The sounds of a fierce battle rumbled across the sky like rolling thunder, immediately capturing the attention of Eli Winters and his companions. They all looked up instinctively, their eyes drawn to the source of the commotion.
As Eli took in the scene before him, his brow furrowed slightly, a sense of uneasy curiosity swelling in his chest. The opponents engaged in intense combat with Big Pan were not members of the Mammoth Ship's crew. Instead, they hailed from three separate ships, each flying distinct pirate flags. Among them, the flags were especially eye-catching: each one depicted a skull with a long, crescent-shaped, snow-white beard curling outward.
"Whitebeard Pirates… here?" Eli murmured under his breath.
Beside him, Simon's face registered a mixture of shock and awe. "Could it really be… Whitebeard? The man they call the strongest in the world?" Having once navigated the Grand Line, Simon was well aware of Whitebeard's formidable reputation.
"Indeed, it is him. But to claim he's the strongest man alive… that's a bit of an exaggeration," Eli said with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Though he had never faced Whitebeard in combat, Eli could not agree that anyone deserved such a title outright.
At that moment, Filina, standing playfully at his side, piped up teasingly, "Eli, are you trying to say you're the strongest person in the world instead?"
Eli chuckled lightly. "Not quite. Let's go see what's happening. Dotai, bring everyone along." With that, he shot off in the direction of Big Pan.
Big Pan's eyes blazed with fury as he fixed his gaze on the fleeing Mammoth Ship. With strides like lightning streaking across the night sky, he closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
In moments, he was above the Mammoth Ship, moving as gracefully as a swallow, stepping along the Navy's Moonstep technique. His Panlong Staff began to tremble violently in response to his anger, growing rapidly before their eyes until it became a massive pillar, as if it could pierce the heavens themselves. Big Pan gripped the enlarged staff tightly with both hands and lifted it high above his head, radiating a terrifying aura of destructive power.
With a roar, he brought the staff crashing down toward the Mammoth Ship. The air seemed to freeze as a deafening explosion reverberated across the waves, the ocean trembling beneath the sheer force. From afar, it seemed unstoppable, destined to crush the ship into splinters.
Chulis, witnessing Eli suddenly appear on the battlefield, felt a surge of alarm. Recognizing the danger, he wasted no time ordering his crew to flee immediately. As for Disaster Jack, Chulis inwardly wished he would be taken down swiftly.
Yet Jack still had a handful of loyal underlings who refused to abandon their captain. They had underestimated Chulis, though; his strength far exceeded their expectations. In no time, several of them lay lifeless, victims of Chulis's merciless blade.
The remaining pirates were terrified, trembling as they obeyed Chulis's orders without question. They turned their ships around and sped away at full sail.
However, Chulis had not anticipated just how quickly Disaster Jack would be overwhelmed. No sooner had they set off than an ear-splitting roar sounded behind them. Turning around, they saw Big Pan in full pursuit, relentless in his wrath.
The pirates aboard the Mammoth Ship felt the sky darken suddenly. When they looked up, a massive staff, whipping through the air with a roar, descended toward them. Many were so frightened they collapsed, some losing control of their bodily fluids in sheer terror.
Chulis's face darkened like ink, unable to believe the ferocity of Big Pan's attack. Though a veteran of countless battles, even he was momentarily stunned.
He took a deep breath, chest swelling as a torrent of black, inky power erupted from him his mastered Armament Haki. In a shocking transformation, his calloused hands grew visibly larger and distorted, bones cracking and muscles bulging. Within moments, his hands had transformed into monstrous claws with three sharp talons each.
With a fierce roar, Chulis leapt like a predator onto its prey, claws slicing through the air as he met Big Pan's descending staff head-on.
The clash echoed like thunder, sparks flying with every strike. The impact hurled Chulis backward like a cannonball, smashing him into the deck of the Mammoth Ship, splintering wood as he punched a gaping hole through the sturdy planks.
Still, he did not give up. Ignoring the pain, he clambered back to his feet, bloodied but unbroken, having absorbed the brunt of Big Pan's strike.
Big Pan's expression remained calm, his gaze cold. "Was it you who ordered the attack on our ship?"
Chulis's face shifted, regret flashing across his features. If he had known Disaster Jack would be so quickly defeated, he would have fled while he had the chance. Yet he forced a smile of appeasement. "Our captain, Disaster Jack, gave the orders. We had no choice, Big Pan. Please, spare us."
"Spare you? Only if you can defeat me." Big Pan sneered and advanced again.
Brandishing his restored staff, he lunged at Chulis, smashing it down with overwhelming force. Chulis gritted his teeth, claws flashing, charging with all his might. Big Pan sidestepped with ease, swinging the staff in a deadly arc. Chulis barely avoided it, scraping the deck with his back, when suddenly a massive black-furred bear leg connected with his groin.
The crack of bone and muscle sent Chulis collapsing, moaning in pain, soon slipping into unconsciousness.
The fight ended abruptly. Chulis was no weakling, his power comparable to a Navy Vice Admiral, yet against Big Pan, his speed disadvantage and lack of durability cost him dearly. Witnessing their strongest ally felled in an instant, the remaining pirates fell to their knees, begging for mercy.
Big Pan ignored their pleas, lifting the unconscious Chulis effortlessly and leaping above the Mammoth Ship. He expanded his staff once more, aiming a crushing blow at the ship's hull. But this time, someone intercepted.
A towering man brandished a black blade, blocking the staff with unwavering strength. Big Pan's glare hardened as he retracted the staff, voice sharp. "Explain yourself, or I'll flatten you."
The newcomer's cold gaze fell on Chulis. "Do you intend to kill everyone on this ship?"
He was Defiados, the eleventh division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. He had no intention of rescuing the Beasts Pirates he merely sought to provoke conflict.
As Big Pan prepared to scold him, three Whitebeard pirate ships approached at high speed. Two figures leapt from one ship to join Defiados.
"You're alright, Defiados?" asked Blenheim with concern.
"I'm fine," came the calm reply.
Big Pan sneered. "I thought you were another group of ruthless pirates."
"Bastard, you big brute, what did you just say?" Blenheim shouted angrily.
"Am I wrong?" Big Pan retorted, disdain in his gaze.
Defiados's eyes narrowed. "You call us ruthless, yet you are the real killer. Release him, or don't blame me for acting."
"Against us? You're joking." Big Pan dismissed him with a sneer.
"Bastard, enough of this. I'll teach you a lesson," Blenheim yelled, charging at Big Pan with his blade.
"Blenheim, be careful. He's strong," Defiados feigned caution.
"Bring it on," Big Pan replied, gripping his staff, meeting Blenheim head-on.
The clash was immediate, Blenheim shocked by the raw strength. In just a few moves, he was overwhelmed.
At the same time, Artmos joined the fray, wielding twin blades, as Defiados's excitement grew, eager to see the battle unfold.
Big Pan faced two attackers without fear. His staff moved like a living dragon, striking with precise, fluid power. When he swung at Artmos, a roar echoed, "Eightfold Staff Art Wave Stack!" The staff surged like an unrelenting tidal wave, overwhelming Artmos, who could only block futilely.
The strike sent him flying into the sea, water erupting around him. Blenheim gasped, witnessing his companion's fall, and rushed to rescue him.
Big Pan, unfazed, retracted his staff and fixed his icy gaze on Defiados, taunting. "Your friends are in the water, life or death unknown. Not worried at all? Or do you plan to keep hiding like a coward, watching us fight to the last?"
Defiados scowled. He hadn't expected this bear to be so strong; Artmos and Blenheim together could not match him.
He drew his blade, power surging, and charged Big Pan. The clash of their weapons rang out, sparks flying as Defiados unleashed his signature technique, Wind Blast Slash. The gusts tore through the air, but Big Pan's circular Haki shield remained unbroken.
Defiados's eyes widened in disbelief. His strongest move had failed to even scratch Big Pan's defenses. Before he could react further, two devastating staff strikes struck from either side, sending him hurtling into the sea like a broken kite.
Blenheim, having just rescued Artmos, looked up in shock as Defiados was carried past him and plunged into the waves. One by one, the Whitebeard pirates' opponents were falling, and now Eli and his companions arrived on the scene.
Eli's brow furrowed. "Big Pan, what's happening? Why are the Whitebeard Pirates fighting you?"
Big Pan recounted the events, and Eli frowned. He hadn't tangled with these people before. Why were they seeking trouble now?
Before he could ponder further, another large ship approached at high speed. Eli's eyes widened as he studied the flag, curiosity and unease mounting.