On Nicholas's pirate ship, a group of pirates nervously watched the red-sailed ship behind them, which was getting closer.
Their foreheads were sweating, but there was not a trace of fear on their faces. After all, when they embarked on the sea, death was just a matter of time for them.
"Are you all afraid?" Suddenly, a loud shout came from the deck.
It was Stussy's shout. They were not unfamiliar with the pirate group behind them, having seen other pirate groups under Rocks's command in battle.
Although the battles were evenly matched, Rocks's pirates usually suffered heavy losses, especially when facing Roger's elite crew.
However, nobody replied immediately. After a brief moment, a childish voice spoke up.
"Not afraid!"
Seeing Katie's determined face, Stussy smiled and ruffled her hair. Although Nicholas also aimed for the elite route, in Stussy's eyes, to become the ruler of the sea, one must have a massive force. The pirates' behavior disappointed her because without a common resolve to face death, they were just passengers on the ship, not true companions.
"Simon, your Observation Haki is quite talented."
At the stern, Nicholas stood on the railing, watching the approaching Oro Jackson without looking back, with Simon and Vista behind him.
"Now, I'll teach you how to use Observation Haki for long-range attacks."
Without waiting for Simon's response, Nicholas's voice came again. It seemed he had seen the future Pirate King in the distance, as a smile appeared on his lips.
Then, he took out a metal sphere from his pocket.
Staring ahead at Oro Jackson, which was getting closer to their group, the light in Nicholas's eyes became sharper.
"Believe me, what happens next will be unforgettable!"
At the same time, on Oro Jackson.
"Hey, Captain, are you kidding? At this distance, even that guy from the Golden Lion wouldn't pose much of a threat to us, right?"
Fishman Sunbell scratched his fish head, unable to understand why the captain suddenly became so serious. He couldn't forget how the captain had reacted when the Golden Lion had dropped a small island on them from the sky.
"Sunbell, the captain surely has his reasons. Don't you remember last time?"
Nodding, Nozdon patted Sunbell's shoulder.
At almost the same instant, a sense of foreboding gripped everyone in Roger's crew. All of their expressions turned serious.
In the silent sea, the sense of threat emanating from the rear of the fleeing pirate ship was palpable.
"What a terrifying guy!"
Gaban put the bottle on his waist, his voice serious and focused. Even Roger and Rayleigh could only vaguely perceive what was in the light, but they couldn't grasp it with their Observation Haki.
"Roger!"
He unsheathed Ace, and then, armed with Busoshoku Haki, he said with a solemn expression, "Here it comes!"
"What is... that?"
With a hint of confusion, a loud explosion!
In just an instant, a dazzling attack tore through the air with unparalleled momentum, cutting through the sea with such speed that it left a trench!
Even Roger and Rayleigh could only vaguely perceive what was in the light, but they couldn't grasp it with their Observation Haki.
"Kamu sari!"
Roger brandished his huge sword toward Nicholas's direction, speaking loudly.
Booooommmmmm!*
…
Meanwhile, on Nicholas's ship.
Watching the incoming cannonballs, Nicholas said to Vista, "Let's play with them. Also, prepare the barrel bombs. We're ready to retreat at any time."
"All gun positions, be ready! Open fire on the sides!"
Vista's roar echoed throughout the ship.
With the ship's trajectory, pirates on Nicholas's ship ignited the fuses and fired cannons from the side.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In the blink of an eye, with the sharp smell of gunpowder and the sharp whistling through the air, cannonballs traced parabolas and whizzed toward the enemy ship.
"Interesting."
Sitting cross-legged at the bow, Roger watched the incoming cannonballs with interest, unmoving.
Then.
"Sasa!"
Behind him, with a burst of air, Rayleigh, Gaban, and others jumped up, intercepting all the cannonballs in mid-air. The explosions resonated around the pirate ship.