At the bow of the Dawn ship, Kirk's spatial ability allowed everyone to observe the battlefield on the Moby Dick with unusual clarity. The situation unfolding there left several of them with strange expressions.
Jason's actions just now, no matter how one looked at them, gave off the impression of a calculated and dangerous villain.
Kirk turned his gaze toward Ash with visible dissatisfaction. "Did you teach Jason that?"
Ash, who was watching the battle with interest, immediately responded, "What? I taught him?"
He looked genuinely unconvinced. "I only told him that the melting point of diamond is slightly higher than the temperature of his flames. If he could manage to melt Diamond Jozu, it would be a breakthrough for him. How he applies it is not something you can pin on me."
Kirk narrowed his eyes. "And the part about threatening to burn Jozu's allies if he tried to escape, that was also your idea?"
"It was Ash who said it," Nami cut in immediately.
She continued, "At a gathering last week, Ash told Bro Sali and Wyper that threats don't work on heartless pirates. He said what you need is a fast conclusion, not giving them space to escape. But for pirates who pride themselves on loyalty, it becomes interesting. He said you just tell them, 'If you run, I will take out your crew.' Then you see how they react."
Carina nodded as well. "Wyper even asked what to do if the opponent does not run. Ash said, then it becomes even simpler, just defeat them directly since they stayed."
Carina imitated the last part with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Just defeat them!"
The group could not help but laugh at her tone.
Ash immediately raised his hands in protest. "No, no, I was just discussing tactics with them. Jason must have interpreted it on his own. That part was not me."
Saff glanced at him with a teasing smile. "You never have good ideas anyway."
"Exactly," Nami, Nojiko, Carina, and Robin all agreed at once.
Ash sighed and rolled his eyes. They were treating him like he was the source of all problems.
He did not believe there was anything wrong with those tactics anyway. Pirates were pirates. Loyalty was just another form of weakness in battle.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield on the Moby Dick, the chaos continued.
Jack had unleashed overwhelming force, single handedly suppressing five division commanders at once. Rakuyo of the Seventh Division, Blenheim of the Ninth Division, Curiel of the Tenth Division, Kingdew of the Eleventh Division, and Harta of the Twelfth Division were all being forced into a defensive state with no room to counterattack.
Elsewhere, Dicken had already found the situation underwhelming. Seeing no worthy opponents left, he casually engaged Blamenco of the Sixth Division, the only remaining Devil Fruit user in his vicinity, treating the fight almost like a game.
Jella's situation was similar. After boarding, he quickly assessed the battlefield and found no real challenge among the remaining division commanders. The only Devil Fruit user had already been taken by another teammate, so he instead turned his attention to Fossa of the Fifteenth Division, who wielded a flaming longsword. Even then, his approach felt halfhearted, as if he was not fully invested in the fight.
At another point of entry, Fidel, McKinley, Jebao, Kamachiri, and Laboonham had just reached the Moby Dick when they witnessed Namur, the Fishman Eighth Division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, splashing into the sea.
The Sky Island trio exchanged glances. None of them specialized in water combat, and while seawater did not threaten them directly, diving in after a Fishman was simply inconvenient.
Their attention shifted toward Fidel and McKinley.
McKinley shook his head firmly. "Do not look at me. I am an electricity user. I am not going into the sea just to shock fish."
Fidel chuckled lightly. "Even if I can manipulate wind and water, I have no interest in fighting underwater."
With that, the group made a decision.
They ignored Namur entirely.
Instead, they turned their attention back to the remaining commanders on deck.
Only Atmos of the Thirteenth Division, Jiru of the Fourteenth Division, and Izo of the Sixteenth Division were left.
Kamachiri and Laboonham immediately moved in on Atmos and Jiru without hesitation.
At that moment, Curiel was kicked flying across the deck by Jack.
Without hesitation, McKinley transformed into a streak of electricity and rushed forward to intercept.
Fidel and Jebao exchanged a glance and simultaneously focused on Izo.
Almost in unison, they said, "I do not hit women, so this one is yours."
Izo's expression darkened instantly.
He raised his twin pistols and fired several shots at them while shouting, "I am a man!"
Meanwhile, back on the Dawn ship, the crew continued watching the unfolding chaos on the Moby Dick while occasionally glancing at Namur still splashing in the sea.
"What do you think that Fishman is trying to do?" Kirk asked.
"Maybe relatives visiting?" Ash replied casually.
Kirk frowned. "What?"
"I feel like I forgot something," Ash muttered, ignoring him. "But I cannot remember what it is."
At that moment, an urgent Den Den Mushi call rang out from Ash's waist.
He looked down and saw the line connected to Admiral Tsuru of the Marines.
"Oh right, that," he said flatly.
He picked it up.
"Hello, Grandma Tsuru, what is it?"
A deep voice came through immediately.
"This is Sengoku."
Ash paused. "Wrong number? I will hang up then."
"Wait!" Sengoku's voice sharpened instantly.
"Oh, go ahead then," Ash replied lazily.
"You brat," Sengoku said, clearly irritated, "I received reports from Marine units in the New World. The Whitebeard Pirates and multiple allied crews are moving in large numbers. According to their course, they are heading directly toward your position."
His tone turned serious.
"Listen carefully. Avoid direct conflict with them. Whitebeard Edward Newgate is not like Kaido or Red Hair. He is an era defining monster. Do not underestimate him. You are still too young to take that risk. Your time will come later."
Ash listened silently.
Before he could respond, the sea suddenly exploded upward.
Namur shot out of the water at high speed, aiming directly at Ash with clear intent to capture the leader in one strike.
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