"You bastards! Are you just going to keep watching? Get over here and help!"
Ochoku's furious roar echoed across the ruined battlefield as he shouted at the massive pirate force assembled behind him.
They had come prepared—tens of thousands of battle-hardened pirates, recruited to ensure Ayr's defeat.
But the moment Ayr and Rocks appeared, more than half had fled in sheer terror. The remaining ones tried to retreat, only to be slaughtered—Rocks alone killed nearly a thousand.
Then came the Conqueror's Haki—an overwhelming release from Ayr and Rocks that swept across the battlefield like a storm. Nearly three thousand were knocked unconscious on the spot.
Only about a thousand pirates remained—elite among elites.
Not one had a bounty under 80 million berries.
And yet... none of them had taken action.
Hearing Ochoku's desperate command, the remaining pirates exchanged anxious glances. Fear was etched into their expressions.
The battle aura alone—waves of Haki crashing from Rocks' clash with Ochoku, John, and Silver Axe—was unbearable.
They couldn't even get close.
To assist would be suicide.
No one stepped forward.
Not a single pirate dared.
"You really chose your crew well, didn't you, Ochoku… John… Silver Axe?"
Rocks carried his massive blade lazily over his shoulder as he stared down the pirates.
"They're cowards—all of them."
It was a cruel taunt—but it rang with truth.
A true captain must carefully choose their crewmates.
Had Rocks himself not been betrayed in the God Valley Incident, things might have been different.
He had surrounded himself with monsters—but also with wolves, each waiting for a chance to strike him down.
If not for Ayr… the only one he deemed worthy… Rocks would still be rotting in that sunken grave beneath God Valley.
Recruiting Ayr had been the best decision of his life.
Recruiting traitors like Ochoku? The worst.
Thousands of pirates stood frozen.
Though Rocks' mocking words pierced their pride, their fear was stronger.
They didn't move, didn't breathe wrong. They couldn't.
Because the overwhelming pressure Rocks released was too much.
—
On the other end of the battlefield...
Ayr fought two of the most dangerous pirates alive: Redfield and Byrnndi Wald.
He held a simple blade—no special power, no legendary title—but it radiated pure strength, wrapped in Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
Their clashes were bloody and brutal, bursting with raw killing intent.
There was no denying it.
Redfield—Baroric Red—was a true monster.
A man who once stood on equal ground with Roger and Whitebeard, Redfield's Armament Haki was razor sharp. His Observation Haki, especially, was top-tier—on par with Ayr's own.
And of course, Redfield had Conqueror's Haki.
A man as proud and solitary as him—who had waged war alone against the World Government—had to possess it.
Conqueror's Haki couldn't be trained like the others.
It was a reflection of one's spirit—one's destiny.
And Redfield's spirit was iron.
While his Armament hadn't reached its limit, his Observation and Conqueror's Haki rivaled even Ayr's.
Byrnndi Wald was no less terrifying.
A former rival of both the Roger and Whitebeard Pirates, feared by the Marines and known to the world as the World Destroyer.
His Armament Haki was at its peak.
His Conqueror's Haki was top-grade.
Only his Observation Haki lagged slightly behind the others—but even that was formidable.
And yet—against these two titans—Ayr, armed with only a regular sword, showed no weakness.
DANG! DANG! DANG!
BOOM! BANG! BANG!
Their blades clashed in a blinding frenzy.
The battlefield had entered a white-hot phase—each blow sharper, heavier, faster than the last.
"Hahaha! Is that all you've got, Ayr? I thought you were stronger!"
Byrnndi Wald laughed as he launched another strike.
Ayr's strength was undeniable. With an ordinary weapon, he held his own against both Wald and Redfield.
But to Wald—it wasn't impressive enough.
Before Ayr could respond, Redfield narrowed his eyes and snapped.
"Don't underestimate him, Byrnndi Wald!"
Neither of them had gone all out yet—that much was true.
But Redfield had witnessed Ayr's strength with his own eyes—back in Loguetown, where Ayr fought Roger's three top fighters and came out on top.
With monstrous power, he had crushed them.
Redfield knew: facing Ayr half-heartedly was suicide.
"If we don't give it everything, even a moment's hesitation will cost us dearly," Redfield warned grimly.
"Don't underestimate me either, Redfield!" Byrnndi Wald scoffed.
"Momo Momo no Mi… Tenfold Speed!!!"
With that, Wald activated his Devil Fruit.
His body became a blur—movement and attacks ten times faster.
He wielded a giant sickle coated in Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, he slashed at Ayr dozens of times.
His speed tore through the air—leaving streaking afterimages behind.
Ayr's gaze sharpened.
"It seems I'll have to be more serious," he muttered.
He drew a second blade.
With twin swords in hand, he met Wald's strikes head-on—parrying every slash.
Each movement was precise—blocking Wald's flurry while simultaneously dodging the precise cuts from Redfield.
The storm of blades continued, unchecked.
None of them held back anymore.
Because in this battlefield… holding back meant death.
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