There were no allies inside, so indiscriminate attacks were enough. The smoke bombs hindered the vision of the Beasts Pirates' members as well as the prisoners.
The wildly swinging seastone chains dealt devastating blows to them. However, things weren't entirely smooth, as some prisoners took advantage of the smoke to reach their side.
Seeing that seastone had no effect on Babanuki, the Imperial Court Guards ninjas used all sorts of strange techniques to entangle him. Shurikens, kunais, bullets, and various thrown items flew out from the smoke.
Moreover, among the pirate prisoners, there were some strong individuals, causing Babanuki to be unable to free himself for a moment, leaving others to face the approaching pirates alone.
Under Geodude's attacks, no new prisoners escaped, but the approaching pirates forced the Beasts Pirates to draw the swords from their waists. Though the revolver machine gun was far more powerful than a regular rifle, it left them no time to turn around once someone got behind them.
The most primitive hand-to-hand combat occurred here.
Not everyone in the Beasts Pirates was invincible, otherwise, they would have dominated the world by now. Amidst the chaotic battle, a Beasts Pirates member fell into a pool of blood, paralyzed by two long swords stuck in his chest and abdomen.
Those weapons were brought in by the Imperial Court Guards and armed the prisoner pirates.
The enemy in front of him was about to deliver a fatal blow, but a black shadow suddenly emerged from the smoke. Though not very large, it charged forward like a heavy tank, even causing the ground to tremble.
Without roaring, the black shadow collided with the enemy ahead. It was an Aron living inside the mine. Over two years, it had evolved and was no longer resembling a large ant, but a Lairon like a giant lizard.
Its tail was very short, but the armored plating on its body became even thicker.
This Lairon was very sleepy; even the alarm couldn't wake it up. It was the smoke bombs released by the Imperial Court Guards that made it wake up choking.
And the fallen pirate had another identity; he was Lairon's caretaker. Even as an Aron, their relationship was the closest, a bond unchanged even post-evolution.
Even the fierce Gyarados retains its original emotions after evolution. If humans invest enough, Pokemon naturally reciprocate sincerely.
Its rapid evolution was due to the food supply within the mines. Most minerals from the mine were exported or used, and since Lairon's appetite was growing, the Onixes would dig tunnels under the Red Earth Continent.
It's not just free-range; finding new rare mineral veins and information about plates was also part of their tasks.
After knocking away the enemy, it didn't participate in the battle but stood by the injured pirate.
Although it had some ranged skills, the battle became chaotic when the pirate prisoners charged with the smoke amid the Beasts Pirates. Reckless attacks might accidentally harm allies.
"~"
Lairon's voice was deep, almost indiscernible, yet the injured pirate understood its meaning.
"Don't worry, such wounds won't kill me. I haven't seen Boss Kaidou become the Pirate King yet..."
Though Kaidou never expressed this ambition explicitly, the Beasts Pirates believe the Grand Treasure undoubtedly belongs to their Governor.
Then, amidst the smoke, the sound of machinery roared. Lairon turned its heavy body to look over, its instincts telling it the area was dangerous. As the noise grew closer, a pirate as tall as Babanuki burst out from there.
Although his prison clothes indicated he wasn't a Beasts Pirates member, his hands had transformed into a giant drill, stained with blood.
"Destroyed my dream of becoming the Pirate King and made me mine for so long. You Beasts Pirates, all die!"
He was a pirate who went out to sea shortly after Roger's death three years ago. Although his bounty was only 90 million, not reaching the Super Rookie level, he reached Shampodi as a rookie. Yet, he challenged the Beasts Pirates' territory soon after arriving in the New World.
The result was obvious, sent here to mine directly.
His rotating drill hands were his abilities.
He was a Paramecia-type Dril-Dril Fruit Ability User.
This ability fit well with his miner identity, but wristed with seastone handcuffs, he couldn't use his ability while mining seastone mines.
Sometimes he would be watched while mining wine iron ore, where his ability was quite useful, making him an excellent labor force. Babanuki gave him some extra food to work better, which now seemed a mistake.
The pirate on the ground caught his attention, and the drill in his hand continued to spin.
"You're a Beasts Pirates member too, right? I'll send you to death then."
The blades stuck in him had pierced into the ground. In such a state, he couldn't evade. Watching the drill swinging at him, he could only shut his eyes in despair, but no pain came, only some metal sparks splattered on him.
With metallic glints shining, Lairon crashed into the opponent's drill.
Featuring a metal shell merged with wine iron ore, it was incomparably hard. Although sparks flew due to friction, with Iron Defense's boost, Lairon firmly blocked in front of the wounded.
Under the armor, its blue eyes were locked on the opponent. It was protecting its caretaker.
"Where did this beast come from? You dare block Lord Isaac!"
The drill on the other hand aimed at Lairon, targeting the gaps in the armor, a weak point on Lairon's body.
Hit, Lairon let out a painful howl, then lunged straight at the adversary, its short claws gleamed with metallic light, delivering a Metal Claw strike.
This Lairon's trait was Heavy Metal, doubling its weight. Ultimately, man and beast merged back into the smoke, occasionally visible sparks amid the fog, and the sound of metal scraping reached the ears.
The battle continued for quite a while. As the smoke gradually cleared, the quarry's situation reemerged. Babanuki was still fighting, unable to free himself soon, and it was much the same where others and Geodude were.
But Lairon didn't fare well; the mining life over the years seemed to have honed him, and today's Lairon struggled against him.
Yet, when he thought he'd defeated the beast, ready to strike a Beasts Pirates member, a dazzling white light appeared behind him...