CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 397: IT’S SO NOISY

Chapter 397: It’s So Noisy

A tremendous rumble shook the air!

The massive fire dragon roared toward the Red Hair Pirates, who stood ready on their ship. They had to block this attack, or they risked death or severe injury. If the ship was destroyed, their situation would become dire.

"Mudslide Shield!" Bonk Punch shouted, taking the lead.

A colossal wave of debris surged upward, forming an arc-shaped barrier of mud and rock. Immediately after, Beckman acted, freezing the flowing barrier with a burst of icy air. The chilling cold made everyone behind the shield shiver.

A simple ice barrier would likely shatter under the fire dragon’s impact, but the mud and rock provided a sturdy buffer, creating a more resilient defense.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The roaring fire dragon slammed into the frozen mud-and-stone shield, producing a deafening crash. Beckman’s face paled as he gripped his weapon, channeling more cold air to reinforce the ice.

Snake, not daring to hesitate, used his air-current ability to guide the fire dragon along the arc of the shield, diverting its path.

Shanks, meanwhile, unleashed a powerful sword slash directly at King, aiming to disrupt his control over the attack. The rest of the crew followed suit, launching their own assaults.

A bolt of lightning streaked toward King, but he remained unfazed. Having dared to position himself above the sea, he was confident in handling such attacks. His infinite flames erupted, rendering the lightning ineffective.

Boom!

The fire illuminated the sea.

Under the horrified gazes of the Andre Pirates, Higuma, and other onlookers, the massive fire dragon engulfed the Red Hair Pirates’ ship. Like a blazing pillar, it tore through the sea and pierced halfway into the island behind them.

Rumble!

Flames erupted in the island’s dense forest, sending thick smoke and fire billowing into the sky. Animals fled in panic, driven out by the man-made disaster.

"So powerful! This is the strength of King the Conflagration! Truly terrifying!" Shinta, standing beside Higuma, murmured in awe, his eyes glazed over.

Higuma himself was astonished. King’s power was almost on par with Kaido of the Beasts.

What a monster!

He had not sensed such overwhelming strength from King during the Swordsmanship Tournament. Had King gained some new power from the Snake King Orochimaru? Higuma wondered, shaken. He realized his own journey to such strength would be a long one.

The sea gradually calmed, but the evaporating water formed a thick white mist, obscuring the Red Hair Pirates’ ship. Higuma and the others waited for the fog to clear.

The abilities displayed by the red-haired crew had impressed Higuma, and he doubted they would perish so easily under King’s terrifying attack.

Andre, not far away, used his Observation Haki to lock onto the auras on the ship. He could sense that Shanks and his crew were still alive.

A sea breeze began to blow, dispersing the mist as the fire dragon faded. The cooling water vapor cleared, revealing the scene.

The Red Force still stood, but its main mast, sails, and upper cabins were gone, reduced to charred ruins laced with ice. The ship looked as though it had been set ablaze—or perhaps it had been from the start.

In the past, such damage would have devastated Shanks and his crew, who cherished their ship. But now, survival was their focus.

Most of the Red Hair Pirates were half-kneeling on the deck, their bodies in tatters. Their clothes were burned to rags, their faces blackened by soot. They felt parched, as though all moisture had been drained from them.

They exchanged glances, then looked up at King, who gazed down at them from mid-air. Gritting their teeth, they forced themselves to stand.

To block King’s attack, they had poured every ounce of their strength into a coordinated defense, ensuring the ship and crew survived. Except for Beckman and Shanks, the others lacked the physical resilience or Haki mastery to fully protect themselves. Their abilities had saved them from annihilation, but only just.

King’s flames were relentless, fierce, and searing, and he seemed to wield them effortlessly. The Red Hair Pirates were in grave danger.

"Well? Will you surrender now?" King asked, slowly descending onto the Red Force’s scorched deck.

His towering figure loomed over the red-haired crew. Shanks, forced to deactivate his magic pattern form after the ordeal, stared up at him. His companions had shielded him during King’s attack, allowing him to remain standing despite his exhaustion. But he was at his limit.

What now? Shanks racked his brain for a way to turn the tide. In his current state, he could not confront King head-on.

His crewmates exchanged silent looks, the air growing tense.

Suddenly, King’s gaze shifted from them to the island nearby. His movement drew the attention of the red-haired crew, who followed his line of sight. Their eyes widened in shock.

Why is he here?!

The Andre Pirates and Higuma’s crew also turned toward the island, their expressions mirroring the red-haired crew’s disbelief.

There, amid the sea of flames consuming the forest due to King’s attack, a figure emerged.

He had distinctive red hair styled uniquely, wore unconventional clothing, and carried a guitar on his back. It was the Aloof Iori Yagami.

There was no mistake—this was the man rumored to have defeated the Marine hero Garp. A figure of such magnitude was here!

When had he arrived?

As the man stepped out of the flames, everyone felt a mix of solemnity, nervousness, or outright fear. Rumors painted him as ruthless, especially toward pirates. Compared to Andre, he was the true Tyrant King.

His sudden appearance sent shockwaves through the onlookers.

Step by step, Iori Yagami strolled out of the fire, unscathed by the flames. But his mood was foul.

He had set up a hammock in the island’s forest to rest peacefully. Early that morning, the island had begun trembling, disturbing his sleep. Being a calm man, he had ignored it, as long as the chaos stayed away from him.

But now, the fire had reached him directly.

No matter how patient he was, he could not ignore this.

He walked leisurely to the coast, observing the varied expressions on everyone’s faces. His cold voice cut through the air like a wave, resounding across the sea.

"It’s so noisy. Do you want to die?"

( End of this Chapter )