next instant, he appeared right in front of Hack like a phantom.
Tentacle Art · Heavy Hammer!
His right arm twisted mid-charge—
multiple thick, semi-transparent pink tentacles spiraled together—
forming a massive, gleaming fist—
that smashed forward with explosive force.
So fast…! Is this his full strength?!
Hack's pupils shrank.
The incoming blow expanded rapidly in his vision.
But—
he didn't panic.
His muscles and skin tightened to the limit.
Iron Body · Steel Form!
Without Haki… you can't break my defense!
This is the difference between a trained Marine and a wild pirate!
BOOM—!!!
A dull, crushing impact exploded.
The so-called impregnable defense—
collapsed like paper.
"PUAAAGH—!!"
Hack's eyes bulged.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
His entire body—
was blasted away like a human cannonball.
He smashed through two layers of reinforced bulkheads—
wood splintering, metal twisting—
before vanishing into the darkness of the ship's interior.
"VICE ADMIRAL HACK!!!"
Silence froze the deck for a heartbeat—
then panic erupted among the Marines.
"Strike while he's down!"
Riberra Sami's eyes turned cold.
He didn't hesitate for even a moment.
Before the Marines could recover from the shock—
he surged forward—
a blur heading straight toward the shattered cabin.
"Stop him! Protect Vice Admiral Hack!"
"Don't let him pass!"
To their credit—
the Marines reacted fast.
Over a dozen officers leapt forward—
blocking Riberra Sami's path.
All of them—captain and lieutenant rank.
Blades drawn.
A united front.
" Riberra Sami! Take one more step and you'll walk over our corpses!"
"…Heh."
Riberra Sami didn't slow down.
His eyes showed nothing but impatience.
"Trash piled together… is still trash."
"If you're in my way—"
"then go where you belong."
Pink light surged around him.
Dozens of tentacles exploded outward—
whipping across the battlefield.
SMACK! CLANG! SPLASH—!
The officers were far weaker than Hack—
but there were many of them.
Their desperate resistance—
actually slowed Riberra Sami for a split second.
"NOW! MOVE!"
Two figures burst out from the flanks—
they had been waiting.
In their hands—
dark, matte shackles.
They lunged from both sides—
aiming straight at Riberra Sami.
"Got you now, Riberra Sami!"
A chilling danger exploded through Riberra Sami's body.
No time to think—
his instincts took over.
He twisted at an impossible angle—
barely slipping between the two shackles.
"Damn it! So close!"
He landed a few meters away—
eyes locking onto the cuffs.
Seastone…
A nice surprise, Marines.
"Everyone—attack! Take him down!"
A bloodied lieutenant commander roared.
"OOOHHH!!!"
The Marines surged forward again—
fear replaced by sheer will.
Blades. Guns. Bodies.
A tide of soldiers crashed toward him.
"Good."
Riberra Sami stepped forward—
instead of retreating.
The deck erupted into chaos.
Pink tentacles lashed wildly—
the battle descending into brutal close combat.
Inside the Ship
Smoke and debris filled the air.
Hack lay buried beneath broken wood and twisted metal.
He had lost consciousness briefly—
but his Zoan vitality brought him back.
"Cough… cough…"
He forced himself upright—
one hand clutching his chest.
Broken ribs.
Internal damage.
His mind replayed that punch.
"That power… it broke through Iron Body…"
He spat blood.
"He's stronger than me… If it's just me and my men…"
He struggled to stand—
pulling out a Den Den Mushi.
"Vice Admiral Hack? Where are you? We've sighted the Jellyfish Pirates' ship."
The voice of Sengoku came through, mixed with crashing waves.
"Vice Admiral Sengoku! Riberra Sami is on my ship! His strength… far exceeds expectations! I… can't defeat him alone! Request immediate support!"
Silence.
Then—
"Hold him, Hack."
"We're heading to your position at full speed."
"Do whatever it takes."
"…Yes!"
The line cut.
Hack took a deep breath.
The Zoan recovery dulled the pain slightly.
He had to get back.
Even if it cost his life—
he had to stall that monster.
He staggered out onto the deck—
—and froze.
His pupils shrank.
His breathing stopped.
The deck—
was hell.
Marines lay scattered everywhere.
Groaning.
Unmoving.
Broken.
At the center—
Riberra Sami stood calmly.
In his hand—
he held a Marine colonel by the neck.
Sensing Hack's gaze—
Riberra Sami turned.
Smiled.
"Oh? Still standing, Vice Admiral?"
He casually tossed the officer aside—
his skin already turning a deep purple from venom.
"Your men were brave."
"I admire that."
Riberra Sami's smile widened—
cold, mocking.
"I suppose… dying while chasing pirates…"
"must be quite satisfying for them, right?"
----------------◇ Bonus Chapter Reward◇-----------------------
Every 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ You can read 60 chapters ahead on Patreon if you're interested:
patreon.com/Luna023
Your support helps the story grow and motivates faster updates.