Chapter 87 – Throne of Arrogance (Team A)
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The palace of Cleaica rose like a gleaming jewel amidst the chaos of the liberated streets, its tall spires reflecting the moonlight in deceptive serenity. From the outside, it seemed untouchable in pristine stone walls, ornate balconies, and guards standing at precise intervals. Yet within its cold corridors lay the heart of oppression: the king himself, sitting upon the throne that had cost so many lives to maintain.
Arthur crouched atop the roof of a nearby annex, his silver hair glinting under the moonlight. Beside him, Leo adjusted the grip on his axe, muscles taut, senses sharpened. Hiroshi checked the length of his katana, its blade humming faintly as if sensing the coming bloodshed. Alex, ever composed, adjusted his pistols and surveyed the entrance below.
"This is it," Arthur murmured, voice calm but laced with anticipation. "Inside that palace, we find the king… and we end this tyranny."
Leo's jaw tightened. "I'll make sure he sees every ounce of my anger. For my father… and for every innocent he's crushed."
Arthur placed a hand on Leo's shoulder. "Control it. Focus your rage into precision. Let your strength speak, not your temper. The people's lives depend on it."
Hiroshi's gaze flicked toward Arthur. "Do you think the Celestial Dragon has a representative here too?"
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "It wouldn't surprise me. But we have to move fast. If they get involved… it won't just be us fighting. Civilians will be in danger."
Alex smirked lightly. "Then let's make this quick. I hate waiting for fun."
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The team descended through the palace's side corridors, silent as shadows. Marble floors reflected their movements, the occasional flicker of torchlight casting long, distorted silhouettes. They passed paintings depicting the king's "glorious" reign, each canvas a twisted mockery of the suffering outside these walls.
"Ugh," Leo muttered, voice low. "He painted over the cries of the people with gold and pomp… my father… he tried to stop this. And they killed him anyway."
Arthur's eyes softened. "Your father's courage lives through you, Leo. Don't let his death be in vain."
Leo exhaled, gripping his axe tighter. "I won't."
The first guards came into view—a pair of elite royal knights, armaments gleaming, swords at the ready. Hiroshi stepped forward, katana in hand, moving with the grace of a master. His Conqueror's Haki flared faintly, a subtle intimidation that made the knights hesitate.
"You dare approach the throne?" one knight demanded, voice echoing through the corridor.
Arthur's gaze met the knight's without flinching. "We dare because tyranny cannot stand."
With lightning speed, the knights lunged, blades aimed at Hiroshi. In a blur, Hiroshi sidestepped and slashed, Haki-infused steel cutting cleanly across one knight's shoulder. The second knight attempted a high strike, but Leo met it with the haft of his axe, blocking and spinning the strike away. Sparks flew as steel met steel, echoing in the marble halls.
The knights regrouped, coordinating their attacks, but the team's synergy was flawless. Arthur weaved between strikes, sword Sriyo humming as it clashed with the enemy, while Alex provided precision pistol support, firing non-lethal rounds to disable joint movement or disarm weapons.
"You're good," one knight muttered, eyes widening in shock as he felt the impact of Hiroshi's Haki-infused strike. "But we… protect the king!"
Leo let out a low growl and surged forward, enhanced reflexes from Clover's pills still coursing through him. His axe swung with devastating power, deflecting attacks and knocking both knights off their feet in a single rotation. Sparks danced in the air, and the polished marble floor cracked beneath the force.
Arthur took a step back, analyzing the situation. "More are coming. Split up—draw them into the corridor. We can control the flow here."
Hiroshi nodded, moving to intercept a second wave of knights pouring in from a side hallway. Alex stayed slightly behind, pistol trained on the doorway, his eyes calculating trajectories and enemy weaknesses. Leo's axe carved a path forward, each strike precise, controlled, yet lethal.
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Meanwhile, inside the throne room, the king sat with a smug grin. He had been alerted to the intrusion by a series of minor alarms, but he felt secure. The city was under his complete control—or so he thought.
"Do they really think they can reach me?" he whispered to his aide, tapping a golden cane against the floor. "Pathetic. I will crush them before they can even touch the doors."
A sudden crash from the corridor outside made him pause. "What?"
Before he could react, Arthur's voice echoed faintly through the stone corridors: "You should have ruled with justice, not fear."
The king's grin faltered. "Who… dares—"
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Back in the corridors, the fight intensified. Hiroshi engaged a captain-level swordsman, each strike a deadly dance of steel and Haki. The clashing of blades sent reverberations through the palace walls, each hit shaking the decorative columns. Hiroshi's focus was absolute, reading his opponent's movements with meticulous precision. "You rely on brute strength," he said, parrying yet another strike. "Strength without technique is hollow."
The swordsman sneered. "And you rely on arrogance!"
Hiroshi's next strike, infused with both Observation and Armament Haki, sent the knight sprawling, his armor scorched and dented.
Leo's own battle took a darker turn. He finally reached the cell containing his family—or rather, the remains of what the king's cruelty had left behind. The guards had left them broken, lifeless. A scream tore from Leo's throat, and the surge of grief and rage unlocked a level of Haki he had never felt before. His entire body radiated a barely-contained aura, his axe vibrating with raw, untamed power.
"You… you will pay!" Leo roared, charging into a squad of palace guards with a speed that seemed unnatural. Each swing of his axe sent shockwaves through the stone floor, Haki-infused strikes disarming, knocking down, and incapacitating the elite guards with terrifying efficiency.
Arthur moved beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Control it! Don't lose yourself, Leo! Focus the power, not just the anger."
Leo's chest heaved. "I… I can't… not after seeing them…"
Arthur's gaze was unwavering. "Then make them count. For your father. For the people."
Taking a deep breath, Leo centered himself. The electric pulse of his Haki aligned with the residual effects of Clover's pill. His axe became an extension of his will—every swing precise, calculated, and lethal. The remaining guards fell before him like wheat before a scythe.
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Inside the throne room, the king had finally gathered reinforcements. Dozens of elite knights and palace guards streamed into the corridors, attempting to cut off Team A from reaching the inner sanctum. Arthur smiled faintly.
"Here we go."
He ignited Sriyo's blade with Haki, the air around it humming with power. The silver edge gleamed, and the sound of metal against marble became a symphony of impending judgment. Hiroshi and Leo flanked him, while Alex provided long-range coverage.
The first wave of guards charged, expecting a slaughter from seasoned pirates. Instead, they met a wall of synchronized power: Hiroshi's blade clashed with a captain's sword, sparks flying. Leo's axe swung in wide arcs, Haki pulses shaking the ground. Arthur's sword danced between them, precise, lethal, and swift, deflecting attacks and leaving openings for the others.
Alex fired calculated shots, each bullet disrupting enemy formations without harming civilians or structural integrity.
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The climactic confrontation approached. The king, now aware of the imminent threat, emerged from the throne room with a golden sword in hand, arrogance radiating from every movement.
"You dare enter my palace!" he bellowed, voice echoing. "I am Cleaica! I am the law!"
Arthur's eyes locked with his. "You are tyranny incarnate. And tyranny dies tonight."
The two circled each other, swords raised. The king's Haki flared—a deep, oppressive presence meant to crush the spirit. Arthur's own Conqueror's Haki responded, subtle but undeniable, pressing against the guards and even shivering the walls.
"You think your power… scares me?" the king sneered.
Arthur smiled faintly. "No. Your fear… that will kill you."
The clash was immediate and explosive. Steel met steel in a blinding flurry, each strike shaking the throne room. The king attempted to overpower Arthur with brute strength, but Arthur's foresight allowed him to anticipate every swing, parry each strike, and counter with precision that left the king reeling.
Hiroshi engaged the remaining knights in tandem with Leo, their synergy amplified by the chaos. Leo's aura blazed with Haki, each swing striking fear into any who dared approach.
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To be continue