Chapter 88 – The King's Execution
The throne room, once the symbol of opulence and absolute power, was now bathed in flickering torchlight that danced across shattered marble and scorched banners. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, smoke, and the palpable tension of imminent judgment.
Arthur stood in the center, sword Sriyo humming faintly with residual Haki energy from the previous clash. Around him, the remnants of the king's guards had been either incapacitated or fled, leaving only the corrupt monarch himself, seated unsteadily on his throne, staring at the Silver-Hair Pirates with a mixture of arrogance and disbelief.
"You… you've made it this far," the king croaked, his voice trembling—not with fear, but with incredulity. "Do you really think you can overthrow the law? I am Cleaica! I am sanctioned by the Celestial Dragon!"
Arthur's eyes narrowed, unwavering. "You are tyranny. You are oppression. And tyranny has no place in this world."
Leo, still gripping his axe, knelt slightly behind Arthur, chest heaving. His aura of Haki had dimmed only slightly after the previous surge, but his eyes still burned with rage and sorrow. Hiroshi, katana drawn, stood poised to intervene, though Arthur's calm composure signaled that he intended to face this alone. Alex remained at the threshold, pistols ready, covering every possible escape route.
The king raised his hands, golden rings glinting as he addressed Arthur with a sneer. "You think killing me will free this kingdom? The people are weak, pliable… they will follow the next tyrant you leave behind. And mark my words, Silver-Hair… the Celestial Dragon will not forgive this insolence."
Arthur's grip tightened on Sriyo. "Then perhaps it's time they see the truth for themselves."
---
The king lunged suddenly, sword flashing, his attack aimed with the arrogance of one who believes the world bends to him. Arthur sidestepped with an ease that came from years of experience and foresight, Haki flowing through his body in perfect synchronization. The blade of Sriyo met the king's sword in a metallic clash that reverberated through the hall.
"You are… bold," the king hissed through gritted teeth. "Foolish, but bold."
Arthur countered with a calculated strike, not yet lethal, testing his opponent's reflexes. Each move was precise, informed by his ability to predict the immediate future. Observation Haki heightened his senses, allowing him to anticipate the king's swings, parries, and even the subtle shifts in his breathing that indicated his next action.
Leo watched, tension coiling in his chest. "Arthur… be careful," he murmured, voice barely audible over the metallic echoes. "His Haki… I can feel it—he's strong."
Arthur's gaze flicked to him briefly. "Don't worry. This ends tonight. Focus on the streets, protect the people if the fight spills out."
Hiroshi added softly, "And if he survives this…"
Arthur shook his head. "He won't."
---
The king's attacks grew more desperate, more erratic. He slashed and thrust, attempting to overwhelm Arthur with brute force rather than technique. But Arthur's swordsmanship was flawless, each movement measured, flowing, almost artistic in its precision. He parried, redirected, and finally created an opening with a subtle flick of his wrist, letting Sriyo's edge cut cleanly across the king's golden armor, leaving a deep gash that sparked and seared the polished metal.
The king staggered back, eyes widening in shock. "Impossible… no one—"
Arthur's Conqueror's Haki flared suddenly, subtle but undeniable, pressing upon the remaining guards and the king alike. The oppressive aura made even the hardened monarch flinch involuntarily, a hint of fear breaking through the years of cultivated arrogance.
Leo's hand tightened around his axe. "Yes… show him the weight of justice!"
Arthur's next strike was precise, Haki-infused and non-lethal—yet enough to disarm the king completely. His golden sword clattered to the floor, skittering across the marble. "Your reign ends now," Arthur said, voice calm but absolute. "Not with vengeance. Not with chaos. But with justice."
The king scrambled to his feet, fury and panic intertwining in a grotesque mask. "Justice? You don't understand! You… you are nothing! You are a pirate! A monster! I am Cleaica!"
Arthur stepped forward slowly, each movement deliberate. "You are Cleaica? No. You were the chains that bound it. And chains are meant to be broken."
He struck once more, and the king collapsed to his knees, breath ragged, eyes wide in disbelief. "You… you would dare… defy the Celestial Dragon…"
Arthur tilted his head, a faint smile playing at his lips. "The Celestial Dragon fears nothing more than a world that refuses to bow. And tonight… Cleaica refuses."
---
Leo's eyes welled with tears, memories flashing across his mind like a storm. Fifteen years ago, he had watched his father, a proud man and revolutionary sympathizer, stand defiantly before a court convened by the very same king.
"Leo…" his father had said, voice calm but resolute, gripping the young boy's shoulder. "Remember this… courage is not the absence of fear. It is the determination to act when fear is all you feel. Promise me… never let them break your heart."
The memory shattered him anew. The screams of that day, the metallic scent of blood, the final gaze of his father as he was executed—all came rushing back.
"You live on through me, Father," Leo whispered, voice trembling. "And I will not fail you. I swear it."
Arthur noticed the shift in Leo, the raw surge of Haki coiling around him like a living thing. He stepped back slightly, giving him space. "Control it, Leo. Let it guide you… not consume you."
Leo inhaled deeply, letting the grief fuel precision instead of chaos. His axe hummed as he channeled the Haki into each swing, sending splintering shocks through the remaining guards who dared to step forward.
The king's eyes widened as he saw the young man, once a street musician, now a force of nature. "No… he cannot…"
Arthur advanced. "It's over."
With a final, controlled, and decisive strike, Sriyo met the king's chest. A surge of Haki reinforced the blow, knocking him backward against the throne, the gilded structure collapsing under the impact. The king's eyes flickered once, a mix of disbelief, fear, and realization that his time had ended.
Leo fell to his knees, staring at the ruin before him, chest heaving. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with sweat and the blood of battle.
"It's… over…"
Arthur sheathed Sriyo, gaze calm and unwavering. "It's done. Cleaica belongs to its people now. Not kings. Not Celestial Dragons. Not fear."
Hiroshi moved beside them, sheathing his katana with a soft click.
"The palace is secure. But we need to regroup with Team B. The city is still dangerous."
Alex exhaled, cleaning his pistols. "Well… that's one tyrant down. Feels good, doesn't it?"
Leo's gaze softened as he looked toward the exit, toward the streets where the citizens of Cleaica were beginning to sense freedom.
"It feels… like my father is smiling at me."
Arthur nodded once, expression serene.
"Then let's honor him by finishing what we started. The people deserve peace, and the Celestial Dragon deserves to know that tyranny can be resisted."
---
As they made their way through the palace corridors toward the main exit, Arthur allowed a brief glance at the shattered remnants of the throne room. A faint smile curved his lips. The king's reign had ended or not with spectacle, not with pomp, but with precision, justice, and the will of those who refused to bow.
Outside, the city was stirring. Rumors of the Silver-Hair Pirates' infiltration spread like wildfire. Citizens peeked from windows, whispering in awe and hope. The oppressive banners of the king were torn down in streets below, replaced with flags of liberty drawn hastily by hands eager for change.
Leo's axe rested lightly on his shoulder, a tangible connection to both his grief and his resolve.
"We did it," he said softly, almost to himself.
"Father… we did it."
Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder, firm and grounding. "No. You did it. You carried the courage of generations tonight. Never forget that."
Hiroshi glanced at the sky.
"We should move. Team B is probably engaged with the Navy or CP9 by now."
Alex added with a grin,
"And knowing our luck, the Celestial Dragon or an admiral might just show up next."
Arthur's eyes narrowed, anticipating the storm to come. "Let them come. We've faced kings, tyrants, and Marines. This is just the beginning. The seas are waking… and so are we."
Leo exhaled, lifting his axe with renewed determination. "Then let's wake them properly."
The Silver-Hair Pirates stepped out into the moonlit streets of Cleaica, victorious but wary, ready to face the next challenge. And somewhere, far above the world's gaze, the Celestial Dragon's emissaries would be watching, their attention now fixed squarely on a pirate crew that dared to defy the very foundations of power.
The kingdom had fallen, but the world was only beginning to tremble.