Chapter 60: Debut Battle Comes To A Close

(3rd Person: POV)

A grin on his face Roberts happily clashed against Gion. The latter of which is wearing an angry expression on her face.

"How dare you kill my subordinates!" Gion shouted. Coming at Roberts with an overhead slash with Konpira.

Which he easily blocked by raising up Dragon Fang. "Oh give me a break. If I didn't kill them they definitely wouldn't have hesitated to kill me and my crew." Roberts retorted.

"Not if you had surrendered peacefully." Gion responded. "But I guess for one who commits vile and evil acts that is impossible."

"Vile and evil acts. Give me a break. The only thing my crew and I are guilty of is freely sailing the seas and not failing into line and kowtowing to the World Government. Who by the way are way worse than us pirates most of the time. Tell me, how many times have you seen those fish-bowl wearing fucks basically exexute someone just because they looked at them the wrong way or accidentally pumped into them? Well, come on, tell me?" Roberts spoke.

A victorious smile appearing on his face when he felt Gion's resolve waiver for a moment.

Which of course he capitalized on.

Breaking his sword clash with Gion Roberts delivered a kick to her gut, sending her skidding across the deck of the marine warship.

Immediately after he closed the distance and began delivering a barrage of sword slashes at Gion.

But the kick to her gut allowed her to regain her composure. Thus Gion raised Konpira and began blocking and parrying Roberts attacks. Though as this happened Roberts used [Siphon] and began absorbing Gions' vitality.

As the clash of blades continued Gion used armament hardening on Konpira to add more power to her strikes. Since she wanted to end the battle quickly and take Roberts out. Not only to go and help her subordinates in dealing with his crew, but also because Gion knew left unchecked Roberts devil fruit abilities would be extremely dangerous. Thus she wanted to eliminate a threat.

But it was not going to be that easy.

The moment after Gion used armament hardening to coat the blade of Konpira in haki Roberts did the exact same thing with the blade of Dragon Fang.

So just as they had been doing Gion and Roberts clashed blades, just with haki added into the mix.

Seeing Roberts use armament haki Gion was shocked. But that only lasted for a moment before it wore off. Once it did so Gion narrowed her eyes as Roberts. "Who, exactly who are you?"

"Names Soren D. Roberts. Pirate, handsome gentleman, explorer, and the man who is going to be the next pirate king. Pleased to make your acquittance Commodore Gion." Roberts spoke.

"Don't you dare use my name so casually you pirate scum!" Gion shouted.

She then stepped back from Roberts for a moment, only to come at him with a powerful underhanded swing with Konpira.

Roberts countered the attack using Dragon Fang. He swung it downwards and a minor shockwave was generated as the two meito clashed for supremacy.

The captain of the Thanatos Pirates grinning the entire time. Since he could feel his armament haki slowly getting stronger as he clashed against Gion.

Giving credence to what Kaido said in the original story. No matter how strong ones devil fruit powers may be unless their haki is strong enough they cannot conquer the seas.

Which is exactly what Roberts intends to do.

That's why he's going to make his haki reach the pinnacle and then some.

Gion and Roberts continued their blade clash.

But then suddenly everything changed.

With their observation haki both Gion and Roberts sensed the defeat of the Three Beasts at the hands of Roberts crewmates. Needless to say the two of them had very different reactions to this outcome.

"No!" Gion shouted.

"Yes!" Roberts shouted.

Gion felt despair as the Three Beasts loss.

Meanwhile Roberts was overjoyed and proud of his crewmates achieving victory in their battles. He could sense the Three Beasts were not pushovers thanks to his observation haki and knew his crewmates would have to work for their victories.

But Roberts had faith in them, and it looks like it was not mis-placed.

Though on the off chance it was and he needed to save them he was going to increase there amount of training to a level that would make even a hard-core masochist cry in despair.

As if sensing their captains plans all members of the Thanatos pirates felt a shiver run down their spines, feeling they had just dodged a major bullet so to speak.

Except for Robin who had a slightly happy expression on her face.

But that is a matter for the future.

Seeing that most of the marines had been defeated Roberts decided it was time for his crew to make their escape. "Everyone, we're leaving. Back to the Black Pearl!" He shouted.

"Do you think I'll let you!" Gion angrily shouted. She then attempted to bare down on Roberts with Konpira.

Key word being attempted.

Since as Gion was going in for her attack she stopped in her tracks, and then jumped back. Dodging a sonic scream courtesy of Alfia.

Who had finished terro-fighting with the marines who had hurled insults at Roberts some time ago.

Now she was going to use her powers to cover her crewmates escape.

Giving Alfia a thumbs up Roberts turned in the direction of the Black Pearl and started using geppo to head for it. The crewmates who accompanied him to the deck of the marine warship doing the exact same thing.

As this happened all Gion could do was watch, since Alfia was keeping her pinned down with consecutive sonic screams.

Eventually Roberts and the others made it back to the deck of the Black Pearl.

Once they did so they immediately went to work, and in no time at all they were sailing away from Gion's warship.

Seeing this Alfia stopped attacking Gion and then flew to the escaping Black Pearl. Landing on the deck she transformed back into her full human form.

Meanwhile on the marine warship Gion ran to the front, her eyes bearing down on the Black Pearl as it sailed away.

As the Black Pearl got further and further away Gion felt her anger build and build until she could no long contain it anymore.

"Agh!!!!!"

Screaming at the top of her lungs Gion vowed to not allow the Thanatos Pirates to get away with their actions today. She would make sure to hunt them down and deliver justice onto them.

Without even realizing it the Thanatos Pirates had made a powerful enemy within the Marines.

They had also won their first battle within the Grand Line.