Chaos erupted across the deck of the Crimson Serpent. The worn planks, stained with years of spilled grog and blood, became a battlefield where the four brothers fought for their lives against Blacktooth's crew.
Kain ducked beneath a wild swing from Swift Erica, her copper hair whipping around her face as she pressed forward with her blade. The woman moved with unexpected speed, forcing him to give ground.
"You boys picked the wrong ship," she hissed, her knife scar pulling tight across her cheek as she smiled. "Blacktooth will hang your heads from our mast."
"Funny," Kain replied, shifting his weight to the balls of his feet. "We were planning something similar."
He launched forward, gauntlets up in a defensive posture before dropping low at the last moment. His fist connected with her knee, but she rolled with the impact, using the momentum to swing her sword in a vicious arc toward his neck.
Across the deck, Ash faced Blacktooth directly. The captain's reputation hadn't prepared Ash for the man's sheer size. Blacktooth towered over him, crimson coat flapping in the sea breeze, iron teeth gleaming as he grinned.
"What's this? A child playing pirate hunter?" Blacktooth laughed, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest. "Your head's barely worth the effort."
Ash twirled his staff, the wood humming through the air. "Then you shouldn't have much trouble defeating me."
Blacktooth drew his cutlass with surprising grace for such a large man. "I'll make it quick."
He didn't. Blacktooth's first swing came with such force that when Ash blocked it with his staff, the impact traveled up his arms and rattled his teeth. The captain was stronger than he looked—much stronger.
Meanwhile, Talon found himself surrounded by three pirates, including the twins Sora and Sero. They circled him, small crossbows at the ready.
"We've got the pretty one," one twin called.
"He won't be pretty when we're done," the other replied.
Talon's eyes narrowed, the scar above his right eye tightening. "I'm counting six crossbow bolts between you. Better make them count."
He exploded into motion as the first bolt flew past his ear. His gauntleted fist connected with the nearest twin's jaw with a satisfying crack. The second twin fired, the bolt grazing Talon's shoulder. He spun, using the momentum to deliver a brutal kick to the man's sternum.
The third pirate, a burly man with a hook for a hand, lunged forward. Talon barely twisted away in time, the hook tearing through his shirt.
Redd faced his own challenges near the ship's bow. 'Butcher' Kroll swung a massive meat cleaver in wide, deadly arcs while 'Doc' Marrow circled behind him, her scalpel glinting in the sunlight.
"You've got good form," Redd acknowledged, short swords held in a defensive cross. "But your footwork gives you away."
Kroll spat on the deck. "Won't matter when your head's rolling across it."
Redd feinted left before driving forward right, one sword deflecting the cleaver while the other sliced across Kroll's forearm. The quartermaster howled in pain but didn't drop his weapon.
Marrow seized the opportunity, darting in from behind. Redd sensed rather than saw her approach, dropping into a crouch that sent her stumbling over him. He rose, bringing the pommel of his sword down on the back of her head. She crumpled to the deck.
"One down," Redd muttered, turning his full attention to Kroll.
Back amidships, Kain found himself pressed against the railing. Swift Erica was living up to her name, her blade a blur as she drove him back. A quick glance showed him the merchant vessel still alongside them, its crew watching in horror.
"Getting tired, boy?" Erica taunted, her blade slicing a thin line across Kain's cheek.
Kain wiped the blood away with the back of his hand. "Just warming up."
He launched into a combination they'd perfected in Krevane—three rapid jabs followed by a sweeping kick. Erica parried the first two jabs but the third caught her shoulder, throwing her off balance. The kick connected with her hip, sending her staggering.
Kain pressed his advantage, driving forward with a flurry of strikes. Erica recovered quickly, though, her blade weaving a defensive pattern that kept him at bay.
"You've got skill," she admitted, breathing heavily. "But skill isn't enough out here."
Near the ship's wheel, Ash found himself on the defensive. Blacktooth moved with surprising agility for his size, each swing of his cutlass forcing Ash to give ground. The captain's iron teeth gleamed as he grinned.
"You're quick, boy, I'll give you that," Blacktooth said, circling slowly. "But you're out of your depth."
Ash spun his staff, creating space between them. "We've faced worse in Krevane."
"Krevane?" Blacktooth laughed. "That backwater civil war? Child's play."
He lunged forward, his cutlass slicing through the air where Ash's head had been a moment before. Ash countered with a strike to Blacktooth's knee, but the captain barely flinched.
Talon had dispatched one of the twins, leaving him unconscious on the deck. The second twin and the hook-handed pirate circled him warily.
"Your brother's going to die," the remaining twin said, reloading his crossbow.
Talon glanced toward Ash, seeing him pressed back by Blacktooth. Concern flashed across his face before he masked it.
"He can handle himself," Talon replied, shifting his stance to face both opponents. "Can you?"
The hook-handed pirate charged, swinging his weapon in a vicious arc. Talon sidestepped, grabbing the man's wrist and using his momentum to slam him into the mast. The pirate's head connected with a sickening crack, and he slumped to the deck.
The twin fired his crossbow, but Talon had anticipated the shot. He dropped to one knee, the bolt sailing over his head, then launched forward in a diving tackle that sent them both crashing into a stack of barrels.
Redd found himself gaining the upper hand against Kroll. The quartermaster's wild swings grew slower as blood seeped from the wound on his arm. Redd pressed his advantage, his dual short swords forcing Kroll to defend rather than attack.
"Surrender," Redd offered, "and we'll let you live."
Kroll's response was a desperate lunge that left him overextended. Redd stepped inside his guard, bringing the pommel of his sword down on Kroll's temple. The quartermaster collapsed to the deck.
"Vigo!" Kroll called out as he fell. "Light it up!"
From below deck, a young man with burn scars emerged, carrying what appeared to be a makeshift bomb. Redd's eyes widened.
"Explosive!" he shouted across the deck.
Kain, still locked in combat with Erica, glanced toward the sound of Redd's voice. The momentary distraction cost him as Erica's blade sliced across his ribs. He hissed in pain but managed to block her follow-up strike.
"Getting sloppy," she taunted.
"Getting bored," Kain countered, launching into a series of strikes that drove her back toward the center of the deck.
Vigo 'Boom' Tanner lit the fuse on his explosive device, his scarred face twisted in a manic grin. "Everyone's going down together!"
Redd sprinted across the deck, leaping over fallen pirates. He tackled Vigo just as the man prepared to throw the bomb, sending them both crashing to the planks. The explosive rolled from Vigo's hand, its fuse sputtering.
"Talon!" Redd shouted. "The bomb!"
Talon, having subdued the remaining twin, spotted the explosive. He darted forward, snatched it up, and hurled it over the side of the ship. The bomb exploded mid-air, sending a shower of splinters across the water.
The blast created a momentary lull in the fighting. Kain used the distraction to land a solid blow to Erica's sternum, driving the air from her lungs. As she gasped for breath, he swept her legs from under her, sending her crashing to the deck. A quick strike to her temple rendered her unconscious.
Ash, however, found himself in trouble. Blacktooth had backed him against the ship's railing, his cutlass pressing against Ash's staff. The captain's face was inches from Ash's, his iron teeth bared in a feral grin.
"You're good," Blacktooth admitted, "but not good enough."
With a sudden surge of strength, Blacktooth shoved forward, breaking through Ash's guard. The cutlass sliced across Ash's chest, drawing a line of crimson. Ash staggered back, his face pale with shock.
"Ash!" Kain shouted, running toward them.
Blacktooth turned, his eyes narrowing as he saw Kain approaching. "Another one? Fine by me."
What happened next shocked everyone on deck. Blacktooth's muscles seemed to swell, his already impressive frame growing even larger. The seams of his crimson coat strained as his body transformed.
"What the hell?" Kain muttered, skidding to a halt.
Blacktooth laughed, the sound deeper and more menacing than before. "Surprised? The Marines think I'm just another low-bounty captain. That's exactly what I want them to think."
His skin took on a strange metallic sheen, the afternoon sun reflecting off it like polished iron.
"Devil Fruit," Ash gasped, pressing a hand to his bleeding chest.
"The Iron-Iron Fruit," Blacktooth confirmed, flexing his now-metallic arm. "Not the most exotic, but effective."
Kain's mind raced. Iron meant strength and durability, but also weight. He exchanged a quick glance with Ash, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. They'd faced Devil Fruit users in Krevane, though rarely. The principles remained the same—find the weakness.
"Talon! Redd!" Kain called out. "We've got a Paramecia type!"
Blacktooth didn't wait for them to regroup. He charged forward, his metal-enhanced cutlass slicing through the air toward Kain's head. Kain barely managed to duck, the blade passing close enough to trim a few strands of his hair.
Ash, despite his injury, swung his staff at Blacktooth's knees. The wood connected with a dull thunk against the metallic skin, barely making the captain flinch.
"Going to take more than that, boy," Blacktooth taunted, kicking Ash square in the chest and sending him sliding across the deck.
Kain circled warily, gauntlets raised. "Iron has weaknesses," he said, buying time as Talon and Redd moved to flank Blacktooth.
"Not when I control it," Blacktooth replied. His arm suddenly extended, the metal stretching like liquid before solidifying again, catching Kain by surprise. The elongated fist slammed into Kain's chest, driving him back against the mast.
Talon leapt onto Blacktooth's back, gauntleted fists hammering at the captain's head. Blacktooth roared in annoyance, his skin rippling as metal spikes erupted from his back. Talon cried out in pain as the spikes pierced his chest and arms, forcing him to release his hold.
Redd charged in, short swords flashing. The blades scraped against Blacktooth's metallic skin, throwing sparks but doing little damage. Blacktooth laughed, grabbing Redd by the throat with his elongated arm and hurling him across the deck.
"You boys are in over your heads," Blacktooth said, his voice resonating with a metallic timbre. "Should have stayed in Krevane."
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