How Come It's You?!
Boom!
The coastal dirt road suddenly shook, sending gravel and dust billowing into the air.
Strawberry's twin swords, coated in jet-black Armament Haki, slashed down fiercely!
Fisher Tiger crossed his arms, Armament Haki instantly covered his forearms!
Clang--!
The blades collided head-on with the arms, causing the ground beneath their feet to collapse inch by inch!
Fisher Tiger stomped his foot, crushing the pavement, and twisted his waist and shoulders with power, unleashing a powerful right punch.
"Fish-Man Karate - Arabesque Brick Fist!"
Bang--!
The circular shockwave spread outwards along the ground, and dust swirled into air waves that blasted in all directions.
Strawberry lightly touched the ground with his toes and then leaped backward several feet in succession.
But the Marines lined up behind him couldn't get out of the way and were knocked off balance, their shields even tilting.
"Hold the formation! Don't get too close!"
Strawberry gave a low shout, raising his twin swords in a cross shape in front of him, Armament Haki spreading from the blades to the tips.
"Double Fangs - Broken Shore!"
Two thick, black beams of energy tore through the air, slicing forward along the ground.
The dirt road was forcibly cleaved into two deep gullies, and even the rocky slope on the side was swept away by the force of the blow, with gravel falling down in a flurry.
Fisher Tiger dared not take the strike head-on, so he sidestepped the attack, pushed off with his feet, and rushed forward, his fist slamming into his opponent's heart with a whooshing sound.
Strawberry twisted his wrist, neither dodging nor avoiding, and instead met the fist with the back of his blade.
Clang!
A muffled thud, like metal clashing, exploded out, and Fisher Tiger's arm went numb, causing him to involuntarily take two steps back.
Strawberry used the recoil to drift backward and land steadily in front of the formation.
"As expected of Fisher Tiger."
Strawberry stood there, knife in hand, his breathing perfectly steady.
"A Rear Admiral isn't just good at putting on a show."
Fisher Tiger shook his numb wrist, his brow furrowing slightly.
He had no intention of fighting to the death here.
The ship was still anchored in the bay, Koala had just returned to her family. If the fighting dragged on for too long, there was no guarantee that the navy wouldn't divert some manpower to cause trouble in the village.
But Strawberry gave him no chance to escape.
"Shave!"
Strawberry left several afterimages in his wake, instantly blocking Fisher Tiger's route to the coast, and slashed out with his twin swords, one above and one below.
"Crescent Moon Twin Cut!"
A flash of light shot towards his throat, another blade slashed towards his knee.
Fisher Tiger raised his arm to block the upper body slash, while simultaneously twisting his waist to the side, barely dodging the blade from below.
The blade grazed the hem of her clothes, leaving a shallow mark on the ground.
Fisher Tiger seized the opportunity, took a step forward, feinted a punch, and suddenly charged towards the coast!
"Trying to leave?!"
Strawberry turned around immediately.
"Don't let him break through the defenses!"
The surrounding Marines immediately raised their shields and surrounded the area, raising their Fire Pistol in unison, but no one dared to fire rashly.
When the two sides are locked in close combat, stray bullets can easily injure their own men.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a deep shout suddenly came from the direction of the bay.
"Brother Fisher Tiger!"
Jinbe, along with Arlong and Hachi, charged up the earthen slope, followed by a dozen or so crew members of the Sun Pirates.
"Arlong, take your men and retreat to the beach first. Don't linger!"
Jinbe shouted as he ran.
"What are you waiting for! These navy guys are really pushing their luck!"
Arlong, carrying a serrated broadsword, had bloodshot eyes.
Jinbe ignored him, took a step, and leaped directly into the shallow ditch that connected to the bay!
Whoosh!
He was half-submerged in the water when he suddenly swung his arm!
"Fish-Man Karate - Spear Wave!"
Boom!
A stream of water transformed into a shockwave as long as a spear, slamming violently into the naval flank!
Shields were blown away one after another, Fire Pistol were scattered all over the ground!
Strawberry twisted and swung his sword, the sharp blade cleaving the oncoming water in two.
"Another group has arrived?"
Strawberry shifted his footing and blocked the path in front of the formation.
With a sudden twist, the twin swords spun!
"The Twin Scythes!"
Swish! Swish!
Two swirling slashes of energy struck Fisher Tiger and Jinbe from the left and right respectively!
Fisher Tiger covered his arms in Armament Haki and blocked the attack head-on!
Boom!
The aura exploded in front of him, causing his arms to go numb.
On the other side, Jinbe dodged the blade and charged straight at Strawberry!
"Fish-Man Karate!"
A broad, calloused hand slammed down on the other person's shoulder!
Strawberry suddenly bent down.
The jet-black Armament Haki instantly covered that slender head!
"Iron Skull!"
Bang!
The hard skull slammed into Jinbe's palm!
Jinbe's arm went numb, and he involuntarily took half a step back, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The skull of this navy soldier is incredibly hard!
Despite his initial success, Strawberry did not press his advantage.
He stepped back to the front of the battle line, his twin swords held diagonally to protect the wounded soldiers who had just gotten up behind him.
Having trained under Kizaru for many years, he knew better than anyone else: once the formation breaks down, even the strongest individual cannot protect all subordinates.
On the other side, Arlong didn't listen to Jinbe's words at all.
He charged straight at the Marines on the outer perimeter, wielding a serrated broadsword!
A naval captain and his men blocked the road.
Bang!
The captain, shield and all, was blasted away and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Is that all you've got? You dare to stop me?"
Arlong raised his serrated broadsword and slashed it down fiercely at the captain who had just gotten up!
The blade, carrying a sharp gust of wind, was about to strike the opponent's chest.
Click.
Without warning, a narrow doorway suddenly opened in the air in front of the captain.
The serrated broadsword slashed fiercely into the doorway, but didn't make a sound.
"What the hell?!"
Arlong was taken aback and was about to draw his knife.
Click!
Another Air Door opened up beside him.
Ron stepped out from inside and suddenly gripped his wrist with his five fingers!
"Open!"
Arlong's veins bulged as he struggled desperately.
But that hand was like an iron clamp, completely still.
Ron glanced at him.
"You have the loudest voice."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly pulled him backward!
Arlong, along with his knife, was pulled so hard he stumbled.
Bang!
Ron kicked him in the stomach!
Arlong was sent flying backward, crashing hard into a huge rock on the shore!
Boom!
The boulder shattered on the spot!
The Marines and Fish-Man fighting nearby all paused in their movements.
"Rear Admiral Ron?!"
"The Rear Admiral!!"
The Marines immediately cheered.
Ron withdrew his foot and glanced at the wounded soldiers on the ground.
"What are you standing there for? Take the injured away and treat them first."
"Yes!"
Arlong propped himself up from the pile of rubble, his lower abdomen wracked with pain, making even breathing painful.
His monstrous Fish-Man strength, which he had always been proud of, was utterly useless against this man.
He gritted his teeth and tried to stand up, but his knees buckled, and he could only grip the stones tightly to support himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"How could it be... him?!"
Fisher Tiger, who was engaged in fierce fighting in the arena, heard the commotion and glanced back. His face suddenly darkened.
"Ron?!"
Memories of Mary Geoise from three years ago flooded back instantly.
This same navy defeated him head-on, but then secretly opened an Air Door to let him escape with the slaves.