"Enemy fleet ahead! It's... the Golden Lion Pirates' ships!"
Roger poked his head out from the captain's quarters, grinning widely. "Oh? Shiki's got the balls to come after us again?"
Rhett sprang up like a carp leaping from water, squinting at the horizon—three menacing warships cut through the waves, their prows adorned with golden lion-head banners. On the flagship's deck stood three unmistakable figures:
Shiki needed no introduction—the old frenemy. Wang Zhi loomed large with a longsword at his waist, his gaze venomous.
Damn, young Big Mom was something else, wasn't she? Clutching that cake with cream all over her face. As for how she'd look later... I'd rather not think about it.
"Gyahahaha! Roger! Long time no see!" Shiki's laughter carried on the sea breeze.
Roger planted his hands on his hips, booming back: "What, didn't get enough of a beating last time? Brought backup this round?"
A vein pulsed at Shiki's temple before he suppressed his rage, sneering: "Don't get it twisted. I'm here... to offer you fortune!"
"Captain Rocks has taken notice of you!" Wang Zhi added coldly. "Join us, and these seas will be ours sooner or later!"
Rhett's mouth twitched. "Jesus," he muttered. "Rocks running a damn pyramid scheme now. The MLM plague's reached our ship..."
Gaban hefted his axe, scoffing. "The hell even is Rocks Pirates?"
Charlotte Linlin licked cream off her fingers, giggling: "Mama mama~ Roger, join us and I'll bake you cakes every day! We could even—!" She punctuated the offer with a sultry wink.
Roger—being Roger—just blinked blankly.
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, deadpan: "...Captain, they're resorting to honey traps now."
Roger threw back his head, slapping his straw hat. "Kyaha! Thanks, but I ain't interested in being anyone's lackey!"
Shiki's eyes turned glacial, ambition flickering beneath. "Don't be ungrateful, Roger! Captain Rocks is destined to become the 'King of the World'!"
Rhett caught it—Shiki wasn't truly loyal. The bastard was scheming.
He dug a finger in his ear, projecting loudly: "Hah? 'King of the World'? Did he bother asking Marineford, the World Government... or our captain first?"
Wang Zhi sneered. "Know your place, brat!"
Roger's smile remained, but his gaze sharpened. "Tell Rocks—"
Rhett cut in: "Stop daydreaming! Trying to recruit our captain? Pfft—spit!"
The sea breeze stilled. Tension crackled.
Shiki's grin turned feral. "Then there's no helping it..."
His arm slashed downward.
"Lion's Roar: Sea Surge!"
The ocean erupted. Towering waves morphed into roaring lions, charging Oro Jackson!
Roger drew his blade, Conqueror's Haki coiling around steel, laughing:
"All hands—BATTLE STATIONS!"
---
Wind howled across Oro Jackson's deck. Two figures stood motionless.
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, lenses flashing cold.
Wang Zhi slowly unsheathed his sword, edge glinting. "Dark King Rayleigh... they say your Observation Haki predicts all?"
Rayleigh smiled. "Why not test it?"
Wang Zhi vanished.
Not speed—true disappearance. No sound, no presence, not even disturbed air.
"Silent Assassination Technique: Shadow Raid."
The blade stabbed soundlessly for Rayleigh's spine!
Yet Rayleigh parried backward without looking.
"Clang!"
Sparks flew. Wang Zhi's strike met steel.
His pupils contracted. "...You 'saw' me?"
Rayleigh chuckled. "No. Heard."
"Your heartbeat's too loud."
Wang Zhi smirked. "Then have an earful!"
He accelerated—ghostly afterimages, blades lashing from all angles!
"Silent Style: Thousand Blades!"
Each strike silent. Each lethal.
Rayleigh stood firm, gaze icy behind lenses.
Do I really think he's weak?
"Clang! Clang! CLANG—!"
Every slash met perfect defense, sparks raining.
Wang Zhi's shock grew. "He's... predicting everything?!"
The instant his assault faltered—
Rayleigh moved!
"Your 'silence' just masks impatience. Like a clown."
His rapier struck—viper-quick—piercing Wang Zhi's wrist!
"Schlick!"
Blood sprayed. Wang Zhi's sword clattered.
Rayleigh's blade rested at his throat. "Checkmate."
Wang Zhi leapt back to his ship, teeth gritted.
Meanwhile, Rhett surveyed the battlefield. Shiki was Roger's. Rayleigh took Wang Zhi. That left Gaban and himself.
No action meant lower status post-battle. Unacceptable.
He activated his domain, charging Charlotte Linlin.
"Mama mama~ Little boy, only good at hiding?" Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
Rhett flickered through crimson mist, sighing. "Can't help it. My fog melts battleships, but damn—your skin's thicker than their hulls!"
Linlin's fist cratered the mist's center—air shattered, hitting only phantoms.
"ANNOYING! Like gnats!" She stomped, shaking the entire ship.
Rhett emerged opposite, black blade surging. "Mist God Style: Blood Tide!"
Countless crimson blades erupted from his sword!
Linlin backhanded the assault without turning.
"Tch. No weak spots?" Rhett vanished again.
Gaban, cleaving through grunts, yelled:
"Rhett! Since when you so weak? Can't even scratch a woman?!"
Rhett's voice drifted out from the mist: "You try! She's harder than seastone!"
"Then swap!"
They switched positions mid-air.
Gaban charged, twin axes whirling!
"Mad Axe: Mountain Splitter!"
"BOOM—!"
Sparks exploded against Linlin's arm—yet she stood unfazed, laughing: "Not bad! That actually stung!"
Gaban's hands went numb. Sea-stone demon?!
But he barked: "Warm-up's over! Kid, watch and learn—masterclass incoming!"