Chapter 221: Chapter 220: The Death of Weasel (Part 2)
"Vice Admiral Momonga, huh? This will be a good test of my abilities," Daniel Davis thought as he watched the approaching Navy ship. He chose not to avoid the Navy but stood his ground, waiting for their arrival.
For Daniel Davis, evading the Navy was too easy. Even if Admiral Kizaru showed up, he could escape using his spatial abilities, a superior power in any world.
Like Bartholomew Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit, which allows for instant travel, or the Door-Door Fruit user in CP9, escaping would be easy.
His goal was to escalate the situation, to create a significant disturbance using his false identity. Even if the Navy sent an admiral after him, he could always escape. A spatial ability user could leave the battlefield whenever they wished unless they chose to fight to the death.
As the ship approached, Daniel Davis noted Momonga standing alone at the bow, identifiable by his mohawk hairstyle. He raised his giant sword and slashed forward after a brief pause. A crescent-shaped sword energy, dozens of meters long, cleaved through the sea, leaving a deep trench in its wake.
Daniel Davis had invested a significant amount of effort into learning swordsmanship, not with the aim of becoming the world's greatest swordsman but as a valuable skill. His techniques were obtained through exchanges with the Revolutionary Army.
In response to the attack, Momonga drew his sword and countered with his own sword energy, causing a massive explosion as the two forces collided. The resulting shockwave raised ten-meter-high waves, rocking the Navy ship.
"Impressive discipline," Daniel Davis thought, noting the Navy crew's steadfastness amid the turbulence, a testament to their training at Marineford.
After blocking the attack, Momonga used Soru to appear in the air, followed by Geppo to close the distance to Daniel Davis, landing about ten meters to his left.
"I thought it was someone else, but it's Vice Admiral Momonga from Marine Headquarters. What brings you here?" Daniel Davis greeted Momonga with a smile, not attacking immediately.
"Cloud, you are guilty of indiscriminate killing and heinous crimes. By the authority of the World Government, I'm here to arrest you," Momonga declared coldly, glaring at Daniel Davis.
"Indiscriminate killing? That's funny. I only killed slavers. So, the World Government sanctions the slave trade? No wonder the slave auction houses on Sabaody Archipelago operate openly. So, the Navy's sense of justice includes legalizing slavery? Oh, sorry, I forgot. In the Navy, it's called an employment agency, helping people find jobs," Daniel Davis's voice boomed, loud enough for the sailors on the distant ship to hear.
It seemed that people in the pirate world had focused their skills on physical abilities, leaving much to be desired in wisdom. Even Sengoku's strategies during the Paramount War, considered genius, would be rudimentary by his standards.
The Revolutionary Army's lack of a coherent plan to overthrow the World Government and Celestial Dragons, relying mainly on those oppressed by the Heavenly Tribute, was short-sighted. They did not actively recruit the capable people from across the seas, such as Fujitora, who, despite their strong sense of justice, were overlooked.
Daniel Davis maintained transactional relations with the Revolutionary Army rather than joining them, knowing their shortcomings.
"Nonsense," Momonga snapped, his face darkening. Not waiting for Daniel Davis to continue, he attacked with Soru, appearing before Daniel Davis and slashing with his renowned sword.
As an elite Vice Admiral, Momonga wielded one of the fifty Ryo Wazamono swords, a high-quality blade. In the world of pirates, swords are often katana-like, with few double-edged swords.
Daniel Davis, under the guise of Cloud, wielded a giant sword, sharpened on only one side.
Facing Momonga's swift strike, Daniel Davis raised his giant sword, blocking the attack.
"Did I hit a nerve, Vice Admiral Momonga? The Navy is just the lapdog of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. That 'Justice' cape of yours makes me sick," Daniel Davis taunted, holding his ground against Momonga.
Clashing swords, neither yielded, matching each other's strength. Daniel Davis continued his taunts as their blades locked.
In response to Daniel Davis's insults, Momonga attacked furiously, his sword aiming to kill. Each strike was lethal, showing his intent to end the fight quickly.
"Angry now, aren't you?" Daniel Davis retreated using Soru, utilizing Momonga's momentum to counterattack. "I've heard the slave auctions are bustling on Sabaody Archipelago. How many slaves have you caught for sale, Vice Admiral? I bet it's quite a few."
"Shut up," Momonga roared, gripped by rage, as he charged recklessly at Daniel Davis with his sword.
"Shut up? Am I wrong? Everyone knows the slave auction houses are a side income for Navy higher-ups. I've heard that the three Admirals, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Hero Garp are the patrons behind the top auction houses on Island #1 of Sabaody Archipelago," Daniel Davis provoked further.
"Shut up," Momonga shouted again, now fully enraged.
"Exposed the truth, have I?" Daniel Davis smirked, proud of having agitated Momonga so thoroughly.
Daniel Davis's disdain for the Revolutionary Army stemmed from their ineffectiveness. Even if Sengoku, Garp, and the Admirals were virtuous, their association with the corrupt system made them vulnerable to smear campaigns.
The Revolutionary Army didn't see the Navy as a true enemy, as they would still need them to maintain order after overthrowing the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
However, Dragon and his followers were overly idealistic, failing to account for the Navy's inherent corruption. While Marineford might be relatively clean, many officers in other branches were corrupt.
Luffy encountered corrupt Navy officers shortly after setting sail, and such incidents were not isolated.
"Who are you, really?" Momonga demanded, breathing heavily, struggling to maintain his composure. Daniel Davis's words had struck a nerve, questioning the integrity of the Navy.
Daniel Davis had tapped into a vein of truth, accusing the Navy of hypocrisy and complicity in the slave trade. This was a more dangerous narrative than even the rise of a new pirate emperor.
"Who am I? A lapdog of the Celestial Dragons and a slave trader like you has no right to know," Daniel Davis replied, glancing at the sailors on the Navy ship, who were listening intently. Some cursed him, others fell silent, and some looked angry but said nothing.
The truth about Sabaody Archipelago's slave trade was not widely known, even within the nearby Marineford.
In the pirate world, much like in Marvel's, ordinary people were often kept in the dark about many secrets.
"You," Momonga stammered, his face flushing with anger, unable to find the words to counter Daniel Davis's accusations.
"The Navy stands for justice? That's laughable. Sabaody Archipelago is overrun with pirates openly trading slaves, right next to Marineford, yet the Navy does nothing. You wear that 'Justice' cape, but it disgusts me. Oh, sorry, I forgot. You slave traders feel no shame."
Creating a scandal in the pirate world was simple: pin the slave trade on the Navy. This strategy wouldn't work in other worlds but was plausible here due to the existing issues.
This accusation, once started, would be impossible for the Navy to wash away.
"Are you planning to silence me? Do you really think you can?" Daniel Davis taunted, seeing Momonga's bloodshot eyes filled with murderous intent. He was proud to have provoked such a strong reaction from an elite Vice Admiral.
Momonga, silent and seething, attacked again. Daniel Davis had exposed the Navy's hypocrisy, and Momonga now saw him as a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Momonga's blade turned pitch black, coated with Armament Haki, as he charged at Daniel Davis.
In response, Daniel Davis's giant sword also hardened with Armament Haki. This time, Daniel Davis remained silent, focusing on the fight. He had said all he needed to; now it was time to act.
Momonga wouldn't be leaving this island.
As their swords clashed repeatedly, the island's few trees were destroyed, the ground cracked, and rocks shattered under the force of their battle.
"This is the strength of a Marine Headquarters elite Vice Admiral? It's lower than I expected. Have I grown stronger?" Daniel Davis mused, realizing that Momonga, though formidable, was not as challenging as he had anticipated.
Momonga's specialty was combining Soru and Geppo with his swordsmanship.
"This ends now, Vice Admiral Momonga," Daniel Davis declared as he took a strike to the chest without dodging, using his body to block while swinging his giant sword at Momonga.
It appeared as if Daniel Davis was willing to trade blows, but in reality, he had activated his nano armor before the fight, combining Vibranium, titanium alloys, and other rare metals to create a suit with exceptional defense, shock absorption, and anti-shock properties.
Even if his actual strength wasn't higher than Momonga's, the armor alone gave him a significant advantage.
Combat isn't fair; Daniel Davis knew this well. This was just a test of his hand-to-hand combat skills. He didn't need his alchemy or Kamar-Taj magic to defeat Momonga.
"Goodbye, Momonga," Daniel Davis said as he swung his giant sword, cutting Momonga's blade in half. The Ryo Wazamono sword, while formidable, was inferior to the metal used in Daniel Davis's sword and armor.
Without hesitation, Daniel Davis beheaded Momonga, showing no mercy.
"Vice
Admiral Momonga," the sailors on the distant Navy ship gasped, their faces frozen in shock. Just moments ago, the battle had seemed evenly matched, but now, in an instant, Momonga lay dead.
A few Marines, recovering from their shock, used Soru and Geppo to rush toward Daniel Davis, believing in Momonga's ability to win.
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