Bab 28: Artur Bacca #28
Blake observed intently as the police force, under Rudd's command, continued to fire the cannon, unleashing six more shots, each of which was swiftly countered by the mysterious green liquid.
However, as the seventh cannonball was launched, something peculiar occurred—it didn't entirely vanish upon contact with the liquid, but instead emerged with half of it melted away. Blake's eyes widened in recognition.
"Looks like an acid-related power... thankfully, its effects seem to weaken with each use," he remarked, his tone tinged with relief. "I just hope it's not a Logia or a special Paramecia Devil Fruit... otherwise, even I would be in trouble," he muttered to himself, a flicker of concern crossing his features.
Jack's curiosity was piqued. "Logia? Special Paramecia? What are those?" he inquired, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Blake sighed, realizing he needed to explain. "Logia and special Paramecia fruits grant the user extraordinary abilities—like becoming intangible and immune to physical attacks. It takes a unique power to harm their users, something I don't have yet," he elaborated, his tone grave.
"I'm afraid it's best for you to leave the island now, lest you become entangled in this mess," he advised, his gaze fixed on the rundown caravel as it neared the shore, its deck swarming with pirates eager to disembark.
Jack's throat tightened with nervousness as the pirates finally made landfall, swiftly overpowering the local police force. "I don't think those pirates will let me leave so easily," he muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Blake offered a reassuring chuckle. "You needn't worry about them," he assured, casting a glance at Sif beside him. "Sif and I will handle them, won't we, girl?" he said, giving her a comforting pat, eliciting a low whine from the wolf.
Jack's brows furrowed in concern. "Wouldn't it be safer for you to flee with me then?" he suggested. "If the pirates have someone as powerful as you say, wouldn't you be in danger too?" he reasoned.
"Aye, I can't deny it'll be dangerous" Blake conceded with a nod. "But even if I can't defeat that particular pirate, he won't be able to stop me from leaving," he declared with a grin. "Now, hurry and get out of here... the pirates are making their way to the docks," he urged, gesturing for Jack to leave with a wave of his hand.
After a moment's hesitation, Jack nodded firmly. "Prepare to set sail! Leave any remaining cargo behind!" he commanded, quickly making his way to the ship. His crew, sensing the imminent threat, wasted no time in following his orders, hoisting the anchor and unfurling the sails with practiced efficiency.
As Jack's ship, the Jackdaw, began to pick up speed, a keen-eyed pirate among the group onshore noticed their escape. "Look! Someone's trying to make a run for it!" he cried out, pointing an accusatory finger at the vessel. "Help me board the ship and stop them!" he urged his comrades, rallying five others to join his pursuit as they attempted to rush past Blake.
However, Blake acted swiftly, seizing the lead pirate by the collar of his shirt and effortlessly flinging him back toward his companions.
"Apologies, but my friends aboard that ship are running behind schedule," he remarked with a disarming smile. "I'd appreciate it if you let them pass," his tone resounding like a command rather than a mere request.
Beside him, Sif stepped forward, her head lowered menacingly as she growled at the approaching pirates.
The lead pirate, recovering from his stumble, shot Blake a venomous glare. "You've lost your mind, haven't you?!" he spat out angrily. "Move aside, or I'll carve you to pieces with this blade of mine!" he threatened, jabbing his sword menacingly toward Blake's face.
Unfazed, Blake remained calm, his smile unyielding. It was evident he had no intention of stepping aside and letting the pirates have their way.
The pirate's patience wore thin. "This lunatic needs to be put down! Attack!" he ordered, charging toward Blake with his fellow brigands in tow, each brandishing their own weapon.
"Easy now, Sif, don't be too hard on them. We don't need more pirates showing up before Jack's out of harm's way," Blake cautioned, prompting a begrudging whine from Sif, who nevertheless nodded in agreement.
As the first pirate closed in, swinging his cutlass at Blake, Sif sprang into action. With a swift lunge, she tackled the pirate to the ground, leveraging her size and strength to overpower him. Gripping his shirt in her teeth, she hurled him into the water, swiftly removing him from the fray.
Meanwhile, another pirate aimed his pistol at Sif, preparing to fire, but Blake intervened with lightning speed, utilizing the Soru technique to appear before the gunman in an instant.
Before the pirate could react, Blake delivered a decisive blow to his abdomen, sending him hurtling into the water with a well-placed kick to the head.
With only three assailants left, they circled around Blake, one wrapping his arms around the young man's neck to restrain him while the others lunged forward with their swords, intent on skewering Blake with the pointed tips of their weapons.
Blake remained unfazed, wearing a leisurely smile as he deftly jabbed his elbow into the restraining pirate's grip, overpowering him effortlessly. Seizing the pirate's arm, he launched him toward his companion, sending both tumbling into the water below.
Sif, ever vigilant, closed in on the lone remaining pirate, swiping at his face with a powerful paw, swiftly incapacitating him and sending him plunging into the depths alongside his comrades.
Blake let out a weary sigh as he observed the gathering of ten more pirates before him. "Well, that escalated quickly," he remarked, turning to Sif with a sheepish grin. "Looks like I may have gone a tad overboard," he added, receiving an affirming grunt from Sif, which he translated as, "You always do..."
Before Blake could retort, the pirates made way for a figure who stood out among them—a tall, thin man adorned in a pirate hat and a long red coat. "And who might you be, causing such a commotion in our peaceful little harbor?" he inquired calmly, his gaze fixed on Blake.
Blake shrugged nonchalantly. "The name's Blake Thorne," he stated simply. "That ship over there belongs to my friend. I politely asked your buddies to let it go, they refused, and well, here we are," he explained with a chuckle, gesturing toward the unconscious pirates floating near the docks.
The pirate captain regarded Blake thoughtfully. "I see... defending your own, are you?" he mused. "But you've crossed a line, injuring my crew. As captain, I can't let that slide or my reputation will suffer," he added, his tone turning serious.
Blake arched an eyebrow in response. "Oh? And what do you intend to do about it?" he inquired, his voice laced with a hint of challenge as he crossed his arms.
The pirate's sneer twisted into a grimace. "Normally, I'd put a bullet in your skull to satisfy my crew, but you seem like you might be worth something," he declared. "Join my ranks, and I'll overlook your little display. Prove your worth, and you might even earn a spot at my side," he tempted.
Blake fought back a smirk as he regarded the pirate captain with a raised eyebrow. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to pass," he declined politely. "I've had my fill of taking orders from others... and let me tell you, it wasn't my cup of tea," he explained with calm firmness.
"Is that so?" The pirate captain's tone remained calm, but his eyes gleamed with a hint of menace. "Well, whether you like it or not, you'll be joining one way or another... Derorinpa!" he exclaimed, unleashing a blinding beam of light toward Blake.
Anticipating the attack, Blake propelled himself into the air with a swift Geppo, narrowly evading the lethal beam. The dock's planks sizzled where the attack landed, leaving Blake hovering above unscathed.
The pirate captain's demeanor shifted, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Impressive reflexes... had you not dodged, you'd be mine already," he remarked with a chilling smile. "Anyone hit by Derorinpa will find their heart and will liquefied within 24 hours unless I choose to halt the process," he added matter-of-factly.
Blake's expression darkened as he processed the captain's ominous words, frowning as he recalled eveything he'd seen so far. Acidic jets and now heart-melting eye beams—this pirate wielded a terrifying power.
'I need to get rid of this guy quickly before things turn ugly...' Blake mused, his earlier resolve not to intervene long forgotten.
...
Auhtor's note: the pirate captain, Artur Bacca, is a non cannon character from Law's light novel. Yes, that is his actual power, and not something I came up with on the spot. Similarly, Wolf and Rudd, are also non canon characters from Law's light novel.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone