Chapter 92 – Vice Admiral's Fallback
Kizaru Came with reinforcement with nearby Navy force this dawn.
The first light of dawn stretched across the Cleaica skyline, painting the shattered city with muted golds and purples. The air was heavy with smoke and dust, remnants of the Silver-Hair Pirates' midnight assault, yet alive with the whispers of liberation. Citizens crept from hidden corners, cautious yet emboldened by the freedom their heroes had carved with blood and steel.
Arthur's silver hair caught the sun as he surveyed the scene atop the broken palace gate. His eyes, sharp and precise, flicked between fleeing soldiers, cheering civilians, and the distant shimmer of the sea where reinforcements could arrive at any moment. He could feel the tension thickening in the air, a silent hum that even the celebratory chaos could not drown out.
"They'll come," Clover muttered from beside him, her arms crossed. "The Admirals won't ignore this. Not after Cleaica has fallen and the Silver-Hair Pirates are walking freely."
Arthur's gaze hardened, the subtle hum of the System alerting him to incoming danger. Far off, a golden flash streaked across the horizon—a movement so fast it blurred the sky.
Kizaru.
The Vice Admiral descended like a beam of light, the ground beneath him smoldering from the friction of his descent. Even from hundreds of meters away, the calm, mocking tilt of his head was unmistakable. "Well… well… well… What a delightful surprise," he said lazily, his voice carrying across the square with a chill that contrasted the city's warmth. "Silver-Hair Pirates, in my backyard? How… quaint."
Hiroshi tightened his grip on his katana. "Everyone, stay sharp. If he's here… the game changes. Arthur… what's the plan?"
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself, letting the System's Future Sight Precision flood his senses. Every ripple of air, every tiny movement of the Vice Admiral, every heart pounding in the city below—it all became visible threads in a tapestry only he could see.
"Divide and control," Arthur replied calmly. "I'll engage Kizaru directly. Hiroshi and Leo, cover me. Surv and the others, evacuate the civilians. Don't let them see him use his powers against innocents."
Leo nodded, tightening his grip on his axe. "Got it. Time to show them what a Von Seo can do." His voice held the weight of loss, vengeance, and pride all at once.
Surv's eyes sparked as electricity danced along her arms. "Finally… let's fry some light, shall we?" she said, a grin tugging at her lips.
---
The moment Arthur landed on the cracked palace square, Kizaru's movements became blindingly fast, beams of light already striking the ground with precision. Every step of the Vice Admiral was calculated, yet unpredictable, a lethal dance that had killed countless pirates before.
Arthur's sword, Sriyo, gleamed as he activated Armament Haki, coating the blade with a black aura. Each swing of the sword now carried not just physical weight but the energy of Conqueror's Haki, capable of shaking the very bones of those who stood against him.
Kizaru's beam struck the ground inches from Arthur, sending stone shards flying. "Not bad… you move faster than most, but can you keep up?" The Vice Admiral's voice was almost bored, yet each word carried a threat heavier than steel.
Arthur's eyes narrowed. System active: Future Sight Precision. The incoming trajectory of every attack, the subtle shifts in Kizaru's posture, even the faintest movements of his muscles—Arthur predicted them all. The first clash was inevitable.
He lunged, sprinting at a speed Kizaru's own light form could scarcely follow. Their collision shook the square, the sound of clashing Haki-infused steel echoing across the city. Kizaru's foot struck like a cannon, but Arthur sidestepped with near-perfect anticipation, countering with a slash that grazed the Vice Admiral's shoulder.
Kizaru's rarefied laugh rang out. "Hmm… not many in this sea… can touch light."
Arthur's lips twitched into a faint smile. "And yet… here we are." He leapt again, his sword slicing arcs of Haki-imbued energy that forced Kizaru to retreat, the Vice Admiral's light barely avoiding the attacks.
---
Meanwhile, across the streets, Leo and Hiroshi coordinated their defense. Marines and palace guards had regrouped, attempting to capitalize on the Admiral's presence, but the crew's strategy had been precise.
Leo swung his battle-axe like a conductor's baton, each strike infused with his Haki. Stone walls crumbled under the weight of his fury. Every swing was deliberate, every movement precise—a man channeling grief, memory, and vengeance into controlled destruction.
A flashback struck him suddenly: fifteen years ago, he had been a boy, hiding in the shadows as his father, a revolutionary sympathizer, was dragged to the palace square. The king had sentenced him publicly, mocking the man's ideals. "Let this be a lesson," the king had said cruelly, "defiance is death."
Leo remembered the steel in his father's eyes as he whispered, "If I fall… fight for freedom. Make my voice yours." The memory surged through Leo like lightning, fueling his current rage. Each swing of his axe now carried a father's unfulfilled legacy, the pain of loss, and the promise of justice.
Hiroshi moved alongside him, slashing with precise swordplay, his Observation Haki predicting every incoming strike from the Marines and CP9 operatives attempting to flank them. The duo's movements were a dance of fury and precision, a visual symphony of controlled chaos.
"Leo! Cover the east alley! Marines are trying to flank!" Hiroshi shouted, his voice barely audible over the clash of steel.
"I've got it!" Leo replied, spinning midair, sending two attackers flying with a single swing. Sparks erupted where metal met Haki, and the city's stones cracked beneath the weight of his strikes.
---
Back on the square, Arthur and Kizaru's duel escalated. The Vice Admiral's light-speed kicks were nearly impossible to track, but Arthur's Future Sight Precision allowed him to anticipate, react, and counter with a calculated efficiency that stunned even Kizaru.
"Kizaru… this is where foresight meets speed," Arthur muttered, eyes narrowing as he slashed at the Vice Admiral's chest. The blade connected, and for the first time, Kizaru staggered, a thin line of blood running down his torso.
"You… how?" Kizaru gasped, blinking in disbelief. "No one should…!"
Arthur pressed forward, voice calm, eyes like steel. "The world is changing. And I'm no ordinary pirate."
Each strike from Arthur now carried the weight of Conqueror's Haki, a pulse that resonated through the square. Rocks shifted, debris floated, and even the citizens felt the invisible tremor of his power. He struck again, predicting a light-speed kick and countering with a Haki-imbued slash that caught Kizaru off-guard, cutting through the Vice Admiral's aura of invincibility.
Kizaru crashed into a shattered fountain, water and stone exploding outward. Even with his Logia powers, he was momentarily stunned, coughing lightly as he assessed the damage.
Arthur took a deep breath. System Reward Active: Combat Efficiency Boost. His muscles, reflexes, and predictive algorithms surged with enhanced synchronization. Each movement was fluid, precise, and deadly.
"Enough games," Arthur said quietly, stepping forward, every step measured. Conqueror's Haki Pulse, a wave of energy radiating outward, struck Kizaru before he could recover. The blast sent shockwaves through the square, flattening Marines who had been attempting to regroup, throwing even hardened palace guards off their feet.
Kizaru struggled to maintain form, his calm façade cracking as he realized the severity of Arthur's power. "Orders… or not… today's… not the day…" he muttered, retreating in bursts of blinding light.
---
The citizens below erupted in cheers. "Silver-Hair! Silver-Hair!" they shouted, their voices echoing through the liberated streets. Children waved their hands, mimicking the pirate crew's movements, while elders wept quietly, overwhelmed by the sight of freedom delivered through sheer will.
Leo's axe cut through the last of the fleeing guards. He fell to his knees, exhausted, chest heaving. Hiroshi clapped him on the back. "Not bad for your first real fight with us."
Leo smiled, a rare, genuine expression. "My father… would've been proud. I can feel it. This… this is for him."
Surv, still sparking with controlled electricity, grinned at the fleeing Marines. "Let's fry the rest before they regroup. City's ours!"
Clover adjusted her glasses, taking note of every detail. "We need to leave soon. Kizaru will report to HQ. The World Government will respond… but for now, the city is ours."
Arthur walked to the edge of the square, watching the retreating light of Kizaru's silhouette. System Reward used: Future Sight Precision. Every distant movement, every potential threat, every chance to protect civilians—already calculated in his mind. He could see the world in threads of possibility.
He exhaled slowly. "Cleaica is free. But the sea… the world… it's watching. And we'll need every ounce of strength from here on out."
The crew gathered around him, weary but victorious. Leo rested his axe on his shoulder, eyes still wet with tears. "I'm… ready," he whispered. "Ready to fight, ready to live, ready to carry my father's legacy."
Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's set sail. The seas are waking, Leo. And so is the world."
The Silver-Hair Pirates stood atop the ruins of tyranny, their figures silhouetted against the rising sun. The storm had broken. Cleaica had been liberated. And for the first time, the winds of change carried not just the sound of battle, but the echoes of hope, defiance, and freedom.
The world had witnessed the fall of an Admiral at the hands of pirates. And the age of fear was slowly giving way to the age of courage.