King Riku felt a bit embarrassed hearing Scarlett's words. He sighed helplessly and rubbed his forehead.
Ever since his daughter had met Hammer, she'd been completely bewitched. The only comfort was that she'd awakened her Conqueror's Haki.
But at the same time, it had triggered this entire disaster.
"Brat, did you just say you're Hammer's wife? What do you mean by that?"
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp with a hint of curiosity.
But faced with the searing aura pouring off Sakazuki, Scarlett didn't care at all. She slowly raised her rapier, her posture straightening proudly.
Incredibly, she showed a rare trace of regal dignity.
It was hard to believe this was the aura of a child not even ten years old.
"Exactly what it sounds like!"
Her answer, which was basically no explanation at all, made Sakazuki frown slightly.
"Forget it. I'll just ask Hammer myself later."
"For now, let's deal with you!"
Sakazuki stopped caring about Scarlett's claim. He turned a cold stare toward Captain John and his three officers.
"Hmph, arrogant Marine dog. When I was ruling the seas, you were probably still sucking milk somewhere!"
"DIE!"
Tyrant was just as hot-tempered. He'd long grown impatient with Sakazuki's cold insults and launched forward immediately.
Like a charging war chariot, he barreled toward Sakazuki.
"Hmph! Great Eruption!"
Renowned for his ruthless ferocity, Sakazuki would never let an enemy act brazenly in front of him.
His right fist suddenly erupted with searing magma.
The first clash between the two sides exploded in an instant.
The magma's extreme heat was so intense that even Tyrant couldn't withstand it. In the glow of the flames, his form began to transform.
"Just magma? You think I'm afraid of you?!"
"ROAR!"
Scales appeared all over Tyrant's body in an instant, wrapping him head to toe.
His arms extended, fists replaced by razor-sharp claws.
A tail covered in scales grew from his back.
Combined with his four-meter-tall body, he instantly became a terrifying beast.
A true Tyrant.
Seeing his magma blocked, Sakazuki's eyes narrowed slightly in appraisal.
"I'm a Devil Fruit user too!"
"Hybrid Form, Armadillo Tyrant!"
Yes, Tyrant was a Devil Fruit user too: Zoan-type Mouse Mouse Fruit: Armadillo.
Extreme defense plus the piercing power of his scales, that was how he'd earned the name Tyrant.
"Hmph. Just another pirate!"
"Inugami Guren!"
Sakazuki snorted dismissively and attacked again.
His arm instantly turned into molten magma, morphing into the shape of a giant dog's head. The magma-formed dog's head lunged forward, jaws snapping to tear the enemy apart.
Tyrant was immediately entangled by the molten beast.
His armor of scales glowed red-hot.
"Damn it!"
Even with Armament Haki for defense, the scorching heat couldn't be fully blocked.
In an instant, Tyrant was forced on the defensive.
"Hahaha! Tyrant, you're about to become braised armadillo stew!"
Seeing their comrade in trouble, Scorpion and Viper didn't lift a finger to help.
They just laughed mockingly.
"Bastards!"
Tyrant's furious roar rang out from within the magma.
Captain John's brow furrowed deeply. He placed both hands on his twin swords.
"Scorpion, Viper, go help him."
With the captain's order, the two had no choice but to move, even if they were unwilling.
Scorpion, true to her name, was an assassin.
Speed and stealth were her greatest strengths.
"Hehehe… Assassination Style, Scorpion Tail!"
In a flash, Scorpion, who'd been standing at a distance, stepped forward and instantly appeared right in front of Sakazuki.
Her right leg, clad in Armament Haki, lashed out at Sakazuki's head.
"Hmph!"
Sakazuki was a battle-hardened veteran. Years of slaughter in the New World meant he walked the edge of death every day.
His Observation Haki had grown terrifyingly sharp.
Scorpion's kick was barely raised when he reacted.
His body burst apart into magma.
Seeing this, Scorpion awkwardly pulled back her strike and stepped again, this time instantly reappearing behind Sakazuki.
"A speed-based power, huh…"
Her double reposition made Sakazuki silently guess at her Fruit ability. But thanks to her interference, he had to cut off Inugami Guren mid-attack.
Tyrant suddenly lunged out of the magma's grasp.
He was a pitiful sight, his whole body covered in burns, teeth gritted in pain.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, we're here!"
As the standoff reached its peak, Sakazuki's subordinates finally arrived.
Onigumo and Doberman, leading a squad of Marines, closed ranks.
"Hmph. So you have reinforcements, too."
"Everyone, move in! End this quickly, grab that little girl and bring her back to me!"
Sensing a faint sense of unease, Captain John immediately gave the order to attack.
"Kill!"
Pirates surged forward like a tide. All three officers joined the fight.
"Leave no one alive!"
Seeing this, Sakazuki issued his own command. His policy toward pirates had always been the same: total annihilation.
He gripped the Divine Axe Rhitta.
He'd decided to crush them with overwhelming force.
"Assassination Style, Scorpion Claw!"
Scorpion used her ability again, charging Sakazuki.
"Hmph! Magma Jet!"
This time, with Rhitta in hand, Sakazuki unleashed his full power.
The massive axe roared, blasting out a surge of crimson energy. Scorpion gasped and leapt backward, her whole body flung dozens of meters away.
But how could a fully-charged Rhitta strike have only a short range?
The terrifying energy beam tore through the air like a line of fire ripping the sky apart.
"Tch! Dual Blade Style, Sea Split!"
At that moment, the purple-haired man finally moved. Both his swords, coated in Armament Haki, slashed upward with all his might.
A pale purple slash rose from below to meet the Magma Jet.
Captain John had joined the battle.
"Magma brat, let's play!"
"Dual Blade Style, Earth Rend!"
His swords swung again, and dozens of flying slashes sliced through the air.
"Hmph! Inugami Bite!"
Inugami Bite!
A battle technique Sakazuki had invented using Rhitta.
With a surge of energy, he transformed it into a flurry of flames. Using the axe's razor edge, he swung them out like slashing fire blades.
Though weaker than the Magma Jet, they were faster and cost far less stamina.
In an instant, slashes and flame blades collided in midair, a spectacular clash.
"King Riku, please withdraw your men. Leave the rest to us."
Doberman barked coldly, then drew his sword and charged into the fray.
He immediately squared off against Scorpion.
Onigumo faced Tyrant.
But just as Doberman stepped away, a pale figure slithered up behind Scarlett and King Riku.
"Hehehe… now there's no one left to protect you."
"Your Highness, come with me now, or else…"
Viper's pale face twisted into a sinister grin.
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Scarlett.
King Riku and Kyros both leapt forward to stop him.
But Viper's arm suddenly stretched out, covered in Armament Haki, and knocked them both aside like rag dolls.
His other hand lunged at Scarlett.
He was about to grab her when a furious roar thundered out.
"Get lost! Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Air Hammer Big Hammer!"
A massive black hammer, brimming with annihilating power, came crashing down.
BOOM!
Viper yanked his arms back and leapt away just in time.
The giant hammer slammed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
As the dust cleared, Hammer, his eyes glowing blood red, stood by Princess Scarlett's side, the Air Hammer in his grip, like a god descending from heaven.
Hammer's inner thought:
Hammer A: I didn't want this! The moment I get near her, I lose all control!
Hammer B: Liar! You like this!
Hammer C: Face it. You're whipped.
Rapier: Hmph… my credit too!
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
p@treon.com/DaoistJinzu