The ominous knock shook the black hideout, sending a shiver down the spines of every man present. Elric's cold words had barely dissipated, a chilling prelude to the carnage to ensue. The Black Gale Pirates, infamous bounty hunters with a death-wish reputation, had finally arrived.
Swords raised, they entered the room, each pirate radiating danger. The air was thick with danger as Solian and his men stood ready for battle. Everyone was ready, but there was a subconscious wariness in the way they stood. These were not common foes. They felt the power of Elric's presence, a quiet power that could engulf them.
And then the first of the Black Gale Pirates entered, and there was a sudden transition. Itachi, who had stood silently off to the side, observing the storm in progress, stepped out.
Solian's gaze rapidly swept across the room, evaluating the situation. His men were powerful, that was for sure, but there was more to these pirates than a mere crew of brigands. Elric's tactical reputation and the intimidating skills of his men kept Solian from getting complacent.
Before Solian could even create a plan, Itachi interrupted the tension in the air. "Let me handle this."
The words were cold, calculated, and unflinching. Solian, Kael, Vance, and the others exchanged glances. There was no room for debate to be left in Itachi's voice. They moved back, embracing the reality—this was no longer another normal battle. This was Itachi's domain, and they left it in his hands.
Itachi entered the room's center, his calm state almost serene in response to increasing turmoil. The Black Gale Pirates hesitated, moving around him carefully, their glances glancing at the powerful figure alone in their company.
With a smooth, effortless motion, Itachi activated his Sharingan. The world around him slowed, every movement defined, every detail in sharp focus. The Black Gale Pirates, who had once been so confident in their power, now felt a creeping chill seep into their bones.
Itachi's chakra surged with a terrifying intensity, and the pirates found themselves powerless before him. His movements were a blur, too fast for anyone to react. He moved with a precision that was almost surgical, dismantling his foes one by one without hesitation. The room was filled with the sound of swift strikes landing, followed by the thud of bodies hitting the floor, as Itachi worked through the group with unnerving ease.
The Black Gale Pirates, who had come in with the belief that they would overwhelm their opponents, found themselves paralyzed by the weight of Itachi's presence. Some attempted to retaliate, but their bodies were frozen by the force of his gaze. With each movement, Itachi's control over the situation became more absolute. The pirates, once bold and dangerous, were reduced to mere pawns.
As the battle raged on, Itachi's mastery over his abilities became more evident. With a flick of his wrist, he trapped several pirates in a Genjutsu, weaving an illusion so convincing that they began to fight each other. Their confusion turned to chaos, further weakening their resolve. Those that tried to counterattack were met with a force far beyond their comprehension. A Tsukuyomi-like ability froze them in time, subjecting them to agonizing psychological torture. The sheer psychological pressure was sufficient to cause some to crash down, their arms dropping from their shoulders in defeat before a single blow could land.
The atmosphere in the room became thick with dread. Itachi's calm, detached approach to the battle was unlike anything Solian and his crew had ever seen. There was no anger in his eyes, no joy in the fight. It was as if the struggle was a mere inconvenience to him. His power was overwhelming, and the pirates who had once seemed like a significant threat were nothing more than playthings in his hands.
While Itachi was dispatching the last vestiges of Black Gale Pirates, the atmosphere turned abruptly. A single figure came out of darkness—Elric himself. Unlike his crew members, however, Elric wasn't intimidated by what Itachi had done. He still bore that cold calculating, and even eerily peaceful expression on his face as he approached.
"I see…" Elric said in a low, almost reflective voice. "You're a different kind of threat, aren't you? It looks like this is going to be more complicated than I thought."
Solian watched the transaction closely, his eyes active. The battle had been uneven, but he knew this was far from over. Elric's words carried great weight, and his demeanor showed that he would not be underestimated. He would accept whatever came next, but the battle from now on out would be of entirely different scope.
Elric unsheathed his sword—a singular, lethal blade. The air around him rippled as his aura intensified, concentrated. The Black Gale Pirates were no longer the greatest danger in the room. Elric's gaze fixed on Itachi, and there was no doubt that the recognition of power flashed between them.
With a swift movement, Elric launched the first strike, aiming to catch Itachi off guard. But Itachi's reflexes were beyond comprehension. His movements were so fast that Elric barely had time to react. Every swing of Elric's blade was met with a counterstrike from Itachi, whose calm, almost effortless movements left no room for error. It was clear that Itachi was reading Elric's every move, predicting his attacks before they even happened.
Elric was fast, no doubt, and skilled with his sword, but Itachi was an entirely different beast. As the fight intensified, Elric realized just how out of his league he actually was. He could feel the difference in their speed and power—Itachi was a hunter, and he was nothing but prey.
With a flick of his wrist, Itachi responded by summoning the black flames of Amaterasu, and encasing Elric in an unstoppable conflagration. The fire wasn't merely deadly—it was a symbol of the control Itachi had over the battlefield. Elric's attempts became increasingly desperate as he tried to push back the consuming black flames, but all that did was push him further and further into the corner.
Itachi's movements were fluid, his strikes deliberate and precise. Elric could barely keep up, his blade clashing with Itachi's movements only to be met with devastating counters. Itachi was in complete control of the fight, and it was only a matter of time before Elric was forced to concede.
It was the Tsukuyomi, in the end, that did Elric in. Itachi trapped him in an ocean of agony, his psychological torment a reflection of the despair of his fight. Elric's body trembled as he dropped, his strength exhausted by the delusion that possessed his mind.
Itachi towered above him, his presence overwhelming. "This is over," he whispered, his voice cold and conclusive.
With the defeat of their captain, the rest of the Black Gale Pirates were defeated or captured. The room was deathly quiet, the only noise the heavy breathing of Itachi as he walked around the scene of the battle. His dominance over the situation had been complete, and there was no longer any doubt in anyone's mind who the power player of the room was.
Solian stayed back, looking at Itachi with a mix of wonder and respect. The display of power was something he had never known to exist. He had always known Itachi to be strong, but to see it himself was different.
The rest of the crew reacted likewise. Milo, who had been watching intently, grumbled to himself, "That's the kind of strength we need. No one will dare challenge us after this."
Solian nodded, his mind already shifting to the future. The Black Gale Pirates had been a significant threat, but they were only one piece in a much larger puzzle. The Storm-Storm Fruit remained at the center of it all, and Solian knew that stronger enemies would soon come for it. Itachi's overwhelming power had given them a much-needed advantage, but the war was far from over.
Gathering his crew, Solian spoke with a steely resolve, his voice cutting through the air. "This victory was just one battle. We've proven ourselves, but the journey ahead will be far more dangerous. Prepare yourselves. The real fight is just beginning."
And with that, they all knew—this was only the beginning of a much larger war.