Davy Jones pulled the tip of his trident from Killer's abdomen, the blade still slick with blood. Without even bothering to shake it off, he swung it sideways at Kidd's massive metallic right arm.
CLANG!
A deafening crash rang out as metal fragments exploded outward, scattering across the ground — leaving Kidd's bare, flesh-and-blood arm exposed.
"What?! Impossible!" Kidd gasped, glancing down in disbelief. His arm was charged with magnetic force — how could the metal simply be blasted away?!
He looked up just in time to see the trident darting toward him again — impossibly fast, too fast for the eye to follow.
The blow was about to land when, from the side, a leg shot in, kicking hard against the trident's tip.
It was X Drake — in his Zoan-type, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Allosaurus hybrid form — a balance of human agility and prehistoric might.
His body bore traces of dinosaur features — a reptilian head, scales along his limbs — the hybrid form of man and ancient dragon.
He had chosen this exact moment to intervene, throwing everything into that kick. He wanted to save Kidd — and make sure Kidd remembered the favor.
But as his foot struck the trident, Drake's expression changed instantly. It was like trying to kick over a fortress. The weapon didn't budge an inch.
Instead, the full force of Davy Jones's counterstrike exploded back through him. The impact hurled Drake away — like an ordinary man foolishly trying to kick a speeding sea train off its tracks.
Fortunately, he wasn't pulverized beneath the blow — only flung several meters through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
He let out a cry of pain, curling up and clutching his leg. His right thigh bone was fractured — a realization that sent curses spilling through his mind.
He'd only meant to stage a light scuffle, to play his part at the right moment — and now he'd paid for it with a broken leg. An unacceptable price.
Drake's interference had bought Kidd a heartbeat of time — just enough for him to twist and roll away from the trident's stabbing point.
Landing hard, Kidd braced his right hand beneath his mechanical left arm, aiming it like a cannon.
"Die, you bastard!"
BOOM!
Dozens of jagged metal shards fired out like shrapnel, screaming through the air toward Davy Jones — a storm of razor-edged debris meant to tear his body apart.
But in a blink, Davy Jones vanished again.
The projectiles struck nothing but open water, clattering uselessly to the ground — a rain of scrap metal pattering against the stone floor.
Kidd, thrown onto his back by the recoil, stared in disbelief at the empty space where his target had stood.
I can't hit him! None of it lands!
The realization chilled him. It was like fighting Admiral Kizaru on the Sabaody Archipelago — but this man, this monster, was far more merciless than the light-speed Marine.
Could it be… that Kizaru Borsalino was the real pirate — and this Davy Jones was the Marine Admiral?
Straightening his trident, Davy Jones gave it a single shake. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the weapon collapsed in an instant — shrinking and dissolving into his body until it was gone.
He dropped down in front of Kidd, landing in a crouch — and drove his right fist forward.
"Damn it!" Kidd swore.
His arms were bare, stripped of metal. There was no time to gather any. He could only raise them to shield his head.
The punch came down like a falling boulder. Haki crackled through the air, shattering Kidd's guard and driving straight into his face.
BOOM!
Wind exploded outward. Shattered stone flew in every direction.
Kidd's body bounced once, then crashed into the ground — forming a crater — and didn't move again.
His eyes rolled back, white and lifeless. The arrogant smirk that never left his face was gone. He finally looked… peaceful.
Davy Jones lowered his arm, straightened, and turned toward the remaining two "Supernovas."
Killer, his scythes broken, clutched at his bleeding abdomen, crawling toward Kidd with a strangled roar under his mask.
He clearly believed Davy Jones's punch had killed his captain — and indeed, from the outside, it looked that way. The sheer force of that blow had been devastating.
But Davy Jones's mastery of Haki was razor-sharp. He had controlled his strength precisely. Kidd's life still hung by a thread — alive, but barely.
Drake, meanwhile, was pale and drenched in sweat. His leg was shattered from the trident's recoil, and he gritted his teeth as he pressed his hands over the break, trying in vain to stop the waves of agony coursing through him.
The crews of Kidd and Drake had only just begun to react to the chaos when it was already too late — their three captains, their core fighters, all defeated in moments.
The remaining pirates froze, terror-stricken, unsure whether to rush forward or flee for their lives.
But soon, they lost even that choice.
A host of Ryugu Kingdom soldiers arrived — mounted on massive sea beasts — encircling the area completely.
At their head was General Seahorse. He saluted Davy Jones respectfully before drawing his long sword and shouting:
"By the authority of the Ryugu Kingdom royal family, I hereby—"
He finally finished the sentence he hadn't been able to speak earlier, when Prince Fukaboshi had been wounded by Killer:
"—I hereby place you vile criminals, who have run amok upon Fish-Man Island, under arrest!"
The mounted guards raised their blades high, voices booming in unison. Their sea beasts roared in answer, shaking the very waters around them.
The pirates — already broken in spirit — could barely think, let alone resist. Panic and dread consumed them.
The ensuing charge of the Ryugu troops met almost no resistance. The pirates were seized and bound one after another — only those who resisted to the death were cut down.
Hawkins and his men, surrounded as well, laid down their weapons and surrendered without a fight. No one troubled them further — the soldiers merely ordered them to fall in line.
As Hawkins passed by the fallen "Supernovas," he muttered under his breath:
"I told you — none of us were destined to die today."
General Seahorse, flushed with triumph after the arrests, did not forget his primary mission. He dismounted, floating down toward Davy Jones with the aid of a circular air bubble.
"Captain Davy Jones," he said respectfully, bowing deeply, "His Majesty King Neptune awaits your arrival in Ryugu Castle. Allow me to guide you."
Davy Jones looked down at him, his voice calm.
"Very well. I've been meaning to meet your king — and have a word with him."
Ryugu Castle stood high above Fish-Man Island — an ancient structure crowned by statues of dragons coiled across its roof, the entire citadel wrapped in cold seawater.
General Seahorse led Davy Jones down a long, bubble-sealed corridor, keeping the ocean at bay. Neither man feared the water, of course, but there was no sense in soaking oneself before meeting a king.
Soon, the towering gates of the palace loomed ahead, solemn and majestic.
Just as the general was about to announce Davy Jones's arrival, the doors opened from within — and a group of figures emerged.
At their head was King Neptune himself.
The King — coming out to greet him personally? Seahorse's mind raced. The gesture alone showed how important Davy Jones had become to the monarch.
"Captain Davy Jones!" King Neptune boomed warmly as he approached. "I have long wished to meet you. Affairs of state delayed me, but at last, the honor is mine."
It was, of course, a polite lie. Until now, Neptune had been deliberately avoiding this meeting, hoping to buy time. Only after the "Supernova" incident — when Prince Fukaboshi was attacked — had he resolved to act.
Davy Jones didn't expose him. He simply allowed the king his dignity.
After a few flattering words, Neptune gestured toward those beside him.
"This is my daughter — Princess Shirahoshi."
Davy Jones looked up. Even Neptune was enormous by human standards — yet the princess stood nearly as tall, a majestic mermaid with flowing pink hair.
She tilted her head curiously at him, startled when her father introduced her. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Davy Jones-sama," she stammered softly, "I… I'm Shirahoshi. It's an honor to meet you."
Neptune chuckled.
"Please forgive my daughter's manners — she rarely sees outsiders. As for my son, Prince Fukaboshi, you already know of him. He was injured by those vile pirates and cannot come to greet you himself."
"It's of no concern," Davy Jones replied evenly. He cared little for ceremony — only results.
Neptune's eyes grew moist.
"You have done much for my family — and my kingdom. Hody Jones, Vander Decken, and now these 'Supernovas'… all of them were our enemies. Because of you, we are finally avenged."
He gestured toward a nearby scholar — the catfish advisor — as they proceeded together into the great hall.
Princess Shirahoshi lingered only a moment longer before returning to tend to her wounded brother.
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