"A Devil Fruit user?"
"And a rare Logia at that!"
The middle-aged man's pupils narrowed slightly in shock at the sight of Kuzan's powers. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath. In the world of One Piece, Devil Fruits were already rare and mysterious treasures, often referred to as the secret treasures of the sea.
Even unidentified Devil Fruits easily commanded a market price exceeding 100 million Berries. But if the fruit possessed a special ability—such as Logia, Mythical Zoan, or other unique Paracia types—its value could no longer be asured in Berries alone.
From Kuzan's evasion to counterattack, the sequence of abilities on display gave the middle-aged man a fairly accurate grasp of his opponent's power.
"You're right," Kuzan replied. "I ate the Ice-Ice Fruit. I'm a man of ice, a Logia user."
"But the aura on you... reeks of piracy."
"So tell . Are you a pirate?"
Kuzan's hand remained on the man's shoulder as he spoke. As he lowered his head slightly, the sunlight glinted off his sunglasses, casting two sharp reflections across the lenses.
"You little brat," the man growled. "Just because you've got a Devil Fruit doesn't an you can act high and mighty!"
"You're just another damn Logia user!"
Rather than answer Kuzan's question, the man suddenly twisted around and punched him square in the chest. Kuzan clearly hadn't expected a counterattack at such close range and was sent flying straight toward the ship's cabin.
"THUD!!"
A deep boom echoed across the deck as Kuzan's body disappeared from view, crashing clean through the bulkhead. A gaping hole remained in the wall where he'd struck.
"Tch."
"Logia types."
"In these seas, relying on a Devil Fruit alone won't get you anywhere."
The man scoffed and spat on the deck. He glanced down at his right arm, now frozen solid by Kuzan's earlier touch, and tried to channel Haki into it.
But before he could react, a young Marine officer in uniform appeared before him without a sound. At the sa ti, a flash of black light streaked past his right arm.
The next second, his entire arm was severed clean at the shoulder and sent flying.
Kuzan's freezing effect hadn't worn off. No blood flowed from the stump.
"?!"
"That officer from the bow earlier?!"
"When did he get in front of ?!"
The man hadn't felt a thing—his arm was gone and he hadn't even noticed. His full attention was now focused on the red-haired youth standing quietly before him, who had appeared as silently as a ghost.
Compared to the flashy powers of a Logia user, this red-haired youth with no killing intent and no discernible aura was far more terrifying.
"Kuzan asked if you were a pirate," Yoriichi Tsugikuni said calmly. "And you didn't answer."
"But I figure, if you're bold enough to board a Marine warship in full gear... you're no ordinary civilian, are you?"
"I'll give you one chance to speak for yourself. But if I don't hear what I want to hear..."
"The next slash won't land on your arm."
Yoriichi's blade had shown no rcy. Unlike Kuzan, he didn't bother with false courtesy or vague leniency.
That first strike only severed the man's arm because Yoriichi hadn't yet confird whether he was truly a pirate.
While it was obvious that these ard invaders weren't model citizens, Yoriichi hadn't seen any explicit pirate insignia on their submarines.
To avoid killing an innocent, he had aid away from the neck.
The severed arm, however, was punishnt enough for attacking a Marine warship. No matter what excuses the man might offer later, such an act was a clear and punishable cri.
Only after Yoriichi finished speaking did the man realize—he had already been struck.
He looked down at his body. The right arm, previously frozen by Kuzan, was now entirely gone.
The earlier frostbite had numbed all sensation, which explained why he hadn't even felt the strike when it ca.
Realizing his arm had been severed, the man's heart sank. He now looked at Yoriichi with none of the previous contempt or arrogance.
Only now did he understand: among all those aboard this warship, the quiet red-haired youth was the most dangerous of them all.
"No wonder the Celestial Dragons keep dogs like you around."
"And to think, the Marines still breed rabid hounds like this..."
"My na is Sharon Lawrence. I'm a Marine Hunter!"
"Now die, brat!"
Sharon Lawrence's roar echoed with hatred and fury toward the Marines.
At that very mont, he leapt high into the air, descending rapidly as he hurled a powerful punch directly at Yoriichi.
Seeing the incoming attack, Yoriichi's expression didn't change. He calmly twisted his wrist, raising his blade to et the airborne man.
"I was curious why you hate the Marines so much."
"But since you don't feel like talking... then I won't bother listening."
"Take your hatred to the underworld."
The sea breeze stirred Yoriichi's red hair as he lifted his head and watched Sharon Lawrence plumt toward him. Slowly, he raised his blade.
But just as he prepared to strike, Sharon Lily shouted from the bow:
"Father, no! These Marines... they're different!"
At the sa ti, another voice rang out from the direction of the cabin. It was a firm command—not for Sharon Lawrence, but for Yoriichi.
"Yoriichi, don't kill him yet!" It was Kuzan.
Two cries rang out nearly in unison.
As Sharon Lawrence dropped from the sky, his fist aiming straight for Yoriichi's head, the young officer reacted in an instant.
The edge of his blade shifted into the back of the sword.
Just as the punch reached him, Yoriichi tilted his head slightly to avoid it. Then, with a powerful swing, the back of the blade slamd into Sharon Lawrence's chest.
CRACK!!
BOOM!!!!
A muffled impact thundered across the ship, drowning out the sharp crack of bone.
Sharon Lawrence was sent flying like a ragdoll, his body blasted backward off the ship. He crashed into the sea, sending a great plu of water into the air.
"Your Majesty?!"
"King Sharon?!"
The rest of the ard n on the deck, those who had boarded the warship with Sharon Lawrence—shouted in shock. A few of the quicker ones imdiately jumped into the water, swimming toward where their leader had fallen.
Yoriichi didn't bother looking at the man he had just knocked into the sea. Instead, he turned toward the cabin.
From the gaping hole in the wall, Kuzan erged, holding his stomach and groaning.
"That guy... really doesn't pull his punches."
He muttered softly to himself, then shouted across the deck:
"Yoriichi, don't rush to finish him off."
"There's sothing I need to confirm first."
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend so power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!
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