Chapter 89 - 89: Mere Pirates

Words : 1346 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Boom boom boom boom!!! A relentless barrage of cannon fire thundered across the sea as three pirate ships exchanged volleys with the green-colored Marine warship. A fierce naval battle had erupted across the waves. It seemed that the pirate vessels also had some formidable combatants on board. Many of the cannonballs fired from the Marine ship were detonated mid-air before they could reach their targets. Conversely, the cannonballs fired by the pirates didn't even reach the warship before Kuzan used his Devil Fruit powers to "cool them off." After several minutes of exchanging cannon fire, neither side had gained the upper hand. But the Marine ship's ammunition stockpile had taken a serious hit. "Hey, Yoriichi, this kind of battle could drag on forever. Just sink those three ships already," Kuzan said, taking off his hat and ruffling his messy hair. "We're on a tight schedule. We need to reach Water 7 on time." Yoriichi Tsugikuni, now with his blade sheathed, leaned on the railing at the bow, casually watching the distant pirate ships. He replied with a smile, "Sink them outright? That might not be a good idea. There could be supplies on board, and we've been burning through food faster than expected. Without a resupply, I'd say we have maybe a week's worth of provisions and fresh water left." "At our current speed, can we even reach the next island within a week?" Kuzan frowned, falling silent for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh. "No, we can't." "This is your fault, you know. If you didn't eat so much at every meal, our supplies wouldn't be running out this fast." "In that case, looks like we've got no choice. We'll have to board them." As he spoke, Kuzan pointed toward the pirate ships and shouted, "Captain Tsugikuni Yoriichi! Go! Crush every last one of those pirates!" But Yoriichi didn't move. He simply glanced at Kuzan in puzzlement. Kuzan, noticing his hesitation, raised a brow and asked, "What's wrong?" "You want to board them, right? Shouldn't we get the ships alongside first?" Yoriichi asked lightly. "You know Moonwalk, don't you? Just fly over there," Kuzan replied, as if it were obvious. As the two continued their banter, more cannonballs came hurtling in. Kuzan waved his right hand without even looking, firing off dozens of ice arrows that intercepted and detonated the incoming shells midair. "Just me going?" Yoriichi asked, now looking genuinely confused. "Aren't we going to let the new recruits fight up close too?" "No way! They're not like you. What if they get hurt?" Kuzan exclaimed. "My crew doesn't have much real combat experience. How could they possibly handle vicious pirates like those?" The deck fell quiet for a moment as the Marines overheard Kuzan's words. They actually stopped loading the cannons and erupted into cheers. "You really are dependable, Vice Admiral Kuzan!" "You care so much for your subordinates! That's our Vice Admiral!" Hearing their praise and enthusiasm, a proud smile crept onto Kuzan's face. "Haha, come on, that's just part of my duty," he said, clearly enjoying the attention. "...Kuzan." "How long have your men been under your command?" "Not even a full year. Why do you ask?" Kuzan replied, still grinning. "They're too weak, Kuzan. All of them," Yoriichi said bluntly. "How do you expect them to get stronger if they never face real combat?" Turning to look at the Marines on deck, Yoriichi now understood the root of the problem. These recruits weren't just inexperienced—it was that Kuzan had been protecting them too well. Although he held the rank of Vice Admiral now, Kuzan had risen quickly through the ranks. Before that, he had served as a grunt in special operations, with little experience leading large units. His way of doing things meant his crew rarely faced real combat. While they could quickly accumulate merit under his command and climb the ranks fast, did their combat skills actually match their titles? They were Marines. Sooner or later, they'd face the battlefield. When that day came, when they left Kuzan's protection and faced enemies on their own—could they defend themselves? Their comrades? Their subordinates? Kuzan was momentarily taken aback. He understood exactly what Yoriichi was implying—that these Marines needed to fight the pirates. Still, glancing at his troops on deck, Kuzan couldn't help but defend them. "They've been training hard behind the scenes. Once they've grown stronger, I'll give them real field experience." But Yoriichi shook his head and smiled. "Don't wait for some day. Let it start today." "You're here. Nothing will go wrong." Hearing that familiar phrase again from Yoriichi, Kuzan twitched and let out a deep sigh before finally shouting: "Bring the ship alongside! Prepare to board!" "No need to fear, those pirates are nothing to worry about!" Though Kuzan was known for his gentleness, his authority was undeniable. His orders were met not with resistance, but enthusiasm. Hearing they were about to engage the pirates head-on, the Marines on deck sprang into action, checking their rifles and close-combat weapons. Some were clearly nervous, others excited, but not one of them backed down. Before long, the green warship drew up alongside one of the pirate vessels. The hulls scraped violently against each other, sending splinters flying. Before the Marines could even lower their boarding planks, the pirates made the first move. Clack! A gangplank dropped from the pirate ship to the Marine deck. "Get 'em, boys!" "There are strong ones among the Navy! We lost our main masts—we can't run anymore!" "Kill them all if you want to live!" "Charge!!" At that moment, figures surged forward. The pirates stormed up the plank with murderous ferocity, their bloodlust flooding the deck like a wave. "Pirates from the New World really are... 'special,' huh," Yoriichi muttered to himself, immediately sensing the disparity in strength between the two sides. These pirates had survived in the New World. They were battle-hardened and skilled—far beyond the fledgling Marines on Kuzan's ship. "Open fire! Fire!!" a young Marine shouted, flintlock rifle cracking as bullets flew toward the invaders. But the first pirate to reach the deck was clearly an elite. He leapt onto the deck in a blur, landing with a thud before kicking a nearby Marine aside. His eyes locked onto the two figures at the bow—Kuzan and Yoriichi. "Raaahhhh!!!" he roared, charging straight at them and swinging his sword toward the younger-looking of the two—Yoriichi. The next moment— Thud! A spray of blood erupted. The pirate's severed head hit the deck with a sickening thump. His headless body collapsed at Kuzan's feet, prompting Kuzan to grumble, "Hey, Yoriichi, tone it down, will you? These rookies can't handle that kind of trauma!" "Vice Captain Dick!!!" The pirates on the enemy ship saw it too. Spotting their fallen officer at the feet of Kuzan, they let out a collective howl of rage and fury. They tore through the thin Marine defensive line and charged straight for Yoriichi. Whoom!!! Yoriichi's expression didn't change. His body didn't move. But his eyes widened ever so slightly. And in that instant, a crushing wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body. The pressure was palpable, almost physical and slammed into the onrushing pirates like a tidal wave. In the blink of an eye, those who had been charging with weapons raised... fell unconscious, their eyes rolled back. ************************ Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 350 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch! For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey! p(a)treon.com/Lnee *remove () to open it

Chapter 89 - 89: Mere Pirates

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