Chapter 391

The pirate ship drew closer and closer, and soon a group of pirates swarmed up the side of their vessel on ropes. At their head was a tall, broad, brutish pirate gripping a massive axe, a savage grin on his face: "Brats, today is your time of death! Hand over the treasure!" His voice was like a cracked gong, carrying far on the gale.

"If you want the treasure, you'll have to ask the blades in our hands first!" Luffy roared, his body springing out like a coiled spring, kicking toward that pirate. His speed was blinding, whipping up a gust of wind, and the pirate hastily raised his axe to block.

"Bang!" A tremendous crash rang out as Luffy's foot slammed heavily into the axe; the tremendous force sent the pirate staggering back several steps. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but it was quickly swallowed by fury: "Stinky brat, you've got some skill!" So saying, he swung his axe and charged at Luffy once more.

Zoro was not to be outdone either; his figure flashed, weaving through the pirate mob like a phantom. The three blades in his hands swung in an airtight flurry, every slash sending up a spray of blood. The pirates dropped one after another, but more came surging in like a tide.

Li An drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and the enemy weaknesses the system had analyzed flashed rapidly through his mind. His fingers sketched quickly in the air before him as he muttered: "Upper left, the arm joint—defense is thin there; lower right, behind the knee of the leg—that's the vital point…"

"Everyone, follow my lead! Luffy, you focus on the big guy up front—watch out for his axe attacks, come at him from the side, and strike his arm joint! Zoro, you're in charge of clearing out the small fry around us—focus your attacks on the backs of their knees!" Li An shouted, his voice firm and strong, cutting with unusual clarity through the chaos of the battlefield.

Luffy and Zoro heard Li An's command and reacted at once. Luffy dodged the big pirate's axe swings while looking for an opening to attack from the side. His gaze was focused and steady, locked tightly on the enemy's arm joint. At last, he spotted his chance—his body spun rapidly, and his foot slammed viciously into the pirate's arm joint.

"Crack!" A sharp sound of bone splintering rang out, and the pirate let out a wretched scream as the axe slipped from his grasp. His face was a mask of agony and terror; he had never imagined that this seemingly skinny youth could possess such terrifying strength.

Zoro, following Li An's instructions, kept striking at the backs of the surrounding pirates' knees. His blade-light flickered, every blow landing with pinpoint precision. The pirates collapsed one after another, groaning in pain.

However, the enemy numbers were simply too great; despite their desperate resistance, they gradually fell into a predicament. Guo Yao was huddled in a corner of the ship, watching the fierce battle before her, her heart full of worry. Her hands pressed tightly over her mouth, afraid her own cries might affect everyone. Her eyes stayed fixed on Li An, silently praying he would come through unharmed.

Just then, Blackbeard Teach suddenly appeared on the battlefield. A sinister smile played across his face, his hands tucked into his waist as if everything were in his grasp: "Hah, I didn't expect you lot to actually hold out this long in the storm. Still, that treasure—today I'm taking it for sure!" His voice was low and hoarse, as if rising from hell.