The Bloodsail Fleet bore down on the waters of Peach Blossom Spring like a moving cloud of blood-red calamity, with the overwhelming force of a toppling mountain and a surging sea. The massive fleet consisted of more than thirty warships of varying sizes, its flagship, the Blood Butcher, resembling a floating fortress, dark-red stains lingering on its vicious prow ram. On deck, murderous pirates waved their swords and sabers, howling with bloodlust. At the bow stood "Blood Butcher" Balki, who carried a bounty of 58 million Beli. He was built like a bear, the crossed scars on his face making him all the more ferocious, and the enormous serrated cleaver in his hand, Blood Howl, reeked nauseatingly of blood.
"Boss! Look ahead! A few fat targets are trying to slip into the reefs!" the lookout shouted.
Balki raised his spyglass and saw several ships that appeared laden with cargo fleeing in panic toward the dangerous waters known as Ghost Fang Reef. A cruel smile spread across his face. "Think those reefs will save your lives? Dream on! After them! Kill every man! Take all their treasure! Let West Blue know what happens to anyone who crosses us Blood Sail!" Like sharks scenting blood, the fleet charged toward Ghost Fang Reef at full speed.
But just as the Blood Sail vanguard ventured deep into the reefs, its formation scattered by the narrow channels—a sudden change erupted!
"Now! Attack!" A clear shout cut across the sea. Zhao Yun stood at the bow of a specially built speedboat, his arms crossed over his chest, and called in a low voice, "Reshiram · Turboblaze form!" In an instant, azure, flame-shaped currents burst from his body. His long white hair danced like fire, his eyes turned a brilliant blue, and flames seemed to burn within his pupils! Searing air blasted from the stern of the speedboat, its speed soaring as it sliced into the enemy fleet's flank like a bolt of white lightning!
"Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix · Blue Flare Thrust!" Zhao Yun thrust his spear in rapid succession. The azure flames gathered at its tip transformed into countless fiery birds that pecked unerringly at the enemy ships' rigging and sail handlers! The pirates immediately fell into chaos.
"He's an ability user! Watch out!" a pirate officer cried.
"Nothing but cheap tricks! Blast them to the bottom!" Balki roared, ordering the fleet to unleash its full firepower.
With the tremendous speed and precise perception granted by Reshiram's power, Zhao Yun moved freely through the reef-strewn channels. Like a nimble bird toying with clumsy beasts, he perfectly lured the Blood Sail main force into the heart of the ambush.
"The time has come!" On a high reef, Huang Zhong's gaze sharpened as he drew his bow into a full moon. "Dialga · Time-Space Perception!" A pale-blue sheen rose in his eyes, as though he could see through the flow of time. Everything around him became slow and clear in his sight. Faint streams of light swirled around his arrow. "Time Arrow · Meteor!" He loosed a shot. The arrow seemed to break free of time's restraints, becoming a streak of light that severed the Blood Butcher's mainmast with unerring precision! A strange ripple spread from the point of impact, instantly making the nearby pirates' movements sluggish and stiff, as though they had sunk into a mire!
"No... impossible!" Shock finally appeared on Balki's face.
This was only the beginning! The snipers under Huang Zhong's command emerged one after another. Arrows imbued with faint traces of temporal power struck like invitations from death, picking off pirate officers with precision and setting swaths of sails ablaze.
"Wahahaha! My turn to stretch these old bones! Groudon · Magma Armor!" Laughing wildly, Zhang Fei leaped from his small boat. His body swelled, his skin turned dark red and scorching hot, magma shone through cracks across his body, and blazing-hot rock encased his fists! He crashed onto an enemy ship's deck like a human meteor. "Heroic Fury · Earth-Shaking Force!" Both fists slammed into the deck, unleashing violent Earth Power. The deck cracked inch by inch, and scorching blasts of air sent the surrounding pirates sprawling! Like a magma beast, he rampaged across the enemy ship, unstoppable.
On the other flank, Guan Yu swept his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Air currents circled him, his robes fluttering as though he were walking through the sky. "Rayquaza · Cyclone Surround!" His long hair and beard stirred without wind, and he radiated a majestic presence. "Dragon Roar · Half-Moon Slash!" An enormous azure Flying Slash screamed forth, accompanied by a faint dragon's cry, and ripped straight through an enemy ship's side!
The battle at sea instantly reached a fever pitch. Chen Yu commanded from the high ground in the rear, his gaze calm as Arceus's power quietly circulated. He did not strike directly, yet the entire battlefield seemed to fall under the influence of his will: an undercurrent ran an enemy ship aground just as it tried to turn and fire its cannons; a sudden sea breeze whipped up spray, extinguishing the fire arrows shot toward Zhao Yun's speedboat; even a refracted ray of sunlight dazzled an enemy sniper's eyes. His presence was like an anchor holding the sea steady, and like a player moving pieces across a board, subtly balancing the battle.
Aboard the flame-engulfed Blood Butcher, Bark was utterly terrified. Their opponents' strength far exceeded anything he had imagined! "Retreat! Retreat now!" he shouted himself hoarse.
But Guan Yu had already blocked their escape like a god descending from heaven.
"Blood Butcher! I, Zhang Fei, will take your head!" Zhang Fei roared, activating Magma Armor · Roar. Scorching waves of air struck alongside sonic shock waves, violently shaking Bark's mind. Zhang Fei hurled himself onto the Blood Butcher's deck like a cannonball.
Almost simultaneously, golden light flashed in Guan Yu's eyes. "Green Dragon Crescent · Dragon Ascent!" Blade energy condensed into the phantom image of Rayquaza's head and shot toward Bark's vitals as swiftly as golden lightning!
Bark swung his blade in a desperate block, but Guan Yu knocked the serrated cleaver from his hands with a single strike! Zhang Fei's enormous magma-covered fist followed close behind, slamming hard into his abdomen!
"Argh!" Bark spat blood and collapsed, subdued in an instant.
With their leader captured, the Bloodsail Fleet utterly collapsed, its remnants either surrendering or fleeing.
When the badly wounded Bark was brought before Chen Yu and felt that majestic presence, encompassing all things yet standing above everything, his final psychological defenses crumbled completely. He asked in a trembling voice, "You... who exactly are you people?!"
Chen Yu looked down at him calmly. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable force, ringing clearly across the battlefield:
"We are Peach Blossom Spring. We make the rules in these waters."
In the bloody battle at Ghost Fang Reef, Peach Blossom Spring's commanders crushed their opposition with overwhelming force, nearly annihilating the infamous Bloodsail Fleet and capturing its leader, "Blood Butcher" Balki, alive! The "Devil Fruit abilities" displayed in this battle by Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, and the others went far beyond ordinary understanding, shaking all of West Blue like a thunderclap!
The news spread like a tsunami:
At the Flower Country's court, the entire Pro-Cleansing Faction fell silent, while the Pro-Pacification Faction's influence surged!
The Pillars of the Happo Navy were deeply shocked, reassessing Peach Blossom Spring's threat level and the possibility of cooperation!
The various powers of West Blue could no longer regard Peach Blossom Spring as an ordinary local armed force. A behemoth capable of reshaping the balance of West Blue had risen!
Through this battle, Peach Blossom Spring revealed the first glimpse of its draconic might, truly carving its own indelible mark upon this vast and cruel sea! The course ahead would surely lead toward even more magnificent, surging waters-and even more perilous horizons.
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