Stopping a Ship with Both Hands

The scorching sun poured down like molten gold upon the land of Seken Island, baking the exposed rocks of the mines until they were blistering hot and warping even the air with heat.

It was noon. After a busy morning, the miners and the island's new masters—Dawn's group—were each taking shelter in the shade as they enjoyed their belated lunch.

Along the coast, an invisible shadow slowly patrolled. It was Dawn's dark clone. Light that fell upon it seemed to be swallowed whole, with no reflection whatsoever, allowing it to blend perfectly into its surroundings as it maintained an unseen watch.

Suddenly, a black dot appeared on the distant horizon and swiftly grew larger. It was a three-masted sailing ship cutting through the waves, its design rather peculiar. Massive treaded paddle wheels were installed along both sides of the hull, clearly granting it the ability to travel on land.

Even more eye-catching was its vicious-looking bow, where two pitch-black cannon muzzles were arranged one above the other, radiating a chilling murderous intent. The pirate flag hanging from its mast revealed its identity—the Fire Tank Pirates, a famous West Blue pirate crew primarily made up of the mafia.

Inside the manor, Dawn was leisurely cutting the steak on his plate in the elegantly decorated dining room. His brilliant long golden hair draped casually over his shoulders, with several strands falling beside his handsome face.

His pupils shifted slightly, and his movements stalled for an instant. Through the dark clone's vision, the pirate ship speeding toward the island had clearly entered his mind.

That subtle change did not escape Stella, who had been watching him all along.

"What is it? Did something happen?"

Her voice broke the quiet of lunch. Everyone else at the table stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward the tall figure at the head of the table.

Dawn elegantly placed the last piece of steak into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing slowly, he picked up a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth before looking around at the companions awaiting his answer.

"An unexpected guest has arrived. I didn't expect the assassins I anticipated not to show up, only for that guy to come instead... I'll go deal with it."

After giving a simple explanation, he calmly rose to his feet and casually straightened the slightly wrinkled front of his white shirt. His movements were unhurried, as though he were merely going out for a stroll, and he walked toward the dining room entrance.

The others exchanged looks, each seeing gravity in the other's eyes. Without hesitation, they left their seats and followed after him.

By the shore, the Fire Tank Pirates' vessel, the Nostra Castello, relied on its unique treaded paddle wheels to roar onto the beach, crushing reefs and gravel beneath it before coming to a steady stop.

The Capone Family members skillfully lowered the sails, and the deck immediately became a flurry of activity.

At the bow, Capone Bege, short and stout like a castle, puffed out a thick cloud of white smoke from the large cigar clenched between his teeth. Squinting, he examined the manor buildings faintly visible ahead.

The flesh on his face trembled as he issued a cold command.

"Go straight ahead! Destroy the most conspicuous building in front of us and force the target out!"

"Yes, Godfather!"

The pirates answered in a thunderous roar.

Soon, the Nostra Castello let out another deafening rumble. Its treaded paddle wheels spun madly, flinging sand and stones into the sky as it charged straight toward the manor inland like a steel beast, its massive hull plowing deep furrows into the ground.

Just as the steel beast advanced with unstoppable momentum, a tall figure suddenly appeared directly in its path.

The figure stood still. Dawn calmly watched the massive object bearing down on him.

The next instant, he did something that left everyone dumbfounded—he planted his feet one before the other, lowered his waist slightly, raised both palms, and actually intended to use his flesh and blood to withstand the pirate ship charging at full speed!

The Capone Family members on the bow deck froze for a moment before bursting into earth-shaking laughter.

"Hahaha! Has that brat gone insane?"

"He thinks he can stop our ship by himself?"

"Overestimating himself! Crush him!"

Amid the noisy ridicule, Capone Bege also spotted Dawn, who had willingly revealed himself. His thick lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes filled with contempt.

"Idiot! He came out to die on his own! Full power, straight ahead! Grind him into minced meat!"

Upon receiving the order, the mafiosi in the engine room raised the boiler pressure to its limit. The treaded paddle wheels spun even more frantically, and the ship's speed increased again as it viciously rammed toward Dawn with the force to crush everything in its path!

Meanwhile, atop a low hill not far behind Dawn.

Accompanied by several faint sounds of air being cut, the others quickly arrived. Watching Dawn's seemingly suicidal attempt below, their brows furrowed tightly, their faces full of worry.

Even though they had faith in Dawn's strength, the sight of a man directly confronting a pirate ship traveling at full speed was simply too terrifying.

Facing the enormous bow that was already upon him, pressing down with howling winds, Dawn's expression did not change as he slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air.

"[Life Return]!"

He silently uttered the words in his heart. His already extremely muscular body visibly expanded by another degree, the contours of his muscles becoming even more defined and filled with explosive power.

"[Tekkai]!"

He shouted again, using the Tekkai technique to manipulate his muscles in a special manner. His already incredibly thick arms abruptly swelled another size, veins bulging and winding like coiling dragons, as though they contained the strength to shake mountains.

After making all these preparations, Dawn's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing through his pupils. With resolute force, he thrust both palms forward and pressed them precisely against the bow ram!

Bang!

A dull, thunderous boom erupted!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The expected scene of Dawn being smashed away and crushed did not occur. Instead, the Nostra Castello was like a charging bull that had slammed into an immovable iron mountain, its forward momentum coming to an abrupt halt.

Dawn's feet sank deep into the ground from the enormous recoil, all the way to his ankles. The muscles in his thick arms bulged, veins throbbing violently, yet his body remained as steady as a rock.

The massive pirate ship could only futilely let its enormous treaded paddle wheels spin wildly in place, kicking up countless stones and clouds of dust, yet it could not advance even an inch farther!

Stella and the others on the hill all instinctively covered their mouths, their beautiful eyes wide with disbelief. Even the ever-calm Robin and Stussy had their pupils constrict slightly.

"He... he succeeded?!"

Kalifa cried out in shock.

"He actually... really stopped it with sheer strength..."

Kaku stared at the golden-haired figure below, whose seemingly small body was holding back the giant ship. His eyes were filled with shock.

Such a display of pure strength was beyond his understanding.

The ship's violent sudden stop caught the Capone Family members on deck completely off guard, sending them tumbling in every direction.

The mafiosi who had been leaning over the bow, ready to enjoy the sight of Dawn being crushed, now had bulging eyes and mouths wide enough to fit a fist. All color drained from their faces, as though they had witnessed the most horrifying sight in the world.

"N-No way!!"

"A-A monster!!"

Capone Bege steadied himself and tore off the cigar that he had already bitten out of shape. The composure and disdain on his face had vanished, replaced by deep shock and a trace of barely perceptible panic.

He gritted his teeth and roared.

"Keep going! Keep moving forward! He can't hold on for long! Wear him down until he dies!"

He believed this was merely an outburst of some unknown ability that could not last.

The pirate ship's power system was driven to its limit. Black smoke billowed as the treads frantically dug into the ground. The muscles in Dawn's arms trembled at high frequency, while cracks in the ground beneath his feet spread even farther.

One man and one ship had fallen into an extreme contest of strength by the shore.

TO BE CONTINUED