The Vesper Pirates and the Rocks Pirates entered the waters almost simultaneously. Scattered across the shore lay the bodies of fallen pirates—half of them lifeless, their blood staining the ground.
Rocks' expression darkened, his features twisted with menace. His losses were even greater than he had anticipated. Despite years of grooming his men into ruthless marauders, they were still no match for the Vesper Pirates' firepower and tactics.
His gaze swept over Ochoku and Silver Axe, both heavily wounded. This wasn't the outcome he had envisioned. He had expected Ochoku to make a breakthrough in the heat of battle, to slay Orion and bolster his own reputation.
Orion, pale and battered, had barely managed to recover aboard the pirate ship. Now, standing alongside Jevalle, he looked at Vesper with an awkward expression. Not only had he failed to kill Ochoku, but he had also been humiliated by an upstart pirate crew.
"Orion, what the hell happened? Are you getting weaker? You couldn't even take down Ochoku? Tsk, tsk~"
A lazy voice rang out. The man who spoke sauntered forward with a swaggering gait, his battered pirate cutlass swinging loosely at his side. His clothes were filthy, and atop his head sat a ragged captain's hat.
"Jack, shut your mouth!"
(T/N: Jack is Vesper's son, the name was wrong before, from now on that's his name if I find chapters with the previous name. I'll fix it)
Before Orion could snap back, Vesper cut in, his voice laced with fury. He didn't even give his son, Jack, a chance to continue his jeering.
"Vesper, if you want to lecture your son, do it at your own base. Don't embarrass yourself here!" Rocks sneered, folding his arms across his chest. His imposing aura radiated dominance, pressing down on the surrounding pirates like an invisible force. Even the lower-ranked crew members of the Vesper Pirates dared not meet his gaze.
"Spare me the talk. I had Ochoku at my mercy. I could've killed him at any moment. If it weren't for the Hell Pirates barging in, he'd be a corpse right now!" Orion spat, his bald head gleaming under the sun as he strode forward despite his injuries.
"We'll see who ends up a corpse."
Ochoku stepped forward, unfazed by his wounds. Blood seeped from his waist, but he stood tall and unyielding, like a blade sharpened to perfection.
"Oh, Ochoku, don't push yourself too hard. Look, your guts are practically spilling out. If you don't get treated soon, you might end up half a eunuch. If you don't need them, though, feel free to donate them to someone who does, okay?
I happen to know a new shop that specializes in organ trading—also doubles as a funeral home. Want me to introduce you? Who knows, maybe they'll throw in a discount on a coffin after you kick the bucket…"
Jack hadn't even finished speaking before Salem jabbed a spyglass into his mouth, shutting him up mid-sentence.
"Jack, you bastard! Let's have a duel right now!"
A hulking figure stepped forward—one of Rocks' veteran officers. He had served the infamous captain for years, his status surpassing even Ochoku's.
"Oh? It's you, dumbass Jonas."
Jack snatched the spyglass from Salem, tossing it aside before spitting on the ground, his grin full of mockery.
"Enough! Jack, stand down!"
Vesper grabbed Jack by the collar and hurled him backward. A loud crash echoed through the air, followed by the clatter of dishes and barrels toppling over.
"Rocks, since the Hell Pirates disrupted the fight between Orion and Ochoku, how about we settle this another way? The first crew to capture or subdue them gets the rights to these four islands. Fair enough?"
Vesper had seen the golden ark sailing away earlier, and though it was a pity to let them escape so easily, he couldn't afford to let them grow unchecked.
He had no intention of letting the Hell Pirates rise freely. Teaming up with the Rocks Pirates would give him a better chance to crush or assimilate them.
"Gahahaha! I see what you're trying to do, Vesper. But fine, I'll play along—winner takes all!"
If he won, he'd not only claim these four islands but also absorb the Hell Pirates, strengthening his own forces. Rocks smirked. His list of targets was growing. First, there was Golden Lion Shiki's Flying Pirates. Now, the Hell Pirates' golden ark had piqued his interest as well.
More importantly, their crew housed numerous formidable individuals—especially Charlotte Linlin. He had heard whispers about her years ago and had long since planned to recruit her.
And now, even the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had appeared within their ranks. That alone made the Hell Pirates a worthy conquest.
...
"But before we get to that, let's address something else. You dared to criticize how I discipline my son?"
Vesper could insult Jack however he pleased—he could beat him, berate him, and let his own crew do the same. But for an outsider to do so? Unacceptable.
"Old bastard, your son's mouth reeks. My crew won't stand for him running his mouth either!"
Rocks cackled. Was Vesper trying to test his strength? Fine. When two overlords met, a show of power was inevitable.
Both captains unleashed their Conqueror's Haki, the overwhelming pressure forcing the surrounding pirates to their knees. Then, standing firm on their respective ships, they gathered their strength, each ready to unleash a devastating punch.
Two colossal, transparent fists formed in the air, colliding with an earth-shaking impact. Black lightning crackled through the sky, and the sea roared as massive waves surged outward. The thick clouds above were torn apart, leaving a gaping void in the heavens.
A deafening explosion followed. The shockwave sent both flagships drifting backward, rocking wildly atop the churning sea.
"Gahahaha! Vesper, you're getting weaker! I barely even felt that!"
Rocks laughed heartily as he led his crew away. In his voice was a mixture of arrogance and triumph. A few more years, and he would have the strength to crush Vesper once and for all.
Vesper's expression remained unreadable. Without a word, he turned and left with his crew, leaving the fallen pirates behind to rot. Their corpses would nourish the land they once sought to claim.
For now, these four islands would remain unclaimed. Perhaps, in time, smaller pirate crews would come and attempt to stake their claim.
...
Aboard
Rocks eyed the injured Ochoku and Silver Axe, his dissatisfaction clear. Neither of them had managed to make a breakthrough. They still weren't at the level he had expected.
"You said the Hell Pirates have a fighter who can go toe-to-toe with Jevalle?"
Hearing Ochoku's report, Rocks raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. As one of the dominant forces of the New World, he had seen most of the known Devil Fruits. The Hell Pirates already had the Soul-Soul Fruit and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in their ranks.
And now, they had someone wielding the Quake-Quake Fruit as well?
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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg