One by one, the magma bullets transformed into massive lava tigers, their bodies shrouded in thick black smoke as they pounced toward the Kuja Pirates.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Giant molten claws slammed into the warriors, flesh and bone shattering on impact. Blood sprayed in all directions.
"What—!"
"Ahhh!"
"Bang!"
"Help—!"
"Urghh!"
Splurt!
The devastating force crushed most of them instantly, reducing bodies to nothing more than blood mist.
A handful managed to react in time, coating their bodies in Armament Haki, but the impact still sent them smashing through layers of the ship's deck.
The magma tigers had no intelligence, only an instinct to pounce and charge forward relentlessly. They would only stop if destroyed or if they left Sakazuki's area of influence. Within seconds, the Kuja Pirates' ship was in ruins, its crew suffering heavy casualties.
Jasmine, the Empress of the Kuja Tribe, felt rage boil within her. A surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her, sweeping forward like an invisible wave. The magma tigers at the ship's bow momentarily froze, disrupted by her will.
Seizing the opportunity, the surviving warriors fired a volley of black arrows, each one reinforced with Haki.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions erupted, blasting the magma beast's head apart. For a brief moment, relief flickered through the crew—until a blinding red light surged from the decapitated remains.
A scorching wave of heat surged toward them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Like volcanic bombs, molten lava burst from the fallen beasts, raining down across the deck. Thick smoke filled the air as flames spread uncontrollably.
Some of the lava splattered onto the three giant serpents towing the ship. They thrashed wildly in pain, their massive bodies writhing. The ship rocked violently.
Then—
A powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki, laced with pure killing intent, crashed onto the serpents. Terror overpowered their pain, forcing them into silence.
"Put out the fires! All of you!" Jasmine's voice was sharp, her fury barely contained as she ordered her crew.
Without hesitation, she leaped forward. Sonic booms cracked beneath her feet as she shot through the air, heading straight for the marine warship.
Raiding ships was nothing new to the Kuja Pirates. Even when surrounded by marine fleets, they had never suffered losses this great—never been so utterly humiliated.
To her, the Empress of the Kuja Tribe, this was unforgivable.
From afar, Sakazuki watched as Jasmine closed in, her movements swift and precise, resembling a user of Geppo.
His voice was indifferent.
"Did escaping the Marines' grasp a few times make you think we have no one left?"
The Marines hadn't ignored the Kuja Pirates out of incompetence; they had simply been preoccupied elsewhere. After all, the Calm Belt held only one island nation—conquering it served no real purpose. Transporting supplies was a logistical nightmare, and Sea King attacks were an ever-present threat.
But that was no excuse for a mere pirate nation to act so brazenly.
With a single step, Sakazuki shot forward. No need for Geppo—he closed the distance instantly. Tilting his body slightly to the right, he coated his right arm in Armament Haki and threw a punch.
Clang!
Above the ocean, Jasmine's right leg, wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, collided with Sakazuki's fist. A metallic crash rang out as the two clashed, locked in a deadlock.
The force of their clash rippled downward, shaking the ocean below. Like torpedoes detonating beneath the waves, towering water columns erupted into the sky.
Zzz—Zzz—!!
Black lightning crackled where their attacks met. Moments later, a figure was sent flying.
Jasmine's body rocketed backward, smashing into the massive Sea King carcass floating hundreds of meters away. With a thunderous impact, her body crashed through the creature's massive spinal spines, snapping them apart one by one.
Boom!!!
Sakazuki's figure followed closely, descending from the air. Magma flowed around his right foot as he stomped toward the Kuja Empress' position.
Jasmine planted her left hand on the flesh beneath her and rolled aside just in time.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted as magma burst from beneath Sakazuki's foot, surging outward like an erupting volcano. Before Jasmine could regain her footing, the molten tide was already rushing toward her.
Pushing off the flesh below with her arms, she propelled herself into the air, stepping rapidly against the sky to retreat.
"Magma Spire!"
Sakazuki melted into the surrounding magma. Using Observation Haki, he anticipated where Jasmine would land.
A towering peak of molten rock shot up from below, aiming to engulf her. Jasmine's legs pulsed with Haki as she stomped down hard, instantly shattering the upper half of the magma peak.
But then, an endless surge of magma erupted from the remaining base, shooting straight into the sky. The massive impact sent Jasmine flying higher, toward the peak of the molten wave.
Sakazuki's upper body reformed in human shape while his lower half remained fused with the magma. A magma pillar surged upward from beneath him, lifting him at breakneck speed toward his airborne opponent.
"Hound Blaze."
Sakazuki's voice was devoid of emotion. One of his arms turned to magma. His fist morphed into the head of a snarling hound, its gaping jaws lunging at Jasmine's throat.
Clang!
A metallic clash rang out as Jasmine drew her sword in a blur, coating the blade in Haki to block the attack. Using the impact's force, she pushed herself backward.
While still airborne, her blade crackled with Conqueror's Haki. She swung downward.
Several massive crescent-shaped slashes formed, slicing toward the Sea King's corpse below. The colossal carcass, spanning hundreds of meters, was instantly reduced to fragments. Chunks of magma-coated flesh sank into the depths, the battlefield beneath them rapidly disappearing.
Jasmine landed on one of the remaining floating chunks, the only part untouched by magma. Her gaze locked onto Sakazuki, still hovering above. Tightening her grip on her sword, she gathered her strength.
Sakazuki paid no heed to the vanishing battlefield beneath him. Bringing his hands together, he pulled them apart—summoning a three-meter-long blade of molten rock.
Gripping the hilt, he coated the magma blade in Armament Haki. Then, he dove down from the sky.
The enormous black sword slashed toward Jasmine with overwhelming force. Her blade crackled with spiraling Conqueror's Haki as she met the descending strike head-on.
Clang!
Steel clashed violently. Then came a deafening explosion. A massive shockwave burst outward, ravaging everything in its path.
Zzt—! Zzt—!!!
Black and red lightning crackled where their blades clashed.
"Raahhh!!!!" Jasmine roared, unleashing her full power.
For the first time, a flicker of solemnity crossed Sakazuki's face. He responded with a surge of raw strength.
Boom!!!
A violent eruption.
Under the immense force, their swords veered uncontrollably. One slash cut downward. The other cleaved skyward. Two boundless arcs of sword energy—one horizontal, one vertical—split the sea and sky in half.
The resulting blast sent them both hurtling away.
Jasmine tumbled onto a massive chunk of flesh, her body jolting from the impact.
Sakazuki steadied himself mid-air. His expression remained unreadable.
The battle was far from over.
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