The battle was reaching its boiling point. Just as the pirates thought their relentless assault might wear Satoru down, an instinctive retreat took over. Someone shouted, and the three pirate captains—Larkus, Rurik, and Garen—sprang backward simultaneously, their beastly senses warning them of an imminent danger growing with proximity to Satoru.
"**Turning Void: Azure Attraction.**"
Satoru's voice carried an air of unshaken confidence as a gravitational pull suddenly took hold of the three captains. Invisible forces yanked at their bodies, pulling them toward Satoru against their will. Midair, the three struggled for control but found themselves helpless to the unrelenting draw.
"Damn it!" Rurik snarled, his clawed hands futilely swiping at nothingness as he was dragged closer.
In a flash, Satoru unleashed his counterstrike. "**Black Flash: Triple Barrage!**" His fist shimmered with dark energy as it connected with precision, driving into the stomachs of all three. The captains gasped in unison, blood spurting from their mouths as the impact sent them crashing into the ground, splitting them apart like scattered leaves.
Their instincts saved them from worse. By coating their bodies with Armament Haki just in time, they managed to survive—albeit with heavy internal injuries.
From a pirate ship watching the battle from a distance, crew members stood stunned, watching the carnage unfold through their telescopes.
"Boss, are you sure we shouldn't intervene? Those three don't stand a chance against that kid!" one of them exclaimed.
The leader remained calm, a smirk playing on his lips. "I warned you. Satoru's strength is on an entirely different level. This is the price they pay for underestimating him."
Back on the battlefield, the pirate captains rose, their bodies shifting into full beast transformations. As Rurik's fur bristled and his claws elongated, Garen roared with the might of a lion, his golden mane flaring. Garen muttered, "He's strong, but every ability has a weakness. There must be a flaw in his defense somewhere…"
The three captains attacked together, aiming to overwhelm Satoru. Rurik darted in first, his speed turning him into a blur as he struck from multiple directions. Behind him, Garen and Larkus followed with synchronized attacks, their fists wrapped in Haki as they lunged at Satoru from every angle.
Satoru didn't flinch. Standing motionless, his calm demeanor never wavered, and an imperceptible smile lingered on his face. Every strike, no matter how powerful or precise, stopped inches before reaching him, as though an invisible barrier surrounded him.
"You're done now?" Satoru finally asked, brushing some imaginary dust off his coat. He grabbed Rurik's arm before the wolf pirate could retreat and smirked. "Your speed's decent, but not good enough to break my defenses."
In an instant, Satoru unleashed a devastating combo. His left hand locked Rurik's arm in place while his right struck with a flurry of punches that blurred into a continuous storm of pain. Blood sprayed from Rurik's mouth, his body limp and broken by the time Satoru released him.
Rurik collapsed on the ground, barely breathing, his life hanging by a thread. Garen and Larkus exchanged panicked glances, their earlier confidence replaced with dread. They realized that the Navy hadn't abandoned the G8 base—they had sent someone far beyond their comprehension to guard it.
Watching their comrade defeated so easily, the remaining pirates faltered. The once-rowdy ranks turned silent, their earlier bravado extinguished.
Satoru surveyed the battlefield, his gaze shifting to Garen and Larkus. "You can't run," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. "Your speed is nothing compared to mine. But I'm feeling generous. Surrender, and I'll spare your lives. You'll spend the rest of your days rotting in Impel Down. Refuse, and your journey ends here."
The captains hesitated, glancing at each other. Their pride as high-bounty pirates wouldn't let them submit so easily. Despite knowing they couldn't win, they prepared for one final stand.
"It seems surrender isn't an option," Satoru mused, cracking his knuckles. "Fine. But don't expect me to hold back anymore."
The tension thickened as the captains launched their desperate assault. Even in the face of defeat, they chose to fight, determined to meet their end with dignity.