Stroberri raised his arm, shielding his eyes and said indifferently,
"How ferocious."
He then ordered the shooting to continue.
Bang bang bang—
Tiger's eyes were bloodshot, his reason lost.
Even as countless bullets pierced his body, he felt no pain.
He kept roaring,
"Unforgivable... unforgivable..."
"Unforgivableeeeee!!!! Humans!!!!"
He charged towards Stroberri, a crimson arrow against the gunfire.
Clang!
Boom—
-----
In the village.
The villagers were celebrating Kureha's return.
Kureha, with a smile on her face, found the incessant noise a bit unsettling.
She looked at her mother, who was hugging her and crying,
"Mom, did you hear something?"
Sweat trickled down Kureha's mother's forehead as she turned her head away,
"No..."
-----
Foreshat Island, the shore.
The crew of the Sun Pirates had a bad feeling upon hearing the gunshots from the island.
"That direction... isn't that where Tiger-bro went?"
Suddenly, the lookout cried out in terror,
"Look quickly!"
"It's battleships!!!"
"We're surrounded!!"
"Why..."
Nine warships were seen speeding across the sea, forming a fan shape to surround the Sun Pirates.
Arlong, seeing the warships, growled menacingly,
"We've been framed."
"That brat must have been a lure prepared by the Marines!"
"We and Brother completely fell into their trap!"
"This is the damn humans!!!"
"If only I had listened to me..."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Explosions rang out on the ship.
Nine warships, with nearly a hundred cannons aimed at the pirate ship docked by the shore.
After just two rounds of bombardment, the ship was utterly destroyed, its keel broken, and it slowly sank.
Jinbe looked at the island with great concern,
"Damn Marines."
"Arlong! I'll leave this to you!"
"We're going to get our boss back!"
Arlong, with a ferocious grin, replied,
"No problem."
"But if you don't bring Brother back safely."
"I won't let you off."
Jinbe's stern voice cut through the air,
"Are you kidding me!!!"
"Let's go!"
He was the first to leap off the ship, followed by two burly Fish-Man combatants.
They charged towards the source of the gunfire on the island.
Watching Jinbe depart, Arlong hefted his serrated saber,
"Everyone, disembark!"
"Let's steal a warship from the Marines!!!"
-----
On the island.
Stroberri moved evasively with Tiger, occasionally ordering shots to be fired.
Tiger's stamina was constantly depleting, blood flowing from his body.
His attacks grew weaker, but the number of fallen soldiers around him also increased.
Boom!
He lunged again, sending a soldier flying unconscious.
Tiger stopped, panting heavily, his gaze fixed on Stroberri.
The surrounding soldiers couldn't help but step back, swallowing hard.
"What incredible vitality..."
"After taking so many shots..."
"Why hasn't he fallen yet..."
Stroberri looked at Tiger and said indifferently,
"He's about to fall."
"Continue firing."
He waved his hand again, ordering.
Tiger's figure swayed precariously in the gunfire.
At this moment, a roar echoed from afar,
"Fish-Man Karate!!!"
"Yagura!"
Jinbe leaped into the air, a few water droplets in his palm, aimed below.
He flung them forward, and the water droplets, like bullets, instantly pierced through several Marine soldiers, cries of agony erupting.
Stroberri drew his sword and blocked two drops,
"He has finally appeared."
"Jinbe."
Jinbe surged forward to Tiger's side, shielding him, and glared at Stroberri,
"You bastard, you're the mastermind!"
Stroberri stated,
"Everything is for justice."
"To annihilate the Sun Pirates."
Jinbe stared intently at Stroberri,
"You bastard..."
Whoosh—
A small crater appeared on the ground, drawing everyone's attention to the sky.
Jinbe leaped up, charging towards Stroberri,
"Samegawara Seiken!!!"
He assumed a fist-forward stance and smashed down from the air towards Stroberri.
Stroberri looked at the charging Jinbe,
"Your head will also be mine."
Vroom!
His right arm was encased in black Armament Haki as he met Jinbe's incoming fist.
Boom—
The collision produced an explosion, shattering the ground for several meters and kicking up a cloud of dust.
The two burly Fish-Men who had followed Jinbe appeared in the fray, having rescued Tiger.
At the center of the explosion.
A trickle of cold sweat ran down Stroberri's forehead as he gripped his right wrist with his left hand,
"Damn it..."
"I underestimated..."
He suddenly noticed something,
"Stop them!!!"
He ordered towards the direction where the two burly Fish-Men were carrying Tiger.
The surrounding soldiers reacted and charged with their guns, but...
Boom!!!
Jinbe smashed down in front of the pursuing soldiers,
"You won't get past me!"
"Fish-Man Karate!"
"Secret Technique!!"
Jinbe stood before the soldiers, adopting a standard horse stance.
His left hand formed a palm in front, his right fist clenched at his waist, and a mass of swirling water condensed from the air enveloped his fist.
He aimed at Stroberri,
"Buraikan!!!!"
He threw a punch, and ripples of force emanated around his fist. The water, mixed with air, formed a massive water cannon.
It spun and blasted away everything in its path, charging towards Stroberri.
Vroom—
Stroberri instantly drew the long sword at his waist, imbuing it with Haki.
He unleashed a white crescent slash towards the incoming water cannon.
It collided with the water cannon, and after a brief stalemate, was shredded by the water cannon, which continued its trajectory.
Stroberri raised his sword to block, Boom!!!
He took the full force of the water cannon, staggering back several steps before stopping, groaning.
His clothes and the justice cape on his back were pierced by a large hole from the force.
A trickle of blood ran from Stroberri's lips, but without hesitation, he charged at Jinbe with his sword,
"Everyone, pursue Fisher Tiger!"
"I'll keep him busy!"
His tone carried a hint of urgency. After all... he had intended a perfect conclusion, wiping them all out.
But if they all escaped due to his eagerness to gain merit...
"Damn Fish-Man!!!"
He swung his long sword down, several slashes sealing Jinbe's movements.
Jinbe stood his ground, his voice deep,
"If you can get past me, then try it!!!"
"Fish-Man Karate!!"
"Tangra Gamagari Seiken!!!"
Another fist strike was thrown, sending ripples of energy expanding outwards. After a few seconds of pause.
Boom—
It surged outwards, sending soldiers within a certain radius flying.
The slashes flying from the sky were deflected by the impact, gouging into the ground.