One Piece Solar Rift Conqueror!

The moment Solian's Conqueror's Haki let loose, the battlefield was overturned.

Pirates on either side faltered, their eyes rolling back in their heads as they collapsed under sheer pressure. Crates exploded apart, the ground cracked, and the air itself became heavy and thick, filled with an unrestrained power Solian had not even meant to unleash.

Yet amidst death, Ragnor Stormfang did not waver.

The storm giant pirate captain smiled, flexing the heavy battle-axe in his hands. Silver locks were whipped behind him in the wind, and his eye of scars sparkled with anticipation.

"Heh… you've got some teeth, I suppose." His words were flat, but his knuckles went white on his battle-axe handle. "But it's all meaningless if you can't wield it."

He stepped forward next.

Faster than ever before.

Solian just managed to react, contorting his body as the battle-axe hurtled down towards him. The pressure of the wind alone created a shockwave that rippled through the air, sending dust and debris flying.

BANG!

The impact shattered the stone below them, forming a crater where Solian had only just been. He just managed to get out of the way, teleporting back in a burst of solar light.

Too slow.

A fist the size of a cannonball suddenly came crashing into Solian's belly, the punch blasting him through a row of market stalls like a bullet. Wood splintered, barrels exploded, and civilians scrambled for cover.

Solian slid across the pavement, spitting up bits of blood. His whole body thudded, but he gritted his teeth and heaved himself up.

Ragnor worked his neck loose. "Good. You're still on your feet." He crashed forward, stomping the ground beneath his enormous frame. "I was worried you'd fall from one strike."

Solian spat with the back of his hand and smiled. "Sorry to disappoint."

The Crew Battles On

While Solian was grappling with Ragnor, his crew were engaged in hardcore combat.

Kael's sword cleaved the melee, crossing the blades of two opposing swordsmen at once. His corroded blade bit polished steel, sparks flying out as he parried a blow and drove his sword headfirst into an elbow smash on the jaw.

The other staggered, but Kael did not let up. He twisted his body, stabbing the second pirate in the shoulder, pushing them to their knees with an animal's cry of pain.

Vance was a force to be contended with close by. A giant Storm Reaver pirate came at him with a spiked club, but Vance swatted the club aside with one hand.

The pirate's eyes widened in shock—just before Vance's other fist crashed into his ribs, sending him into a wrecked cart.

"That all you got?" Vance growled, curling his gloves.

Meanwhile, Rock Lee was a whirlwind of motion. His legs whirred so rapidly they were a blur as he dodged among the enemies, landing precise, bone-shattering kicks.

A pirate hacked at him with a curved blade, but Lee crouched low, spun on his heel, and kicked out in a flash of spin that cracked the man's ribs and sent him flying across the deck.

"You have no proper training!" Rock Lee squealed, cartwheeling another opponent. "Come back when your movements are finer!"

Even Jorin, normally the stern and meticulous warrior, was moving full-tilt, knocking enemies out of commission with dizzying speed and flipping their own attacks back at them.

Despite being outnumbered, the Solar Rift Pirates held their ground—but the Storm Reaver Pirates were not going to go down without a struggle.

And reinforcements were on the way.

The clatter of gunfire and footsteps echoed from farther into the town as backup troops arrived.

"We have to wrap this up," Jorin complained, dodging a dagger and dropping his opponent to the ground with a swift knee to the temple. "The longer it takes, the worse it gets."

Solian vs. Ragnor – The Real Fight Begins

Solian was vanished in a moment of blinding gold, reappearing an instant later above Ragnor with an ethereal fist raised.

"Solar Rift Strike!"

He punched down, flames wrapping around his fist as it struck Ragnor's shoulder. The blow shook across the battlefield like thunder, knocking over crates and scattered garbage.

Ragnor's smirk finally went away for the first time.

Solian's eyes widened. He actually did feel that.

But Ragnor didn't let him have the satisfaction.

His massive arm shot up, wrapping around Solian's neck before he could teleport away.

"You hit harder than I thought," Ragnor admitted, his grip like two iron manacles. "But you're still too weak."

And then he slammed Solian into the ground with a strength he shattered the pavement.

CRASH!

The cosmos spun around as Solian felt the wind knocked out of him.

He had no chance to draw breath before Ragnor's battle-axe came crashing down again.

Damn thing! He's quicker than I thought!

Solian's reflexes yelped at the last moment.

A portal opened up beneath his feet, and he vanished a fraction of a second before the axe fell.

Ragnor's sword tore apart the ground, sending a shockwave through the town.

Solian reemerged again at his back, this time flames on his hands.

He struck harder.

"Not bad," Ragnor jeered, swinging around to meet him again. "But we'll see how long it takes you."

The battle had barely started.