One Piece; Full Counter!

Chapter 34: Clash at Dawn

The early morning light broke across the vast expanse of the Grand Line. The sun's rays sliced through the sky, painting it in hues of orange and gold. The sea, having momentarily settled after the explosion of a cannonball beneath its surface, shimmered with an uneasy calm, disturbed only by the relentless pursuit of the Marine fleet.

Ahead, the Dragon's Wrath, a sleek but modest ship, pressed forward through the waters. Despite its smaller size, it cut through the waves with remarkable speed and defiance, a stark contrast to the massive Marine vessels looming behind it. The flag of the Marines fluttered ominously on these ships, each one bristling with cannons and soldiers, their mission clear: bring down the notorious Meliodas, the Dragon's Sin.

Onboard the Dragon's Wrath, Meliodas stood at the edge of the deck, his golden hair catching the rising sun like a halo. His green eyes glimmered with a mix of focus and mischief, a look that had unnerved even the most seasoned adversaries. By his side was Elizabeth, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders as she clutched the railing. Her azure eyes reflected both fear and determination as she gazed across the waters, her attention fixated on one particular ship in the distance.

There, standing tall on the deck of the Marine flagship, was Vice Admiral Garp. His grizzled face bore a grin that was both warm and unnervingly confident. His broad shoulders and commanding presence made him appear more like a titan than a man. Beside him stood young Coby and his blond-haired companion Helmeppo, their expressions a mix of awe and tension. Behind them, seated nonchalantly, was Admiral Aokiji.

Garp extended a hand toward Coby, his voice booming over the sound of the sea.

"Boy, pass me another cannonball," he ordered, his tone almost jovial.

Coby hesitated, his pink hair slightly disheveled from the chaos of the pursuit. He glanced at Aokiji, who leaned back lazily, his sharp black hair and long admiral's coat giving him an air of indifference.

"This is a bit... excessive, don't you think, Garp-san?" Aokiji remarked, his tone as cold and measured as his Devil Fruit powers. "You know we're not supposed to harm the girl. No need to take this so seriously."

Garp chuckled as Coby hurried to fetch a cannonball from a nearby crate. "Oh, Kizaru, you're far too soft," Garp said, lifting the black iron sphere with one hand as though it were no heavier than an apple. He tossed it lightly, catching it again as he added, "This isn't serious. This is just the warm-up. That Dragon's Sin brat knows it too."

Without further warning, Garp hurled the cannonball with immense force. The sheer velocity of the throw caused the massive Marine vessel beneath him to tremble.

Elizabeth gasped, clutching the railing tighter as the pressure wave from the projectile seemed to suck the very air from her lungs. But Meliodas didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he drew his sword, Lostvayne, the blade gleaming brilliantly in the morning light.

As the cannonball hurtled toward the Dragon's Wrath, Meliodas moved forward, his steps confident and deliberate. From his side, a perfect clone of himself materialized, identical in every detail. Without a word, the clone launched itself toward the incoming projectile, its blade ready.

High above, the real Meliodas leaped into the sky, his athletic form silhouetted against the sun. From this vantage point, he could see the chaos below—the looming Marine fleet, his own ship darting through the waves, and the cannonball rushing forward like a meteor. His golden hair whipped around him, and his white, long-sleeved shirt billowed in the wind. His expression, though calm, was filled with an intense concentration that betrayed the ferocity of his resolve.

The clone reached the cannonball first, its movements precise and deliberate. With a powerful slash of Lostvayne, it struck the projectile.

"Full Counter!"

The clone's voice rang out as the cannonball reversed its trajectory, now traveling at double its previous speed. The sound of the air splitting apart was deafening as the cannonball soared straight upward, where the real Meliodas waited.

Below, the Marines watched in stunned silence, their eyes following the projectile's path. Garp's grin widened slightly, but his eyes narrowed with newfound seriousness.

"Clever brat," he muttered.

Meliodas caught sight of the entire Marine fleet as he descended. His sharp gaze zeroed in on their formation. He knew Garp would block the next strike without breaking a sweat, so he shifted his strategy.

"If I can't take him down," Meliodas thought, "I'll make sure they lose something else instead."

"Full Counter!"

With a second strike of his sword, Meliodas sent the cannonball hurtling downward, its target now one of the other Marine ships.

The explosion was catastrophic. The cannonball tore through the wooden hull of the targeted ship with a thunderous impact, splinters and debris flying in every direction. Flames erupted from the vessel, smoke billowing into the sky as the screams of Marine soldiers echoed over the water. The once-mighty ship began to sink, its fiery remains casting a grim reflection on the sea's surface.

On the Marine flagship, Garp's grin faded slightly as he turned to observe the destruction. Aokiji rose to his feet, his tall frame and long strides giving him an aura of both lethargy and menace. His icy breath seemed to chill the air around him as he stepped to the ship's edge.

"Well, Garp-san," Aokiji said, his voice still casual but with a hint of annoyance. "It seems this kid's got enough guts to sink an entire fleet if we let him. I'll handle this."

Garp didn't reply immediately, his gaze fixed on the spot where Meliodas's clone had dissipated into the morning light.

"That brat's got enough crazy in him to take down a Celestial Dragon without flinching," Garp muttered under his breath. "Maybe even more."

Back on the Dragon's Wrath, Meliodas landed with a steady grace, his boots hitting the deck with a quiet thud. His sharp eyes met Elizabeth's as she turned toward him;

"Elizabeth, how much longer until we reach Alabasta at this pace?"

"If we keep this up, we should've already been there after sunrise." She said.

Elizabeth's blue eyes widened in surprise, and she turned her head, finally looking out across the horizon. For the first time since the pursuit began, she noticed the golden dunes of Alabasta in the distance. The island's beauty took her breath away—the rolling sands glowing under the morning sun, the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, and the faint outline of buildings rising from the desert.

"Alabasta..." she whispered, her voice filled with awe.

Meliodas followed her gaze, his expression softening slightly. "We can't dock anywhere close," he said firmly. "Sail along the coastline. We need to find a spot where we can hide the ship."

As Elizabeth nodded, a chill ran through the air. From the Marine flagship, Aokiji stepped onto the water, freezing it beneath his feet as he began his slow but deliberate approach toward the Dragon's Wrath. His icy presence sent ripples of tension through both fleets.

"Meliodas," Elizabeth murmured, her voice tinged with worry.

Meliodas smirked, gripping Lostvayne tightly. "Looks like the real fun's about to begin."

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[ A/N ]

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~ More Chapters ;

patr eon. com/Sakana0

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❗Next three chapters❗

- Chapter 35: The Frozen Chase

- Chapter 36: The Frosted Path

- Chapter 37; You Should Fight!

[Q/A]

_ What is the name of the crew?

- The Sin of Wrath, Dragon's Sin, or even Dragon's Wrath refers to the name of the ship based on its owner, Meliodas. But the name of the crew will not be mentioned now.