CHAPTER 43

Ayr frowned as Charlotte Linlin and Roger clashed once more.

"Forget it. If she wants to fight, let her. I'm leaving."

"This is her mess, not mine."

Ayr turned away, ready to leave. He knew this battle had no chance of victory. Roger's strength was slightly above Charlotte Linlin's, and the Roger Pirates had two more powerhouses—Rayleigh and Jabba—who were just as terrifying.

If he stayed, that meant fighting all three of them. And if the other Roger Pirates joined in?

That was pure suicide.

Just as he was about to slip away, Rayleigh and Jabba suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

Jabba rested an axe on his shoulder, adjusting his glasses as he eyed Ayr with a smirk.

"Oi, kid, your Rocks Pirates started this fight. You think you can just walk away now?"

Ayr sighed. Technically, it was indeed the Rocks Pirates who provoked this.

"Look, let's be clear—it was her, that lunatic, who started this. You want to fight? Go ahead and take it up with her. Don't worry, I might be part of the Rocks Pirates, but I won't interfere."

Ayr now deeply regretted agreeing to come with that insane woman.

She really had to do this now?

If she wanted to fight Roger, fine—but couldn't she wait until after he left?

Rayleigh chuckled. "That's not how this works. This isn't a battle of individuals. It's a battle between pirates."

"Besides," Jabba added, gripping both axes, "we haven't had the chance to fight a Rocks Pirate before. Let's see what the so-called 'strongest crew' has to offer."

Jabba knew that sooner or later, the Roger Pirates would have to fight the Rocks Pirates.

There was no avoiding it.

So why not get a head start?

If they could eliminate Ayr here, they'd be weakening the Rocks Pirates before that inevitable war.

"Are you sure? This sea isn't just about fighting and killing. There's such a thing as common sense, you know?" Ayr said flatly.

Of course, he wasn't afraid of the Roger Pirates.

The question was whether he could beat them.

But if he wanted to run?

They couldn't stop him.

As for Charlotte Linlin? That was a different story. He wasn't sure if she could escape.

"We don't want trouble," Rayleigh admitted. "But Roger's already fighting your companion. We can't just let you leave, now can we?"

"Ching!"

Ayr sighed and drew his Ryo Wazamono-grade sword from its sheath.

"Fine. If that's how it's going to be, then let's do this."

It was clear that Rayleigh and Jabba weren't going to let him walk away.

Since escaping wasn't an option, he had only one choice left—fight.

"Go!"

Rayleigh kicked off the ground with a powerful burst, charging toward Ayr alongside Jabba.

Their speed was incredible—so fast that the ground whistled beneath them.

In an instant, they were upon him, attacking from both the left and right.

"Damn, they're fast!!!"

Ayr's pupils shrank. Even with Observation Haki, he could barely track their movements.

They weren't just strong—they were perfectly in sync. Their coordination was flawless.

If he focused on defending against one of them, he'd leave himself wide open for the other.

Ayr's grip tightened on his blade, and he made a split-second decision—he'd block Rayleigh first.

"Clang!!!"

A thunderous clash rang out as their swords met, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. It was like two titanic beasts roaring in defiance.

"You've lost, Ayr."

Jabba's voice came from behind him.

Before Ayr could react, Jabba's axe swung down toward him.

"Tch!"

Ayr leaped backward just in time, but not fast enough. A sharp sting shot through his abdomen.

A thin gash opened across his torso, and warm blood trickled down his side.

"This guy's tough. He took a hit from Jabba's axe and he's still standing!"

"Even so, there's no way he can last much longer against both of them."

The Roger Pirates, watching from the sidelines, murmured among themselves.

Seeing Ayr struggling against Rayleigh and Jabba, and Charlotte Linlin barely holding her ground against Roger, they were confident in their victory.

"So this is a Rocks Pirate? Looks like they're nothing special."

"I heard rumors that Ayr is some 'once-in-a-generation' talent, someone who could rival Rocks himself. But he's not that impressive."

"It's clear—the Roger Pirates are the strongest crew!!!"

Despite the injuries, Ayr remained standing, his blade still firm in his grasp.

"It's really annoying fighting two of you at once."

Jabba smirked. "Your endurance is better than I expected."

Honestly, he had expected Ayr to collapse after taking that hit.

Yet there he was, standing like nothing had happened.

Just as Jabba prepared to attack again, Rayleigh's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Wait, Jabba! Look at his wound!"

Jabba paused and followed Rayleigh's gaze.

Ayr's wound—

It was gone.

Not even a scar remained.

If not for the blood still dripping from his abdomen, they might have thought they imagined the whole thing.

"What the hell?! Is this guy even human? How does he have that level of regeneration?!" Rayleigh muttered, eyes narrowing.

"Hah… so we really shouldn't underestimate the Rocks Pirates." Jabba's smirk faded into a grim expression.

Ayr exhaled slowly, gripping his sword.

This is annoying.

"Let's go together!"

Rayleigh and Jabba charged at him once again.

Ayr's eyes sharpened.

"Time to test this out."

"Use the Kurama Chakra Mode Experience Card!!!"

The moment he activated it, an overwhelming golden aura erupted around him.

A massive, nine-tailed chakra cloak formed, wrapping around his body. His eyes gleamed with an eerie golden-red glow, and his power surged to an entirely new level.

The ground beneath him cracked, unable to withstand the sheer force radiating from his body.

For the first time since the fight began—

Rayleigh and Jabba's expressions changed.

Ayr clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through his veins.

"I only have one hour."

"That's more than enough."

He vanished.

A golden streak flashed across the battlefield, moving faster than Rayleigh or Jabba could react.

Then—

"BOOM!!!"

A shockwave exploded outward as Ayr struck first.

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