Why?
A pirate killing another pirate? Shouldn't the target be the Navy?
Sure, infighting among pirates was common, but wasn't it usually driven by conflicts of interest or grudges?
Barton realized Maude's true intentions, but before he could fully process his confusion, the incoming blade shattered all thought.
At this moment, survival overshadowed everything else.
Clang!
Barton swung his heavy cleaver, intercepting Maude's strike.
The clash of their weapons unleashed a shockwave that rippled outward.
Despite being injured earlier, Barton—carrying a bounty of nearly 100 million berries—was far from weak.
"Are you really going to hunt us down to the end?"
Gritting his teeth, Barton spoke with a heavy expression.
If given the choice, he would have avoided fighting Maude altogether. For him, this battle was utterly pointless.
Maude remained silent, though he couldn't help but acknowledge the power Barton displayed even while wounded.
After all, a pirate with a 98 million beri bounty was far stronger than Buffalo, who had squandered his Devil Fruit's potential.
Some people, after eating a Devil Fruit with mediocre abilities, overly rely on its power, inadvertently stunting their other talents.
Only Zoan-type fruits, which primarily enhance physical capabilities, tend to avoid this pitfall.
Maude's silence darkened Barton's mood further.
Realizing there was no avoiding this fight, Barton suppressed the pain of his wounds, channeling all his strength into his arms. The veins on his hands bulged as he gripped his cleaver tightly, attempting to overpower Maude.
"Conan, forget about me! Just kill him!"
"..."
In his hybrid man-beast form, Conan didn't hesitate. With a powerful leap, he arced through the air, launching a counterattack against Maude.
Six-Wheel Slash!
Conan crossed his arms mid-air, slashing six golden claw marks toward Maude's exposed back.
The trajectory of the attack even encompassed Barton.
In this scenario, if Maude resisted Barton's overwhelming pressure and tried to escape, Barton would be left completely vulnerable to Conan's strike.
If Maude couldn't shake off Barton's hold, he'd have to endure Conan's attack on his back—an attack that would also spill over to hit Bertram.
This reckless tactic demonstrated either unshakable confidence or blind trust between the two.
"Tch..."
Maude's eyes narrowed as his Observation Haki laid Conan's attack bare.
The target wasn't his side, which would've been safer—it was the vulnerable expanse of his back.
Sometimes, a poor decision can do more than squander an advantage; it can lead to irreversible disaster.
"Did you really think you could pin me down?"
As the claws closed in, Maude effortlessly held off Barton's pressure, then lightly pivoted on his heel and slipped to the side.
The power disparity between them allowed Maude to break free without breaking a sweat.
The sudden shift left Barton unbalanced, his body pitching forward—straight into Conan's golden claws.
"Damn it..."
Both Barton and Conan's expressions changed as the claws struck.
Thwack!
Golden arcs ripped across Barton's body, leaving deep gashes that sprayed blood into the air.
Conan managed to pull back some of his strength at the last moment, but the damage was done.
"Damn it!"
Shaken by his mistake, Conan barely had time to react before a sharp sting surged from behind.
He whipped around to see Maude's blade slicing toward him—simple, yet swift and ruthless.
In his hybrid form, Conan steadied himself and crossed his hardened claws to block the strike.
Shink!
To his horror, the claws—meant to withstand any blade—offered no resistance. Maude's sword, clad in Armament Haki, cleaved through them like butter, continuing to carve a crimson line across Conan's chest.
"This… this can't be!"
As searing pain coursed through him, Conan froze. His body's warmth drained rapidly as darkness swallowed his vision.
Blood gushed from his chest as Conan's bulky, hybrid form crumpled to the ground.
Watching Conan fall with a single strike, Barton's eyes widened in despair.
"Conan!"
Red with fury, Barton glared at Maude, his voice trembling with rage and grief.
"Bacardi Maude, you… you're nothing but a soulless butcher! I'll kill you!"
His enraged roar echoed through the colosseum, momentarily overpowering the relentless gunfire.
Pirates and bounty hunters turned to see what had transpired, curiosity etched on their faces.
What's going on over there?
"A butcher, huh..."
Hearing Barton's accusation, Maude's lips curled into a faint, contemptuous smile.
"Coming from you—someone who slaughtered an entire village—what right do you have to say that? Not that it matters. My actions here have nothing to do with that incident."
Maude raised his blade, pointing it directly at the trembling Barton.
"But if I had to choose…" he continued, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "I'd say I'm rather fond of dealing with scum like you."
Barton couldn't grasp the meaning behind Maude's words. Overwhelmed by his fury, he charged forward, blade in hand.
But the outcome was already decided.
With two swift strikes, Maude ended Barton's life, reaping a substantial amount of experience in the process.
Among all the pirates in the colosseum, the Savage Fang Pirates' Conan and Barton had yielded the most valuable rewards.
After dispatching his prey, Maude paid no mind to the changes his newfound strength brought.
Ignoring the stunned gazes around him, he leaped into the stands, targeting the remaining pirates who had chosen to stay.
The pirates' instincts screamed danger as they realized Maude's intent.
At the same time, heavily armed soldiers began pouring in through the colosseum's exits.
High above, in the royal suite, King Degarth of the Ahab Kingdom stood with his hands behind his back, gazing coldly through the floor-to-ceiling window at the chaos below.
His disdainful eyes swept over the pirates—including Maude—as if he were observing mere insects.
"A bunch of lawless fools," he sneered.
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