One Piece: A Warlord's Path

Chapter 710: Bivins Kingdom - The War of National Extinction (11)

"Shut your mouth! I don’t need your help!"

"Armament Hardening: Thermal Dreadnought Strike!!!"

Infuriated by Backan’s taunt, Abel’s right arm became encased in Armament Haki, the reddish-black coating gleaming with a distinct metallic luster. He unleashed a devastating punch. The air rippled like water under the sheer force of the blow.

"Ryusoken: Dragon’s Claw!!!"

Sabo’s expression hardened. His right hand formed the "Dragon’s Claw," coated in Haki. With a sudden burst of speed, he shot forward like a bolt of lightning to meet the attack head-on.

CLANG—!

The fist and claw collided instantly, the impact sending a tremor through the air. A distorted shockwave swept outward, pulverizing the ground beneath their feet. A moment later, a visible gale of pressure erupted, shattering the earth and sending a pillar of dust into the sky.

Suddenly, Sabo shifted his weight and retracted his arm. Abel, caught off guard by the loss of resistance, stumbled forward.

Seizing the opening, Sabo launched a high kick, his boot connecting squarely with Abel’s face.

BAM—!

The kick sent Abel spiraling backward, tumbling across the dirt several times before coming to a stop.

"You brat...!"

Abel pushed himself up, clutching his face in a towering rage. His white fur coat was now stained with filth and grime. Sabo, knowing better than to let his opponent recover, charged forward, his metal pipe spinning with lethal momentum.

Seeing this, Backan could no longer stand idly by.

"Don’t you dare!"

With a thunderous roar, Backan hurled his massive axe at Sabo.

Whirrr-whirrr-whirrr—!

The great axe spun through the air with a predatory howl. Sabo’s heart skipped a beat as the two-meter-wide wheel-axe closed in. He could feel the biting wind of the blade; the throw had perfectly predicted his path. If he kept charging, he’d be cleaved in two.

Sabo dug his heels in, halting his momentum and bringing his pipe up in a defensive parry.

CLANG—!

The sharp edge of the axe slammed into the pipe with a resounding metallic ring, sending a shockwave rippling through the air. Sabo felt a surge of titanic force travel up his arms, and his body was pushed back, his feet carving two deep furrows into the earth.

Once the momentum died, the axe fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Thump, thump, thump...

Backan charged, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground. He reached Sabo in an instant, a massive hand reaching out to crush the youth’s head. Sabo recoiled, swinging his pipe in a desperate counter.

"You fell for it! Rusting Hand!!!"

Backan grinned savagely, his hand snapping shut around the incoming metal pipe.

Oh no!

Seeing that sinister smirk, Sabo remembered Backan’s Devil Fruit power. He tried to yank the pipe back, but it was too late. From the point of contact, an invisible force took hold, as if time itself were accelerating. The steel pipe rusted and corroded instantly, the decay spreading like a virus.

"Damn it!" Sabo cursed and released his grip.

In a heartbeat, the entire pipe crumbled into a pile of reddish-brown rust, fluttering to the ground.

Backan clapped his hands, letting the remaining flakes of rust fall through his fingers. He looked at the now-unarmed Sabo and chuckled triumphantly. "Heh... no weapon. What now?"

"A Paramecia-type Rust-Rust Fruit user... that is a troublesome ability," Sabo remarked grimly, looking at the remains of his weapon. A weapon is an extension of one’s limbs; even for a master of martial arts, losing it was a significant blow.

"You bastard! I told you not to interfere!" Abel yelled, furious that his fight had been interrupted.

"You think I wanted to?" Backan rolled his eyes. "I just didn’t want the Captain to come down here and find he has to appoint a new Guardian for Micity Port because you got yourself killed."

"You—!" Abel’s face turned dark. Since when did this brute become so silver-tongued?

"Brat, I think it’s time the Revolutionary Army found themselves a new Number Two!" Backan turned back to Sabo, reaching down to hoist his fallen axe onto his shoulder.

"While I am somewhat humbled to serve as Chief of Staff at such a young age, I believe I am more than capable of holding the position. I don’t need your concern," Sabo replied coldly, his hands assuming the "Dragon’s Claw" stance.

"Hmph! I’m not concerned for you. I’m just going to kill you!"

Backan lunged, swinging the massive axe in a vertical cleave. The blade tore through the air with a terrifying shriek.

"If you want my life, come and see if you’re man enough to take it! Ryusoken: Dragon’s Claw!!!" Sabo let out a cold laugh, his Haki-clad claw lashing out like a striking serpent.

CLANK!

In a flash, the pitch-black claw clamped down on the edge of the axe. A violent whirlwind of pressure erupted from the point of impact, kicking up clouds of dust.

CRACK—

A sharp sound rang out. Fractures appeared on the wheel-like axe, spreading instantly until the entire blade was webbed with dozens of cracks.

"Nani?!"

Backan was stunned. He knew the "Dragon’s Claw" was formidable, but he hadn’t expected it to be powerful enough to shatter a Haki-infused axe with bare hands.

SHATTER!

The axe disintegrated, falling to the ground in a dozen metallic shards. Backan stared at the empty handle in his hand, his expression turning ugly. Before he could react, Sabo leaped into the air and delivered a powerful kick.

BAM!

Backan managed to cross his thick arms just in time. The force of the kick sent the three-meter giant skidding back several steps.

Witnessing this, Abel realized the danger. Without another word, he charged back into the fray.

"400 Brick Fist!!!"

Suddenly, the Fish-man Hack intercepted Abel, unleashing a punch with enough force to shatter four thousand tiles.

"Who’s this?!" Abel crossed his arms in a defensive block.

BOOM!

A powerful gale erupted as Hack’s fist met Abel’s guard. Abel’s fur coat billowed behind him, the ground beneath him cracked, and dust swirled into the air.

"Fish-man Karate, huh...? A bit lacking in power, don’t you think?" Abel looked up at Hack, a murderous glint in his eyes. The Chris Pirates had Fish-men among their officers, so he was no stranger to the style, but he was insulted that a "nobody" thought they could stop him. He was already fuming from his clash with Sabo; this was the final straw.