"That little girl is really interesting, is that some kind of Devil Fruit ability?" Marco, who was currently clashing with Aokiji, also looked on in surprise.
"The Straw Hats' Hypnotism expert is a good fighter too. What a great crew they are!" Joz, who had stopped Akainu, couldn't help but say, his voice full of admiration.
Both Akainu and Aokiji's faces darkened slightly. The fact that the Marines in the square couldn't even stop a handful of pirates was embarrassing, but they knew the Straw Hat crew's true strength, so they remained silent.
At this moment, Whitebeard raised his Murakumogiri, and roared, "Listen up, my sons! Don't let the Straw Hat Pirates outdo you! Ace is family, and it's our duty to save him! Give it everything you've got!"
"Oooooh!"
The pirates responded with a thunderous roar, their morale soaring as they charged forward with renewed vigor.
Meanwhile, Vista was locked in a duel with Dracule Mihawk. Their blades clashed in a beautiful display of swordsmanship, each strike a deadly dance. Mihawk, however, was only fighting at a leisurely pace, content to enjoy the battle.
"Phew! That was a close one, but it's good to see the Straw Hats can still move forward," Vista said, seeing the crew's progress. He then turned his full attention back to Mihawk, a renewed sense of determination in his eyes.
He had been annoyed when Mihawk had tried to ruin the Straw Hats' rescue attempt earlier. Vista wouldn't allow the World's Strongest Swordsman to just wander the battlefield, so he had decided to keep him busy.
Mihawk didn't mind, as he was also enjoying the fight, even if it wasn't against Ikki, who he had hoped to face. All that mattered was that this war was giving him an opportunity to enjoy a real battle.
Back on the Going Merry, Chopper and Tashigi were fending off the Marines. Chopper was in his Heavy Point, using his kung fu to knock back any Marines that came too close. Tashigi held her sword, Shigure, using her swordsmanship to stop the soldiers, but she was careful to use the blunt side of her blade, remembering her status as an undercover Marine.
On the crow's nest, Usopp held his giant slingshot, firing a constant barrage of blast and shock shells. He provided cover for both Chopper and Tashigi, and also helped the rest of the crew by hitting Marines who got in their way.
Usopp's slingshot had a greater range than a standard flintlock, allowing him to easily reach the execution platform from his position. By staying on the ship, he could protect it while also helping his friends, a win-win situation.
With the combined efforts of Usopp, Chopper, and Tashigi, the Marines couldn't get close to the ship. In truth, the Marines assigned to the ship weren't very strong to begin with.
"It's Tony Tony Chopper, the raccoon dog, bounty 10 million Berries! And the Marine traitor, Tashigi, bounty 10 million Berries! The long-nosed sniper king, Usopp, bounty 80 million Berries!"
"I thought they were just minor crew members of the Straw Hats, but they're strong enough to be crew leaders!" one Marine said in awe.
"Don't underestimate them! Even the lowest members of a Five Emperors crew are strong enough to be a captain in the four Blues!"
The Marines surrounding the Going Merry spoke loudly, causing both Chopper and Tashigi to get angry.
"I'm not a raccoon dog! I'm a reindeer!" Chopper roared.
"I'm not… a traitor," Tashigi mumbled, sighing in frustration. The title "Marine traitor" hurt her more than she'd admit. Despite being an undercover pirate, she still saw herself as a righteous Marine, just like Zephyr. The Marines' words were like a dagger to her heart. She gripped her sword tighter, ready to teach these talkative soldiers a lesson.
Suddenly, a Marine with a spherical cap and a cloth mask jumped up from behind her. Tashigi quickly drew her second sword, Yukino, but the Marine caught the blade with his bare hand. In an instant, rust began to form on the blade. Less than a second later, the famous sword shattered in her hand.
"What?! You broke my Yukino!" Tashigi was filled with a fiery rage she had never felt before, not even when Ikki had stolen her swords in Loguetown. Her eyes turned red with anger. "How dare you… how dare you break Yukino!"
The Marine, a man named Shiryu from Marine Headquarters, proudly introduced himself. "I have the Sabi Sabi no Mi, the Rust-Rust Fruit. Any sword I touch turns into rust! Awaken, Marine traitor Tashigi! Today, I'll bring you to justice!"
Tashigi didn't care about his name, only about his Devil Fruit ability. "So, you're the enemy of all swordsmen? You want to destroy all the famous swords?"
"Huh? Well, yes, I guess I am..." he began, before being cut off.
"Then go to hell!"
Tashigi kicked him hard in the stomach. Shiryu tried to use his ability to rust her foot, but it didn't work. The kick sent him flying, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before passing out.
Usopp, watching from the crow's nest, was shocked. He had a strange feeling that Tashigi had just used Armament Haki.
Tashigi, however, wasn't thinking about that. She was looking at the broken pieces of Yukino with a heavy heart. The sword had been a gift from Ikki, and she had taken such great care of it. Now it was just a pile of scrap.
"Damn you, Shiryu," she muttered, feeling no guilt as she stared at his unconscious body. Anyone who broke a famous sword deserved what they got. He was a Marine, but she was a pirate on the surface, so killing one or two Marines was fine by her.
The other Marines were startled by her ferocity, but their morale quickly returned as they charged forward in a frenzy.
Nearby, Carl looked back at the ship with concern. Both Tashigi and Chopper weren't strong enough to handle a large number of Marine officers. But with Usopp there, he hoped they would be okay.
"You're fighting two of us and you're still getting distracted. Are you that confident, or just conceited?" Momousagi sneered, attacking him with her sword, aiming for his vital points.
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