"Hmm? Someone still dares to come here now?"
Apophis, who had just finished a moment of silent mourning for Buffet, looked toward the gate. A large group of pirates was rushing in.
"That attire… they're from the Happo Navy?"
"That guy… is that Apophis?"
Hanpao, leading the group, met Apophis's gaze head-on. The moment he saw those blood-red eyes, a chill crept up his spine. Still, he forced himself to remain imposing.
"So you're Apo— What the—?!"
His foot pressed onto something round. Hanpao stumbled forward awkwardly, almost falling flat on his face.
His subordinates, who had expected a dramatic confrontation between two powerhouses, were collectively dumbstruck.
"Damn it! I was too nervous and didn't even watch my footing!"
Hanpao cursed internally. He had meant to establish momentum, yet now he had made a fool of himself.
Instinctively, his eyes drifted to the object that tripped him.
"Wait… this is a head? It's Buffet—the Skullcrusher's—head!"
The head of Buffet—the very man he had just struck a deal with days ago—rolled at his feet.
Hanpao sucked in a cold breath.
He could swear Buffet's lifeless eyes were staring back at him.
Accusing him for arriving too late.
Cursing him.
Inviting him to hell.
Langya, however, was already analyzing everything.
"Although part of the hall collapsed, there are barely any signs of battle. And Apophis's clothes don't even have dust on them… That means the fight ended in an instant!"
Thinking this, Langya's heart chilled.
"Buffet wasn't weak. Yet he was overwhelmed completely. Apophis may be far stronger than the rumors say. And although Leader Hanpao is powerful, his battle experience is nowhere near enough. A life-and-death fight would be far too risky. I must talk him out of this reckless idea."
"The decisive point… Buffet, the one who summoned us here, is already dead. To persist now would be sheer stupidity."
After a moment of thought, Langya made his decision.
"Lord Apophis, we have no intention of disturbing you. We will leave shortly. Please pretend nothing happened."
"Langya! I'm the leader—since when do you make decisions for me?"
Hanpao roared.
Even though the will to fight had already faded in his heart, simply turning around and leaving felt unbearable.
If he fled without a word, he would never escape his father's shadow.
And the fact that Langya made a decision on his behalf only fueled his anger.
"Leader Hanpao, please be rational. Buffet is dead. Do you want the Happo Navy to earn a powerful enemy for the sake of a corpse?" Langya chided sternly.
"This is my business. Stay out of it. Worst case, I'll fight under my own name. If I tuck my tail and run without saying a word, what right do I have to call myself leader? The Thirteenth Pillar of the Happo Navy is no coward!"
"Leaders, sorry to interrupt… but… Apophis is about to leave. Should we stop him?"
A pirate came running anxiously while the two were still arguing.
"What?"
Hanpao looked in the direction indicated—
Apophis was casually walking out of the courtyard, clearly not even acknowledging their presence.
"You're ignoring me too? Am I really just a decorative leader?"
Humiliation and fury surged in Hanpao's chest. Without hesitation, he roared and charged forward.
Apophis tilted his head slightly.
Killing intent surged.
His sword aura exploded outward, forming the illusion of a sea of blood around him.
The ferocity of that aura struck Hanpao's mind like lightning. His charging feet faltered involuntarily.
"Not good! Leader Hanpao's mind was shaken!"
Langya felt panic.
If he had known Apophis's sword aura was this overwhelming, he would have risked everything to stop Hanpao's reckless move.
Leader Chinjao once mentioned:
When he fought the Whitebeard Pirates, there was a swordsman in their crew whose sword aura manifested as tangible illusions—a sea of flowers.
The difference here was merely: flowers vs. blood.
Hanpao, however, did not disgrace his lineage.
Trained personally by the great pirate Chinjao, his mental fortitude far exceeded most.
Within a single breath, he broke free of the aura's assault.
But in a battle between true monsters—
one breath
is enough to decide life and death.
When his clarity returned, the ghostly green flames reflected in his pupils were already expanding rapidly.
The sword's wind pressure sliced open his face.
That demonic blade seemed ready to cleave him in half in the next heartbeat.
"AAAAAGH!!!"
A shriek of unbearable agony tore through the courtyard, loud enough to scare away the carrion vultures roosting above the port.
An arm hit the ground—twitching violently.
Slick with cold sweat, Hanpao realized:
Langya had pushed him aside at the last moment, taking the fatal blow for him with his own arm.
Yet Langya's screams did not stop.
Veins bulged across his body, sweat drenched him—he looked like someone hauled dripping wet from a river.
"Langya! What's wrong?! Get a hold of yourself!"
Hanpao panicked.
Even losing an arm would not cause a veteran like Langya to scream like this.
Someone of his experience should never end up in such a miserable state.
"T-that sword… something's wrong with it… Whatever you do… don't get cut… The pain… it goes deep into the soul… It'll cripple your ability to fight…!"
Langya clenched his teeth, forcing himself to deliver his warning—
and then collapsed back into uncontrollable screaming.
The surrounding pirates watched with icy dread.
No one understood Langya's willpower better than they did.
Yet even this iron-blooded man was reduced to tears, snot, and pathetic wailing.
"So… those without unwavering resolve can't even look you in the eyes?"
Hanpao's expression changed.
He lowered his gaze.
"In that case…
I'll read your footsteps instead.
The injury you gave Langya…
I swear, I'll return it to you—exactly."
Apophis slowly raised the Seven-Star Sword before him.
Silent.
Indifferent.
As if the man's oath was a meaningless joke, unworthy of even a comment.
Langya clutched his severed shoulder, struggling to stand—
but the soul-piercing pain blurred his vision until everything doubled and warped.
He staggered and nearly collapsed.
"Vice-leader! Vice-leader!"
Pirates rushed to support him.
"Forget me! The leader is no match for him! Hurry and back him up!"
Langya barked through clenched teeth.
"While he's focused on the leader, use your guns to strike!
If you're going to fight—
then don't hold anything back!"
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