One Piece Solar Rift Conqueror!

Solian made his choice.

He was not going to run.

The Marines already had him marked as a criminal—no point in denying it. If they were looking for a fight, he'd give them one. But he was not stupid. Charging in blindly without a strategy would be suicidal, even with his enhanced Agility and Devil Fruit Points.

So, he needed to be smart.

He walked across the rooftops, looking down at the town. Five- and ten-Man Marine patrols combed each street, their movements orchestrated. The lieutenant had established a tight perimeter, and there was no way anyone could depart without being observed.

"One hundred Marines and a single lieutenant…" Solian muttered.

That was not a minor group. Even assuming that they were primarily common soldiers, they had training, numbers, and weapons in their favor.

But he had something they lacked.

Speed. Firepower. Unpredictability.

He spotted his initial targets up ahead—a squad of six Marines halting a group of civilians. One was showing a wanted poster of Solian, holding it up to an elderly man while the others looked around.

Perfect.

Teleport. He blinked forward, standing in their midst before they had even had time to process what was occurring. His flaming fist rammed into the stomach of the first Marine, who smashed into a fruit cart nearby.

"He's here!" one of the others shouted, reaching for his rifle.

Too slow.

Solian's foot caught fire as he wheeled around, delivering a roaring roundhouse kick to the face of the Marine. The strike propelled the man crashing through a wooden stall.

Two down.

The other four drew their swords, but Solian disappeared once more.

He appeared behind them, flames bursting from his hands.

"Solar Surge!"

A blast of searing solar energy erupted outwards, covering the Marines in fire. They shrieked, falling and letting go of their weapons as the heat overpowered them. Not sufficient to kill, but more than adequate to take them out of action.

Six down.

Ninety-four to go.

The battle had begun.

Elsewhere…

"Attacking?" Lieutenant Harrow's hand clenched around the saber he held as he received the message.

Solian Flare, his targeted victim, had decided to fight rather than run. The lieutenant's lips twisted into a smirk. "Good. That way I get to deal with him myself."