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"Let me inspect your ship, or die."
King spoke as if he were stating a routine instruction rather than delivering an ultimatum. There was no visible hostility in his tone, but that only made the meaning clearer. He was not negotiating, and he did not expect resistance.
Ornn did not answer immediately.
He studied the man standing before him, measuring what little he could from the brief exchange so far. The pressure alone was enough to make the difference obvious. This was not an opponent he could handle through improvisation or chance.
Even so, backing down was not an option.
"And what right do you have to inspect my ship?" Ornn asked, his expression tightening slightly.
King watched him in silence for a moment before responding.
"This ship appeared on the surveillance Den Den Mushi in Hakumai. At that time, you were standing here with Holdem. Now Holdem is gone."
His gaze did not waver.
"That alone is enough to kill you."
Ornn let out a quiet breath.
So there it was. No room left for pretense, no path left open through words. King had already pieced together everything that mattered.
His hand moved naturally to his waist, brushing lightly against the Lion King before closing around the handle of his hammer.
"In that case, there is nothing left to discuss."
He moved without hesitation.
Magma surged over both arms, gathering rapidly as he condensed it into a dense sphere before throwing it forward. The attack was direct, intended less to harm and more to disrupt, to create an opening before King could act freely.
King raised his hand and caught the magma without difficulty.
The motion was casual, almost dismissive, and in that instant, the gap between them became undeniable.
However, the moment the magma made contact, a faint burning sound followed as the heat began to sear into his palm.
King's eyes narrowed slightly.
In the next moment, his arm was covered in Armament Haki, the dark layer isolating the heat completely. He tightened his grip, crushing the magma into fragments that scattered across the deck, leaving behind shallow, smoking marks.
"This is not a Logia," he said, his tone thoughtful. "The magma fruit already belongs to Sakazuki."
His gaze sharpened as it returned to Ornn.
"A Mythical Zoan."
There was a trace of interest now.
"A Devil Fruit user like you, hiding in Wano without being noticed... that is rare."
He spread his arms slightly, exposing himself without any sign of caution.
"Show me your strength. If you can prove your value, I may spare your life."
Ornn's eyes narrowed.
He understood the implication immediately. King was testing him, not fighting seriously. That arrogance created a narrow opportunity, but it also confirmed the difference between them.
If this dragged on, the outcome was already decided.
Without hesitation, Ornn shifted into his hybrid form.
Magma surged across his body, flowing over his arms and wrapping around the hammer in his hand. The weapon expanded under the heat, its surface glowing intensely, illuminating the deck with a steady orange light.
He stepped forward and launched himself upward, bringing the hammer down with all the force he could gather.
The attack carried both weight and heat, aimed directly at King.
King did not move.
Armament Haki gathered at the point of impact as he raised his arm to block.
The hammer struck.
The impact rang out sharply, echoing across the deck.
At the same time, a deeper force followed the blow, passing through the surface and striking within.
King's body stiffened, almost imperceptibly.
A thin line of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.
His eyes narrowed at once.
The attack had not simply been blocked. It had bypassed his defense and struck internally.
There had been no visible Haki, no clear sign of advanced technique, yet the damage was real.
For the first time, King's expression changed.
"What was that just now?" he asked.
Ornn did not respond.
He could not afford to explain, nor did he intend to give King time to think. He raised the hammer again, magma gathering once more as he prepared to continue the assault.
However, he had already lost the advantage.
King's expression turned cold.
"You are being reckless."
This time, he moved first.
His leg struck out with overwhelming force, hitting Ornn before the next attack could land. The impact sent Ornn flying backward, his body losing control mid-air.
At the same time, King's wings spread, and with a single motion, he released a golden flying slash that cut through the air toward Ornn.
There was no room to evade.
Ornn adjusted his posture mid-air, but the attack was already upon him.
At that moment, a burst of icy breath shot out from the cabin.
"Nameless Glacier Fang!"
The freezing attack collided with the flying slash, and the clash between the two forces erupted into a violent explosion.
The shockwave spread across the deck, tearing through wood and air alike.
Ornn was caught in the aftermath and driven downward, crashing through part of the structure before sliding across the lower deck.
The impact forced the air out of his lungs.
Pain spread through his body immediately, sharp and internal.
The heat did not affect him, but the force of the collision had caused real damage.
The Lion King's effect activated at once, stabilizing the injury and beginning the recovery process. Even so, the difference was clear.
If that attack had landed cleanly, the result would not have been something he could recover from.
Ornn pushed himself up slowly, forcing his breathing to steady.
The gap is too large.
Above, Yamato stepped out of the cabin.
Her movements were unsteady, and her face remained pale, but she forced herself forward, gripping her weapon tightly.
"Do not call me that," she said coldly. "I have already cut ties with Kaido."
King looked at her, and a faint smile appeared.
"So you really are here."
His gaze moved over her condition, assessing her without urgency.
"You do not look well. That makes things easier."
"Whether it is easy or not," Yamato replied, raising her weapon despite the strain, "you will have to find out."
King let out a quiet chuckle.
"If you insist."
He reached up and grasped one of the horns on his head, twisting it as his body shifted. The motion appeared unusual, but the pressure gathering around him was unmistakable.
Ornn felt it immediately.
This was not an attack meant for a single target.
It was meant to destroy everything.
The ship would not survive it.
Ornn tightened his grip on the hammer.
There was no room left for hesitation.
Before King could complete the motion, a powerful shockwave cut through the air from a distance and struck with enough force to interrupt him.
The impact disrupted the buildup instantly.
At the same time, a loud, unrestrained laugh echoed across the sea.
"Gurararara! King, picking on two youngsters like this does not suit you."
Ornn looked up.
Relief surfaced for a brief moment before he forced it down.
He had taken a risk, betting on timing he could not confirm.
This time, it had worked.