A Navy Fleet Appears

The Dreadnaught Sabre raced forward, pulled along by the sea beast Momoo.

The closer the Big Daddy Pirates came to Reverse Mountain, the more excited they became. At last, they were about to enter the legendary Grand Line.

It was a place that countless East Blue pirates yearned to reach. Entering the Grand Line meant they would finally be qualified to fight for the One Piece left behind by Pirate King Roger!

As their ship pressed onward, the Big Daddy Pirates soon noticed more and more wreckage and broken planks scattered across the sea.

"Did some unlucky pirate ships crash into Reverse Mountain?"

Nami asked in puzzlement. The immense currents of the four seas made it possible for their waters to defy common sense and flow uphill at Reverse Mountain, pouring into the Grand Line.

When unlucky pirate ships were caught in the raging currents, they would crash straight into Reverse Mountain and be reduced to splinters if they failed to steer properly.

Every year, countless rookie pirate crews from the four seas fell at the first hurdle on the way to the Grand Line.

"There are scorch marks from cannon fire, and some of the broken planks have very clean cuts. This ship must have been through a fierce battle, and one of its enemies may have been a swordsman of master caliber!"

Kuro of a Hundred Plans needed only a few glances at the wreckage to quickly piece together some of what had happened.

"A swordsman of master caliber? I'd love to fight someone like that!"

Roronoa Zoro said, his fighting spirit immediately rising. He still hadn't reached the level of a steel-cutting swordsman. To pursue his goal of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman, he had to duel every swordsman he came across!

"Get ready to fight! Enemies are coming!"

A red glint flashed in Daddy's eyes. He put down his training equipment, looked into the distance, and casually called out to everyone.

The crew immediately bristled with fighting spirit, exuding the presence of the strongest pirate crew in the East Blue.

"Captain Daddy, it's a Navy fleet! And it's a medium-sized fleet with nine warships!"

Nami, who served as both navigator and lookout, shouted as she peered into the distance through her binoculars. She looked a little nervous.

The enemy ships were clearly part of a well-armed, professional Navy fleet. The dense rows of gun ports on every warship made it clear that they were built to hunt pirates, not for ordinary patrols.

"Looks like this fleet is responsible for all those shipwrecks."

Kuro of a Hundred Plans said calmly, adjusting his glasses. Then he slowly began putting on his Cat Claws, preparing for battle.

"I wonder if there's a swordsman of master caliber on those ships. I can't wait!"

Three-Sword Style Zoro grinned as he drew his Skillful Grade Sword: Yubashiri and Hana Shu, his gaze fixed on the approaching Navy fleet.

The other crew members also took up their weapons and readied themselves for battle,

"Let me fire the first shot!"

El Drago quickly took his place at the bow. Light began to glow in his mouth as he charged his attack. As the ship's sniper and gunner, he had to fire the opening shot!

The Dreadnaught Sabre hadn't yet entered the Navy fleet's range, but El Drago had already fired first. A dazzling blue-white beam shot straight toward one of the warships in the middle of the formation.

Seeing this, the Navy fleet picked up speed, eager to bring the Big Daddy Pirates within range of their cannons.

The warship in the center unleashed a barrage of Scythe Wind Blades to slice apart the Sonic Laser Cannon. But it couldn't deflect the entire blast, and the Sonic Cannon struck the ship's main mast.

A tremendous explosion erupted aboard the warship, sending smoke and flames billowing into the sky.

But the Navy fleet didn't retreat. Instead, it continued closing in at full speed, moving to encircle them.

Since the two sides were heading straight toward each other, the Big Daddy Pirates' ship quickly entered the Navy fleet's firing range!

"Damn it! Signal them with flags! Sink that ship for me!"

The fat Admiral Nelson Royale shouted furiously. He had almost been blown away by the remnants of the Sonic Cannon just moments ago. Fortunately, his adjutant had pulled him to safety in time.

And Cyclone Eric hadn't lifted a finger to save him.

That infuriated him. These mercenaries hadn't even bothered to protect their employer properly.

"Admiral Royale, I'll avenge you!"

Cyclone Eric shot Nelson Royale a glance and called out dismissively. Now that the Big Daddy Pirates were within the warships' firing range, he planned to join the fleet's barrage and blast their ship to pieces.

Otherwise, he had no confidence he could take on so many powerful members of the Big Daddy Pirates by himself.

"Scythe: Wind Blade Dance!"

Wave after wave of dense, invisible blades howled through the air, joining a hail of bullets and cannon fire as they tore toward the Big Daddy Pirates' ship.

"Is that him? Cyclone Eric, a Scythe-Scythe Fruit user! Kill him!"

"Barrier: Dreadnaught!"

Daddy recognized the blades. They weren't Flying Slashes unleashed by a swordsman of master caliber at all—they were the power of a Devil Fruit. He immediately enveloped his pirate ship in a Barrier Shield, then charged straight for the Navy fleet's command ship.

That Navy mercenary wasn't getting away!

Meanwhile, Momoo had dived underwater to evade the cannonballs. It pulled the Dreadnaught Sabre through the waves, charging at Admiral Nelson Royale's flagship.

"Boom!!"

Explosions roared without pause, and smoke swallowed the entire pirate ship.

"We got them!!"

Admiral Nelson Royale and the marines shouted in delight.

As expected, no rookie pirate crew could stand against a properly organized Navy fleet.

But in the next instant, the Dreadnaught Sabre emerged from the smoke completely unscathed and kept charging toward the Navy flagship.

The barrage of cannon fire and blades had struck the Big Daddy Pirates' ship, yet none of it had done a thing. Nelson Royale began to panic.

"Eric, I'm leaving this to you! Double your pay if you take down Daddy Babaya!"

Nelson Royale, who was very good at reading a situation and looking out for himself, shouted nervously to Eric. He immediately had his adjutant escort him off the flagship and make his escape.

As long as he kept his life, he could go on enjoying a life of luxury.

"Damn Eric. He bragged about how powerful his ability was, but he can't even break through their shield!"

Nelson Royale cursed as he ran. The strongest pirate crew in the East Blue was clearly no pushover. He should stick to slacking off and picking on small-time pirates—that was the right choice.

As for the orders from Marine Headquarters, they could go to hell!

A pirate crew this powerful should be left to the Navy officers in the Grand Line, not sent to these weak branch marines to die.

"Useless!"

Cyclone Eric cursed inwardly as he watched Nelson Royale flee aboard a small boat.

He hadn't expected Daddy's Devil Fruit power to be so strong. It could cover an entire pirate ship, and it had withstood the cannon fire of nine Navy warships and countless Scythe Wind Blades.

Seeing this, Eric, too, began to consider retreating!

Source: Sea Pirates: I Open Susanoo with the Barrier-Barrier Fruit by Great Wildfire