Chapter 69: Clash at the Sky Forge
The crew stood at the cliff's edge, the crystalline sky burning with the light of the Sky Forge. Below, the ocean shimmered silver, and upon it, an armada approached — thirty ships under one black banner: a crimson serpent biting its tail.
Rio's scope tracked the lead vessel. "Captain… that's the Serpent Fang Pirates. Captain Viper Drakkon — bounty 480 million. A sadist. They say he strangles enemies with his bare hands just to hear them suffocate."
Arthur's grip tightened on his sword. His silver hair rippled in the forge's wind. "So be it. We finish this here, at the top of the world."
The Serpent Fang ships slammed into the crystal shore. Hundreds of pirates poured out — scarred men, tattooed women, warriors armored in bone and steel. At the center strode Viper Drakkon himself: tall, shirtless, muscles coiled like snakes, his arms wrapped in scaled gauntlets. His eyes were cold green, his tongue flicking against sharp teeth.
Drakkon grinned up at the Silver-Hair Pirates. "Sergio D. Arthur… I've heard whispers. Silver hair, silver blade, silver tongue. Let's see if you bleed red like the rest."
Arthur stepped forward, voice like steel. "Then come test me, Drakkon."
--
The cliff exploded into chaos.
Arthur vs. Viper Drakkon
Drakkon lunged, his body bending unnaturally like a serpent. His right arm whipped forward, gauntlet scales extending into a chain of metallic fangs.
"Serpent Fang: Constrictor Whip!"
Arthur sidestepped, Observation Haki guiding his motion a split-second before the strike hit. The whip tore a crater into the crystal ground. Arthur countered with a clean diagonal slash, silver sparks flying as his blade clashed against scales.
Drakkon's grin widened. "Fast. But snakes strike faster."
His left arm shot forward, twisting mid-air. Arthur barely caught it with his blade, but the force hurled him back a few feet. Arthur's mind sharpened — He's stretching joints beyond human limits. A martial art… no, a hybrid between brawling and serpentine flexibility.
Arthur exhaled, channeling Armament Haki into his sword. Then I'll carve through the scales.
---
Two massive lieutenants charged Hiroshi — brothers wielding jagged cleavers.
"Die together, little swordsman!"
Hiroshi smirked, crossing his twin blades. "Twin-Style: Gale Spiral!"
He spun, blades forming a vortex of steel, deflecting both cleavers. Sparks showered the battlefield. He twisted inside their guard, slicing one's thigh and slashing the other's arm.
Blood splattered, but the brothers howled in rage, not pain.
Hiroshi's eyes sharpened. They fight like beasts. No rhythm, only brute force. Then I'll cut the rhythm into them myself.
---
Alex holstered his pistols, drawing his long rifle. Beside him, Rio crouched with his own. They nodded silently — partners in precision.
From above, waves of enemy archers and gunners unleashed volleys.
Alex whispered, "Left."
"Got it," Rio replied.
Their rifles thundered in harmony — each shot piercing an enemy eye, throat, or wrist. Bullets met bullets mid-air, deflecting hostile shots.
Alex thought calmly: Every bullet counts. Every pull must sing.
Rio, teeth clenched, muttered: Keep pressure low, let Alex lead the tempo. I'll finish the notes he starts.
The pirates screamed as their gunners fell one by one, fear spreading like wildfire.
---
Surv darted into the fray, palms sparking with lightning. A pirate swung a mace, but she ducked, electricity crackling as she drove her fist into his gut.
"Storm Fist: Volt Impact!"
The man flew into the air, convulsing before crashing down, smoking.
Lisa, blade in hand, danced beside her, cutting tendons and throats with surgical precision. She covered Surv's blind spots, while Surv fried anyone who breached Lisa's guard.
Lisa's thoughts flowed cold and precise: Angles. Weak points. Keep Surv breathing, and we'll paint this battlefield red.
Surv grinned wildly, thunder dancing in her hair. This is what I was born for.
---
Rus erupted in feathers, his massive Garuda form unfurling wings of steel and gold. Pirates screamed as his talons shredded armor like paper.
He dove, grabbing three men in his claws, crushing them mid-air before hurling their corpses back into their allies.
Rus bellowed, voice booming like a war drum:
"Garuda's Judgment: Feather Barrage!"
Metallic feathers exploded from his wings like bullets, piercing a dozen enemies at once.
Inside his fury, a whisper of doubt lingered: Am I monster, or comrade? … No. I am their shield.
---
Dr. Clover
While chaos raged, Clover ducked behind a crystalline boulder, tending to wounded allies with trembling hands. He applied bandages, crushed herbs, and injected stimulants he brewed himself.
"Hold steady. You'll live," he whispered, though his heart hammered. I'm no warrior… but without me, they die. I'll bear this weight.
---
Arthur vs. Drakkon
The battle roared, but its center burned around Arthur and Drakkon.
Drakkon's arms snapped like twin whips, striking from every angle. Arthur's blade flashed silver, deflecting with surgical precision. The clang of steel and scale rang like war bells.
Drakkon licked blood from his lip, eyes wild. "You're strong, Arthur. But strength alone can't crush the Serpent Fang!"
He lunged, body spiraling mid-air like a true serpent. His gauntlets glowed black with Haki, his strike a fanged drill aimed for Arthur's chest.
Arthur's Observation flared — the future whispering of blood. His body moved before thought, blade shearing upward.
"Silver-Edge Slash!"
The clash erupted in a shockwave. Crystal pillars cracked and shattered.
Both men slid back, feet gouging into the stone.
Arthur's chest rose and fell, eyes blazing. This man won't break easy. But I must win — not for me, for them. For the storm I vowed to lead.
He lifted his sword, silver hair glinting in the forge's glow.
"This ends with your fangs broken, Drakkon."
Drakkon snarled, coiling low, muscles tense like a spring.
"Then try and snap them, storm child!"
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✨ End of Chapter 69