NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Marine Warship
"Eh heh heh heh! We've finally come across a Marine warship, boys! This is our chance to make a name for ourselves! Get ready for battle!"
Gecko Moria declared with a wicked grin, spreading his arms dramatically at the bow of his pirate ship as the wind billowed through his cloak.
Standing nearby, Crocodile adjusted his hook, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he prepared for action.
"These Marines… they're so overconfident. I'd rather avoid the trouble," Kaizen muttered quietly, retreating to a corner of the deck.
"Captain, there's something strange about the warship ahead!"
The pirate manning the telescope called out, his voice tinged with unease.
"What is it?" Moria asked, intrigued, his grin widening.
"There's someone hanging from the side of the Marine warship!" the pirate replied, shocked.
"Huh? Let me see!"
Moria snatched the telescope and squinted through it.
"Ah, I see! That's Daz Bones!"
He exclaimed, recognizing the infamous bounty hunter-turned-pirate.
"Daz Bones? Isn't he the bald assassin they've been talking about? His bounty's around 30 million beri, right?" Crocodile asked knowingly.
"Eh heh heh heh! Looks like the Marines captured him and put him on display to intimidate others. But lucky for him, he's run into us! We'll teach those Marines a lesson and rescue him at the same time!"
Moria declared with theatrical generosity.
"Tch. Marines are as irritating as ever," Crocodile said with a sneer, crossing his arms.
Suddenly, a piercing whistle cut through the air—a cannonball hurtling toward the pirate ship.
"Captain! The Marines have spotted us!" the pirate with the telescope shouted in alarm.
A loud splash followed as the cannonball landed near their ship, spraying water over the deck.
"How rude! They didn't even say hello before firing! No manners at all!" Moria scoffed, feigning offense.
"Captain, what should we do?"
"What do you think? Fight back, of course! Make them regret ever challenging me!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The pirates erupted in raucous laughter, scrambling to load their cannons and fire back.
Kaizen leaned casually against the mast, arms crossed, observing the chaos with mild amusement.
"Honor in this battle? Hardly. It's more like watching rival merchants quarrel at a festival," Kaizen thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.
---
Marine Warship: Deck
Onboard the Marine warship, Vice Admiral Dais, a user of the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Pug, stood with arms crossed, overseeing the unfolding situation.
"Vice Admiral! The pirate ship is approaching!"
A Marine saluted and delivered the report.
"Hmph. Clearly, they're trying to get within range. Amateurs."
"Yes, sir. Their earlier shots all fell short."
"Pathetic," Dais scoffed, his gaze shifting briefly to Daz Bones, who was bound and hanging by the side of the ship.
"Vice Admiral, our cannons are ready. Should we wait for them to come closer for a decisive strike?"
"Let them approach," Dais ordered with a smirk. "We'll crush their spirits completely."
Turning to Daz Bones, he added mockingly, "Enjoy the show, pirate. You'll have company soon."
---
Pirate Ship: Deck
"Stop advancing! Prepare the cannons!" Moria ordered.
The pirate crew scrambled to obey, halting the ship's progress and readying their weapons.
But before they could fire, a volley of cannonballs from the Marine warship rained down on them.
"Damn it! They got the first strike!"
Crocodile stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he raised his hand.
"Leave this to me," he said coldly.
With a sweeping motion of his arm, a massive wave of sand swirled into the air.
"Sables!"
The swirling sandstorm caught the cannonballs mid-air, scattering them harmlessly in every direction.
"As expected of Crocodile-sama! Incredible!" the pirates cheered.
"Idiots! This isn't the time to celebrate! Return fire!" Moria barked, irritated at being upstaged.
The pirates hastily loaded their cannons and launched a counterattack. Explosions erupted as cannonballs struck the Marine ship, damaging its right wing.
"Vice Admiral! The right side has been hit! Fire's breaking out!"
"Then put it out, fool! Do I have to do everything myself?" Dais snapped at the Marine who delivered the report.
"Hahaha! What a sight!" Daz Bones laughed, dangling from his rope.
"Shut your mouth, pirate!" Dais snarled, yanking the rope and sending Daz crashing onto the deck. The Vice Admiral pressed his boot against Daz's face with a cruel smirk.
"You'll regret mocking me soon enough."
---
Marine Warship: Deck
Suddenly, chaos erupted. Gecko Moria landed on the Marine ship's deck, his hulking figure casting an imposing shadow. Crocodile followed, his expression cold and menacing.
The Marines froze in shock as the two Warlords stood before them, exuding an aura of terrifying power.
"Eh heh heh heh! Let's see how long you can hold out against me!" Moria bellowed, drawing his massive scythe.
Crocodile remained silent, the air around him heavy with tension as grains of sand began to swirl ominously at his feet.
The pirates had brought the fight directly to the Marines.