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The next instant—
Whoosh—!!!
A blinding purple spiral beam, pulsing with pure destruction, exploded from the tip of Dan's pudgy finger!
It was so fast—faster than anyone's eyes could follow.
That beam met Yasopp's "Bullet Waterline"—a barrage of hundreds of bullets wrapped in Armament and Conqueror's Haki—head-on in midair.
But instead of a thunderous explosion...
There was nothing.Not even a sound.
Yasopp's bullets—capable of ripping through steel and tearing battleships apart—melted away like snow under the sun the moment they touched that purple light.No resistance.No clash.Just—obliteration.
Crushed.Completely.Effortlessly.
"Wh-what…?!"
The fury and ferocity on Yasopp's face were instantly wiped out, replaced by sheer horror.
He could only watch as his proudest technique dissolved before his eyes—fragile as paper against that strange violet ray.
And the beam—after devouring every last bullet—didn't slow down.Didn't fade.It kept going, straight for his face.
Death loomed over him in a heartbeat.
"Yasopp!"
Shanks and Ben Beckman's expressions both changed at once. They tried to move—But it was too late.
The beam was just too fast.
Yasopp's pupils shrank to pinpoints, every hair on his body standing on end.He forced every drop of his power out.
"Armament—Hardening!"
He crossed his arms before his chest, coating them in jet-black Haki, forming armor thick as steel.
He even pushed his Observation Haki to the limit, desperately trying to predict the trajectory—to dodge—
But it was useless.
The violet beam smashed into his arms.
Then—BOOM!!!!
It was like an invisible freight train hit him full-force.
Yasopp's body tore through the deck, crashed deep into the ship's hull—and finally, shot straight into the sea.
Glug, glug, glug...
A string of bubbles surfaced—and then—
KABOOOM—!!!
An explosion erupted underwater!
A massive water pillar shot skyward—tens of meters high!
Rain-like seawater came pouring down as the ocean churned violently from the blast.
And then—Silence.
Absolute, dead silence.
On both the Moby Dick and the Red Force, no one said a word.
You could hear a pin drop.
Every pirate stood frozen—mouths wide, eyes bulging—faces full of disbelief and bone-deep fear.
Even the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates and the top officers of the Red-Hair Pirates stood mute, unable to utter a sound.
Even Whitebeard and Shanks, two of the Four Emperors who ruled the New World, stared in shock—pupils trembling, expressions grim and shaken.
Their eyes shifted from the churning sea—to Dan, still floating in the air.That soft, cherubic little face, looking as harmless as ever.
One hit…?Just… one?
The Red-Hair Pirates' sniper, a notorious pirate worth hundreds of millions—defeated.
Utterly.Completely.
"Wororororororo—!!"
Kaido's massive dragon head froze for only a second—then burst out laughing, louder and wilder than before!
But deep in his blazing eyes, a flicker of astonishment passed.
This brat's gotten even stronger.That move—he hadn't seen it before. Another new technique.
His growth rate… it's way beyond what mine ever was…
"Yasopp!"
"Quick! Get him out of the water!"
The Red-Hair crew finally snapped out of their shock. They rushed to the ship's edge, shouting orders.
Moments later, Lucky Roo and Ben Beckman pulled Yasopp from the sea—soaked, burned black across both arms, barely breathing.
"Cough—! Cough, cough—!"
He hacked up seawater and blood, face pale as paper.
Still, he grabbed for his rifle, trying to stand—but pain wracked his whole body; he could barely move.
"I… I haven't lost yet!" Yasopp growled through clenched teeth, glaring up atDan with bloodshot eyes. "You brat… come down here and fight me again!"
He—the Red-Hair Pirates' sniper—defeated by some kid in diapers?!
If word got out, he'd never live it down!
"Yasopp. That's enough."
Ben Beckman held him down, voice calm but firm. His gaze met Dan's—deep, conflicted.
He took a slow breath.
"This round," he said heavily, "we concede."
Yasopp's eyes flew open. "Beckman! You—"
"Shut up," Beckman snapped, voice sharp as a blade. "We lost. He's stronger. That's it."
Yasopp bit his lip, trembling. Then, slowly, his head dropped.
Utter humiliation.
The worst defeat of his life.
[Ding!] Congratulations, Host! You have defeated an opponent of Shichibukai-level or higher (Red-Hair Pirates Officer: Yasopp).Quest 3 Progress: Defeat 4 Shichibukai-level or higher enemies — (1/4).
A cold mechanical voice echoed in Dan's mind.
He blinked his big dark eyes.Three more to go.
"..."
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