"Not good!"
In a moment of crisis, the massive Vatis displayed startling agility, performing a frantic roll to dodge the strike.
Ssssh—!
As if cutting through soft tofu, the brilliant blade sliced effortlessly into the tavern's stone floor, burying a quarter of the blade deep into the ground.
"As sharp and relentless as ever!"
Cold sweat beaded on Vatis's forehead. He stared grimly at the black-armored knight. The man's razor-sharp movements, decisive reactions, and especially those emerald-green, lifeless eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
Kicking away the battle-axe that had snagged his right claw, Vatis stood on high alert against the two men. He didn't want to die, and he knew he couldn't afford a single mistake.
"As the first killing machine of the Chris Pirates, he's more than qualified!" Sriya said coldly. He stepped off, rushing Vatis from the other side.
Almost simultaneously, the black-armored knight, S-1, charged with his longsword. Together, he and Sriya launched a pincer attack.
Facing the combined pressure, Vatis dared not meet them head-on. He lunged backward, smashing through the tavern wall.
BOOM!
With a roar of collapsing masonry and flying dust, the massive ancient Ancylopoda burst through the wall and into the street under the terrified gazes of the public.
"W-What is that?"
"An Ancylopoda! It's from the same era as the dinosaurs!"
"Why is a thing like that here? Is he an Ability User?"
"It's an Ancient Type Zoan!"
The pirates on the street descended into a panic. They had seen Devil Fruit users before, but a rare Ancient Type Zoan was a sight few had ever witnessed.
CRASH! CRASH!
Two more explosions followed as the tavern walls were breached again, sending debris flying through the dust.
Through the haze, a flash of cold light appeared. A brilliant longsword cut through the smoke, slashing down toward the beast.
CLANG!
Vatis swept his claw upward in a parry. The collision of claw and steel generated a powerful shockwave, sending ripples of wind through the area.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The crowd watched in awe as the black-armored knight charged out of the smoke, engaging the massive beast in a frantic melee. Sword and claw collided dozens of times in a matter of seconds, sparks flying as the air filled with the screech of metal.
SWISH! THUD!
Suddenly, another dark shadow blurred past. A metallic prosthetic leg, gleaming with a cold luster, kicked Vatis squarely in his supporting leg.
CRACK!
The sickening sound of bone snapping echoed. Vatis felt a surge of agony in his right leg; he stumbled and fell to one knee, leaving himself wide open.
Seizing the opening, the black-armored knight swung his longsword straight down.
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed. The sharp blade easily carved through Vatis's tough pectoral muscles, spilling hot blood onto the pavement.
"ARGH—!"
Vatis screamed in agony. A narrow, yard-long wound gaped across his chest, blood pouring from the gash.
THUD!
Sriya took advantage of the momentum, planting a kick into Vatis's back and pinning him to the ground.
"Sever his limbs!" Sriya ordered coldly, stepping on Vatis's head with one foot and pinning his right arm with the other.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Hearing the order, Vatis struggled desperately. His massive strength nearly bucked Sriya off.
Meanwhile, S-1 raised his longsword high, aiming for Vatis's feet.
WHOOSH—!
Out of nowhere, a stone pillar half a meter in diameter whistled through the air from the right. It was at least five or six meters long and carrying immense momentum.
Faced with this sudden strike, the knight pivoted, twisting his waist to bring his sword around in a defensive slash.
BOOM!
The sharp strike split the pillar clean in two, but the sheer force behind the projectile was so great that it sent the black-armored knight flying back.
"What?!"
Sriya, still pinning Vatis, gasped in shock. How could a simple stone pillar knock back S-1, the premier killing machine of the Chris Pirates?
The knight flipped in mid-air, landing on his feet, but he was still forced back several steps, shattering the stone tiles beneath his boots.
Seeing an opening, Vatis exerted a burst of strength, bucking Sriya off him.
CLINK!
Sriya flipped and landed on his feet, his expression darkening.
"An Ancient Type Zoan... that's a rare prize!"
A muffled, booming voice rang out. The terrified onlookers scrambled to clear a path. A man several meters tall and built like a mountain stepped forward.
He wore his hair in a ponytail and two long braids, with a metal jaw-guard over his mouth. Two ivory tusks adorned his head and shoulders, his clothes bristling with spiked studs and a feathered overcoat. He radiated a pure, murderous aura.
"Jack the Drought!"
Sriya's pupils constricted violently at the sight of the newcomer.
Gulp…
"No... it can't be?"
"I heard a big name from the Beasts Pirates was on the island, but HIM?"
"The Beasts Pirates! The Chris Pirates! Hey, am I dreaming?"
"Is this the... the presence of a Great Pirate? My body... I can't move—"
The surrounding pirates stared in shell-shocked silence. The dozens of men following Jack radiated such a ferocious pressure that many of the onlookers lost control of their limbs.
"A little brat from the Chris Pirates, eh?" Jack rumbled, spotting the skull-and-ring emblem on Sriya's prosthetic. "This guy... belongs to me!"
Sriya's face darkened as he replied sternly, "This man is a target of the Chris Pirates. Jack, your reach is getting a bit long!"
"Too long?"
"So what if it is?"
Jack walked right up to Sriya, leaning forward to stare at him with bloodshot eyes. Without warning, he threw a massive fist.
BOOM!
The ground shook. A cloud of dust and debris erupted as a crater over a meter wide appeared. Jack's forearm was buried deep into the earth.
"You bastard!"
Known for his calm, Sriya was now fuming. He had heard of Jack's unreasonable reputation, but seeing it in person was something else entirely.
Of course, Sriya wasn't the only one confused. Vatis, still on the ground, was equally bewildered. When had he offended the Beasts Pirates? Or... did they see his ability and want to recruit him?
Vatis's eyes lit up. That makes sense, he thought. The Beast Pirates are almost all Ability Users. It's normal they'd want a rare Ancient Type. I heard Jack the Drought is an Ancient Type user himself!
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