Faced with the sudden interference, the already furious El Drago chose to kill first and ask questions later!
Sonic Cannon!
A blue-white laser beam shot straight toward the sailboat. In El Drago's fighting style, simply destroying the enemy pirate ship was the best offense.
Guardian Barrier!!
A massive transparent Barrier appeared, instantly blocking the unstoppable laser beam. El Drago's eyes widened at the sight.
How could anyone stop his Sonic Laser Cannon?!
"You dared to attack me first. Have you made peace with your death?!"
A Barrier Stairs appeared. Daddy crossed his arms, and the sturdy Barrier held firm against El Drago's laser beam as he walked toward him step by step.
Impact Barrier!
Daddy thrust both hands forward. The transparent Barrier surged ahead with unstoppable force, meeting the laser's sonic wave and slamming hard into El Drago.
El Drago had never faced this kind of direct counterattack, and for a moment he was stunned, completely at a loss for how to respond. Before he could dodge, the Barrier slammed into him and sent him flying. His nose and mouth were crushed askew in an instant, and two sprays of blood burst out.
The enormous transparent Barrier drove El Drago into the pirate ship's upper cabin. It looked as if the entire ship had been split down the middle as the Barrier punched straight through it.
The powerful impact kept battering El Drago, blasting him from the bow to the stern. He crashed into the sea along with the cabin wreckage.
Even Kuro and Zoro were stunned by the terrifying power. Mr. 11's eyes widened too, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. Was this really the kind of power you'd find in the East Blue?
"Captain El Drago!!"
The El Drago Pirates cried out in panic. Their invincible captain had been taken out in a single blow!
El Drago's second-in-command, the swordsman Gollas, immediately jumped into the sea to retrieve his captain.
He knew that Devil Fruit Users who fell into the sea became helpless as ducks, unable to muster any strength.
If no one rescued them, they would drown unless they were Fish-Men!
"Daddy, you've gotten stronger again! But are you trying to kill El Drago?"
Kuro had also boarded El Drago's pirate ship. The pirate lackeys on board trembled in fear as he looked at the huge hole punched through the ship and saw El Drago blasted into the sea.
Wasn't the plan to recruit this Sound-Sound Fruit User?
Why hit him so hard and send El Drago, a Devil Fruit User, straight into the sea?!
"Some people are too arrogant and hotheaded. I think he needs to experience what it's like to come close to death!"
Daddy knew how terrifying the helpless feeling of drowning was for a Devil Fruit User.
So he wanted El Drago to cool off and take a good look at the situation!
"You'd better be careful too. Don't fall into the sea! I won't save you!"
Kuro pushed up his glasses and smiled faintly, then walked over to the pirate lackeys and tossed them into the sea one by one.
As El Drago's crew, how could they stay aboard instead of jumping in to save their captain?
Leaving them all on the ship would be ridiculous!
"I never expected you to save me! Besides, I'll never fall into the sea!"
Daddy stood at the stern with his arms crossed, watching the pirate lackeys thrash in the water and the broken planks from the cabin. He quietly waited for El Drago to be pulled out.
If El Drago died, then Daddy could only say that his fate had ended here!
Meanwhile, Zoro quickly cut Mr. 11 down and snatched the Skillful Grade Sword Hana Shu from his hands. Grinning, he tossed away one of his ordinary long swords.
With one Great Grade Sword, Wado Ichimonji, and two Skillful Grade Swords, Hana Shu and Yubashiri, he had finally gathered three Famous Swords. Now he could use Three-Sword Style without holding back.
"Hana Shu! It really is a fine sword!"
Zoro admired the flame patterns on Hana Shu's blade. Hana Shu and Yubashiri were both such poetic names. Suddenly inspired, he decided to come up with a few elegant names for techniques using these two swords!
Wind, flowers, snow, and moon sweep across the land!
Snow comes down, flowers dance, and not a single enemy remains!
So poetic, so poetic!
He'd better come up with more impressive names to live up to the prestige of a Pirate Hunter and the glory of being a Name-Name Fruit User!
Jango and the Cat Brothers were already used to looting Baroque Works' black-market merchant ships. They moved whatever could be moved, took whatever could be stolen, and tied up everyone aboard.
Then they moved over to El Drago's pirate ship and searched through the cabin wreckage, diligently carrying out Captain Daddy's orders.
Don't take a single needle or thread from the enemy!
Then take everything else of value and leave the enemy with nothing but trash and a needle and thread!
Though in the end, even that needle and thread might go down with the enemy ship in a blaze or sink beneath the sea!
"Daddy, let's spar sometime. I'll show you just how strong I am with three good swords!"
Zoro gripped his new sword and raised his brows smugly. Next time, he'd definitely smash Daddy's Barrier turtle shell to pieces!
"Come back after you reach the Steel-Cutting realm!"
Daddy didn't look back. He casually replied to the fired-up Zoro, taking the wind out of his sails.
"Bastard!"
Zoro was so angry his teeth ached. Daddy's Barrier was harder than steel, and Daddy had told him that even if he reached the Steel-Cutting realm, he wouldn't have much chance of breaking it without Advanced Armament Haki!
Out on the sea, the swordsman Gollas finally dragged El Drago, limp as a sack of mud, to the surface and pushed him onto the largest piece of cabin wreckage.
Now even their pirate ship had been taken over by these powerful intruders, and Gollas had no idea what to do next!
El Drago lay on his back on the plank, spitting out water, the terror still lingering in his eyes.
The helplessness and threat of death he'd felt in the sea had left an indelible impression on him!
As soon as El Drago regained a little strength, he sat up and saw that bastard standing on his pirate ship, staring at him expressionlessly.
That reignited his fury, as if he'd forgotten the fear he'd just felt!
"Bastard!! I'll kill you!!"
El Drago leaped to his feet, light spilling from his open mouth. But the plank beneath his feet made him wobble, and the Sonic Cannon in his mouth flickered in and out.
He was terrified that one wrong step would send him back into the sea to relive that helpless feeling!
"Heh~, Captain Daddy, looks like someone needs another close encounter with death!"
Kuro sat on the railing at the stern, watching the furious El Drago with a smile that was almost a smirk.
"I'll give him seven chances. If that doesn't work, I'll sacrifice him to the Sandai Kitetsu!"
Impact Barrier!!
Daddy spoke calmly, then fired off another medium-sized Barrier that slammed straight into El Drago and the large plank.
The plank shattered, and El Drago went flying into the sea again, releasing a string of bubbles. The swordsman Gollas had to dive in once more to retrieve his muscle-headed captain!
Before you continue