The small-scale Lightning Projector was blocked by Strawberry's slash, and the cannon shells fired from the warship posed no threat either. Before they could fly very far, Lena fired a series of shots, detonating them midair.
The broadsides of the two ships slammed directly into each other. At that moment, whether Navy or "pirates," both sides erupted in roars as the battle began.
"Ah! You pirates, accept justice's judgment!"
As they shouted, the Navy side launched many claw-like grappling hooks that latched onto the rails of both ships, allowing them to use their numerical advantage to charge onto the opposing vessel and fight.
"Gunfire Illusion!"
Baccarat, the ability user, was the first to act. With a wave of her hand from the second level of the cabin tower, dozens of incredibly lifelike riflemen and artillerymen suddenly appeared on the deck, aiming at the Navy soldiers crossing the rails and making firing motions.
Bullets, cannon shells—even the sounds—felt completely real.
The Marines charging at the front immediately threw themselves to the ground without caring about their image.
"Watch out for the shells!"
"I've been hit… Huh? Why doesn't it hurt?"
"They're all fake!"
"That's a Devil Fruit ability, not real shells!"
It didn't take long for the soldiers to realize that being struck by the bullets didn't hurt at all.
Seeing this, Baccarat changed the illusion. The squad of soldiers transformed into lifelike beasts—tigers, lions, elephants, and more.
Even knowing they were fake, many still felt fear when those animals charged at them.
"Just illusions and you think you can scare us?! Everyone, charge with me!"
A Navy sergeant bravely led the charge, smashing straight through an illusion.
"They're all fake! This lion is fake too!"
The sergeant saw an especially large blue lion pounce at him and assumed it was an illusion as well. Instead, he was sent flying by a swipe of the lion's paw, crashing into a pile of comrades.
Lion Fruit — Beast Form.
"The lion is real!"
"Of course it's real! I'm Lion-Man Tant!"
Tant shifted back into his Lion-Man form, bursting another shirt apart. His pants, however, remained intact.
"Lion Bullet!"
With a swing of his lion claws, faint claw-shaped slashes shot toward the Navy ranks.
At the critical moment, it was Strawberry once again who stepped forward. With a great leap into the air, he swung the long blade in his hand, and a flying slash met Tant's attack head-on, blocking it.
"So you're that Headquarters Rear Admiral? You do have some strength. But your subordinates are far too weak!"
Against the current Tant, these ordinary North Blue Marines were indeed no match. Tant alone could take on a whole crowd.
"In Nation-Slayer Vane's team, there are this many Devil Fruit users… It seems the intelligence department's work has been far from adequate."
The illusion-maker earlier, and now this lion-man—both were Devil Fruit users. These were the ones who should be on the wanted list. Yet the higher-ups had only issued a bounty for a princess with political significance but no real strength.
It wasn't that putting a bounty on the princess was wrong—but at least figure out the team's composition first, right?
If the logistics staff don't do their jobs properly, the soldiers fighting on the front lines have to worry about far too much.
Fighting and bleeding is already enough of a headache, and now they have to gather intelligence themselves.
"Hey! You… long-haired man! I've got no interest in those weak-kneed Marines. You'll be my opponent!"
Tant shifted his target and charged at Strawberry.
His momentum was fierce, but in his opponent's eyes, it still lacked refinement.
Strawberry's figure flashed past, brushing shoulders with Tant.
Slash!!
Two bursts of blood sprayed out. Deep blade wounds appeared across Tant's arms and chest.
"That hurts… A Headquarters Rear Admiral truly is strong."
"You're not worthy of being my opponent."
In Strawberry's view, Tant was worth at most a 50 million Belly bounty. He had killed opponents like that more times than he could count.
"How dare you look down on me like that!"
"Tant, fall back. You're not his match. Don't bring suffering upon yourself."
Bonez stepped forward, pulling Tant behind him.
"Who are you?"
Strawberry looked at Bonez warily. The aura around this dark-skinned man was far stronger than Tant's.
"I am Rocket Team Personal Guard Daz Bonez. Headquarters Rear Admiral… you are an excellent opponent for tempering myself."
His great battle with Schmitt had just ended, and now he could face a Headquarters Rear Admiral. Bonez was delighted. Every time he fought a strong opponent, he could feel his body grow harder and stronger.
"Don't fight on our ship. Our vessel is far more valuable than their warship."
Vane stood high above, coldly watching the Marines pouring onto their deck. Behind him, Charizard spread its wings and soared into the sky, continuously breathing flames toward the Navy warship to prevent further boarding.
The already evolved Electivire focused on the group that had made it onto their deck—one discharge of electricity struck down a large swath at once.
"Too weak."
This Navy force was being held up entirely by Strawberry alone.
The West Blue branch Marines had little ability to resist in front of the Rocket Team.
"Damn pirates!"
And damn intelligence organizations too! Something about this pirate crew was seriously off.
"Where are you looking? I'm your opponent! Charging Steel Drill!"
Bonez lunged forward. Strawberry hurriedly crossed his twin blades to block.
Clang!
This black brute had incredible strength, and his body was harder than steel. With that level of force crashing into his blades, one would expect flesh to fly—but his skin remained completely unharmed.
Another Devil Fruit user?
Strawberry was forced back step by step by Bonez's charge until he reached the ship's railing.
This was someone nearly equal to him in strength—but still not quite his match.
The highest-bounty pirate Strawberry had ever captured had a 93 million Belly bounty. The black man before him wasn't far below that—around 70 million in strength.
Bonez pressed the attack. His arms transformed, rotating blades sprouting from his skin. With a Soru step, he appeared before his opponent and slashed downward.
Geppo!
Strawberry urgently leapt into the sky, evading Bonez's strike.
No sooner had one wave settled than another rose. As Strawberry ascended into the air, he heard several sharp sounds slicing through the wind.
"Ice Pistol — Impact."
Most people understand Shigan development as turning the finger into a spear to stab opponents. In reality, Shigan can also function like a firearm.
Earlier, Rob Lucci used Shigan against Luffy.
Later, at Big Mom's Whole Cake Chateau, the World Government spy and Queen of the Pleasure Quarter clone, Stussy, used Flying Shigan against the Loan Shark King.
This technique borrows certain Rankyaku principles. Essentially, it releases compressed energy from the fingertips to form a ranged attack.
Vane didn't even need Rankyaku techniques. The frost energy within his body could now be directly released—he didn't even need to use a breathing method.
Ice Pistol was simply releasing frost energy from his fingertips like bullets.