The entire warship shook violently.
A black-and-red shock wave spread wildly outward in a ring, with Lorne at its center.
Conqueror's Haki!
The pirates rowing desperately did not even have time to scream.
They felt as though a heavy hammer had smashed into their brains.
One after another, their eyes rolled back, and they toppled into the sea, foaming at the mouth.
Within several miles, not a single soul remained alive.
"Ethan, clean up the battlefield."
Lorne withdrew his Haki, his voice icy.
"Cut off Carlos's head. Throw the rest of the small fry into the sea to feed the fish."
"Yes!"
"Rear Admiral, sir!"
Ethan endured the intense pain in his body and straightened his back as he answered.
Half an hour later, the warship slowly approached an island ahead.
It was a desolate island called Black Reef Island.
Situated at the intersection of several shipping routes, it attracted pirates and outlaws who gathered there year-round to rest and regroup.
"Everyone, disembark."
Lorne walked down the gangway and looked at the battered soldiers supporting one another behind him.
"Rest and recover at the base on the island. You have three days."
"I want to see a pack of lively wolves, not dead dogs lying on stretchers."
Under Lorne's orders, the marines established a temporary base in an abandoned fortress at the edge of the island.
Campfires were lit, and the rich scents of medicinal herbs and roasting meat filled the air.
Ryan lay on a straw mat, his left arm already reset and wrapped in bandages.
He gazed at the setting sun on the horizon, his eyes a little less green and a little more blade-sharp.
"Bakel, did you feel it?"
Ryan asked quietly.
Sitting nearby, wiping blood from between his fingers, Bakel nodded.
"My Haki flows much more