This is My Island!

Whitebeard's heavy steps echoed through the square as he approached Barnabus, the tension in the air almost tangible. "Well, I believe Fisher Tiger here asked you a question."

Barnabus glanced around, as if expecting an escape route to materialize. "We'll be leaving now," he finally stammered, his voice weak.

Whitebeard's eyes hardened, "I don't think you heard me the first time." A burst of Conqueror's Haki emanated from him, and several weaker members of Barnabus's crew collapsed on the spot. "Fish-Man Island is my territory, and any who dare to threaten it will face me. Understand?"

The implied threat in Whitebeard's tone was unmistakable. The remaining members of Barnabus's crew began backing away, all pretense of courage abandoned. Barnabus's eyes darted, looking for any sort of out, but he found none.

Under the sheer heaviness of Whitebeard's Haki, Barnabus started to sweat. He faltered, but he knew there was no backing away now. He was a pirate who had survived in the New World for years. True, Whitebeard was on another league, but he was no rookie either. Drawing his spear, Barnabus hardened his resolve. He only had one chance: create a distraction, then bolt away.

"Kill his crew!" Barnabus barked, signaling his own crew members who were still conscious. He knew Whitebeard cared about his crew more than anything, and he hoped that threatening one or two of them might provide the opening he needed to escape.

At Barnabus's order, "Two-Gun" Tim quickly aimed his dual pistols at a couple of Whitebeard's subordinates, pulling the triggers with lethal intent. Marla unsheathed her broadsword and dashed toward one of Whitebeard's commanders, aiming to land a killing blow.

But they were outmatched from the start.

One of Whitebeard's crew, Marco the Phoenix, immediately transformed into his mythical Zoan form. His phoenix flames intercepted the bullets from Tim's guns, nullifying their impact. Almost simultaneously, Jozu, another of Whitebeard's commanders, intercepted Marla's broadsword with his diamond-encrusted arm, blocking her swing and effortlessly throwing her off balance.

Whitebeard himself swung his massive bisento, sending a shockwave that knocked Barnabus and the rest of his crew off their feet. It was clear; Barnabus had severely underestimated the chasm of power that separated him from Whitebeard.

Fisher Tiger and Jimbei swiftly moved through the crowd, separating merfolk and fish-men from the impending chaos. Their eyes locked onto the vulnerable citizens, escorting them out of the battlefield with a mixture of speed and purpose that belied their towering forms. Their eyes were calm yet vigilant, sharing a brief nod of understanding before they split up to better coordinate their efforts.

As they did, Whitebeard stepped forward, his massive frame dwarfing Barnabus, who had picked himself up and regained his footing. Barnabus looked at the infamous pirate, sizing him up. He knew of Whitebeard's Devil Fruit powers—the Gura Gura no Mi, capable of causing quakes powerful enough to shatter islands. He also knew that, given their location beneath the sea, Whitebeard wouldn't dare use that power. This was his only edge, however slim it may be.

Whitebeard swung his bisento down towards Barnabus, who managed to dodge by a hair's breadth. The force of the strike cracked the stone ground where he had stood moments earlier. "Is that all you've got?" Barnabus sneered, regaining his composure.

With a calculated quickness, Barnabus lunged forward, spear aimed at Whitebeard's midsection. Whitebeard effortlessly parried the attack with the shaft of his bisento, but Barnabus was faster than he looked. Using the momentum, he pivoted and aimed a follow-up strike at Whitebeard's side.

Whitebeard blocked the attack but not without effort. He grinned, "You've got some skill."

"Skill won't be enough," Barnabus replied, gritting his teeth as he spun around for another attack.

Just then, Whitebeard's eyes glinted. "True," he said before sweeping his bisento in a wide arc. The move was unexpected, and Barnabus barely had time to raise his spear in defense. The bisento connected with a resounding clash, sending vibrations through Barnabus' body, shaking him to his core.

Whitebeard didn't let up. With a swift motion, he struck again, this time catching Barnabus off balance. The pirate captain staggered, unable to counter the relentless series of attacks. With each passing moment, it became evident that Whitebeard was not just strong but also a master of combat, capable of reading his opponent's moves and countering them with seemingly effortless skill.

Cornered and desperate, Barnabus focused his will, injecting Haki into his spear for a final strike. He lunged at Whitebeard, shouting, "I won't be defeated so easily!"

But as he moved, so did Whitebeard. With a sudden burst of speed that seemed impossible for a man his size, the Yonko intercepted Barnabus mid-lunge. His bisento, infused with his own Haki, met Barnabus's spear in a clash that resounded like a thunderclap throughout the square.

The impact was decisive. Barnabus's spear shattered, and he was sent flying back, crashing onto the ground several meters away. The look on his face was one of disbelief; he had given it his all, and yet, he had been defeated as if he were a mere nuisance.

Grabbing Barnabus by the head, Whitebeard lifted him off the ground effortlessly. His fingers pressed around the pirate captain's skull, tightening just enough to cause intense pain but not enough to be fatal—at least not yet. Barnabus let out a strangled cry, his eyes widening in horror.

"I am Whitebeard," the pirate boomed, his voice echoing across Fish-Man Island. "The islands I protect are not places where you can come and wreak havoc as you please."

Every word was imbued with gravity, meant not just for Barnabus but for anyone who dared to challenge the peace of the territories under Whitebeard's protection. Whitebeard glanced at the horrified faces of Barnabus's crew and the relieved looks of the citizens. His message was clear: any pirate sowing discord in Fish-Man Island would face his wrath.

As a demonstration, Whitebeard tightened his grip one final time. There was a grotesque crunch, and Barnabus's lifeless body went limp. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the corpse aside like a discarded rag. The square fell silent, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Whitebeard had made his point.

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