Roger laughed and stepped back. He casually broke off a tree branch and weighed it in his hand.
"Kuhahaha! Little ones, try this!"
Rhett: Look at that. He's infringing on my techniques. Is no one going to stop him??
Mihawk: Hmph. Vulture's blood money!!!!
Ann's eyes darkened. She swung her heavy sword horizontally. The blade shone with the black light of Armament Haki.
"An-Shin Style: Phantom Strike!"
Her small body suddenly lunged forward. The heavy sword traced a sharp arc, swinging directly at Roger's shoulder. This was based on Uncle Rhett's "Mist God Style: Phantom Strike."
Back then, Rhett hadn't fully integrated his mist into his swordsmanship yet. Ann could imitate it relatively easily. No blood mist assistance. Just pure swordsmanship combined with Armament Haki. The strike actually carried a faint sound of breaking air.
Roger raised an eyebrow. He flicked the branch lightly.
"CLANG!"
The branch and the heavy sword collided with a metallic ring! Ann's hands shook. She almost lost her grip on the sword. But she gritted her teeth and steadied herself. She used the force to spin around and swung the second sword at Roger's legs.
At the same time, Ace's longsword and flintlock attacked from both sides.
"Dual Blader: Gunblade Slash!"
The sword thrust straight at Roger's throat. But the flintlock's barrel was aimed at a different spot. It was aimed at a place somewhere between Roger's stomach and his legs.
Little Roger: Oh no. It's coming for me.
This technique was hard to read. It was Ace's own dirty move. Uncle Rhett always said, "A win is a win!"
Roger felt a little threatened for the first time. But he still laughed out loud. "Fancy tricks!"
He flicked his wrist. The branch moved horizontally and blocked Ace's sword. Then he pulled hard.
"CRACK!"
Ace's sword flew out of his hand. But the flintlock was already firing.
"BANG!"
The lead bullet shot through the air. But just as it was about to hit Roger's knee, his branch flicked it away.
"What—!" Ace's eyes went wide.
Sabo's sword had already arrived silently.
Unlike Ace's wild style or Ann's overpowering style, Sabo's swordsmanship was as precise as a scalpel. Every strike targeted the gaps in Roger's movements. This was the "light sword" style he had honed at Koushirou's dojo.
"SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!"
Three quick thrusts, aimed at Roger's wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
A glint of appreciation flickered in Roger's eyes. His branch moved like a shadow. Each block perfectly intercepted Sabo's sword tip.
"Not bad! Who taught you?"
Sabo didn't answer. He suddenly changed his technique.
"Reverse Blade: Swallow Return!"
The blade suddenly turned and slashed at Roger's wrist from an impossible angle.
"Oh?" Roger finally showed a hint of surprise.
A light flashed in Roger's eyes. He suddenly twisted his wrist.
"SMACK!"
The branch lashed back at Sabo's hand from an even more tricky angle. Sabo winced in pain. His sword movement slowed. Roger took the opportunity to close in. The branch shot toward Sabo's throat like a viper.
At the critical moment, Ann's heavy sword swung from the side.
"An-Shin Style: Dragon Tail!"
This strike was heavy and powerful. It forced Roger to retreat. Ace took the chance to pick up his sword and attacked with Sabo from both sides again.
"Dual Blader: Cross Gunblade!"
The flintlock fired. Then Ace immediately closed in. You see, Rhett's attacks were never just one move and done. No wonder people could tell what style you used just by watching you fight. The bullet and the sword formed a deadly cross.
Roger laughed. The branch spun in his palm.
"Divine Departure!" (Small, small, small Divine Departure, very quietly.)
Even though Roger was sick and his strength was far from its peak, with the pure gold stabilizing his condition, the three little ones were still nowhere near his level.
"BOOM!"
The shockwave exploded. The three little ones were all pushed back several steps. Ace was thrown into the air. Sabo's hands bled. Ann had to drive her heavy sword deep into the ground to steady herself.
Dust filled the yard.
Roger stood where he was. His branch was still intact. He grinned.
"Not bad! You forced me to use that move—"
The three little ones' pupils contracted at the same time.
Ace's fists cracked. His eyes burned with rage. "You... how dare you use that move?!"
Sabo's eyes beneath his top hat suddenly turned cold. "Divine Departure... that's our father's technique..."
Ann's heavy sword trembled. Armament Haki wrapped around the blade like black flames. "...Unforgivable."
Roger froze. "Wait, you—"
"SHUT UP!!!"
Ace leaped up in rage. His sword swung down with unprecedented force. There was no technique to it. Just overwhelming anger.
Sabo appeared like a ghost, his blade thrusting at Roger's throat. "Don't you dare disgrace our father's technique!"
Ann's heavy sword swept across. The ground cracked open. "Give back... our father's technique!"
Their attacks were several times more intense than before. Every strike carried the determination of a fight to the death.
Roger blocked hastily. Under the continuous attacks, cracks began to appear in his branch. He could easily cut through their weapons. But seeing the kids fighting like this, with no regard for their own safety, he saw Rhett in them. He was afraid they would fight like Rhett, trading wounds.
But he couldn't pretend he wasn't moved.
"Hey! Let me explain—"
"Explain what?!" Ace roared. "What would a bastard like you know about what our father means to us?!"
Sabo's blade scraped Roger's cheek, leaving a thin cut. "Even if he's not here... you have no right to desecrate his memory."
Ann's swings grew heavier and heavier. Her eyes were full of killing intent. "Uncle said... Father was... the greatest pirate..."
Roger's heart trembled.
Before the words faded, Ann suddenly raised her heavy sword and charged like a cannonball.
"An-Shin Style: Divine Departure!"
"Dual Blader: Divine Departure!"
"Reverse Blade: Divine Departure!"
Rhett: Why is everyone looking at me? Of course I taught them that. When you're out at sea, you need to show who's backing you up. Let's see who dares not to show me respect.
The heavy sword swung down with the force to split mountains. Roger was about to block when he realized Ace and Sabo had already circled to both sides.
Ace's sword thrust at his back. "Got you!"
Sabo's dagger aimed for his throat. "It's over!"
Three-sided attack! Ann at his head with overwhelming force. Sabo at his back, aiming for his heart. Ace aiming for little Roger.
Roger's pupils contracted sharply—
"KUHAHAHA!!!"
Amid wild laughter, his figure suddenly blurred.
"What?!" The three little ones' weapons hit nothing at the same time.
Roger appeared behind them. He tapped the backs of their heads with his branch.
"Right here~"
"THUD! THUD! THUD!"
The three little ones stood panting, protecting Rouge behind them. Their eyes were fierce as they glared at Roger. Ann was already holding a Rhett summoning device in her hand. If she opened it, blood mist would cover the area, letting her hide, and a blood mist clone of Rhett would appear.
The yard was completely silent.
Roger looked at his empty hands. The branch had finally broken. He looked at the three little ones, ready to fight to the death. Then suddenly—
"KUHAHAHA!!!!!!"
He laughed so hard he doubled over. Tears almost came out of his eyes.
"Amazing! You're all amazing!"
The three little ones: "???"
Rouge finally couldn't take it anymore. She ran up and grabbed Roger by the ear.
"You bastard! Did you have to tease the kids into fighting you?"