Logue Town — the town of beginnings and endings — the place where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was both born and executed.
Many people ca to this town because of its legendary significance. In the original story, Roronoa Zoro obtained two great swords here — the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri.
But this was twenty years ago.
Mio had no idea if those weapons were still around. There were many weapon shops in Rogue Town, and he wasn't interested in searching through all of them. As for Erica, that would depend on her luck.
Upon entering the town, Mio headed straight for the execution platform.
He arrived quickly.
The sky had already begun to darken, thunder rolling in the distance through black, roiling clouds. It looked like a downpour was on the way.
He looked up. The tall execution platform lood above him — and for a mont, Mio felt an inexplicable shiver run through his body.
Though he hadn't witnessed Roger's execution firsthand, the image of that mont played clearly in his mind. He could feel the wildness of that day. The roar of the crowd. The spark that changed the world.
"Do you want my treasure? You can have it. I left everything I own... in that place!"
The people had been stunned.
The Navy and the World Governnt had been furious.
The pirates... went mad.
Thus, the Great Pirate Era had begun.
And now...
The rain began to fall in sheets.
The streets grew quieter.
Mio stood alone in front of the execution platform, gazing up at its peak. A faint smile crept across his lips.
"Roger... you're truly admirable," Mio muttered.
Knowing the truth about the Void Century made Mio respect Roger even more. Not just the man — but his thods. With a single sentence, Roger had ignited an era.
Dead or alive, Roger's na still echoed across the seas.
His influence would never fade.
But admiration wasn't Mio's end goal.
What stirred deepest within him was ambition — the desire not to beco the Pirate King, but to beco soone who would shape an era just as Roger had.
He pulled back the hood of his cloak as rain dripped onto his face. Grinning, Mio turned away.
He had seen enough.
It was ti to leave.
But just then, a squad of Navy soldiers arrived in a rush. They quickly drew their weapons and aid them at Mio.
A commanding voice shouted from a distance:
"Captain of the Black Crow Pirates! I don't know why you ca to the East Blue, but your journey ends here!"
Swish—
A sudden slash cut through the rain.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire erupted, bullets flying through the downpour.
But in the next instant, Mio vanished from sight — and reappeared atop a nearby rooftop, Raikiri already in his hand.
"You Navy dogs really know how to sniff things out," Mio said calmly, his tone laced with annoyance. "I just arrived in Rogue Town and you've already found . What a waste of ti."
He hadn't co to cause trouble — but trouble had co to him.
"Devil Fruit user!" shouted the man who'd led the charge — the commander of the Rogue Town Navy branch: Mozambia.
He was not yet the Vice Admiral he would one day beco, but had been stationed here because of his promising potential — a form of gilded experience.
That slash just now had co from him.
He had seen Mio's ability clearly — not just with his eyes, but with Observation Haki.
The Black Crow captain had disappeared just before the blow landed — a power connected to space.
"A spatial ability, huh?" Mozambia muttered, his gaze sharpening.
"Can you beat ?" Mio asked softly.
"Of course." Mozambia's voice was cold. Then he gave the order.
"Fire!"
The Navy soldiers aid and prepared to shoot—
"Silver Blade!"
A flash of silver light split the rain.
Whoosh!
A cloaked figure appeared beside the soldiers, dual blades drawn, blood trailing from their edges.
Thump.
The Navy soldiers collapsed in unison, crimson mixing with the rain as it soaked into the cobblestone streets.
"A mber of the Black Crow Pirates—Erica, dual-sword user!" Mozambia's eyes widened in shock.
He hadn't expected them to arrive so fast.
He had planned to quickly capture the captain, then sweep up the crew. But before he could make a move, they had already taken the initiative.
Whoosh!
Another sound of sothing slicing the air.
Mozambia felt a chill run up his spine and dodged instantly.
Too late.
Though he avoided a fatal blow, three deep claw marks tore across his back. Blood welled up imdiately.
"And another one... Warwick, of the Black Crow Pirates," Mozambia muttered, staring at the clawed figure standing before him, partly concealed under a cloak.
Even with limited intelligence from the Grand Line and North Blue, he now understood: these pirates weren't infamous for cruelty alone. Their strength was the real danger.
He had underestimated them — and that realization brought with it a rising sense of dread.
"You bought the things?" Mio asked, Raikiri still at the ready.
"All set," Warwick replied with a nod.
Erica held up a samurai sword in her left hand, a sweet smile on her face. Clearly, she'd made a good haul.
"Great. Then let's head back. Oh, and don't forget to gather Lilith and the others. We're leaving soon."
"Understood." Erica nodded. She gave Mozambia a passing glance, then turned and left without a second thought.
Warwick retracted his claws into his sleeves and leapt away gracefully.
As his enemies disappeared into the rainy distance, Mozambia felt a mont of relief—
—only for his eyes to widen again in panic.
Mio had silently appeared before him.
Slash!
A powerful attack surged toward Mozambia. He dodged again just in ti, and the ground split behind him with a thunderous crack.
Mio smiled calmly, Raikiri gleaming in the rain.
"Don't lower your guard," he said. "Just because my companions are gone doesn't an you're safe."
He pointed the blade lazily toward Mozambia.
"I didn't plan on fighting, but now that I'm here... maybe I'll train a bit. You use a sword too, right? I think I've hit a bottleneck. Help break through."
Mozambia narrowed his eyes. "You're using ... as a whetstone?"
Mio tilted his head. "Would you rather be a stepping stone?"
"Careful, pirate. The whetstone might just grind your life away!" Mozambia roared, pushing through the pain and lunging forward.
Clang!
Their swords collided, sparks flying. The force pushed Mozambia back a few steps, and Mio imdiately pressed the attack.
"Black Crow!" Mio's eyes turned sharp, and he slashed forward.
Mozambia t him with his own swing.
They clashed, blow for blow, steel ringing through the storm.
Mio was using him — refining his own swordsmanship through real combat.
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from a nearby alley — a small boy with short, green hair, eyes shining with awe.
"So... aweso!" the kid whispered.
He couldn't even see the battle clearly, and the rain soaked him to the bone — but he stayed rooted in place, captivated.
"Are pirates... really this cool?" he whispered to himself, utterly srized.
Elsewhere, on a street leading to the execution platform—
Puff!
A scarlet tentacle pierced through a Navy soldier's abdon. With a vicious pull, it yanked free, and blood spattered onto the pavent.
Dozens of soldiers lay dead in the street.
Cloaked in shadows, Hei Yan looked toward the execution platform, then turned to Robin, who was calmly standing under an eave, avoiding the rain.
"Is the master's battle over?" Hei Yan asked.
"Not yet." Robin shook her head after using her powers to scout. "Still a while to go. I'll read in the anti. You stay alert — reinforcents might show up soon."
She casually pulled out a new book and began to read.
Hei Yan gave a silent nod and returned to the center of the street, four scarlet tentacles swaying ominously behind him.
Back at the execution platform.
"Damn pirate — go to hell!" Mozambia shouted, using Soru — the Navy's signature movent technique — to appear beside Mio.
He swung his blade, cloaked in sword aura.
Mio twisted, dodging it, and the stone beneath his feet was split open.
He countered instantly, slashing Mozambia's abdon.
Puff!
Blood gushed.
Then Mio's eyes sharpened. He grinned.
"I can hear your breathing. Guess the battle's over."
His Sharingan awakened — Raikiri spun in his hands.
In the blink of an eye, Mio vanished.
"I'm behind you," he whispered.
Mozambia turned to strike, but Mio blocked the blow with ease, then knocked the sword away and raised his own.
"Ti to send you off."
Slash! Slash!
Two cross-shaped wounds split open on Mozambia's chest. Flesh and organs were visible as blood poured out.
With a thud, Mozambia collapsed, eyes full of unwillingness.
Snap.
Under the eaves, Robin gently closed her book and looked up.
"It's over. Let's go."
Hei Yan nodded silently and followed her away.
On the other streets, Warwick and Erica were already on their way back to the ship.
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