Smoke choked the skies above Steelport's harbor as fire spilled across the water like bleeding oil. The cannons of the Crimson Syndicate's warship thundered again, each blast a deafening crack that shook the city to its core. Metal and wood splintered on contact. The Destiny's Bounty, though sturdy, groaned under the weight of the barrage, its mast catching flame.
"Cover the ship!" Okada shouted, his voice strained but clear as he dashed into the fray, his boots skidding on the rain-slick dock.
Bolk was already halfway back toward the Bounty, swinging his new steel axe like a whirlwind. A Syndicate grunt lunged at him, and Bolk caught the attacker mid-swing, launching him off the pier with a sickening crunch.
"We need to move now!" Jack shouted, pulling a smoke pellet from his belt. He tossed it into the air. With a loud pop, a cloud of thick grey smoke erupted, blinding their enemies.
Merry huddled near the base of the dock crane, holding a wounded Nomsa under one arm. A shuriken had grazed Nomsa's thigh—blood soaked through her pants, but her eyes remained sharp.
"I'm not staying down," Nomsa muttered, trying to stand.
"You'll slow us down if you pass out," Merry snapped, hastily tying a bandage around Nomsa's leg. "Trust me. Let me get you to cover."
Merry didn't wait for approval—she dragged Nomsa across the dock toward a stack of crates near the ship. Bolk met them halfway, scooping both girls under his arms like they were sacks of flour, barreling toward the Bounty.
Okada parried a spear with his blade, then slammed his fist into the attacker's gut—his Armament Haki bursting like black lightning. The masked Syndicate soldier collapsed, twitching.
"These guys are trained," Okada growled. "This isn't just a scare tactic. This is war."
Jack ducked behind a broken winch post, rigging a miniature detonator. He slapped it against the dock flooring, triggering an explosion that ripped through enemy reinforcements.
Suddenly, Knot's voice rang out again from the warship, amplified by a mechanical speaker strapped to his shoulder:
"You think you're pirates? You're children playing soldier. Drop your weapons. Or I'll crush your ship, your hopes, and your lives."
Okada's eyes narrowed. He turned toward the looming vessel, watching as a massive metal claw unfolded from its side, steam hissing from the gears.
"Jack!" Okada called out. "What is that thing?!"
Jack's voice cracked. "That's not just a warship… it's an augment-class siege crawler. That claw? It can snap a ship like a twig!"
Okada turned toward the others. "Split formation! Bolk, take Merry and Nomsa through the ship's lower deck. Use the smuggler's tunnel we mapped earlier—get them out."
Bolk grunted. "What about you?"
"I'm taking the fight to that thing."
Bolk opened his mouth to argue but saw the look in Okada's eyes—resolve forged in fire. "Don't die, Captain."
Okada gave a thin smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As Bolk, Merry, and Nomsa disappeared toward the Bounty, Jack joined Okada's side. "You're really going after Knot?"
"Someone has to keep him busy. You coming?"
Jack hesitated, then adjusted his glasses. "Of course. I brought something special."
The two sprinted along the edge of the burning dock. With a flick of Jack's wrist, a spring-loaded grappling hook shot toward the warship. It clamped onto the railing with a satisfying click, and Jack hit the switch. The pair were launched into the air, silhouettes against the firelit sky.
They landed hard on the warship's deck, swords and tools drawn. Alarms blared.
"Too late for stealth," Jack muttered.
"You didn't bring your stealth mode goggles?" Okada smirked.
"I built them, but I forgot to charge them."
"Figures."
A group of Syndicate guards charged forward. Okada spun, slicing through the first two with clean, sharp movements. His blade shimmered with Haki, cutting through armor like parchment. Jack ducked and rolled, planting a concussive bomb on a third attacker's belt.
"Duck!"
BOOM.
The explosion knocked three more guards off their feet. Okada used the chaos to advance toward the bridge.
Inside the bridge tower, Knot stood watching their approach, arms crossed. His face was partially obscured by a steel jawpiece bolted to his face like a muzzle. His eyes gleamed red—cybernetic implants blinking as they scanned the pirates.
"Cute masks," he said as the door burst open.
"Knot!" Okada shouted. "This ends now."
"No, child," Knot replied. "This begins now."
He lunged. For a man of his size—nearly eight feet tall—he was terrifyingly fast. His cybernetic arm extended with a clank, morphing into a serrated blade.
Okada blocked the first strike, but the force sent him skidding back.
Jack fired an arc-charge gun, the pulse hitting Knot in the ribs—but Knot barely flinched. He threw a punch, sending Jack flying into a control panel.
"Jack!" Okada called out.
"I'm fine!" Jack groaned, half-conscious.
Knot advanced. Okada dodged to the side, slicing through a pipe. Steam burst out, clouding the room. He used the moment of concealment to dash behind Knot and strike his exposed side—but Knot rotated his torso unnaturally, catching Okada mid-swing.
"You lack precision," Knot hissed. "You swing with emotion."
"And you swing like a tin can!" Okada snapped.
With a shout, Okada focused his Haki not into his blade—but his fist. His skin turned obsidian black. He punched into Knot's mechanical chest, cracking part of the outer armor.
Knot roared, slamming Okada into the ground. The bridge shook from the impact.
As Knot raised his bladed arm to finish the job, a panel on the ceiling exploded.
Jack dropped down from above, carrying a massive cannon-like device. "Say hello to the Boltcaster 9! Eat this, you metal freak!"
He fired. A thunderous electric beam shot out, engulfing Knot in white-blue energy. Sparks flew. The warship shuddered. Knot screamed as the implants short-circuited, his cybernetic limbs spasming.
Okada crawled back, grabbed his sword, and launched himself at Knot with a final cry.
He plunged the blade into Knot's shoulder and twisted.
The giant man fell to his knees, eyes flickering wildly.
"You think this stops us?" Knot coughed. "The Iron Baron… is already watching."
Okada didn't answer. He yanked his blade free—and knocked Knot unconscious with a final blow to the head.
Outside, explosions still echoed, but the warship's cannons began to power down. The automated defense systems ceased fire.
"We need to sink this ship," Jack said. "Fast."
Okada nodded. "Think you can rig it?"
"I was planning on it."
As Jack set explosives throughout the engine room, Okada sent out a signal on their crew's transponder snails. "Team Alpha to base—Knot's down. Meet at fallback point Gamma."
Meanwhile...
In the smuggler's tunnel beneath the city, Bolk led Merry and Nomsa through dim, narrow corridors. Nomsa limped but refused to be carried again. Her expression was calm, but her thoughts were racing.
"Something's wrong," she said.
Bolk glanced back. "What now?"
"I think… someone's tailing us."
Merry turned, drawing a small knife. "Another Syndicate team?"
"No," Nomsa whispered. "Someone faster."
Suddenly, a blur of motion struck Bolk in the back—an agile figure cloaked in tight, crimson leather, with a fang-shaped mask and twin daggers.
The attacker flipped in midair, kicking Merry into the tunnel wall and pinning Nomsa with a blade to her throat.
"You must be the famous thieves," the assassin purred. "The Iron Baron sends his regards."
"Who the hell are you?" Bolk snarled, rising.
"I'm Red Fang," the assassin replied. "I clean up messes like you."
Back on the warship...
Jack hit the final charge and ran for the dock. "Time's up!"
Okada leapt beside him. The two dashed across the collapsing gangplank as the warship trembled.
Behind them, the explosives detonated. Flames erupted from the engine core. The entire warship tilted violently as the hull cracked down the middle.
They landed hard on the pier, coughing from the smoke.
"Where's the others?" Jack asked.
Okada glanced at the smuggler's tunnel entrance.
"They better be alright."