"Tiger Impact!"
Balm's arms, covered in Armant Haki, launched forward like a black projectile, his body wrapped in a thin layer of dark mist. Hidden within that mist was a shockwave—his ability.
The power of the Collision Fruit made him a collision man, allowing his body to beco incredibly hard in an instant. The mont he made contact with a target or object, it unleashed a violent shockwave.
He had used this ability to obliterate massive warships before, smashing through thick iron plates with ease.
When activating this power, his body was also protected by a defensive black mist, absorbing any countershock from his impacts.
Whether for offense or defense, it was an extrely powerful ability.
"Flying Sand Blades!"
Rosen's expression turned serious.
Even from their brief exchange earlier, he realized Balm was far stronger than expected.
A head-on fight against him wouldn't be a problem—but defeating him wouldn't be easy either.
Despite this, Balm had been preparing in advance for this fight.
Overly cautious.
But tonight's battle had erupted before either side could fully execute their plans.
No matter their strategies, plans never keep up with changes.
Rosen raised his hand, summoning countless sand blades—thin, compacted sheets of razor-sharp sand, swirling into a storm of cutting edges that rushed toward Balm.
"Dash Collision!"
Balm didn't slow down.
He didn't evade.
Instead, he accelerated, his entire body blazing like a cot.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dense sand blades shattered against his body, disintegrating on impact.
In an instant, Balm was right in front of Rosen, his Haki-covered fist punching forward with an accompanying shockwave.
Whoosh.
Rosen remained unfazed.
At the peak of his speed, his body dispersed into sand.
Balm's punch hit nothing but air—
Yet the force of his attack still sent dozens of people flying in the distance.
Rosen reford behind him, moving twice as fast as he had in Alabasta.
The Warlord's speed boost wasn't just for show—
Rosen had grown much stronger since then.
So fast!
Balm was shocked, barely having ti to turn and counter before—
Slash!
Rosen swung his Desert Saber, slashing Balm from behind and sending him flying.
Yet—
No blood.
Rosen frowned.
He had definitely cut sothing.
But why was there no blood on his blade?
"Damn it!"
Balm roared from the darkness.
No—
It wasn't dark anymore.
Fires had broken out across the estate, illuminating everything.
Pirates or opportunists had taken advantage of the chaos—
Looting Bordeaux Winery's priceless alcohol reserves.
This betrayal angered Balm even more than Rosen's attack.
He wanted to turn back—
But Rosen wouldn't let him.
"Desert Sunflower!"
Boom!
The ground collapsed.
Caught off guard in his rage, Balm plunged into a bottomless sandpit.
Before he could react—
"Desert Funeral Fist!"
A colossal sand fist ford above the pit.
No escape.
Whether Balm stayed below or tried to climb out, he would be crushed.
Boom!
The massive sand fist slamd downward, shaking the ground like an earthquake.
The battlefield fell silent.
As if the land itself had shifted.
"Lord Balm!"
Bordeaux Winery's guards panicked.
In response—
A hail of gunfire rained down on Rosen.
Then—
A seastone-infused net was flung toward him, descending from above.
"Annoying pests.
Desert Storm."
Without even looking, Rosen summoned a raging sandstorm.
The bullets, the seastone net, everything—
Was swallowed into the storm.
Then, it turned—
And engulfed the enemy ranks.
Screams filled the air.
The guards weren't strong enough to face Rosen directly—
But their sheer numbers made them a problem.
A single well-tid distraction could change the battle.
And that irritated Rosen.
"Did Balm just die?"
rchants and pirates, now safely behind their bodyguards, watched nervously.
They wanted Balm to win.
Business needed to continue—
Otherwise, their trip would be for nothing.
"We don't know. But there's another problem."
One pirate whispered to his captain:
"There are bounty hunters everywhere.
I think our disguises have been blown."
"They're targeting our heads."
Before he could finish speaking—
Slash!
In the flickering firelight—
A blade struck him down.
"Everyone, retreat slowly.
If anyone approaches—kill them."
The pirate captain abandoned his disguise.
At this point, trusting anyone was foolish.
anwhile—
3,000 ters away.
In the winery's brewing district—
A massive alcohol refinery.
Despite the chaos, 300 guards remained stationed there.
Even with their boss fighting elsewhere,
They held their ground.
Then—
The attack ca.
Brido's Pirate Crew had arrived.
A notorious band of lunatics new to the Grand Line.
Their calling card was simple—
Burn everything.
Brido loved the scent of death in fire.
"Take everything! Kill everyone!
These are top-quality wines—load them onto the wagons!
And if anyone spills a single bottle—
You'll be the next one to burn!"
Brido carried a massive greatsword.
He had originally co for the Devil Fruit.
But he never found an opening.
Then—
When the Warlord and Balm started fighting—
He saw his golden opportunity.
With Balm gone,
The winery was free for the taking.
After all—
Who could stop him?
Brido wasn't just any pirate—
He was one of the few in Wine City with a bounty over 100 million.
A wanted man worth 130 million Berries.
And within minutes—
The 300 guards lay dead at his feet.
"Load the ships.
But where's the premium stuff?
Only ten crates? That's nothing!
I need more."
His greed knew no bounds.
A true pirate.
"Captain, we should leave.
That Warlord is a monster.
Even Balm might not win.
The Devil Fruit isn't worth it."
His first mate hesitated.
The destruction Rosen caused had left them terrified.
They had already made a fortune—
Why risk everything for more?
"Hahaha, don't worry.
They're too busy killing each other to notice ."
Brido knew the Warlord was stronger.
But—
If Rosen and Balm wore each other down—
Wouldn't that make him the true winner?
And if things went south—
He could always slip away into the night.
That much, he was sure of.
Then—
"The Navy is here!"
Soone in the crowd shouted.
Panic erupted.
Pirates and rchants who had been watching imdiately sensed danger.
"Break through!
If anyone gets in our way—even the Marines—kill them.
Bordeaux Winery is finished.
Once the chaos dies down, we'll reconsider doing business here again."
A rchant issued the cold command.
Self-preservation was paramount.
And so—
The Navy.
The pirates.
The bounty hunters.
And the rchants.
All clashed in an all-out war.
(End of Chapter)
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