The sky above Greyscale Island was shrouded in thick, ominous clouds.
A tense atmosphere hung over the streets, heavy and suffocating, as if a storm was about to break loose. Merchants had fallen silent, their usual cries fading into uneasy murmurs.
Even the patrolling soldiers moved with hurried steps, exchanging wary glances. The entire port had become a powder keg, waiting for the fuse to reach its end.
Barron stood atop the clock tower, overlooking the chaos below.
His plan was nearing its conclusion, and the dawn of victory was beginning to break through the darkness. At his side, Kane sorted through the latest intelligence reports.
"Rugo's men are beginning to fracture," Kane murmured, handing a slip of paper to Barron.
Barron scanned it quickly.
"Two captains have already defected to the Blackfin Alliance. They fled by sea under cover of night. And three of his guard squads have pledged themselves to us," Kane added, his voice tinged with restrained excitement.
Barron nodded and set the paper down.
"Good. But it's not enough," he replied, his tone as calm as still water. "Rugo may be crumbling, but he still holds his main base. He'll fight to the bitter end—and we'll make sure that struggle becomes his final downfall."
Meanwhile, within Rugo's stronghold, the air was frigid with tension. The remaining captains sat around a table, their expressions ranging from grim to shifty.
Rugo stood at the center of the room, his hands pressed against the table, his gaze as sharp as a blade as it swept across the men.
"Our traitors have thrown Greyscale Island into chaos," he began, his voice low but brimming with menace.
One of the captains summoned the courage to speak.
"Boss, we still have a chance. If we eliminate the traitors and retake the port—"
"A chance?" Rugo slammed the table, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"In just a few days, we've lost more than half our forces! You tell me what chance we still have!"
The captain fell silent, drenched in cold sweat.
Rugo glared at them all before finally speaking.
"There's only one path left now—retaliation."
He straightened up, eyes gleaming with ruthless determination.
"Rally every man still loyal to me. We strike first—hit Hall and Barron's positions before they do. I'll remind them this island still belongs to me."
Before the assault, Rugo made his way to the deepest room of his stronghold—his own quarters. His captains watched curiously as he opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a dusty chest.
"Boss… what's that?" one of them asked cautiously.
Rugo let out a cold laugh, lifting the lid to reveal a brown, banana-shaped Devil Fruit.
"I looted this during a raid long ago. I'd planned to auction it off at the Abyssal Main Island—Graham," he explained, a flicker of madness in his eyes. "But now that I've reached the edge, I'll test its power myself."
The captains looked on with shock—and a hint of envy.
"Boss, we don't even know what kind of power it holds. It's too risky—"
Rugo waved them off dismissively, raised the fruit, and bit into it. He grimaced in disgust, swallowing with a scowl.
"Tastes like hell."
Moments later, his body began to change.
A layer of fine grey fur spread across his skin, his limbs thickened, and his teeth sharpened. He looked down at his transformed hands, feeling a surge of strength coursing through him.
It was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit—Common Model: Mouse-Mouse Fruit, Guinea Pig Form!
"Hahaha!" Rugo cackled. "Power! I can feel it flooding my body! I never knew a Devil Fruit could be this strong!"
As night fell, Rugo led his last battalion toward Barron's outer strongholds. The soldiers behind him were grim and silent, their marching footsteps loud in the still night.
But Barron had long since anticipated Rugo's move. In the command room of his outpost, he calmly analyzed the reports.
"How many men is he bringing?" he asked.
"Roughly two hundred," a subordinate replied. "Almost all he has left."
Barron smiled faintly.
"Perfect. Alert our allies. Once Rugo pulls his forces from his base, have them occupy it. Meanwhile, we'll set an ambush and crush his attack in one stroke."
Kane, standing nearby, frowned.
"And if he's truly going all in? Fighting to the death?"
Barron turned, his gaze sharp.
"Then we'll make sure he dies with some dignity."
Rugo's forces neared Barron's stronghold.
*BANG!* Suddenly, a crisp gunshot rang through the night, grazing past the front ranks. More gunfire followed, erupting from all directions.
It was an ambush.
Bullets tore through the air, sowing panic among Rugo's troops as they scattered in chaos.
"Boss! It's an ambush!" a soldier cried out in panic.
"Don't panic!" Rugo bellowed, taking two bullets himself but pressing forward. "Keep charging! Their numbers aren't that great!"
But Barron's sharpshooters had emerged from the shadows, advancing with methodical precision. One by one, Rugo's vanguard fell under their barrage.
As the gunfire died down, Barron personally led a squad of elite fighters through the fading smoke.
With a long blade in hand, he cut down anyone in his path, flanked by Kane and his most trusted men.
One of Rugo's men lunged at him from behind, but Barron, ever alert, spun and shot him in the knee before slashing down another attacker.
"Target Rugo!" Barron ordered. "Break his formation—head straight for the center!"
Rugo, furious and bloodied, drew his blade and charged into the fray. His eyes locked onto Barron with murderous intent.
"Barron! You son of a bitch! I'm going to kill you myself!"
Their blades clashed with a flash, sparks flying. Barron dodged Rugo's first strike, but the man's strength was clearly inhuman.
Then Rugo's body shifted again. His skin bristled with grey fur, his frame bulging, teeth gleaming—he entered his hybrid beast form.
"Ha! Didn't expect that, did you? I ate a legendary Devil Fruit—and now I'm invincible!" Rugo roared. "Give up, and maybe I'll let you live!"
Barron stared him down coldly, tightening his grip on his blade.
"Invincible? You're just a filthy rat. I wouldn't eat you if you were roasted. Let's see if you can survive the night."
"Hmph, got some bite in that mouth of yours—but tonight, you die!" Rugo snarled, launching a furious barrage of slashes.
Barron was forced back, his expression tightening. He gave the next order quickly.
"All units—focus fire!"
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Hidden gunners opened up again, bullets piercing the air and riddling Rugo's body. Enraged, Rugo transformed fully into a giant guinea pig, his limbs thick and powerful.
He tore across the ground at shocking speed, trying to break through the trap.
Barron gave chase without hesitation.
Rugo bolted toward the port, desperate to reach a ship. But when he arrived, he found three vessels flying the Barron family flag already sealing off the bay.
—But this moment had been decided the day before.
"Brrr brrr brrr… brrr brrr brrr…"
"Master, all remaining forces are aboard the ships. We have reached the harbor," came Eric's voice over the Den Den Mushi.
"Hold your position offshore," Barron instructed after detailing the situation. "The final battle is coming. When I give the signal, move in and seal the harbor. Don't let him escape."
"Yes, young master!"
......
"Rugo! There's nowhere left to run!" Barron's voice rang out through the night.
Rugo made a desperate dash toward one of the ships, but a storm of gunfire drove him back.
*BOOM!*
A cannon blast struck him squarely, hurling him to the ground, broken and gasping, eyes filled with defiance.
Barron walked slowly toward him, blade gleaming under the moonlight.
"This… was your choice," he said coldly.
Rugo looked up at him and sneered.
"You think this is a win? Greyscale Island won't always be yours. Someone will come to take it from you."
Barron didn't answer. He raised his sword, eyes hard as steel.
The blade flashed. Rugo's voice fell silent forever.
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