Solano watched the massive shadow of the enemy ship for a few more seconds, then spoke in a calm voice:
— Yosuke. Stop that boat.
Yosuke stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
Each step seemed to weigh heavier than the last. Reaching the figurehead, he stopped. Then, without a word, he dropped his staff.
⬛️
The wood hit the deck with a sharp, almost violent thud. A strange silence settled in.
Bass frowned.
— … He’s dropping his staff?
Arnaud immediately stared at Yosuke’s waist.
— Wait…
He has his swords.
Shadow tightened his grip on his club.
— He’s going to use his blades…
In the cabin, Bunny and Albert watched the scene through the porthole.
— He isn’t actually going to… Bunny whispered.
— Against a mast…? Albert breathed, pale.
Yosuke positioned himself at the very front of the ship. Before him, the sea. And, perfectly aligned in his field of vision: the pirate ship's mast.
On the enemy deck, the pirates were still laughing.
— What are they doing?
— Are they scared or what?
Yosuke placed a single hand on the hilt of one of his swords. The other remained still at his side.
He closed his eyes.
The wind died down. The waves seemed to slow. Even the sea fell silent.
He inhaled.
Then, in a swift, controlled motion, he drew a single sword.
— Hikari.
The word alone seemed to make the air vibrate.
A blade of yellow light surged from the edge, slicing through space with a dull roar.
— FWHOOOOOM!
The energy struck the mast.
A heartbeat.
— CRAAAAACK!
The mast was severed in two—clean, sharp, as if the wood had offered no resistance. The upper section tilted slowly before crashing onto the pirate deck in a chaos of rigging, shattered planks, and screams.
— THE MAST!!
— IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!
— WE’RE HIT!!
The pirates ran in every direction, panicked. One of them stumbled up, face covered in blood and sweat. He scanned the deck, frantic.
— Captain?!
— … Where is Captain Porto?!
At the mention of that name, a heavy silence crossed the enemy ship. On their own deck, Izak narrowed his eyes slightly.
— Porto…
Solano watched the pirate ship drift, deprived of propulsion.
— So he really is there.
Yosuke slowly sheathed his sword. Then, calmly, he leaned over and picked up his staff, resting it back on his shoulder as if nothing had happened.
He adjusted his kasa.
— There.
Now… we can begin.
The pirate ship was still drifting when Solano placed a foot on the railing. Opposite them, it was chaos. Pirates were running everywhere. Some were screaming. Others were searching for weapons. Others still seemed paralyzed by fear.
Solano glanced at the youths.
— Stay grouped.
Izak placed a heavy hand on Shadow’s shoulder. Yosuke grabbed Arnaud by the collar and pulled him closer.
— Don't wander off.
Bass swallowed hard.
— Are we… are we ready?
Solano didn't answer.
They jumped.
The impact of their bodies against the pirate deck echoed violently. The wood groaned.
— THEY’RE HERE!!
— HELP!!
Only Maxime remained on their ship. He climbed the rigging, hands clammy, heart beating too fast. Reaching the heights, he settled in as best he could and positioned his sniper rifle…
His fingers were trembling.
— … Calm down.
On the pirate ship, the fight broke out. The pirates were poorly equipped. Some had nothing. Others held blunt daggers or rusted, unsteady swords. But they were many.
Solano, Izak, and Yosuke moved constantly. They struck fast and hard, but above all, they intervened. Every time a youth found themselves facing more than one opponent, a pirate fell before even realizing what hit them.
— One at a time! Solano shouted.
The pirate ship's deck vibrated under the shocks and screams. Bunny and Albert stepped out of the cabin. They said nothing. They watched.
Arnaud’s fight was dragging on. His opponent circled him, calm, confident. Arnaud was breathing poorly. His arms burned. His fingers slipped on the hilt of his katana.
The pirate attacked.
— CLANG!
Arnaud parried, recoiled, and slipped on the wet deck.
— It’s over, the pirate hissed.
He raised his sword. The blade swung down.
— CLAC!
The blow stopped dead. Arnaud opened his eyes.
Yosuke was there. He wasn't even looking at the pirate. His staff blocked the sword, motionless.
— Breathe, he said calmly.
The pirate attacked again. Yosuke spoke.
— Your problem is that you think too much.
— CLAC.
The sword was deflected.
— You let fear guide your movements.
— CLAC.
The pirate struck harder. Yosuke still didn't look at him.
— Hold your katana firmly.
The staff slid, then struck.
— BOUM.
The pirate doubled over, winded. Yosuke continued, placing a hand on Arnaud’s shoulder.
— Short strikes.
— Sharp.
— No useless movements.
The pirate tried to stand. Without turning his head—Yosuke struck again. The pirate collapsed. Yosuke finally stepped back.
— Your turn.
Arnaud inhaled. This time, he didn't retreat. His strikes were sharp. Fast. Precise. The pirate fell.
A pale aura rose… and entered Arnaud. His body warmed. He clenched his fist.
Bunny whispered, barely audible:
— … He understood.
Further away, Shadow faced two massive pirates. He attacked. Too slow.
— BAM!
He flew back and crashed. Blood trickled. The pirates laughed. Shadow stood up. Silent. His gaze had changed.
They attacked together. Shadow spun. The club described a brutal arc. They recoiled. Shadow stopped dead. Then struck.
— CRACK!
The first pirate fell. The aura entered him. The club became light. The second attacked.
— BOUM!
He was thrown further away. A second aura entered Shadow. Shadow spread his arms. He laughed. A short, unstable laugh.
Izak watched, impassive.
— I knew he’d make it on his own.
Albert gulped.
Bass was backing up, back against the railing. His magazines were empty. Three pirates advanced. He threw his guns aside.
Strike.
— BAM!
An aura entered him. But the other two struck. Bass fell. A pirate raised his foot to crush him.
Bass smiled. A grimace. He murmured:
— You're there.
— PAN!
The pirate collapsed.
— PAN!
The second one too. The auras rose… toward Maxime. Bass looked up. Maxime gave a thumbs up. Bass stood up slowly.
Bunny took a deep breath.
— … They always cover each other.
The fight continued.
The fight was over. The pirate ship's deck was covered in bodies. Pirates lay everywhere. Some were still moving. Others were not.
Arnaud sat against a railing, breathing hard. His arms were still shaking. Shadow was lying on his back, staring at the sky. His chest rose and fell slowly. Bass sat a little further away, hands on his knees. He could feel his heart beating throughout his entire body.
They were exhausted. But their bodies were different. Heavier. More solid.
Yosuke approached calmly. Solano walked beside him. Izak brought up the rear.
Yosuke (standing, calm): You held your ground.
Solano (smiling slightly): You defeated them. Hats off to you.
Izak (serious gaze): And you’ve grown. You’re stronger than ever. It’s astounding how you foreigners progress.
A short silence settled. Arnaud raised his head. A proud smile appeared on his face.
Arnaud (seated, breathless): I took down thirteen.
Shadow turned his head toward him.
Shadow (lying down, surprised): So?
Arnaud placed a hand on his katana.
Arnaud (proud): Thirteen pirates. With my katana. Honestly… I’m the strongest.
Shadow stood up slowly. He smirked.
Shadow (standing, provocative): You? In a duel, you wouldn't last a minute against me.
Arnaud frowned.
Arnaud (annoyed): With my katana, I’d hit you before you even got close.
Shadow tilted his head slightly.
Shadow (confident): I don’t need to get close.
They locked eyes. Tension rose. Bass watched them for a few seconds, then sighed.
Bass (seated, mocking): Seriously… you look like two kids who just got muscles.
Yosuke smiled. Solano smiled too. Izak remained silent, but amused. On the other boat, Bunny and Albert stood side by side.
Bunny (watching the youths): They’ve become incredibly strong.
Albert (low voice): Yes. Not long ago, they would have died here.
Bunny looked at the bodies on the ground.
Bunny (worried): They did all this.
Albert (thoughtful): But they don't realize what that implies yet.
Up high, Maxime was still on the mast. He put away his sniper rifle.
Maxime (calm): I’m coming down.
He placed a foot on the wood. But at the moment no one expected—
BOUM.
A massive shock rocked the ship. A gigantic axe slammed into the top of the mast. The wood exploded.
Bass leapt up.
Bass (screaming): MAXIME!
Debris flew in every direction. Bunny screamed. Albert pulled Bunny back.
Bunny and Albert (moving): Who did that?!
Maxime lost his balance. His body plummeted into the void. Izak grit his teeth.
Izak (shocked): Damn…
He disappeared in an instant. Then reappeared further away. He caught Maxime in mid-air. Izak landed heavily on the deck. He placed Maxime behind him.
Izak (frustrated): I didn't see it coming.
On the other ship, Yosuke tensed. Solano did the same.
Yosuke (on alert): Who did that?
Solano (concentrated): I don’t sense any energy.
Heavy footsteps echoed on the deck. A man appeared. He was immense and broad. His body was covered in scars. His black hair was a mess. He wore only undergarments and torn pants. A huge axe rested in his hand.
Bunny stepped back.
Bunny (terrified): Who is this guy…?
Albert (tense): He isn't normal.
Without waiting, Bass charged. Yosuke started to stop him, but Solano held him back. Bass struck with all his might. The man parried the blow with his bare hand.
CLANG.
The strike was stopped dead. Then the man struck back.
BOUM.
Bass was thrown backward. He slid across the deck and crashed heavily. Arnaud and Shadow attacked together. Katana and club struck. The axe blocked both weapons.
CRASH.
The power of the impact threw Arnaud and Shadow back. Arnaud’s katana cracked. Then, it shattered.
Bunny put a hand to her mouth.
Bunny (shocked): They couldn't do anything…
Albert (stunned): Even with all their power…
The man hadn't moved. He burst out laughing.
Porto (mocking): Is that all you're capable of?
He rested the axe on his shoulder.
Porto (proud): You will never defeat the great Porto.
Yosuke grit his teeth. He turned to Solano.
Yosuke (annoyed): Why did you stop me?
Solano (serious): So they don’t think they’re invincible. But now, you can go.
A voice cut through the air.
Izak (arriving, face dark with anger): Useless.
Izak jumped onto the deck.
Izak: I’ll handle it.
Porto exploded with laughter, a greasy sound that made the air vibrate. He cocked his gigantic axe behind his shoulder, his muscles bulging like steel cables. With a howl, he lunged forward. It was a rhino charge, an assault meant to crush everything in its path.
Izak didn't move an inch.
He stood there, arms hanging, gaze empty of emotion. At that precise moment, he no longer looked like an ally, but like a predator at the top of the food chain.
The axe sliced the air with a high-pitched whistle.
CLANG.
Time seemed to freeze. Izak hadn't dodged. He had simply raised his right arm. An orange aura, dense and incandescent like molten metal, covered his skin. The blade of the axe, stopped dead against his forearm, sent sparks flying before cracking along its entire length.
Porto’s eyes widened. The shockwave of the broken mast was nothing compared to the solidity of this arm.
— Is that all? Izak whispered.
His voice was glacial. Before Porto could let go of his weapon, Izak pivoted. The movement was so fluid, so perfect, it seemed almost slow. But the power generated by his hips and shoulder was terrifying.
His fist sank into Porto’s plexus.
BOUM.
The sound wasn't that of a punch, but of a cannonball hitting a stone wall. The air was expelled from Porto’s lungs in a hoarse hiss. His body folded in two, his ribs snapping under the pressure.
There was no struggle. There was no resistance.
Under the impact, Porto was lifted off the ground. He flew across the deck, smashing through the railing in a crash of shredded wood, and was projected a phenomenal distance into the skies.
Izak stood there, fist still extended, smoke drifting gently from his orange aura. He didn't even watch him fall back down.
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