Before the words even finished—
Riberra Sami's arms transformed.
Multiple semi-transparent pink tentacles burst forth—
wrapping tightly around Hack's neck, torso, and limbs.
They coiled—
tightened—
crushed.
"Tentacle Hold · Crushing Embrace!"
"Ugh—ghhh—!!"
Hack's beast form collapsed—
forced back into human shape.
His face turned a horrifying purple-red.
He could hear it.
Bones cracking.
"Crack… snap…!"
Ribs. Sternum. Arms.
All breaking under the pressure.
Pain.
Suffocation.
Darkness.
Riberra Sami released him.
Hack dropped like lifeless mud onto the deck.
For a moment—
Riberra Sami stared coldly.
"They're Marines… 'justice,' huh…"
"But they came here to kill us."
His eyes sharpened.
No hesitation remained.
He spread his arms.
"Poison Tide · Sinking Hell!"
A massive surge of venom erupted from his tentacles—
flooding the deck—
spreading into the ship's interior through cracks and doorways.
Sssssss—
Corrosion.
Groans.
Then—
silence.
"…That should do it."
Riberra Sami stood in the center of the toxic sea, murmuring.
Nearby—
Hack twitched faintly.
"You… can't escape… he's… already coming…"
Riberra Sami glanced at him.
The voice faded.
Hack went still.
"…He?"
Riberra Sami frowned slightly.
"Still didn't get my answer."
"Tough guy."
Where did the leak come from?
A spy? Or is Marine intelligence really this strong…?
He shook his head.
"Forget it."
"First—catch up with Hans and the others."
He quickly grabbed two Seastone shackles—
then leapt onto the waver still hooked to the ship.
The Jet Dial roared to life.
But—
just as he turned toward the southeast—
A sudden, overwhelming sense of danger struck.
Stronger than anything before.
Riberra Sami snapped his head around.
Through the fog—
a far larger warship emerged.
A Marine Headquarters vessel.
Even at a distance—
his newly awakened Observation Haki could feel it—
the pressure—
the gaze—
locking onto him.
Riberra Sami straightened slowly on the waver—
positioned between two warships—
his expression turning serious.
"…I see."
"He really was already on his way."
Then—
a voice echoed across the sea.
"Vice Admiral Hack, this is Sengoku. I've arrived with reinforcements. Respond."
Silence.
No reply.
After a pause—
the voice came again, colder.
"Vice Admiral Hack. Respond immediately."
On deck—
Sengoku stared at the burned-out Vivre Card in his hand.
"…Wiped out, huh."
A report came quickly.
"Report! Small vessel detected ahead! Target confirmed— Riberra Sami!"
Sengoku's eyes sharpened.
"All units—battle readiness level one!"
"Lock target!"
"Seal the area!"
"Capture Riberra Sami—on the spot!"
Riberra Sami narrowed his eyes.
"Marine Headquarters Brigadier General…"
"the 'Strategist'…"
"Sengoku."
His grip tightened on the controls.
"…Now this is real trouble."
Everything clicked.
The speed.
The preparation.
The trap.
Of course…
Only someone like him could orchestrate this.
Riberra Sami exhaled slowly.
"I used to think he looked like a fool in stories…"
"Guess I was completely wrong."
A man called "Strategist"—
was never simple.
The excitement from awakening Observation Haki cooled.
Reality returned.
He had just fought a brutal battle.
His stamina—drained.
His ability—overused.
This wasn't his peak condition.
Could he fight Sengoku?
Maybe.
But—
this wasn't just about strength.
It was about strategy.
Preparation.
Hidden cards.
Fighting here—
on the enemy's stage—
was suicide.
Even if he won—
there was nothing to gain.
Only risk.
"…Not worth it."
"Priority—regroup."
The Jet Dial roared at full power.
BOOM—!
The waver shot forward like an arrow—
cutting a white line across the sea.
"Trying to escape?!"
"Fire! Saturation bombardment—block his route!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The headquarters warship unleashed a storm—
far heavier than before.
But—
to Riberra Sami—
everything was clear.
Trajectories.
Impact points.
Shockwaves.
All visible.
He weaved through explosions—
like dancing between raindrops.
Untouchable.
"Report! Target too fast! Cannot predict movement!"
"Fire ineffective!"
"Pursue!"
"…Negative! That small craft far exceeds our ship in acceleration and maneuverability! Distance increasing!"
On the bow—
Sengoku stood still.
His justice coat fluttering in the blast winds.
His eyes locked onto the fleeing figure.
Riberra Sami…
Stronger than expected.
And now… Observation Haki.
"…We can't let him go."
His voice was low.
If he escapes today—
he will become a future disaster.
Sengoku stepped forward.
His aura—
changed.
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