Chapter 26: Demon Spider (Part 2)
"Oh? Even a rookie pirate who just set out to sea knows my name?" Demon Spider was rather surprised as he looked at Eric . After all, many pirates didn't even recognize the Navy's strongest Admirals—like the Straw Hats, the Straw Hats, and the Straw Hats.
"..." Although this wasn't the Demon Spider from ten years later, and his strength hadn't reached its peak, he could still skillfully use Life Return to control six strands of hair that formed extra arms. Combined with the dual blades in his hands, he wielded an Eight-Sword Style. Eric was by no means capable of defeating him at this point.
Demon Spider turned his gaze to Chiron. After all, he was the only one with a bow, and all the arrows had clearly come from him. He asked, "A pirate with archery skills like that is worth far more than 8 million Berries. His future potential and threat are immeasurable. So you're the captain of this ship?"
"I'm not. I'm just a regular archer under Captain Eric , and I'll continue to loyally follow him. Thank you for the compliment, though you give me too much credit." Chiron maintained his warm demeanor and politely responded, correcting Demon Spider's mistaken assumption and humbly acknowledging the praise for his archery.
"..." Demon Spider fell silent. After all, in most pirate crews, the captain was typically the strongest. Most pirates were scum and wouldn't tolerate a weaker person as their leader. That usually led to mutiny and internal strife. If what Chiron said was true, then his current situation was dangerous. From the moment he intercepted Chiron's arrows, he realized that Chiron could use Haki and was not weaker than himself. He had come aboard thinking that snipers or archers were usually weak in close combat.
He probably didn't expect that, in a certain moonlit world, archers deal damage primarily through melee combat, and Grand Archer-class servants wield massive clubs.
If Captain Eric was no weaker than Chiron, then being attacked by two opponents of equal strength meant that, unless he pulled off some god-tier operation... Well, too bad. After losing so much stamina on the way here, he might never leave this place alive.
But who was Demon Spider? He was the heir to Admiral Akainu, known for absolute justice, the hawkish marine who had no qualms about firing on his own ship to bombard Luffy, and who turned his gun on his own men when they tried to stop him. There was no way he would value his own life more than killing pirates.
While Demon Spider was rapidly thinking through his strategy, Eric was also activating his brain: "There are three of us now. Chiron and Akame are both strong, and we've got both melee and ranged support. We shouldn't lose, especially with senzu beans as our life-saving miracle." On the outside, Eric kept a calm face, but inside he was freaking out. He had forgotten to boost his and Akame's stats and was now quickly planning how to take down the mini-boss.
"Chiron, provide long-range support for Akame and me with your bow! Akame, watch out for Demon Spider's hair—he can precisely control it to attack." Who knows if Demon Spider can even grow an extra three-fingered hand? Better safe than sorry.
"Got it."
"Understood."
Akame and Eric launched a pincer attack from both sides of Demon Spider. But wielding the Eight-Sword Style, Demon Spider was completely unfazed. He not only parried their attacks but also countered with the remaining swords. However, Chiron's arrows kept his counterattacks in check.
'So many arms really are useful,' Eric mentally complained as he narrowly avoided being chopped up, fully alert—his life hanging by a thread.
'Are they using me for combat training?' Demon Spider had intentionally held back some of his swords earlier to guard against Chiron's ranged attacks. But when he realized Chiron's arrows weren't aimed at him but at his swords, he understood Chiron's strategy. 'Let's see what you do once they die at my hands!' He made up his mind to kill the brat in front of him first and then wipe out the whole pirate crew.
"Soru!" Capture the leader first! Demon Spider charged at Eric , rapidly closing the distance. Eight blades came slashing from all directions. If even one hit landed, Eric would become minced meat in a can.
"Soru!" Eric , who had been on high alert, used the same technique to dodge backward. Though not as fast as Demon Spider, the unexpected counter startled the assassin.
Rokushiki, or the Six Powers, was originally a secret martial art of CP9, the World Government's covert organization. Due to its practicality, some Marine officers also learned parts of it. To enhance Marine strength, new generation cadets and elite soldiers had started training in it too. But to see a newbie pirate using it? Demon Spider couldn't help but wonder if there was a traitor in the Navy.
"Who taught you that technique?" Demon Spider asked in a low voice. His already terrifying face looked even more sinister and eerie.
"Heh, just watched a few Marines use it and picked it up. What? Uncomfortable that your signature move's been copied?" Thinking that getting the enemy mad was a tactical advantage, Eric prepared some trash talk to provoke a mistake.
But he hadn't expected that Demon Spider would now be completely set on executing him. With such talent, capable allies, and future potential, he was a serious threat. Even though they were small in number, the Red-Haired Pirates, each with high bounties, had already become a force too large to ignore. They were even starting to be called the Fourth Emperor.
"In the name of justice, I'll bury you all here!" Demon Spider roared the slogan that would define his future path, once again charging at Eric with murderous intent.
'What did I even do to deserve this? Did I dig up his ancestors' graves or something?!' Eric barely dodged the fatal attacks using his unskilled Observation Haki, his every move full of fear. But Demon Spider's Eight-Sword Style was relentless. After dozens of exchanges, Eric had been slashed twice. The wounds weren't deep, but he looked ragged. The rest of the attacks were blocked by Chiron's arrows and Akame's sword. This wasn't an anime where only one person attacks at a time while the others stand around watching.
'Stay calm! I need to stay calm!' Observation Haki requires a calm mind to function. Panic disrupts it, and in a fight with continuous, multi-directional attacks, that could be fatal.
The ferocious, sharp-angled assaults had Eric on the brink of disaster. Another slash grazed his cheek. Desperate, Eric pulled out his pistol and started firing wildly at Demon Spider. Demon Spider didn't dodge; he slashed each bullet in half. The split bullets flew past behind him.
"Ha!" During this moment, Eric ducked low and swung horizontally at his opponent's legs. Since most of Demon Spider's swords were in his hair, he couldn't cover his lower body.
Without lowering his body, Demon Spider jumped high into the air. It had to be said—he was indeed a master of Life Return. His control over muscles and bones far surpassed that of ordinary people.
"Eight-Sword Style—Yamata no Orochi!" Leaping high, Demon Spider used [Geppo] to dive rapidly, his eight blades like long snake necks, the tips like open jaws, striking down at Eric .
'I can't block this! And I can't dodge it either!' That was the only thought in Eric 's mind. He could see the attack, but his body couldn't respond.
"Eric !" Akame cried out in panic, trying to leap in to shield him. But she didn't know Geppo. Without ground to support her, how could she block the blow?
Just then, a golden blur flashed past. A yellow figure crashed into Demon Spider, a powerful kick sending him flying into the deep ocean.
"A Devil Fruit user?" In the sea, powerless, Demon Spider vaguely saw the centaur figure of Chiron.
"Starlight Rapid Shot!" Chiron rapidly drew his bow, firing dozens of yellow-glowing arrows at Demon Spider, who was trying to use Geppo to jump back onto the ship.
"Akame, get out of here now!" Ignoring the pain of his wounds, Eric shouted the order to retreat.
Blocked by arrows—some even infused with Haki and exploding on impact—Demon Spider could only watch as the small sailboat vanished from view.
Powerless to pursue the fleeing pirate crew, Demon Spider returned to his warship and gave an order to the ship's communicator: "Connect me to Navy Headquarters. I have a report to make."
(END CHAPTER)
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