Chapter 56: Chapter 53 The Beastly Trio’s Challenge
The tension between the navy and the pirate crews erupted as the battle began in full force. Amidst the chaos, Satoru found himself the focus of the fiercest confrontation, standing against three infamous pirate captains.
Far away on another ship, hidden within the mist, a crew observed the unfolding fight.
"Captain, should we jump in and take advantage? That kid might not handle all three of them at once," one pirate suggested.
"Hold your tongue. That kid isn't as weak as he looks. Just watch," their captain replied, his tone laden with caution.
Back at the G8 fortress, the battle was relentless. Despite the pirates having overwhelming numbers, the navy stood their ground. The marines, forged by hardships, were determined to protect the base. None among them harbored fear; instead, they held the resolve to fight to the last breath, fully aware of the price of failure in the New World.
As Satoru faced the trio, the first to strike was the wolf-like captain, Rurik. He darted forward, his speed blinding, transforming into a semi-animal state as his claws slashed toward Satoru's face. His attack was augmented by Armament Haki, and his twisted grin predicted a brutal victory.
But his smile froze.
A transparent barrier halted his claw mere inches from Satoru's face. Rurik pushed harder, pouring all his strength into the strike, but the barrier didn't yield.
"What…?!" Rurik gasped, sweat dripping from his forehead. His instincts screamed at him, warning of imminent death. Without hesitation, he leaped back, retreating to his comrades' side.
Satoru smirked, his sunglasses hiding his sharp eyes. "Not bad speed. But if that's your best, it's not enough."
Rurik's expression was a mixture of fear and disbelief. "His abilities… they're abnormal. My Haki couldn't even touch him!"
This revelation made Larkus and Garen wary. Both had assumed Satoru was just an upstart, but now, they were on guard.
Satoru chuckled at their hesitation. "What's the matter? Not coming at me? In that case, I'll come to you!"
In a flash, Satoru vanished, reappearing between the three captains. The sheer speed of his movement left them stunned. Before they could react, Satoru's presence threw their battle instincts into overdrive.
The trio launched simultaneous strikes—Larkus with his lion claw, Garen with his tiger punch, and Rurik with his wolf fist. The attacks converged with devastating force, their combined power capable of annihilating most foes.
Yet, their fists stopped mid-air.
A silent pressure emanated from Satoru, halting their attacks as if an invisible barrier surrounded him. Despite their Armament Haki, the captains found their strikes rendered ineffective.
Larkus's lion-like roar broke the silence, "What kind of ability is this?!"
Satoru tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Oh, so close. You almost hit me." His playful smirk and casual tone only fueled their humiliation.
Garen gritted his teeth, his tiger eyes narrowing. "Don't get cocky, brat. This fight isn't over!"
"Good," Satoru replied, his voice calm but brimming with confidence. "I was starting to get bored."