Gar released a thunderous roar. His blood-red eyes remained clear, holding back the wild frenzy lurking beneath the surface. He knew he would not stay lucid for long, yet he was certain he could end this fight before his control slipped away.
Now in his Sulong state, Gar radiated savage intensity. He lowered his head slowly, fixing his gaze on Oaks and Hocheng. Both men felt their spirits tighten under the crushing pressure.
A heartbeat later, Gar vanished. His figure flashed forward, hunting knife and Vajra Claws in hand, soaring through the air like a raging beast. The speed was so abrupt that neither opponent had time to react.
With overwhelming force, Gar slashed at Oaks. Unable to evade, Oaks crossed his arms and coated them in Armament Haki in a desperate defense.
Hocheng understood instantly that this clash would crush Oaks alone. Gar was too strong. If he did nothing, Oaks would collapse. He sprinted forward to support him.
A dull explosion rang out beneath their feet as the ground fractured from Gar's strength. Oaks trembled, knees bent, barely holding on. The blade sliced through his Haki, carving deep wounds along his arms as blood trailed down the length of the knife.
Even so, Oaks endured. Gar's strike was unstoppable, a monster's brute force pressing down on both men. Hocheng planted his hands against Oaks's back, channeling every ounce of strength he could muster into supporting him, almost as if trying to physically hold Oaks in place against the blow.
Oaks's legs sank into the ground under the immense pressure, yet together they managed to stop the cut.
Gar chuckled. "Not bad. Then try this."
A wave of dread swept through Oaks and Hocheng.
Bright blue light surged from Gar's hands, arcs of electricity crackling down his blades and into their bodies. It was a natural Mink Tribe ability, the ability to generate and channel electrical currents. Gar rarely used it, saving it for moments like this.
The sudden electric surge stiffened both captains. While Mink electricity was limited in raw power, its paralyzing effect was unmistakable. Their bodies locked up.
Gar's grin sharpened. Without moonlight's calming influence, his fighting style turned brutally aggressive. Under his fur, the muscles in his right arm swelled, veins bulging like twisted ropes.
They could no longer resist.
Gar's hunting knife fell.
Sparks flew as Oaks coughed blood. His arm, already weakened, snapped under the strike, severed at the elbow. At the last instant, Hocheng grabbed Oaks by the collar and yanked him backward to save him from immediate death.
They tried to flee, but Gar refused to let prey escape. His speed surged, creating a fierce gust as he closed the distance.
Oaks clenched his teeth. Even injured, he threw himself in front of Hocheng, shielding him. With a final desperate act, he kicked Hocheng away, sending him flying from the kill zone.
Gar's hunting knife came down on Oaks's back. The entire blade sank deep, ripping flesh apart. In the next breath, Gar's left-hand Vajra Claw thrust straight into Oaks's heart. His life ended instantly.
Gar turned next to the surviving captain.
Hocheng staggered upright. Flames roared across his skin, the heat so intense that raindrops evaporated midair. His aura swelled like violent fire, the air rippling around him.
"So he got even angrier?" Gar murmured.
Hocheng's mind burned with grief. He could still feel Oaks's last actions. The shield he formed with his body. The kick that saved his life. Rage and sorrow mixed until tears fell, refusing to vaporize even in the fire.
His flames surged higher. His body grew larger, muscles swelling, clothes tearing apart. His power skyrocketed with each pulse of fury.
"Die!" Hocheng roared, stomping hard enough to split the ground.
He charged, wrapped in blazing emotion.
Gar shook his head. "You lost control. You cannot handle your strength. You're like a man swinging a hammer that is too heavy. How could you beat me?"
He stepped aside from Hocheng's wild punch and slashed him with his hunting knife. The moment Hocheng staggered, Gar spun and kicked him away. A long gash opened across Hocheng's torso.
Yet Hocheng rose again. His Devil Fruit pushed him beyond his limits, dulling his pain and sharpening only his rage. He barreled forward again, pure fury guiding his fists.
Gar met him head on.
The battle dragged on for some time. Eventually, Gar panted heavily as his body reverted to its normal state. He had pushed the Moon Lion form to its limit. Any longer and he would have lost control completely.
Hocheng lay unconscious on the ground, his wrists locked in Seastone cuffs. Even with his enhanced durability, he had no chance against Gar's relentless assault.
Inside the palace, the larger battle raged.
Teach and Jones's clash shook the Kraken Kingdom like a living epic. No special effects, no illusions, just raw power. The spectacle left onlookers stunned.
All the commotion reached Levinsky Bond, the former king and Jones's father, living in seclusion outside the capital. Alarmed, he took flight and rushed to the city. His Devil Fruit, the Ancient Zoan Giant Eagle Fruit, allowed him to soar at high speed.
Arriving just moments earlier, he had observed Teach's battle cautiously. Knowing Teach outclassed him, Bond acted with great care. He joined Jones, attacking from a distance to restrict Teach's movement.
He could not harm Teach, but he could be annoying. Teach adapted quickly and began targeting Bond instead, aiming to kill him first.
Teach clashed claws with Bond's talons. Bond staggered back, flapping hard to retreat. Teach tried to pursue, but Jones's tentacles rushed in, blocking him off.
Bond was struggling. His aging body lacked resilience. The Ancient Zoan form gave him power and vitality, yet his stamina had faded over the years. Injuries piled up, and his partially torn right wing still carried claw marks from Teach's earlier strike.
If Jones had not intervened at a crucial moment, Teach would have gladly traded a few hits to eliminate Bond entirely.
The old king was cautious, but even caution had limits.
Jones continued the fight, relying on his monstrous regeneration. Teach hammered his head with shockwaves and Rokushiki techniques, tearing through tentacles with waves of force. Jones countered with sheer numbers, regenerating endlessly.
Bond could only support from the side, and even that had become a liability.
While the battle shook the palace, most inhabitants had already collapsed from Teach's Conqueror's Haki. Those who remained conscious and tried to flee were captured by members of the Nightfall Pirates.
Deep inside the palace, the royal treasury stood hidden. A young man sprinted toward it, stepping over unconscious guards.
This was Parker, son of King Levinsky Jones.
All trace of nobility had evaporated from him. Fear clouded his eyes, his body trembling.
"Their power… those monsters," he muttered.
He had watched Teach and Gar fight. Even from a distance, it felt as if death itself brushed against him.
Parker had always believed himself strong within the army. Now he knew the truth. Even a stray attack would kill him instantly. His father, Jones, had eaten a Devil Fruit and gained terrifying strength. That glimpse of raw power ignited something desperate inside Parker.
He needed power as well.
The kingdom had Devil Fruits in its treasury. Fruits that had been used to cultivate elite subordinates like Oaks and Hocheng.
Parker did not care what was left. He only needed one. Any one.
If he did not gain power now, he felt certain he would die.
So he ran toward the treasury, driven by fear, desperation, and the burning desire to survive.