Meanwhile.
On the streets at the other end of Hachinosu Island.
"Fire Fist!"
Ace swung his arms, and towering flames surged forth like two raging dragons, roaring as they swept forward.
Dozens of pirates at the forefront were instantly reduced to charcoal under the scorching heat, without even a chance to scream.
The swords in their hands glowed red-hot, forcing the pirates charging from behind to hastily retreat.
"Damn it, what kind of monster is this kid? How can he have developed the Flame-Flame Fruit's power to such a terrifying level at such a young age?"
"Push forward, all of you! Just get close enough to touch his real body, and I'm confident I can cut him down!"
"Hurry, create an opening for me!"
The pirates screamed in terror, charging forward one after another only to fall in succession.
The lead bullets fired from their flintlocks couldn't harm Ace in the slightest.
Facing the relentless onslaught of pirates, Ace moved through the sea of flames with the ease of a leisurely stroll, thoroughly enjoying the slaughter.
"Firefly Fire Dharma!"
He flicked his fingers, and dozens of pea-sized fireballs shot out, precisely striking a group of pirates in the distance who were attempting to form a defensive formation.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions erupted, flames shooting skyward and turning the area into a living hell.
"Monster! This guy is a monster!"
A pirate who had narrowly survived scrambled backward in a panic, his face etched with the terror of a near-death experience.
"We can't stop him! There's no stopping him at all!"
Ace's gaze shifted to the next cluster of pirates, and he unleashed his Devil Fruit ability at full power.
"Sacred Fire Shiranui!"
With a sweep of his arm, two spears forged from flames shot out, instantly piercing the chests of two pirate leaders over a hundred meters away, pinning them to the wall behind as they burned to ashes.
...
On another battlefield.
"Dragon Claw!"
Sabo formed his fingers into a claw, his right hand coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, resembling an indestructible dragon's claw as it effortlessly tore through a pirate's iron armor and sent the man flying.
But the moment he repelled one opponent, three blades came thrusting at him from different, tricky angles.
Sabo pushed off with his feet, crouching low to narrowly evade the attacks, while simultaneously countering with a claw strike that shattered one pirate's weapon to pieces.
The battle had dragged on for too long.
Though Sabo's current strength was formidable, his youth meant his stamina was gradually waning.
His breathing grew heavy, fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and the intervals between his moves grew longer and longer.
"Hahaha! He's about to collapse!"
A sharp-eyed pirate captain noticed Sabo's condition and was overjoyed, swinging his chain mace as he roared.
"Brothers, now's our chance! Charge together and kill this brat!!"
Sabo gritted his teeth and charged forward.
Just then, a sharp sword gleam flashed unexpectedly from behind him!
"Two-Sword Style: Tatsumaki!"
Zoro appeared like a phantom, his twin blades creating a fierce whirlwind before him that instantly swept all the pirates surrounding Sabo into its vortex.
After the flurry of sword strikes, over a dozen pirates were sent flying backward, howling as they fell to the ground.
"Hey, you look pretty rough," Zoro said, flicking blood off his swords and grinning.
Sabo straightened up. "Finished on your end?"
"Far from it." Zoro looked up at the dark tide of people surging toward them again, so dense it seemed endless.
...
Meanwhile.
On another street, Luffy's arms became a blur of afterimages as he sent pirates flying like sandbags one after another.
The steam from his Second Gear slowly dissipated, and his skin returned to normal. The massive exertion left him panting heavily, his legs trembling slightly.
Yet despite this, he stubbornly held his ground, his eyes showing not a hint of retreat.
Just then, a terrified scream erupted from a nearby alley.
"Waaaaah! Don't chase me!"
Usopp came sprinting out of the alley, tears and snot streaming down his face, pursued by at least a hundred snarling pirates.
While running, he kept turning back to fire shots with his Black Kabuto slingshot.
"Certain Kill: Smoke Star!"
"Certain Kill: Chili Star!"
However, these tricks only served to enrage their pursuers further, having no real effect.
"Chopper! Do something!" Usopp cried desperately.
"I... I'm scared too! Waaaaah!"
Chopper, running beside him, was so frightened his legs turned to jelly.
He simply leaped up and clung to Usopp like an accessory.
"Cough! Cough! Chopper, what are you doing! You're choking me!"
"I don't care! I'm too scared! Waaah—"
Usopp, being choked, rolled his eyes and stopped arguing.
He simply scooped Chopper into his arms and kept running headlong.
But already exhausted and now carrying Chopper, he'd only taken a couple of steps when his foot caught on something.
Losing his balance, he fell heavily face-first to the ground.
"Oof!"
"Ouch!"
The two tumbled across the ground.
This delay allowed their pursuers to catch up.
The leading pirates looked down at Usopp and Chopper on the ground, revealing bloodthirsty grins.
"This is the end, rookie brats."
"Let's roast that reindeer! Should be delicious! Ahahaha~"
Several raised their cutlasses high and mercilessly swung down at the two on the ground!
Usopp and Chopper stared in terror, too frightened even to scream.
At this critical moment!
"ROAR—"
An inhuman, violently ferocious roar suddenly erupted from Chopper's small body!
A terrifying shockwave instantly sent the nearest pirates flying!
Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, the reindeer that had been small and cute like a pet mere seconds ago began to visibly expand in size!
Bones emitted a chilling crackling sound as black fur wildly sprouted and spread!
In the blink of an eye, a terrifying beast nearly twenty meters tall—comparable to a giant—with eyes gleaming with crimson ferocity, appeared at the center of the street!
Having entered a frenzied state after his monster enhancement, Chopper completely lost his sanity.
With a roar that echoed across Hachinosu Island, he stomped his massive hoof down violently.
BOOM!
The entire street's ground shattered and split open!
"What... what kind of monster is this?!"
"That pet... turned into a monster!"
After a brief moment of shock, the pursuing pirates were consumed by boundless terror, shrieking as they turned and fled in disarray.
But it was too late.
The berserk Chopper swung his arm—thicker than a water vat—and slammed it down!
Crash!
Over a dozen pirates, along with the ground beneath them, were crushed into a pulp of flesh and blood!
Immediately after, Chopper began violently pounding the surrounding buildings, reducing houses to rubble one after another.
Flying debris and bricks shot out like cannonballs, whistling as they landed among the fleeing pirates, instantly claiming dozens more lives.
The terrifying commotion immediately caught the attention of Luffy and the others.
"Chopper!"
Hearing that familiar yet agonized roar, Luffy's eyes instantly turned sharp and domineering.
"Everyone, get out of my way!"
Luffy roared, recklessly activating Second Gear again as he prepared to charge toward Chopper's location.
But he was already at his limit.
"That rubber brat is running on fumes!"
"Don't let him get through! Hold him down!"
Seizing the opportunity, the surrounding pirates swarmed in from all directions like a tidal wave.
Luffy punched away a few in front of him but no longer had the strength to fend off more.
One pirate jumped onto his back, followed by a second, a third...
Relying on their overwhelming numerical advantage, the pirates employed the most primitive and shameless tactic—piling on—pinning Luffy firmly beneath them.
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