Chapter 90 – The Storm Breaks
The streets of Cleaica had transformed overnight. What was once a quiet, tightly controlled city under the thumb of a tyrant king now resembled a warzone. Fires still flickered among toppled statues and shattered walls, the smell of smoke mingling with dust and debris. Citizens emerged cautiously from their homes, peeking out from behind doors and shuttered windows, their eyes wide with disbelief at the audacity of the Silver-Hair Pirates.
But the calm, fleeting as it was, shattered the instant the horizon shimmered with golden light once more.
Arthur had just begun to regroup his crew when the familiar streaks of Kizaru's light tore across the sky, accompanied by the thrum of hundreds of Marines mobilizing behind him. This time, they were prepared: 200 elite soldiers under the command of the Admiral himself, moving like a wave ready to crush everything in its path.
"Everyone… positions," Arthur said, voice calm but commanding, like a conductor preparing his orchestra for the final crescendo. "Leo, stay with me. Hiroshi, Alex, cover the rooftops and protect civilians. Surv, Rio, Clover—manage the streets. We don't leave anyone behind."
Leo's grip tightened on his battle-axe, knuckles white. "I'm not letting him hurt anyone… Not after what happened to my family." His eyes glinted with a mixture of grief and resolve, Haki coiling around him like a living flame. "I'll fight till the last breath."
Hiroshi nodded sharply. "Understood. This is more than just a battle—it's about survival… and liberation." His katana was drawn, the steel catching the moonlight as he flexed his fingers, ready to unleash the Conqueror's Haki he had been refining alongside Arthur.
---
The first wave of Marines surged forward, marching with military precision. Kizaru descended from the clouds above, landing in the central square with a grace that belied his deadly speed. His golden light radiated outward, illuminating his calm face and the casual, almost playful smile he wore.
"Well," Kizaru said, his voice soft yet cutting through the chaos, "you've made this interesting. But this… will be fun." He flicked his wrist, sending Yasakani no Magatama—hundreds of concentrated light beams—spinning in every direction, tearing through the streets and scattering debris like deadly shooting stars.
Arthur felt the vibration in the air before the beams struck. He extended his Observation Haki, sensing the trajectory, speed, and angle of each attack. Time seemed to slow, allowing him to move Sriyo in precise arcs, deflecting beams with the Haki-infused edge. Each clash of steel and light sent echoes through the ruined city, shaking loose masonry and igniting scattered fires.
"Move carefully," Arthur said to Leo, who was already sprinting across rooftops, Haki flaring around his arms. "Don't just swing—observe, anticipate."
Leo's eyes burned as he nodded. "I can feel him… He's fast, but not omniscient. I'll find the openings."
Hiroshi dashed beside Arthur, moving fluidly through crumbling streets, cutting down Marines with sharp precision. Each strike carried Conqueror's Haki, knocking back multiple soldiers at once. "They're disciplined," Hiroshi muttered under his breath, "but courage and technique beat rank every time."
From the rooftops, Alex fired, each bullet imbued with subtle Haki, targeting enemy officers and snipers attempting to pick off civilians. "Civilians first," he muttered, his usual sarcasm replaced by grim determination. "Let's see how fast you can run when your precision is useless."
---
In the alleyways, Surv's Logia powers ignited, her body cracking and reforming with electricity that surged across the streets. She ducked under a swing of a Marine elite with electric currents bouncing from her body to his metal armor. The soldier screamed, immobilized and shocked, as Surv leaped over debris, her lightning arcs knocking two more Marines unconscious.
"This… this isn't just fighting," Surv muttered, adrenaline pumping through her veins. "It's rewriting the rules!"
Rio covered her flank, firing from an elevated vantage, while Clover—ever the strategist—analyzed enemy movements. "Their formations are adaptive," Clover called out, pointing to the movement patterns. "If we disrupt their center, the wave will collapse!"
Arthur nodded, absorbing the intel mid-duel with Kizaru. He felt the rhythm of battle, the heartbeat of the city itself, and the pulse of his crew around him. Every movement, every Haki surge, every swing and block was synchronized, like a deadly dance choreographed by experience and instinct.
---
Kizaru's speed was nearly incomprehensible. He flicked his leg, and a Marine soldier was obliterated mid-step. He extended his arm, light beams slicing through the ground beneath Arthur's feet, forcing him to leap across a collapsing wall. His golden form blurred, moving faster than the eye could track, yet Arthur countered with calculated precision, predicting his path, using Sriyo to deflect the beams with sparks that lit the ruins like fireworks.
"You're strong…," Kizaru said casually, dodging Leo's swinging axe. "But strength is not everything. Strategy, Haki, teamwork… very impressive. Not many could even touch me."
Arthur's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk crossing his lips. "Then watch carefully."
In perfect synchronization, Leo and Arthur struck. Leo's axe emitted a concussive shockwave, while Arthur's Haki-infused Sriyo slashed a precise path. The combined force of emotional Haki, Conqueror's Haki, and strategic timing created a momentary breach in Kizaru's form. Even an Admiral could be forced to hesitate—if only for a heartbeat.
---
Flashback – Leo, Fifteen Years Ago
Leo's mind flashed back. He was ten years old, sitting on the steps outside his home as the royal guards dragged his father into the square. The crowd had been silent, eyes downcast, afraid to witness the execution of a man who had dared defy the king.
"Remember, Leo," his father had said, looking him in the eye, "courage is not the absence of fear… it is acting despite it. Never let tyranny define who you are."
The blade had fallen. His father's life ended in a single, merciless swing, and the memory had haunted him for fifteen years. Leo's hands tightened around his axe, tears welling as his Haki flared uncontrollably.
"I… I'll finish what you started," Leo whispered, the surge of Haki making his muscles tremble and aura radiate outward. The electric energy surrounding him intensified, arcs of lightning snapping across the battlefield, sending Marines flying back as if repelled by an invisible wall.
---
The present collided with the past. Leo's surge amplified Arthur's precision, creating openings Kizaru had not accounted for. Civilians watching from behind barricades gasped, witnessing humans—pirates—defying an Admiral with unrelenting courage.
Arthur, eyes focused, took the opening. He moved Sriyo with deadly intent, slicing through light beams, forcing Kizaru to recoil. The Admiral blinked in surprise. "You… can predict light?" he muttered, disbelief in his golden eyes.
Arthur stepped forward, his voice calm and unwavering. "We are not bound by fear. We are bound by will. And our will is stronger than your light."
---
The city became a whirlwind of chaos. Buildings crumbled under combined Haki and light-speed collisions. Fires spread, yet the Silver-Hair Pirates held formation, moving as one cohesive unit. Every swing, every shot, every Haki pulse was calculated, protecting civilians while keeping Kizaru off-balance.
Clover used debris and knowledge of the city layout to set traps, funneling Marines into choke points where Surv's lightning could incapacitate entire squads. Alex sniped from rooftops, picking off officers attempting to rally soldiers. Hiroshi's swordsmanship cut a swath through reinforcements, his Conqueror's Haki knocking down any who approached recklessly.
Leo, at the center of the battlefield, roared, his axe colliding with Kizaru's beams. Sparks, electricity, and golden light fused into an impossible display, shaking even the most seasoned Marines to their core.
---
After minutes that felt like hours, Kizaru finally staggered, golden aura flickering, bleeding from several concentrated attacks. He tilted his head, almost impressed. "Orders or not… today is not the day," he murmured, before dissolving into light and retreating.
The streets fell silent except for the crackle of fires and the ragged breaths of citizens.
Leo collapsed to his knees, exhausted, Haki still radiating from his body. "Father… we did it. I… I finally… did it!"
Arthur placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "You didn't just fight, Leo. You inspired. That is the true measure of strength."
Hiroshi exhaled, sheathing his katana. "They'll remember this. Everyone who watched will know: tyranny can fall."
Alex, still atop a rooftop, lowered his rifle. "And Marines will think twice before underestimating… pirates like us."
Surv's fingers crackled with residual lightning. "We saved them… for now. But they'll need protection. And this… this will only draw more attention."
Arthur's gaze swept over the liberated city. Citizens began to step forward, unsure, fearful, yet emboldened. Flowers were thrown, banners waved, and whispers of hope filled the night air. "This is just the beginning," Arthur said quietly, looking to the horizon where the first hints of dawn were breaking. "The world is waking… and so are we."
Rus" More are Comming "
Arthur " Be prepared"
Leo lifted his axe, a silent promise to his father and every oppressed soul: "Let them come… we are ready."