The pirate ships and the warships all turned around together, but out on the sea they were like cumbersome brown bears—after turning the rudder fully, they managed to shift only a tiny distance.
In stark contrast, the Terror Ghost shot forward like a cannonball tearing through the waves. Against the cutting sea wind, it charged toward the fleet with ferocity.
Fast—far too fast! Beyond anything anyone had anticipated.
The Pacifistas stared ahead and issued a cold mechanical warning in their electronic voices.
"Warning! Warning! Enemy approaching at high speed. Enemy approaching at high speed. Prepare for combat. Prepare for combat."
Aramaki glanced over and saw the Terror Ghost closing in, completely disregarding the Navy's flag or its warships.
It was as if the identities of Navy and pirates had flipped—the Navy had become the panicked mice fleeing for their lives, while the pirates had turned into cats relentlessly hunting their prey.
Aramaki couldn't help feeling furious. He already had the impulse to fight back.
Judging by distance and speed, he knew they wouldn't be able to retreat safely.
The speed of that Terror Ghost was unheard of—only a ship designed by Dr. Vegapunk could possibly surpass it.
If Vegapunk's ships drew their power from science and technology, then what powered the Terror Ghost?
Aramaki had no way of knowing. But he understood something else.
If the fleet kept running, they would just get chased down one by one and sunk from the rear. They might as well turn and fight, to grasp even a sliver of hope.
If they sank the Terror Ghost, perhaps the enemy wouldn't be able to pursue so quickly afterward.
Aramaki made his decision. He grabbed a Den Den Mushi and issued an order to all ships.
"All personnel, listen up! All warships and Pacifistas, concentrate fire on the Terror Ghost ahead! Our goal is to sink it! I repeat—"
What?!
Sink the Terror Ghost?!
The diminutive Miss Bakkin nearly thought she heard wrong. Watching Aramaki repeat the command, her heart tightened in panic.
This "Green Bull" was being far too reckless!
Never mind whether they could sink the Terror Ghost—if the Navy and Pacifistas opened fire now, they would be seen as accomplices too!
If possible, she had no intention whatsoever of provoking one of the Three Emperors. That wouldn't benefit her or Weevil in the slightest.
She had originally harbored her own little plan: as long as they retreated fast enough, the ships left behind would become the frontline, and she and Weevil could escape safely.
But Aramaki's sudden move shoved them into the same battle wagon.
The Terror Ghost would definitely regard them as allies of the Navy—and later, even if they tried to explain, it would be nearly impossible.
Bakkin began frantically considering her alternatives.
Almost as though reading her mind, Aramaki turned toward her.
He removed his sunglasses. The five fingers of his right hand shot out with a whistle and stretched, twisting around the ship's rail like vines—each fingertip sharp like a blade, trembling in a threatening gesture.
"Miss Bakkin, what are you waiting for? The Headquarters of the Navy and you 'New Warlords of the Sea' are supposed to be in a mutually beneficial partnership, aren't we?"
"Or… do you intend to oppose Navy Headquarters, the World Government… and even the Celestial Dragons?"
His voice was cold and menacing, packed with threat—a massive hat placed squarely over her head.
The vine-like fingers pierced into the warship's hull like blades, displaying their lethality.
Weevil instantly stepped in front of Bakkin, raising his massive blade.
From the look of him, if Aramaki dared move even a finger, he would cleave down to protect his mother.
Bakkin sucked in a sharp breath.
This bastard "Green Bull"… he dares threaten me and Weevil—dragging in the Celestial Dragons on top of that?!
He's calculating even more precisely than I am!
Bakkin realized she had underestimated this Admiral Candidate.
He had perfectly judged the situation—they couldn't afford to openly break with Navy Headquarters now. In this position, they had no choice but to follow him down this dark road.
Damn him… damn him! If she ever got the chance, she'd make sure to teach him a lesson! But for now, she had to compromise.
So Bakkin's originally stiff face suddenly softened into a smile, blooming like an old chrysanthemum opening its petals.
"Hehehe, of course we stand with you. Let us fight together against that gentleman!"
No matter how much hatred she felt in her heart, she still chose to cooperate with Aramaki.
She even put on a show—raising her cane and smacking the back of Weevil, who was still positioned protectively in front of her.
"Weevil, put down that blade. Your weapon should point at our enemies, not our allies."
Weevil looked back, aggrieved.
"But… Mom…"
"You dare talk back?! Hurry—just like Admiral Green Bull, order our ships to fire on the Terror Ghost! Concentrate fire!"
"…Yes."
Watching the mother and son act in unison, Aramaki felt a moment of relief.
At least they were temporarily contained. He had no desire to fight Weevil before facing Davy Jones.
Despite Weevil's low mental acuity and his blind obedience to Bakkin, in pure combat power he was a living monster.
This was a high evaluation given by Admiral Kizaru, who had previously clashed with Weevil.
Aramaki had seen Weevil fight several times and fully agreed.
Suddenly, a violent cracking noise tore through Aramaki's thoughts.
He snapped his head toward the sound—only to see the warship closest to the Terror Ghost get its stern bitten apart by the ship's gaping maw.
What—?!
Aramaki, Bakkin, and Weevil were all dumbstruck!
A ship could do something like that?!
From its razor-sharp fangs came a horrifying chewing sound.
Their faces drained of color.
Was this really a ship? Wasn't it more like a sea monster?
The Terror Ghost didn't spare the warship whose stern it had bitten off. Amid the soldiers' screams, it surged forward again.
Clamping down on the shattered end, it ripped and tore wildly, scattering fragments everywhere.
Only then did the surrounding pirate ships and warships seem to wake up—they all raised their cannons, aiming at the Terror Ghost and firing!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom——
White smoke billowed across the sea as explosions filled the air!
Countless cannonballs fell from every direction, smashing into the feeding Terror Ghost.
But its dilapidated hull was absurdly durable—ordinary cannonfire only blasted open small holes.
Immediately, drifting planks floating on the waves rushed over and patched themselves onto the damage.
After shredding that warship, the Terror Ghost grew eerily nimble.
Dodging left and right through the waves, it moved unpredictably, making it hard for the cannons to hit.
At the same time, it began returning fire.
Countless cannon ports sprouted from its tattered hull—so many that they triggered everyone's trypophobia.
Even worse, they began firing in an unending barrage—almost without pause.
And the cannonballs' power was monstrous—two hits were often enough to send a ship to the bottom!
In a blink, several ships were engulfed in smoke and flames, then plunged stern-first into the sea while their bows pointed skyward—perfect targets for the Terror Ghost's next "meal."
No one could stay calm after witnessing this!
The abandoned sailors lost all courage. Thrashing desperately, they fled through the water, trying to escape the "beast."
At last, the Pacifistas made up for the fleet's lacking firepower.
Beams of light fired with perfect accuracy, shooting down incoming cannonballs before counterattacking.
Their beeps sounded out as brilliant beams and terrifying destructive power gave the fleet a glimmer of hope.
But suddenly, the Terror Ghost plunged beneath the waves like a giant whale—its entire body disappearing, leaving only white foam behind.
The Pacifistas' beams all missed.
They moved to the bow, stern, and sides of the ships, aiming their mechanical eyes through the waves, locking onto the underwater target, and firing again.
But once the beams pierced the surface, none struck their mark.
Aramaki's hands trembled as he gripped the railing.
He stared at the water—his Observation Haki could feel the Terror Ghost lurking nearby. He didn't dare relax for even a moment.
Just as G-5's reports had stated—the Terror Ghost truly could dive deep underwater and fight beneath the sea, just like Vegapunk's submarines!
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