Chapter 5: Your Death Star Is Gleaming

"It's my turn, right?"

Sag moved his arm, and in an instant, Ennio retreated, dissolving into a blur.

But in that moment, Sag's foot hit the ground, and he, too, vanished into a streak, following right after.

"Shave!"

One of the Six Powers—a burst of speed by tapping the ground dozens of times in a flash. Sag had learned it by now.

"Tempest Kick!"

Seeing Sag close the distance, Ennio held his surprise in check and kicked repeatedly, unleashing a series of chaotic strikes from his legs, all heading toward Sag.

This time, Sag didn't dodge. He braced himself, yelling out, "Iron Body!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The cuts tore a few slashes through his clothes and left pale marks on his skin before dissipating.

"Not returning the favor would be rude!" 

Sag countered with his own kick. "Try this: Cross Tempest Kick!"

With a hum, a pale blue X-shaped slash emerged from Sag's leg, tearing through the ground in a deep trench and heading straight for Ennio.

Tempest Kick requires more than speed—it's a technique, and Sag not only understood it but wielded it expertly!

"Moon Step!"

The X-slash was no easy thing to avoid. Ennio tapped his feet, propelling himself into the air.

"That's exactly what I was waiting for!"

Sag sprang up, stomping mid-air, closing in on Ennio in mid-flight.

Moon Step! Using sheer leg power to stomp on air, temporarily creating lift as if walking up invisible stairs.

Once airborne, the body's control naturally becomes less agile. Sag had been waiting all this time for Ennio to use that move!

"Big Dipper."

As he neared Ennio, Sag inhaled sharply and exhaled with force, his hands moving in a flurry like a peacock unfurling its feathers, becoming a hail of fists pummeling Ennio's body.

"Blazing Hundred Crack Fist!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

It was as if a hundred bullets struck Ennio simultaneously. His oversized body quaked, concaving under each punch, momentarily suspended mid-air before plummeting to the ground.

Boom!

The enormous figure hit the earth with a mighty crash, kicking up a cloud of dust. Sag bounced in the air a few times before settling down.

The Blazing Hundred Crack Fist—an iconic technique from the Big Dipper Fist school—delivers a rapid succession of punches, hitting vital points with pinpoint accuracy. If executed perfectly, it can cause the opponent to explode from within.

But this was Sag's version—using overwhelming force, not just targeting vital points, he could shatter opponents from the outside in.

Unless something goes wrong...

In the East Blue, the sea was weak. Sag's martial arts were unmatched. Close combat with him meant death.

But the sea is a different story.

This sea's potential is high. No matter how strong, a martial artist's limits are clear.

He wasn't a local; he knew well the dangers lurking in the ocean.

First and foremost—the Devil Fruits.

Strange powers that could decide life and death on a single touch.

The Big Dipper Fist targets vital points, but physical strength isn't everything here. And the strange, twisted powers of Devil Fruit users could even alter their anatomy.

And the second?

Poof!

The dust shrank back as a bloodied figure stomped forth, stepping out into the clearing.

Ennio's broad, muscular body was dented and stained with blood. His head was covered in bursting blood vessels, and his blood streamed down into his eyes and gritted teeth, a terrifying sight.

"Haki…" Sag muttered.

Haki could block his vital strikes! Sag didn't know how to use Haki, and he couldn't see it, but he sensed an invisible armor during the Hundred Crack Fist—an armor blocking his strikes from piercing Ennio's pressure points.

"Hahahaha!"

Ennio cackled, gritting his teeth. "Incredible! If I hadn't blocked part of it, you'd have killed me already! Kid, what kind of technique was that? A Devil Fruit?"

Sag replied coldly, "Just a refined technique. But you—Haki doesn't suit your nature. Who are you, really?"

Sag had researched Haki, since, after all, he was on the sea. Every living thing had potential Haki within them—their spirit, killing intent, will to fight, and life force brought to light.

But there wasn't any training method for Haki; it relied solely on individual effort.

He'd tried learning it, but without mentors like Garp or suitable sparring partners, he hadn't made much progress.

And he knew Haki wasn't for the weak-minded. Those with dulled spirits couldn't retain it; even the once-strong could lose it with a faded will.

A tyrannical king seeking to kill his own stepdaughter to secure the throne, letting bandits overrun his kingdom—a king who should be long past deserving Haki's powers.

"I am what I am."

Ennio wobbled for a moment before regaining balance, his sneer returning. "I am the king of the Kingdom of Oikot!"

"Die!"

A voice suddenly echoed from the side, and a flash of silver streaked through the air, shooting toward Ennio.

Ennio spun to the side, lashing out a Tempest Kick, sending a blue slash toward the source.

Slash!

Blood sprayed across the ground.

Wham!

A hand grabbed Lily by the neck, lifting her easily. Behind her lay a trail of marines, bodies sliced cleanly in two.

"Lily!"

Ennio pulled her close, an ugly smile forming on his face. "Why resist me? Why didn't you just run away? Now, you're a wanted criminal, and it's going to get worse! Look at those dead marines, Lily. You—you and your friends killed them! Isn't that right, Captain Mouse?"

"Yes, yes!"

Captain Mouse, trembling from the sight of the carnage, snapped to attention at Ennio's call, glancing nervously at Ennio's bloody figure. "Assaulting the navy—heinous crimes! A bounty, without a doubt!"

"Shameless!" Lily shouted, her eyes red with fury. "It was you! All of it! You're the one who caused this. You're the usurper, the one who drove those bandits to the edge!"

"Usurper? Hahaha, I am the true king! I pay the Celestial Dragons, and they acknowledge my rule!"

He traced his hand across Lily's cheek. "But you're nothing but a canary in a cage. No one knows who you are. You can claim to be a princess, the kingdom's heir, but who would believe you? Who would care? And as for those bandits…"

Ennio lifted Lily higher, making her visible to the crowd as he pointed her toward the city gate.

"Look there. Do you see them?"

In the distance, a large group appeared, ragged bandits bound by ropes, herded forward by soldiers, heads hanging low in defeat.

There were hundreds of them.

Sag even recognized a bandit he'd immobilized earlier in a crowd of outlaws.

"What did you do to them?" Lily shouted.

"You didn't think I'd let you wander freely, did you? As long as you remain here, I'll keep capturing you. You're in my hands now, and these leftover bandits can serve one last purpose. Selling you is one thing; selling them is more. If they can't pay their taxes, we'll take it in flesh!"

Boom!

A thunderclap echoed, and lightning lit up Ennio's bloodstained face, casting it in a monstrous glow.

"Hear me, all you worthless fools!"

Ennio yelled to the bandits, "You're all useless trash, unable to pay your dues. I've decided to sell you all as slaves to cover your debts! Be grateful!"

The bandits paled, shrinking under his gaze.

"I will kill you!" Lily cried, face flushed with rage.

"Only if you can," Ennio sneered, throwing her towards Sag. But Sag simply stepped aside, letting her fall to the ground, dirt covering her face as she rolled.

Ennio paused, frowning. "Why didn't you catch her?"

"Why would I?" Sag replied evenly.

Ennio's face tightened for an instant before his sneer returned, more malicious than ever.

"Now I'll be raising the taxes even higher," he crowed. "You see those ships in the harbor?"

He pointed toward the vessels moored at the port. "I'll fill every last one with Heavenly Tribute. Once I've enough wealth, I'll become a Celestial Dragon too!"

He reached out toward the townsfolk, fingers clawed, his voice feverish. "You will all pay more taxes, advancing your king's dream!"

The crowd grew pale as the citizens fell into a nervous uproar.

"My king, we can't pay any more!" A villager pleaded. "We're barely surviving as it is. More taxes mean death for us!"

"Then die as slaves!" Ennio snapped. "Guards, arrest them all! Whoever can't pay will be sold!"

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers moved to capture the citizens, and Ennio turned back to Sag, wiping blood from his face.

"And you!"

Ennio finally turned his attention to Sag, wiping the blood from his face. "Crossing me means you'll become a slave, too!"

Swoosh! 

He stomped forward in rapid strides, closing in on Sag and slamming down a powerful punch.

Sag raised an eyebrow, refusing to dodge, and threw his own punch to meet Ennio's.

Boom!!

Their fists collided with a resounding explosion, a shockwave bursting from the impact and scattering the rain that had begun to fall.

Sag stood his ground, completely unmoved. When it came to raw strength, he was no weaker than this human battering ram.

And if Ennio thought he was safe because of his Haki, he was dead wrong.

"Your death star is shining bright!" Sag sneered.