Roger set down his mug, his gaze locking onto the black pirate ship looming on the horizon. A primal, beastly aura radiated from it, but fear was the last thing on his mind. Excitement surged through him, every cell in his body practically dancing with anticipation.
"Yo, Rayleigh! We've got a real powerhouse out there. I'm goin' in!"
Roger's grin split wide as he gripped his saber, Ace, and charged forward like a kid chasing adventure. In a blink, he was halfway across the beach.
"Hey, Roger, that's the Vesper Pirates' flag! Get back here!"
Rayleigh groaned, recognizing the banner of the Vesper Pirates—a true overlord crew. He knew Roger's itch for a fight was unstoppable, but taking on Vesper, a titan among New World pirates, was madness. Sure, Brook's hefty payment had funded their adventures across his dozen islands, but risking their lives against Vesper for a paycheck? That was a gamble even Roger shouldn't take.
They could handle a weaker overlord like the Butcher Pirates, but Vesper's crew dwarfed even Brook's Hell Pirates in power and influence.
"Haha, quit yellin'! He's already gone. Let's back him up!"
Gaban clapped Rayleigh's shoulder, chuckling as he hefted his twin axes and sprinted after Roger, eager to claim a worthy opponent before they were all taken.
The rest of the crew followed suit, whooping and hollering as they charged forward, treating the impending clash like a grand adventure.
"Ugh, bunch of reckless idiots," Rayleigh muttered, adjusting his glasses. The scholarly air about him vanished, his eyes glinting with steely resolve. He drew his double-edged sword and strode after them, his demeanor shifting to match the crew's fearless spirit.
Like captain, like crew—Roger's bold recklessness was mirrored in every one of his battle-hungry nakama.
...
On the other side, Angelie led Bull and their crew, abandoning their ship to reach the island. Their plan: lure Shirokiri to the Roger Pirates' turf.
Brook had hyped up Roger's crew as a force to be reckoned with, but could they really stand up to Shirokiri? According to Brook, Roger was the kind of monster who grew stronger the tougher the foe—a man with unmatched potential and explosive power. Underestimating him would be a grave mistake.
"Angelie, stop running! Come back to Ten Kings Island with me. I'll treat you right, I swear!"
Shirokiri pursued relentlessly. He'd made up his mind—before Brook's crew returned, he'd drag Angelie back to Vesper Pirate territory. No complications, no delays.
If he had to, he'd make it up to her later, maybe toss Brook some extra Belly to smooth things over. Shirokiri was convinced Angelie would see his sincerity, and Brook would play the gentleman and step aside.
"Shirokiri, you filthy dreadlocked creep, back off! I'm warning you, this island's got a powerhouse who'll protect us. Crawl back to your Ten Kings Island, or Brook won't let this slide when he gets back!"
Angelie's patience with Shirokiri's obsessive pursuit had worn thin. The audacity of him firing cannons at them on Hell Pirates' turf was a direct slap in Brook's face—a challenge to an overlord!
"Angelie, no one's stopping me today! Quit fighting it!"
Shirokiri's temper flared. Her growing distance only fueled his resolve to haul her back to Ten Kings Island.
"Hey, that's no way to treat a lady! And attacking Brook's crew on his own turf? I can't let that slide!"
Roger dashed past Angelie's group, his saber Ace flashing as he unleashed a ferocious slash at the pursuing Shirokiri.
Shirokiri spotted the incoming pirate and drew his rapier without hesitation, aiming to cut down this overconfident fool.
But he underestimated his opponent. The moment their blades clashed, a titanic force jolted through Shirokiri, forcing him to grip his rapier with both hands to counter Roger's sheer power. His eyes widened, snapping to full focus as he realized this was no ordinary rookie.
Ace and the rapier collided with a deafening clang, sparks flying like lightning. The shockwave blasted sand into the air, the beach trembling under their clash, as gales whipped around them.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Shirokiri skidded back dozens of meters, his feet carving deep trenches in the sand. Being pushed back by an unknown pirate was a humiliation he'd never faced in his career!
His carefree smirk turned vicious. Charging his rapier, he unleashed a black sword aura stretching hundreds of meters, slicing toward Roger like a tidal wave, his fury fully unleashed.
Roger didn't flinch. His eyes sparkled with thrill, relishing the challenge. His Conqueror's Haki erupted, black lightning crackling as he laughed heartily, a war god reveling in battle.
With a mighty swing, Ace unleashed a dense, crimson sword aura. The two slashes collided, the impact so fierce it forced onlookers to shield their eyes, staggered by the overwhelming pressure.
Shirokiri wasn't done. A veteran of the New World, he pressed his attack relentlessly, slashing at Roger with a flurry of strikes. Then, in a sudden shift, he aimed a Ryuo Haki-wrapped thrust straight at Roger's heart.
Roger's Observation Haki screamed danger, but the Child of Destiny just grinned. With a wild counter, he swung Ace in a pitch-black arc, aiming for Shirokiri's heart in a reckless, all-or-nothing gambit.
Shirokiri's shock at Roger's audacity was palpable. The heir to an overlord crew, trading blows to die with a rookie? Unthinkable. He parried, and the two launched into a blistering sword duel, their movements a blur too fast for the eye to follow.
Angelie and Bull watched, jaws dropping. They knew Roger was strong, but trading blows evenly with Shirokiri—the man just below an overlord—was unreal!
"What kind of supernova is this?! He's already a great pirate! How is his bounty lower than ours?!"
The duel raged on for hundreds of exchanges. Shirokiri, enraged, let out a roar that echoed like Charlotte Linlin's monstrous wail. Though not as potent, it sent weaker pirates clutching their ears, collapsing in agony.
Angelie, Bull, and a few stronger crew members grabbed their fallen comrades, retreating from the battlefield. Fights at this level were no place for small fry—not even to watch!
"No way! Is Shirokiri a Devil Fruit user? Did he just scream a sonic boom with his voice alone? That's insane!"
Even Angelie hadn't anticipated Shirokiri's terrifying sonic attack. While it didn't match the raw force of Conqueror's Haki, its sheer impact was staggering.
-----------
+280 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg