Just as the pirate chef finished speaking, Zeff stood up. With his movement, the entire house suddenly shook. The roof cracked apart, and a red shadow smashed through, crashing down.
From outside, one could see that the red shadow split the house, where Zeff and the others were, cleanly in two.
Some members of the chef pirate crew, unable to dodge in time, were struck by the red shadow. They spat blood and immediately lost their ability to fight. It was only then that everyone inside saw clearly: the red shadow was a mass of hair, as thick as a person's waist. Connected to the outside, the hair had hardened like iron under some unknown force, leaving a crater in the ground where it landed.
The crimson hair writhed like a monstrous snake, slowly retracting toward the outside. Along the way, it coiled around several members of the chef pirate crew, as if it were a greedy serpent trying to drag its prey away.
The crew shouted in defiance, swinging their blades and axes wildly at the monstrous red hair. However, their weapons merely sparked upon contact, making metallic clanging sounds. Only a few strands were cut off; they couldn't save their companions.
Zeff led a few officers out through the gap created by the monstrous red hair. Outside, on the street, Barbarossa and several members of the Redbeard Pirates stood menacingly, watching them.
More of Zeff's crew emerged one by one from the house. Though outnumbered by the Redbeard Pirates, the chef crew still had dozens of members in the area. Despite the odds, Barbarossa and his men showed no fear.
Hutchinson took out a flask, drank a swig of strong liquor, and passed it to Harden. The fiery alcohol seemed to burn away both the cold and the fear within them.
The Redbeard Pirates, one of the most notorious groups in the East Blue, were formidable. The men Barbarossa brought were his elites. Despite facing enemies ten times their number, they shouted in unison and charged at the chef crew without hesitation.
The chef pirates, though unaware of the conflict's cause, were no less skilled. Led by their officers, they counterattacked with equal ferocity.
Zeff crossed his arms and watched the fight coldly. The Redbeard Pirates' smaller numbers soon became evident. After just a short exchange, they began to falter. Seeing this, Barbarossa activated his ability to turn the tide. Only then did Zeff move.
With a single step, Zeff leaped over the melee, his leg slicing through the air like a battle axe toward the monstrous serpent-like hair conjured by Barbarossa's powers.
Zeff, known as "Red-Leg," ruled the East Blue with his unmatched leg techniques. Anyone struck by his kicks ended up with broken bones and spilled blood, staining his legs red. His legs were powerful enough to shatter rocks and leave marks on steel. Barbarossa's iron-like hair was no match, kicked aside with a single blow.
"Redbeard!"
"Red-Leg!"
The two stared each other down with hatred. Barbarossa blamed Zeff for the deaths of his two brothers, while Zeff seethed at Barbarossa's unprovoked attack and the loss of his men.
Barbarossa swung his massive curved blade at Zeff. Standing over two meters tall with a bear-like build, his weapon was enormous. The blade's swing tore through the air with a deafening roar, scattering rain droplets that stung Zeff's face.
Zeff agilely flipped to evade the strike. But as Barbarossa's swing missed, the exposed skin on his head, chin, and even the back of his hands erupted with rapidly growing hair. The strands twisted into ropes of varying thickness, lashing at Zeff like living whips.
The hair, hardened by Barbarossa's ability, struck the ground with force, creating craters and sending mud flying. Zeff's legs moved in a blur, deflecting the blows. Each collision between his kicks and the hair sounded like iron pillars clashing.
Despite Zeff's incredible skills, the sheer volume of hair overwhelmed him. He could fend off the attacks but couldn't harm Barbarossa. Eventually, he was struck by a whip-like strand as thick as an arm, sending him flying into a nearby house, coughing blood.
Zeff's men were horrified, while the Redbeard Pirates erupted in cheers.
Barbarossa strode toward the house, curved blade in hand. Just as he reached it, a red shadow burst forth from within. Startled, Barbarossa activated his power, causing his hair to grow wildly, forming a thick shield in front of him.
At the same time, a bloodied but furious Zeff lunged forward, his right leg ablaze.
Barbarossa finally saw clearly: Zeff's extended leg glowed bright red. Raindrops sizzled and evaporated upon contact with his skin, turning to steam instantly.
Barbarossa's single eye narrowed as he watched his previously indestructible hair, impervious to blades and axes, twist and curl like ordinary strands under the intense heat of Zeff's flaming kick.
"Barbarossa, I prepared this just for you! Taste my Devil's Wind Leg!" Zeff roared. His burning leg broke through the hair shield and slammed into Barbarossa's chest.
The smell of scorched flesh filled the air as Barbarossa screamed in pain. He flew back like a cannonball, rolling across the street before lying motionless.
After a moment, Barbarossa struggled to stand…
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