Shutenmaru led the Kairanki in a relentless charge. This unit was the most military-like force under Ren's command — every member rigorously trained and battle-hardened.
Their armor was incredibly sturdy as well, making them formidable in combat.
But Shiki's side had powerful fighters too. Once the two forces clashed, the battle quickly became deadlocked.
"Die!"
Shiyado dove from high above, her wings spinning as she spiraled down. Both claws were coated in Haki. Her Haki had improved rapidly lately — she had essentially mastered both types.
Her iron claws slashed down at a pirate below, piercing straight through his shoulder!
Shiyado carried the screaming pirate higher and higher, soaring until she reached the clouds. Then she reversed sharply and hurled him downward with all her might!
This was one of her killing techniques. Weaker pirates might not even survive a single claw strike.
Yayoi fought differently.
In her Oni form, Yayoi's back sprouted wings. She streaked across the low sky — sometimes drawing her bow for rapid shots, other times plunging into the crowd like a shadow, blade drawn!
She flitted across the battlefield like a specter. Every time Yayoi descended from the air, her blade drew blood. As black feathers scattered, she looked like a raven — an omen of death.
But she soon found her match.
A massive man wielding a nodachi nearly three meters long came slashing at her.
The great blade tore through the air, whipping up currents as if intending to sever Yayoi's wings.
CLANG!
Yayoi reacted instantly, spinning around and drawing her blade to block. She finally got a look at her attacker — a man with a vulture's head. Almost certainly a Vulture Fruit ability user.
What surprised Yayoi was that his arms had transformed into wings, meaning he couldn't grip the sword with his hands. Instead, it was his feet that held the nodachi.
What a weirdo...
Yayoi muttered to herself and pulled back to create some distance.
She could see the mad killing intent in his eyes — the gaze of a creep who enjoyed watching his prey die.
"What a cute little chick. Let me show you some love!" the bald man laughed arrogantly. He didn't notice Yayoi's eyes growing colder — or perhaps he noticed and simply didn't care.
"Insolent fool!" Yayoi leveled her blade and charged in. Her chest burned with killing intent — she wanted to take his head off right then and there! But despite his grotesque appearance and ridiculous fighting style, her opponent was no weakling.
SWOOSH!
A sound of tearing air rang out as July spun her body and whipped her massive tail forward. The thick tail cracked through the air and slammed into a pirate, caving in his entire chest in an instant!
She landed lightly, her sharp talons digging into the tundra. Then July bent her legs and launched herself like a cannonball!
Her powerful legs were her greatest weapons. She stomped directly onto an enemy's chest, shredding it, then immediately lunged toward the next target!
July had improved enormously lately. Thanks to her Ancient Zoan type advantages, she had endured the most grueling training. While she wasn't quite top-tier yet, she could essentially one-shot most ordinary enemies!
However, July's combat experience was still lacking. She had charged too aggressively with her momentum and found herself surrounded. Coincidentally, Shiyado and Yayoi — her two aerial backup fighters — were both tied up as well. July scanned her surroundings, watching sword-wielding pirates close in, her entire body tensing.
Her heart raced with tension. She was frustrated with herself, but her mind was already racing for a way out.
"Kill her!"
Someone bellowed the order, and over twenty pirates rushed her at once. Enemies closed in from every direction — front, back, left, right. Some even leaped high above her, gripping their blades in reverse, driving down toward her!
"Tail Storm — Circular Sever!"
July shook her body and roared. She dipped her upper body forward and twisted her lower half violently. Her tail swept in a full circle, unleashing a blue ring-shaped slash that expanded outward, cutting the ring of attackers above her clean in half!
Blood sprayed outward in every direction, weaving together into a crimson curtain.
Then she leaped forcefully into the air, soaring through the blood-stained veil and escaping the encirclement below.
"Storm Kick — Sharp Spear!"
July shouted with a deliberately deepened voice, thinking it would make her sound more intimidating.
The pirates' attack missed. They hurriedly looked up, only to get a face full of falling blood. For a moment, their entire world turned red. July's blurred silhouette crouched in the air above them.
It was the tell of an incoming attack.
A bad feeling washed over the pirates. They swallowed hard and tried to scatter — but it was too late.
BOOM!
July plummeted like a meteor, a flying kick slamming into the ground with devastating force. The impact shattered the tundra instantly, cracks spreading like a spiderweb. That entire section of ice broke into jagged fragments.
She yanked her foot free from the ice. The poor soul she had kicked directly had literally exploded! Her dragon-like form was practically drenched in blood from head to toe as she walked calmly out of the white mist.
July turned her head. Every pirate caught in her gaze felt their legs tremble and stumbled backward — as if they were staring at a demon from hell.
Seeing this, July let out a cold scoff. Instead of pressing the attack, she began to pull back.
As her figure disappeared, the pirates couldn't help but breathe a collective sigh of relief.
What they didn't know was that July had been bluffing confidence the entire time.
It hurts so much... My right leg's definitely broken!
The moment July turned her back, tears welled up in her eyes. She had kicked way too hard and was now pushing through pure willpower. Her small nose twitched as she sniffled, snot threatening to drip down.
"Oww... It hurts so bad!"
Good thing nobody chased me. I need to get back to the ship fast...
"Rotation — White Vortex!"
"Origin Style — Dragon's Roar!"
Shutenmaru and Garou launched a coordinated assault, leaving the Kairanki and advance force behind as they attacked a single man together. A blue slash took the form of a dragon, the flying beast letting out a low growl as it bared its fangs at John!
Garou formed a sphere with both hands in front of him. The tundra's wind, snow, and gravel were instantly drawn together by an unseen force, creating a massive white vortex around him!
Both attacks surged toward Captain John with overwhelming force. But he simply drew a single rapier, cleaving the flying dragon in half while summoning a counter-vortex that swallowed the white spiral whole!
[
Hey everyone,
I need to tell you what's actually happening.
I just got hit with mass cancellations. On top of being buried in academics until the 9th. I'm in deep financial trouble right now—like, genuinely don't-know-how-I-cover-next-month trouble.
I want to do more for you. I have another Naruto fic ready to drop the moment this academic hell ends. But I can't keep creating if I can't survive.
I'm not powerless about the work—I know I can deliver for you. But I'm powerless to stop the bleeding alone.
If you've ever thought about supporting, this is the moment. Not "someday." Now.
If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting on Patreon. You'll get 30 advance chapters immediately, plus monthly updates and bonus content. Every subscription keeps the chapters coming.
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]