Red Dragon

"Take him down!!"

The Marines had no good feelings towards Bright.

No one had forgotten what happened that night a few months ago.

So, after Hag gathered the Marines and told them his plan, almost no one hesitated; they all agreed with him.

After all, they weren't the ones who would bear the responsibility.

And so, the Marines surged towards Bright.

"Shark Skin Palm Strike."

Bright leaped into the air, his powerful jumping ability instantly freeing him from the Marines' encirclement. He landed lightly on the crossbeam of the main mast.

Before he could even stabilize himself, a dark shadow shot through the air, drawing a brilliant streak of light.

Clang!

A loud explosion echoed through the air, sending Bright flying upwards.

"Such speed."

Bright twisted in mid-air and landed on the roof of the ship's cabin. He spread his hands, straightening the chains. One of the chains had a noticeable notch.

If he had taken that hit just now, he would definitely have been injured, but not too severely.

His defensive abilities had only just fused, and their effect was still weak. However, Kaido's bloodline had fused for several months now. Through strenuous training, his strength, defense, and stamina were all rapidly increasing, especially his defense.

While it wasn't enough to completely ignore attacks from a Marine Rear Admiral, he could significantly reduce the damage.

Below, Hag landed on the deck, exclaiming in surprise, "He blocked it?"

A few months ago, this guy couldn't even react to his attacks.

And this power...

"Mr. Borsalino was right. Even though he's just a Fishman, he truly is exceptionally talented!"

Hag raised his long sword, the invisible airflow around the blade beginning to swirl. The airflow then contracted, eventually forming a black substance that spread up the hilt, turning the entire blade black.

Haki hardening.

This meant he couldn't rely on his body to tank it.

But Kizaru thought that highly of him?

Bright didn't know how to react.

"Prepare to fire!"

Hag roared.

The Marines on deck raised their firearms, over two hundred dark muzzles aimed at Bright.

Bright remembered that night a few months ago.

He had been trying to escape and was already outside the harbor, but he was stopped by Hag and the Marines he led.

The situation had been almost the same then.

At that time, he could only retreat. Although it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, he couldn't deny that he had failed.

But what about this time?

Hag's long sword was raised high, a cold smile on his face.

You're finished, disgusting Fishman. No one can save you now!

The Marines' fingers were already on the triggers, waiting for the Rear Admiral's command before the gunfire would erupt.

Could his current defense withstand musket fire?

Bright wasn't sure.

So...

He leaped into the air.

Fishman intelligence.

Jumping into the open air where he couldn't move freely was suicidal!

Hag sneered.

"Fire!"

His dark long sword swung down, and all the muskets fired simultaneously. Pushed by gunpowder, lead bullets shot out of the barrels, streaking directly towards Bright.

All the bullets converged, forming a storm!

Before the sound of the guns reached Bright, the bullets had already hit him.

And then...

Ting-ting-ting-ting-ting.

A continuous stream of crisp sounds echoed through the sky.

Bright's body was covered in fiery red scales. All the bullets that struck these scales only managed to splash sparks uselessly before being weakly deflected.

Bright's body rapidly expanded. His arms and legs grew thicker, and after a brief standoff, he directly shattered the handcuffs and shackles.

His body began to lengthen. A long tail grew from his backside, his neck became longer, his mouth and nose protruded, and two pairs of sharp horns grew from his forehead.

Fiery red clouds spread from his body, swirling around him and lifting him towards the higher heavens.

Hag stared at this transformation, almost dumbfounded.

"Wh-what is this!!"

This guy was transforming!

He's a Devil Fruit User!!

And what's with this transformation!!

This appearance, this posture!

A monster over fifty meters long roamed the sky, circling and looking down at the warship below.

A slender body, fiery red scales, a majestic head, imposing horns, and fiery red clouds swirling around its body made it seem as though it was weaving through the clouds, only occasionally revealing itself.

This is—

"A dragon?"

A Marine screamed in disbelief, "He turned into a dragon!!"

That Fishman had become a creature from myth!

"No, no! That's Kaido's ability! The Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form!!"

Another Marine shouted in shock, "The color is just different, could it be that this guy has an ability similar to Kaido's?"

Hag couldn't understand what was going on.

This Fishman was actually a Devil Fruit User?

And a Mythical Zoan user with an ability similar to Kaido's?

"Wait—"

He suddenly remembered something.

"Let's end this."

In the sky, the fiery red divine dragon's voice boomed like thunder.

"Lightning!"

He suddenly tilted his head back and roared.

His roar turned into lightning!

Blinding arcs of lightning splashed out from the red dragon's body, then rained down on the warship like a downpour.

"Crack!"

Thick bolts of lightning struck the warship's deck, instantly blasting through it and piercing the hull, leaving behind huge holes. The entire warship vibrated continuously.

Lightning spread across the deck, engulfing numerous Marine soldiers. Screams erupted one after another.

In just an instant, the entire warship was battered into ruin, nearly sinking.

"Ugh!!"

Hag, his body covered in Armament Haki, turning himself into a little black man, grunted.

Even Armament Haki couldn't fully block the damage from the lightning.

"Damn it!!"

With a roar, Hag stomped on the air against the lightning and charged into the sky, lunging directly at Bright in the heavens.

"Wind, heed my command!"

Bright roared again.

Amidst the lightning, a fierce wind suddenly rose.

The violent wind rushed forward, instantly hindering Geppo. Hag was blown away.

"Whoa!"

He exclaimed, but he couldn't regain his balance in the gale.

Bright's slender body swam forward, but the fiery red clouds moved faster.

The clouds spread across the sky and then directly wrapped around Hag, who had been blown away by the wind.

"What? This is—"

Hag struggled with all his might, "Clouds?"

These clouds had substance! Though soft, they were tough and firmly bound him.

Bright floated above Hag, lightning splashing from his body, continuously bombarding Hag.

"Waaah!!"

Hag screamed.

"I told you, you missed your chance."

Bright opened his mouth.

"Bastard!!"

Amidst the lightning, Hag roared with all his might. He pulled his hand out from the clouds, his black blade slashing with full force, cleaving through the clouds. He leaped into the air, charging at Bright under the thunder.

"One Sword Style - Flying Bird!"

Blinding flames erupted from Bright's mouth, "Heat Breath!!"

Brilliant, dazzling flames surged out, instantly engulfing Hag.

Then, the flames transformed into a long dragon, its momentum undiminished, and crashed into the already battered warship below.

Boom!

A massive explosion occurred, turning the entire ship into a giant fireball.

Thanks to 'Ten Thousand Miles of First Snow' for the 100-point reward, thank you, thank you!