At the port.
When the long-awaited signal flare shot into the sky, on the docked fleet of the War Pirates, Mangu—who had been training relentlessly on the deck of the No. 1 main ship—immediately looked up at the red fireworks blooming above the city.
"Everyone, assemble!!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Mangu stopped his training. Grabbing the mace he had set aside, he let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the entire fleet.
"Move, move! Everyone except those on duty, gather at the port immediately!"
"It's a signal flare—assemble now!"
"That's Master Mangu's order!"
"Move it!"
The combination of the flare lighting up the sky and Mangu's explosive roar sent the entire War Pirates crew into motion at once.
Within five minutes, aside from those assigned to remain on duty, six thousand men had formed ranks at the port.
"Move out!"
Once the gathering was complete, Mangu immediately led the force toward the direction of the signal flare.
Behind him, the assembled six thousand troops surged forward. Neferpet, Sandy, Luo, and the other core members followed closely.
When it came to a signal order from Kaito, no one in the War Pirates dared hesitate—and no one would.
…
A massive golden Slash Wave tore across the sky, its overwhelming force ripping through both people and buildings within its path.
Boom!!!
Amid a deafening explosion, a vast blank zone was carved out of the capital of the Kingdom of San Lorenzo.
"Ahhh!!"
Beyond the sheer destructive power of the Slash Wave itself, the violent shockwaves that followed blasted outward like a hurricane. Those who had not been directly struck were still thrown off their feet, screaming as they were hurled backward.
"Remarkable…!"
Lafayette's eyes widened in astonishment as he watched the devastation.
"Although I've heard of your title as the 'Golden Swordsman,' Captain, I never imagined your swordsmanship would reach such a level!"
Kaito rested the golden saber casually on his shoulder, as though the terrifying slash just now had been nothing more than an idle gesture.
"You give me too much credit. That was just brute strength. I still have a long way to go before I can call myself a true master of the blade."
"I assure you, Captain, that is not humility—it is reality. Compared to your swordsmanship, I am the one who still has a long road ahead," Lafayette replied sincerely.
He was not flattering him.
As a swordsman himself, he could clearly discern the difference. Even without factoring in raw power, Kaito's understanding of the blade surpassed his own.
"I'd love to hear more compliments," Robin's voice cut in coolly, "but perhaps you two can continue this discussion after we're not surrounded."
Her arms were crossed before her chest as countless additional arms sprouted around the battlefield, twisting the necks of enemies with ruthless efficiency.
After Clifford's death, the Kingdom of San Lorenzo had not delayed.
Shortly after Robin fired the flare, reinforcements arrived.
When the kingdom's forces discovered the corpses of the fallen guards—and Clifford among them—they were thrown into panic and rage. Without hesitation, they launched an attack on Kaito and the others.
Yet as the fighting escalated—indeed, as Kaito's trio continued their one-sided slaughter—the kingdom's reinforcements did not diminish.
They multiplied.
Soon it was no longer just the Kingdom Guard.
The standing army of San Lorenzo had mobilized.
After all, this was the kingdom's capital—the military center of the entire nation.
Though the Kingdom of San Lorenzo could not compare to a superpower like Alabasta with its six hundred thousand troops, it still possessed a standing army of roughly fifty thousand.
Even after Kaito's Slash Wave had annihilated hundreds in an instant, fresh soldiers continued pouring in without end.
"Attack!"
"Lafayette has colluded with pirates—kill them all!"
"Bring up the artillery! I refuse to believe they can withstand cannon fire!"
"Call in reinforcements! Move!"
Gunfire erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Continuous rifle shots were accompanied by violent artillery barrages.
As the soldiers of San Lorenzo fired upon Kaito's group, heavy cannons were wheeled into position and unleashed.
Whether or not such firepower posed a true threat to the trio, it certainly devastated the surrounding district.
Streets shattered.
Nearby houses crumbled.
Aside from the blank zone carved by Kaito's earlier slash, the area quickly transformed into ruins.
As for the residents—most had fled at the first sign of disaster.
Those who had failed to escape… could only be counted among the collateral casualties.
"Dazzling Hundred Blossoms: Phantom Wings!"
Countless arms sprouted from Robin's back, forming magnificent wings like those of an angel.
With a powerful flap, she ascended into the air, evading the hail of bullets and artillery shells.
Below, blade light flashed.
Kaito did not even bother drawing his second golden saber.
With only the blade in his right hand, he calmly cut down every bullet and shell that approached, as effortlessly as swatting flies.
Lafayette fought similarly.
Though he could not fly like Robin, nor display the same casual composure as Kaito, his exceptional swordsmanship allowed him to intercept bullets and even deflect cannon shells.
"Oh. They're here."
While defending against the bombardment, a faint red gleam flickered in Kaito's eyes as he turned his gaze toward a distant street.
Moments later, dense figures emerged from that direction.
"It's the Captain!"
"Those are this country's soldiers!"
"Fire! Kill anyone attacking the Captain!"
The incoming mass was not another wave of kingdom reinforcements.
It was the War Pirates.
Having seen the signal flare, they had arrived at full speed.
Just as Kaito spotted his men, they spotted him.
The moment they realized their captain was under attack, fury ignited across their ranks.
Without hesitation, the War Pirates launched their own assault upon the forces of San Lorenzo.
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