"You're… not afraid of death?"
Orin stared straight at the burly man before him wielding two blades. For a moment, he didn't make a move.
But in the eyes of the surrounding underlings, to dare provoke someone who had easily defeated captain-level figures—Keek—was already no different from being a dead man.
Even Keek himself thought the same.
"My name is Dotor Keek! If you want Keek-sama's life, then come and take it!!!"
Clang—
The old man, who had a fiery temper even in his younger days, didn't wait for Orin to say anything further. In an instant, his body tensed slightly.
Jet-black Armament Haki coiled around both of his hands, and the twin blades he held were dyed black, radiating a razor-sharp aura.
"???"
Orin looked at the old man, who had already entered combat mode, and was momentarily dumbfounded. He had just opened his mouth to say something, but instead saw him charge forward, blades poised in an aggressive stance.
That running start and the determined gaze—it looked a little like Oden going mad, and a little like Zoro about to unleash a finisher.
Was he… treating himself like the final boss?
"The Two-Sword Style I learned from Captain Shiki… this will be my final performance! Prepare yourself!!!"
And honestly, with Armament coating his blades and the faint pressure of a swordsman's strike radiating from them, he really did look like some kind of protagonist.
No wonder the old man often told him when he was a child: "If not for my lack of opportunity, I could have become a monster on the seas!"
The dream was there, but the talent was lacking.
With a running start and a jump, Keek crossed his blades in an X, charging at Orin with the resolve of one prepared to die.
Keek wasn't a coward.
He was a "monster" who would move forward for the sake of his ideals—even if it meant death!
"Interesting…"
This Keek was nothing like the slovenly old man Orin had grown up seeing, who only drank and chased widows.
Now, before him stood someone willing to throw away his life for the power and status of a great pirate.
Orin silently watched the jet-black blades drawing closer.
Suddenly, the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Really can't help you, huh…"
His hand moved to his waist. With a flick of his thumb, his blade slid free. Gripping it with one hand, he took a charging stance and shot forward.
Whoosh—
Crack—crackle—
The two figures flashed past each other in an instant. Black and red lightning split the air as their forms crossed—one tall, one short, standing back-to-back.
A gust of pressure burst outward. The underlings, stunned and horrified, shielded themselves with both arms as they stared in disbelief at Orin and Keek.
Splurt—
Drip… drip…
Blood trickled down fabric, pattering onto the deck.
Hearing it, Keek, who had closed his eyes with the resolve of certain death, slowly opened them to inspect his wounds.
He was even prepared to find himself cut in half.
But strangely, there was no wound—only a slit torn in the hem of his clothing.
"This…"
Keek stood there dumbfounded, gripping his twin blades blankly. Then… whose blood had he just heard?
A chilling realization struck him. Stiffly, he turned his head.
The towering figure, the one who had rampaged across the battlefield undefeated, now stood with his back to him… turning his head as well.
For the one who raised me, I cannot bring myself to strike you down… Old man…
At his chest, two shallow wounds—one vertical, one horizontal—bled through his clothes, dripping steadily onto the ground.
Keek's expression was one of utter disbelief. He looked at his own unscathed body, then at Orin's bloodied state. His grip tightened on his blades.
"I… I won?!!"
"I defeated… the monster who was even more terrifying than the captains?!!"
He began to doubt reality itself.
But those who doubted even more were the crew who had mocked him before—saying he'd never have the fate of a "monster."
Their jaws hung open so wide their chins nearly hit the floor.
"Hey, hey… did I just hallucinate? Did Keek actually injure that monster?!"
"No… I saw it too. But how is this possible?!!"
"I don't believe it!!!"
One of those who had mocked Keek now saw the shocked faces around him, the unbelievable sight of Keek standing like the protagonist in everyone's eyes. He grit his teeth in fury.
"This monster must've been drained from fighting the captains! Keek just stole the credit!!!"
"Watch me—"
Bam—
Before he could even approach Orin, he was slapped flying in an instant, life or death unknown.
Even Big Mom, who had just been suppressed by Orin and was now standing again with a grim expression, hesitated at this sight.
She glanced at Keek.
This ordinary combatant of the Rocks Pirates, usually just tagging along on the main ship… could he really have such terrifying strength?
Impossible!
But before she could make sense of it, two figures tore through the sky, descending onto the ship with a rush of air.
"Hey, Linlin, did you already fight this monster brat?"
Shiki gripped his twin blades, eyes narrowing at the blood on Orin's chest. Thinking Big Mom had already battled him, he unsheathed his swords with murderous intent.
...
Whitebeard too exuded killing intent, his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki flooding the battlefield.
Keek, standing not far from Orin in the center, immediately went pale under the pressure of two sea overlords' wills.
He had just begun to feel confident, thinking he had risen at last—yet now his legs trembled uncontrollably under their crushing Haki.
"You've gotta be kidding me… I clearly got stronger…"
He beat his trembling legs in frustration, gritting his teeth—when suddenly, the pressure eased.
"Even with me here, don't throw yourself to death so recklessly…"
Turning, Keek saw Orin standing just behind him, exuding his own overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, shielding him from the mental assault.
But in the next instant, Whitebeard's Haki-laced strike and Shiki's slashes came crashing down—showing no regard for Keek as an ally.
His pupils shrank in horror at the incoming blows. But just then, a figure stepped in front of him…
BOOM—
The massive impact sent dust and smoke billowing skyward. Keek's figure flew clear of it, unharmed.
Landing on the ground, he turned to stare at the smoky center.
From within, Orin's voice rang out slowly.
"Everyone, I ask that you give me this respect. Let the battle with the Roger Pirates end here…"
"If either the Rocks Pirates or the Roger Pirates still wish to continue fighting—"
BOOM—
His raging Conqueror's Haki erupted, transforming into a thunderous storm that surged outward.
Almost every fighter of the Rocks Pirates below officer rank collapsed unconscious on the spot—everyone except Keek.
Amidst the smoke, Orin's imposing figure became clear. His full-powered strike had even forced Whitebeard back several steps.
Blade in one hand, gun in the other.
"Then let me be his opponent!!!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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