Chapter 29: Battle Against the Marines (Part 2)
Hearing Kilik's words, Ryu turned around. Seeing the determination in his eyes, Kilik felt a pang of disappointment—was he still unworthy?
"What are you standing around for? Kilik, take control of the helm!"
Kilik's face lit up with surprise and gratitude. "Yes, Captain!"
"Colonel Rat! The Bliking has separated from the other ship!"
"Oh? Which ship is Ryu on?"
"He's on the bat-headed vessel, along with Buggy the Clown."
"Focus all firepower on Ryu's ship! Ignore the Bliking !"
"Yes, sir!"
Colonel Rat wasn't concerned about the treasure potentially being on the other ship. If they didn't eliminate Ryu, they wouldn't be able to proceed anyway.
Moreover, if his fabricated accusations held up, defeating Ryu would earn him immense credit.
Even if killing Ryu didn't bring glory, taking down Buggy—a 15 million Beri bounty pirate—would still secure significant recognition. After all, Buggy was one of East Blue's most notorious pirates.
Capturing him could lead to another promotion. Rat was already fantasizing about his bright future.
The next moment, the three Marine warships unleashed a barrage of cannon fire. Rat himself stood confidently on the deck, directing the assault.
Gazing at the lone ship in the distance, Rat smirked. Only a handful of people—and a lion—remained aboard. He had three fully armed warships and hundreds of soldiers. How could they possibly resist?
As the cannonballs approached, Buggy, Nami, and the others stared wide-eyed. Fifty to sixty cannonballs fired in unison—this was the true might of the Marines.
It was terrifying!
Watching the incoming projectiles, Ryu sighed deeply. While he could handle such an onslaught for now, prolonged attacks would overwhelm even him. The lack of high-level combatants on his side made it nearly impossible to sustain defense indefinitely.
Teams like Luffy's crew could rotate between Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy to manage these situations. Clearly, he needed more capable allies.
"Buggy, prepare the Buggy Ball."
"Yes, Captain!"
Without hesitation, Buggy snapped out of his shock and rushed to comply. Having served on Roger's ship, he knew how to regain composure in critical moments.
Meanwhile, Ryu leapt into the air, unsheathing his blade. "Abyssal Slash! "
A massive crimson energy wave sliced through the sky, splitting every cannonball in half and causing them to explode mid-air.
Ryu landed gracefully on the bow, sheathing his sword as a gust of sea breeze ruffled his flowing hair. His calm demeanor exuded power and dominance.
Colonel Rat gawked in disbelief. Was this truly humanly possible? This man was a monster! For the first time, doubt crept into Rat's mind. If he underestimated Ryu, he might lose his life here—and that would spell disaster.
But while Rat hesitated, his subordinates pressed on. The next wave of cannonballs was loaded and fired in quick succession.
Each use of Abyssal Slash strained Ryu's body, as it concentrated his full strength into a single strike.
Minor damage was inevitable. This time, instead of using Abyssal Slash , Ryu opted for rapid aerial slashes to intercept the barrage. While effective, this method drained his stamina significantly. Additionally, if the cannonballs were too dispersed, interception became less reliable.
Seeing his Marines fighting valiantly, Colonel Rat struggled to figure out how to retreat without demoralizing his troops.
Fortunately, an officer aboard the second warship took charge, shouting orders: "All ships, maintain distance! Avoid close combat for now. Keep firing to exhaust the enemy. Once our ammunition runs out, we'll move in for boarding!"
Upon hearing this strategy, Rat relaxed slightly. Yes, Ryu was only one man. His strength and stamina were finite. Continuous bombardment would eventually wear him down.
However, the next moment, a peculiar cannonball hurtled toward their flagship. Though it missed its mark, the explosion upon impact nearly capsized the warship.
Colonel Rat's face paled. What kind of cannonball was this? Its destructive power was monstrous.
Even Ryu was impressed. Buggy may actually be useful, he thought wryly. At least the Buggy Ball lives up to its reputation. Still, Buggy's aim left much to be desired. Perhaps he should've recruited Usopp when they passed by the neighboring village.
"Buggy, how long until the next shot is ready?"
"One minute, Captain. Just give me a minute!"
"Good!"
Ryu continued deflecting two more waves of cannonballs before the Buggy Ball was ready again. This time, it struck one of the warships—not the flagship, but the explosion showcased its devastating potential. The targeted ship erupted in flames, claiming countless lives in the blast.
Witnessing the carnage, Ryu sighed inwardly. These Marines weren't evil pirates—they were merely following orders. Why had they come to attack him? Such a waste.
The subsequent Buggy Balls missed their marks, yet each near-hit sent Colonel Rat into a panic.
Soon, a soldier reported, "Colonel Rat, we're out of cannonballs! Request permission to accelerate and engage in close-quarters combat!"
Hearing this, Rat hesitated. Though the prolonged bombardment likely drained some of Ryu's energy, did he really want to face such a formidable opponent head-on?
"Colonel Rat, don't hesitate! We can't give him time to recover!"
The commanding officer's words snapped Rat back to reality. He trusted this officer—the most tactically gifted individual in Branch 16. Following his advice was the safest course of action.
"All ships, accelerate! Prepare for boarding!"
With that command, the remaining two warships surged forward.
"So, they're finally coming," Ryu muttered coldly. "Let's see who among them dares to challenge me."