Chapter 46 - CHAPTER 46 - A Fierce and Bloody Battle

Unbeknownst to Rosen, Bam was convinced that the only one capable of launching an attack on the distillery district was Captain Luka. This was the effect of Rosen's words before the fight began—once a seed of doubt is planted, it becomes nearly impossible to erase. Boom! Boom! Boom! Shockwaves erupted in all directions as both combatants unleashed their full power. The battlefield expanded rapidly, and countless guards and merchants were caught in the crossfire, becoming innocent casualties. Within a radius of a thousand meters, everything was reduced to a wasteland of destruction. Rosen and Bam clashed with all their might. One wielded a Logia-type Devil Fruit, while the other possessed a Paramecia-type power that excelled in both offense and defense. Bam was undoubtedly the strongest enemy Rosen had ever faced. Ace didn't count, as their fight had been a mere spar, not a battle to the death. Even with the vast area-of-effect attacks of his Logia powers, Rosen found himself unable to fully suppress Bam. The latter was a close-combat specialist, and for now, the Sand-Sand Fruit remained Rosen's greatest advantage. "Sandstorm!" "Desert Funeral!" "Desert Saber!" "Desert Blade!" Rosen kept his distance, launching a relentless barrage of attacks. In an instant, the battlefield became a domain of swirling yellow sand, covering everything within a hundred-meter radius. "Crocodile! I'll tear you apart!" Bam roared like a mad beast, recklessly charging forward despite the onslaught. His bloodthirsty gaze locked onto Rosen, completely ignoring the wounds being inflicted on him. Even with Armament Haki reinforcing his body, deep cuts appeared across his flesh, yet he paid them no mind. His ability, combined with Haki, granted him incredible durability. His goal was clear—close the distance and end the fight in close combat. "A rabid dog should learn to shut up." Rosen smirked coldly, forming a long spear from highly compressed sand and hurling it at Bam like a lightning-fast projectile. Bam's expression darkened as a sense of danger surged through him—this was an attack he couldn't afford to take head-on. With a swift movement, he dodged to the side, but the swirling sands around him surged forward, seeking to bury him alive. "Shockwave!" Gritting his teeth, Bam pulled his right arm back, his muscles swelling before he unleashed a devastating punch. A translucent shockwave tore through the air, shattering the sandstorm in its path. Rosen immediately erected a Desert Barrier, but the moment the shockwave collided with it, a deafening explosion rang out. The wall of sand crumbled instantly, and the residual force slammed into Rosen, scattering his sand-formed body. However, while the attack was powerful, it lacked the direct application of Haki—making it ineffective against a fully Logia-transformed body. But this was only a distraction. Using the cover of the sandstorm and the momentary visual obstruction, Bam closed the distance. "Die!" With a monstrous roar, he swung his Haki-infused fist down like a falling mountain, the sheer force pressing down like an oncoming tsunami. Rosen felt the weight of the impending blow—retreating was no longer an option. "Get lost!" He didn't even attempt to manipulate the sand in time. Instead, he raised his golden hook to meet the attack head-on. Boom! A massive shockwave erupted as their attacks clashed. The ground quaked violently, sending debris flying in all directions. Even seasoned warriors found it impossible to approach their battlefield. Crack! Under the immense force, Rosen's golden hook shattered. His severed arm was now fully exposed. Yet, instead of panic, a wicked grin spread across his face. "What makes you think you can win just because it's close combat?" His remaining fist had long since been clenched, gathering an immense amount of power. A layer of densely packed sand, resembling hardened scales, coated his knuckles—highly compressed sand infused with his Desert Prison ability to drain moisture on contact. "It was bait?!" Realization struck Bam too late. Rosen had deliberately used his weaker golden hook to lure him into attacking. Boom! Rosen's sand-coated fist struck Bam's skull, sending him crashing into the ground. Blood splattered across the battlefield, and in the instant of impact, his skin visibly dried out, his body robbed of vital moisture. But Rosen wasn't done. He reshaped his broken arm with sand, though the structure remained fluid, requiring continuous energy to maintain. Unlike ice, which remained solid with minimal effort, sand constantly shifted, demanding greater stamina. But in this moment, conserving stamina wasn't a priority—eliminating Bam was. He formed a Sand Spear midair, gripping it with both hands before driving it down toward Bam's prone body. "Armament!" Despite his dazed state, Bam's battle instincts kicked in. His body tensed as Haki flooded his limbs, and with a desperate push, he flipped himself upright. His reinforced fist met the descending sand spear. Clang! A metallic reverberation echoed as Bam's punch clashed against the spear. Rosen's most condensed sand weapon, capable of slicing through steel, failed to pierce Bam's defenses. His fists were like iron. "Die!" Bam retaliated with a palm strike, his movements swift and fierce. Rosen barely managed to react before the attack connected, sending him skidding backward. Rosen wiped the blood from his lips but remained unfazed. Their battle had been relentless, but the tide was turning in his favor. Bam's injuries were accumulating, and over time, his exhaustion would create an irreversible gap between them. Victory was within reach. The fight raged on, growing fiercer with every passing second. Even seasoned warriors watching from a distance felt their hearts pound. "Are all Shichibukai and New World pirates this monstrous?" From the shadows, Blido—a pirate with a bounty exceeding 100 million Berries—watched in horror. He knew without a doubt that if he had taken that punch from Rosen, he would have been killed instantly. Meanwhile, Captain Luka's expression grew grim. 'Bam was this strong?!' And he hadn't even consumed his Sacred Wine yet? Instinctively, Luka began retreating, searching for an opportunity to strike. But the two combatants were too fast—even stronger than Rear Admiral Harry. Finding a moment to launch a sneak attack was proving impossible. If he attacked prematurely and failed, he would find himself facing not one but two adversaries. Luka's pressure continued to mount. — At the outskirts of the estate, near the civilian district... "Can you still hold on?" Daz Bones and Nico Robin were surrounded by enemies, forced into a crumbling building. Both bore injuries, though neither had fallen. "I'm fine. I'm more worried about whether the boss can win," Robin muttered, her face tense. Bam's strength had forced Rosen to fight with everything he had. If Rosen had originally planned to spare some energy to protect them, that was now impossible. Of course, if they called for help, Rosen would come immediately. But if they ran, Bam would survive. Neither Robin nor Daz Bones were willing to become burdens. Especially since part of this battle had started because of Robin. "If I die, then so be it," Robin thought to herself, her expression unreadable. "Surround them!" A commanding voice rang out. From behind their enemies, Maris stood with his private militia—an elite team of assassins armed with deadly weaponry. "Rocket launchers, blast that building apart! Mortar teams, prepare to turn them into dust!" Maris's forces were armed with some of the most devastating portable weaponry in the world. "Skoda, go assist Bam. We need that damned Shichibukai dead. If he wins, we'll be his next targets." "Understood." (End of Chapter)