'The fight starts! Seryu, the demon attacks!'
The first rays of dawn stretched over the horizon, painting the narrow village paths in soft gold. A cool breeze passed through the trees, rustling the leaves and brushing lightly against the bandages wrapped around Usopp's arm.
He walked in silence.
His head hung low, eyes still slightly red. The wound on his arm throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his chest.
"They didn't believe me," he muttered under his breath. "None of them... not even her."
He gritted his teeth, remembering Kaya's terrified face—followed by the sound of her hand slapping his cheek.
"Despicable."
That one word echoed louder than the gunshot ever did.
He stumbled a bit, blinking away the sting in his eyes. The bandage was damp—half from blood, half from tears.
But suddenly—
"CAPTAIN!!"
Usopp's eyes widened as he heard the familiar voices in the distance. He quickly turned to face a nearby stream, scrubbing at his cheeks and splashing water on his face. He hid the injury beneath his cloak, took a deep breath…
…and spun around with his signature grin.
"Good morning, soldiers!" he called, forcing a chipper voice. "Did you all sleep well?"
The three boys came running up to him, full of energy.
"Captain! We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Where have you been?"
"We know everything about the plan," Pepper said, stepping forward with a determined look.
Usopp's body tensed. His eyes widened slightly.
"You… what?"
"Yeah!" Carrot added. "We know you want to protect the village from the evil butler!"
"Let us help too! In the name of Usopp's Pirates!" Onion declared, puffing out his chest.
Usopp stood there, stunned. For a moment, his thoughts were flooded—images of the three of them playing pirate, following him around, treating him like a real captain. Their admiration… their belief in him…
He clenched his teeth.
They believed in him.
That's why he couldn't let them get involved.
He forced a shaky laugh, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
"Hahaha… You dummies!" he suddenly shouted, lifting his head with an exaggerated grin.
"It's a lie! It was all a setup, guys! I made the whole thing up because I hate that dang butler! I made up the pirate story just to get back at him!"
The boys froze in place.
"Ohhh, I get it!" Onion laughed. "So the Strawhat guy must've conspired with the Captain! It was just one of his jokes again!"
They all started to laugh along… until—
"You know, Captain," Pepper said with a sigh, "I'm starting to lose my respect for you."
"What kind of man makes up a lie like that just because of a grudge?" Carrot muttered.
"Let's go home, guys." Onion turned away.
The three boys walked off without another word.
Usopp didn't move.
He just stood there.
The laughter was gone. His smile had vanished. The pain in his arm pulsed again, but it wasn't nearly as painful as the silence they left behind.
He saved them.
But it hurt more than anything.
"…So that's how it is," came a familiar voice behind him.
Usopp turned slightly. Standing just a few steps back, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Shana, and Seryu had all arrived. Some with surprise on their faces, others with sympathy.
Usopp sat slightly apart, bandaged arm resting on his lap. The weight of his decision lingered in the air like mist.
"Why did you do that?" Nami finally asked, arms crossed, eyes narrowed but not unkind.
Usopp didn't look up.
"Because I'm a liar," he said. "No one will ever believe me. I was too naive and tried to warn them."
There was silence for a moment.
"But… just for clarification," Shana said, tilting her head, "the pirates are still coming, aren't they?"
"Yes," Usopp answered with no hesitation. His voice didn't tremble this time. "They are coming. But everyone thinks I'm lying. They think tomorrow's gonna be another peaceful day. So I'd like to fight the pirates myself! And make the whole thing a lie!"
He stood up suddenly, fists clenched, eyes burning with tears.
"That's what I'm supposed to do! I got shot in the arm! I got chased by a broom! But this is my village! I love it so much! I want to protect everyone!"
"Usopp-san..." Seryu said sympathetically.
His words rang through the trees with nothing but sincerity behind them.
...
...
...
...
There was a long pause.
"Tsk," Zoro muttered, cracking a small smirk. "You're pretty overconfident. You sent your friends home so that you could fight alone. I could get behind that."
"Such a noble cause cannot be left as is!" Seryu suddenly rose to her feet, slamming a fist over her heart. "I will stand and protect the innocent with you—for Justice!"
Shana exhaled quietly, glancing at Usopp. "…You're reckless. But I understand how you feel."
"Just so you know, all their treasure is mine, okay?" Nami said with a smug smirk, hands on her hips.
Usopp blinked at her, confused. "Y-You'll help me? Why? Y-You have nothing to do with this! Y-You think I'm scared, right?! T-That may be true but... I-I don't need your pity, okay!?"
His legs were shaking, his fists clenched at his sides. He looked like he was trying his best to hold everything in.
"No one's pitying you," Zoro said calmly, arms crossed. "We're impressed. And we want to help."
"Yeah! Why do we need a reason to help a friend?" Luffy grinned, leaning forward with that usual carefree fire in his eyes.
"Exactly!" Seryu stepped up, her voice rising with unwavering conviction. "Known or not, it doesn't matter to me. I will always stand on the side of the defenseless!" Koro stood proudly by her feet, giving a little growl of agreement.
Usopp's eyes widened as he looked at each of them. These strangers... no—these friends. They believed him. Not because they had to. But because they chose to.
"Y-You guys..." he muttered, his voice cracking.
And then it hit him all at once. The stress, the fear, the pain—he couldn't keep it in anymore. Tears poured from his eyes as he dropped to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. But this time... it didn't feel like he was alone.
Many hours later, as the sky shifted from deep purple to hints of early sunrise, the group gathered at the hill overlooking the coast. A soft breeze rustled the grass while a sense of quiet determination filled the air.
"Okay. Here's the plan." Usopp pointed to a rough map he'd scratched into the dirt with a stick. "There are two coasts they could use, but from what I heard, they'll raid the village from this one." He jabbed the stick toward a specific cove. "We'll be filling this entire area with oil. Once they step onto land—we light it up. It'll stop 'em in their tracks."
The others nodded. Then Usopp straightened up and looked at the crew.
"Now then... what does everyone specialize in? We need to know our strengths."
"Cut," said Zoro plainly, tapping the hilt of one of his swords.
"Cut," Shana echoed, her eyes glowing faintly with crimson resolve.
"Stretch!" Luffy grinned, flinging his arms behind his head lazily.
"To steal!" Nami added with a cheeky grin and a wink.
"Shoot," Seryu said firmly, resting her hand on her pistol. "And Koro bites."
"And I…" Usopp paused for dramatic effect. "I'm the guy who hides."
WHAM!
Three fists crashed onto his head in perfect sync—Zoro, Luffy, and Nami all bonking him at once.
"YOU'LL FIGHT TOO!!" they yelled in unison.
"Okay, okay! It was a joke!" Usopp groaned, holding his head. "I'm gonna fight too, I swear!"
The scene transitioned as dawn began to stretch across the horizon, painting the coast in hues of gold and amber. The crew was hard at work, carefully pouring thick lines of oil along the narrow coastal path that led into the village.
"There you go!" Luffy grinned as he dropped an empty barrel to the side.
"Great idea, Usopp-san!" Seryu beamed, hands on her hips. Koro barked proudly beside her, his fluffy tail wagging in approval.
"It looks pretty cute, honestly," Nami said, stepping back to examine their handiwork. "I want to see those fools try to climb up this mess."
"Just be careful not to step on it by accident," Zoro warned, eyeing the slick trail suspiciously. "It'll be like falling into quicksand."
"Usopp-san!" Seryu suddenly raised a hand with a bright, eager look. "Can I be the one to burn the oil when they get close?"
"Oh yes, of course you ca—WAIT, WHAT!?" Usopp nearly dropped his torch.
Seryu tilted her head innocently. "Oh? Isn't that the reason why you set this up?"
"W-Well, y-yeah but… you said that with way too much excitement!" Usopp stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. "Like, do you like setting people on fire!?"
"Only the evil ones," she answered sweetly, petting Koro as he let out a low growl of agreement.
Before Usopp could panic further, Nami suddenly raised both hands to her temple.
"Hold up. I'm hearing something," she said, narrowing her eyes toward the distance.
"I hear screams," Nami said, her expression sharpening. "It sounds like pirates… no, wait. I hear a ship too. It's definitely pirates."
"But why are they coming from far away and not here?" Zoro asked, his hand already on his sword.
"Weird," Nami muttered. "Unless…"
There was a sudden pause.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Oh crap!" Usopp shouted. "We put the trap on the wrong coast! They're attacking from the north coast!"
"WE BETTER GO THEN!" Luffy yelled, immediately turning on his heel and sprinting away.
"North coast means it's on the north, right?!" he added over his shoulder.
"W-Wait! It's just the name—it's not actually—Nevermind!" Usopp groaned, breaking into a run. "I have to go fast!"
"I'll go too!" Seryu declared, already dashing forward. Koro barked excitedly and bounded after her.
"Sigh What idiots you are," Shana muttered, but she followed close behind, flame patterns flickering in her hair.
As they all rushed to head north, Nami suddenly slipped on a patch of oil.
"Whoa—!!"
She instinctively reached out—and grabbed onto Zoro's sword hilt.
"Hey!! Not that!!" Zoro barked.
Too late. The sudden yank threw them both off balance, and the pair tumbled onto the slippery oil-coated ground with a splat.
Nami groaned, slick with oil, then glanced around quickly. Without hesitation, she stepped on Zoro's back and launched herself forward, using him like a springboard.
"Sorry, swordsman! Gotta go!" she shouted, dashing off with impressive speed.
Zoro was left lying in the muck, blinking up at the sky with fury building behind his eyes.
"...I swear, I'm gonna cut that woman," he muttered
"If they're going on the other coast, that means it's near our boat!" Nami's eyes widened in panic. "They'll get all my treasure!" Without waiting for anyone, she sprinted down the path like a woman possessed, arms pumping and gold on her mind. "Not my berries!!"
Meanwhile, over on Usopp's side of the hill, he had taken position with his slingshot at the ready. His eyes burned with determination.
"I won't let any of them pass!" he declared to the wind. "Damn, Luffy is fast. Good. He'll get there first and hold them off... yeah."
He grinned with his classic confidence—but deep down, he was praying they'd all make it in time.
On Shana's end, the frustration was mounting. She had darted through the woods, sharp-eyed and focused, but then—
"...Wait." She skidded to a stop. Her crimson eyes narrowed.
Luffy wasn't heading toward the north coast—he was taking some random, wildly off-track path, cheerfully yelling something about a shortcut.
"...Seriously?"
Alastor's voice flickered through the pendant at her chest. "You're not responsible for him just because you're a crewmate," he said plainly. "Just reminding you."
Shana let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Yeah, well... he's also our trump card. I can't leave him out."
She gritted her teeth, took one more breath, and bolted after him.
"Ugh... That idiot!!"
The fog of dawn clung low over the North Coast, muffling the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Footsteps echoed on the wet sand—light at first, then many. The silhouettes of cloaked figures emerged through the mist, their weapons glinting faintly under the rising sun.
The Black Cat Pirates had arrived.
Leading them was none other than Jango, the hypnotist, spinning his signature chakram-bladed pendulum lazily in one hand.
"Hypnotized and ready for mayhem," he said with a grin, pushing his round glasses up his nose. "Now then... let's make this village disappear."
One of the crew suddenly pointed toward a small boat anchored nearby.
"Hey, Jango-sir. Should we inspect that? It's kinda close."
Jango glanced toward the boat, still swinging his pendulum. "One of you can go check it out. The rest of you—to the village." He flicked the blade forward dramatically. "It's time to put on a killer performance. Ha-cha!"
"Aye sir!"
While the others stormed ahead into the jungle path that led toward Syrup Village, one crewman broke off, trudging toward the boat with a suspicious look.
Suddenly, a loud BANG! echoed through the trees—then another. One pirate was struck in the shoulder, another in the leg. A third yelped as he dove for cover.
"Wh-What the hell!?" Jango snapped, spinning around as a third shot clipped his hat clean off.
From atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the coast, Usopp stood tall, his silhouette illuminated by the rising sun. His sniper goggles glinted as he reloaded his slingshot, already locked and loaded with more lead pellets.
Standing boldly beside him were Seryu Ubiquitous and her ever-loyal companion Koro, both staring down at the pirates with unwavering intensity.
"You wanted to sneak into my village?" Usopp shouted, voice echoing across the coast. "Then you've picked the wrong island, pal!"
He pulled down his goggles and pointed a finger toward them. "I am the great Captain Usopp! Defender of Syrup Village! And today, your invasion ends right here!"
Seryu raised her hand in salute, eyes burning with righteous fire. "In the name of Justice! You will advance no further, vile criminals!"
Koro let out a deep, rumbling growl, fangs bared and fur bristling.
For a brief second, the Black Cat Pirates hesitated.
Jango stared, brushing dust from his coat and twitching. "Tch… Looks like we've got ourselves an audience. Boys... tear them apart."
But before the man could approach, Usopp yelled out. "Just so you know. If you wish to fight me. I have over 8000 men under me that you will have to get through!"
...
...
...
...
...
Jango grit his teeth, trying to keep his cool as the pirates murmured anxiously.
"Eight thousand!?" one of them squeaked, eyes darting toward the treeline like a whole army might pop out at any second.
"H-He doesn't look like he's bluffing…" another whispered.
Jango narrowed his eyes at Usopp, who stood proudly with his chest puffed out and hands on his hips. Behind him, Seryu and Koro stood like imposing generals, amplifying the illusion of a grand battalion.
"He's lying, sir!" one pirate tried to reassure Jango.
Jango rubbed his temples, growing frustrated. "Lying or not, you fools! Don't fall for cheap tricks!"
But even he couldn't hide the twitch in his eye.
'Never seen that girl before though… and that creature with her…' Jango thought warily, eyeing Seryu and Koro. The girl's presence radiated such conviction, it was hard to ignore. And the beast beside her looked ready to rip throats.
"You may outnumber us, but justice isn't about numbers, it's about righteousness! We will crush you regardless!"
Koro barked in sync, muscles tensed and glowing faintly with energy.
...
...
...
...
...
Usopp leaned closer and whispered from the side of his mouth, "Okay, that was awesome."
"Thank you!" Seryu beamed. "I've been practicing a lot!"
Jango scowled. "Enough of this nonsense! Whether it's three or eight thousand, we're charging in! Get ready, boys!"
Usopp's knees trembled as the pirates inched closer, and he desperately racked his brain for another idea. Beside him, Seryu stood tall and unfazed, hand lifted as she prepared to issue Koro his first command.
Suddenly, one of the Black Cat Pirates called out from near the boat.
"Hey, sir! I found a bag of money inside this thing—there's at least 54 million berris here!"
Jango's eyes lit up for a moment. "Huh!? Who's boat is that from?"
Seryu blinked. "Wait—who does own that boat?"
Usopp's eyes widened. Then, inspiration struck.
"That's the legendary treasure of Usopp's Pirates!" he shouted. "Y-You can have it in exchange for leaving the village alone!"
The pirates paused again, considering.
"Does that big nose really think we're going to fall for this?" one muttered.
"Shut up," Jango snapped. "We're still pirates, even if this is part of the plan. Captain Kuro would definitely appreciate that kind of money."
Usopp's heart thumped with sudden hope—maybe this could work after all.
But then—
"…However," Jango continued, twirling his chakram with a smirk, "If we take both the bag and the village, that just doubles the gains."
Usopp's face fell.
Jango raised one hand with a flourish. "Now look here... When I say One, Two, Jango—you will all fall asleep."
"One. Two. Ja—"
WHACK!
"NO WAY!!!"
Nami's voice cut through the air as her wooden staff came down hard, smacking Usopp out of his daze.
"Ugh—!" Usopp stumbled, clutching his head.
"Nami-san! You came!" Seryu beamed with surprise. Koro wagged his tail enthusiastically beside her.
"But where is Luffy-san and the others?" Seryu asked.
Nami sighed and adjusted her grip on the staff. "I'm not sure. If I had to pick, I think those idiots got lost somewhere."
Then she turned back toward the pirates, eyes fierce. "And anyway! That treasure belongs to me! I won't let you get a single coin from inside that boat!"
Jango narrowed his eyes, now recognizing her face. "That girl... She's from the ranch. She was with the other kids earlier."
He spun his chakram lazily in his hand. "So... more pests show up, huh?"
"You didn't have to hit me that hard," Usopp muttered, rubbing the bump on his head.
"Easy there," Nami said coolly. "I just saved your life. That guy over there—he's a hypnotist."
"Hypnotist?!" Usopp jolted.
"That object he's spinning? It's dangerous. Don't look at it too long or—bam—you're out cold or worse."
"A-Alright! I shall bravely leave you and Seryu to fight the pirates while I tactically stay back and cover the rear!" Usopp declared, stepping back with exaggerated confidence.
"Got it!" Seryu gave a fiery thumbs-up, eyes sparkling with energy. "Leave it to us!"
"WHAAT?! NO WAY! I'm just one girl against an entire group!!" Nami yelled, pointing dramatically at the horde of pirates.
"We'll protect you, Nami-san!" Seryu stood proudly with Koro by her side, eyes full of fiery justice.
"YOUR DETERMINATION ANNOYS ME!!" Nami snapped, veins bulging in her forehead.
"Hey, I'm more scared than you," Usopp said smugly, arms crossed. "Look at my legs."
The camera zoomed out slowly… revealing his legs trembling so hard they were practically vibrating.
They all stared.
"...Impressive," Nami said flatly.
"What are they talking about?" one of the pirates muttered, squinting at the bizarre group ahead.
"Who cares?" another snapped. "Let's end this nonsense already. Remember the plan?"
Jango's voice suddenly dropped in tone—cold and sharp.
"If we take too long to reach the village…"
All at once, the pirates froze.
"…The Captain will kill us all."
A chill rippled through the crew.
"AHHHH!!" they all screamed, now driven by terror instead of greed, surging forward with renewed fury.
"Looks like they're going at it again," Nami said, stepping back into a ready stance.
"Here, take this." Usopp handed her a small pouch brimming with long, sharp nail-like objects.
Nami's eyes lit up. "Hey! Now we're talking!"
"Play with all your might."
"You don't have to tell me twice," she grinned.
Together, Nami and Usopp whipped their arms back—and hurled the nails forward like a hailstorm of spikes. The makeshift caltrops scattered across the ground with deadly precision.
Several pirates slipped, yelped, and fell flat onto the jagged metal, rolling and clutching their feet in agony.
"GYAAAH!! What are these things!?"
"S-stay back! It's a trap! AAGH!"
"You're amazing, Usopp-san!" Seryu cheered, eyes sparkling.
"Hey, Nami!" Usopp shouted, chest puffed up with pride. "I'll keep them busy here—you go find Luffy and the others!"
"Okay—!" Nami turned, ready to sprint off… but then she froze mid-step. Her eyes widened in horror.
CLACK! CLINK!
The path behind them—completely covered in those same wickedly long nails.
"WHY DID YOU THROW THEM SO RECKLESSLY?!" Nami screamed, spinning back around.
"Y-YOU THREW THEM TOO!!" Usopp shouted, arms flailing.
But neither of them noticed the looming shadow behind Usopp.
A pirate three times his size was silently lifting a massive sledgehammer, grinning darkly as he stepped closer.
"Usopp!!" Seryu's voice rang out.
But before the hammer could fall—
"Isn't this supposed to be the north? How strange! Usopp said it was here!" Luffy's voice rang out as he looked up at the sky, totally relaxed, lying in the grass… munching on a leaf.
Shana's eye twitched.
"Finally!" she snapped.
In one swift motion, she leapt into the air, landed right in front of him, and with a loud SMACK! delivered a full-force slap across his face.
"YOU IDIOT!!"
Luffy blinked, confused. "Ow! What was that for!?"
"You were supposed to be our trump card and you got lost sniffing flowers or something!"
"NORTH COAST IS THE NAME OF THE PLACE, NOT THE DIRECTION IT ORIGINATES IN!!!" Shana screamed, her voice echoing through the forest and probably scaring a few birds out of nearby trees.
Luffy stared at her blankly.
A long pause followed.
Then—
"Ahhhhhh. I don't get it," he said flatly, tilting his head.
THROB.
A massive, red, comical vein bulged on Shana's forehead like a balloon about to burst.
Her eye twitched violently.
Behind him, a large pirate with a massive hammer loomed, the weapon raised high above his head, eyes locked on his target. His muscles tensed. The hammer dropped.
But time seemed to slow down.
Seryu's eyes widened, sharp and focused.
Koro growled softly beside her.
With mechanical precision, she pulled out two tonfas from her belt.
She pointed one of them forward, her stance flawless.
"Target locked."
BANG!
A shot fired from the tip of her tonfa. The sound thundered across the coast.
The bullet struck the hammer mid-swing, sending it flying out of the pirate's hands and crashing into the sand with a heavy thud.
"Huh!?" the pirate gasped, stumbling back in shock.
Usopp blinked, turning around to see the weapon buried in the ground behind him.
"W-What just happened!?"
Seryu stood coolly with her tonfa raised, steam drifting from the barrel.
"I won't let anyone hurt my allies," she declared. "Justice demands immediate action."
Koro let out an encouraging bark.
"D-Did that thing shoot!?" Nami shouted, eyes wide, the tip of her staff trembling. "What even is that!?"
She was the only one who had clearly seen it. The tonfa fired not a spark, not a flash, but an actual bullet. A handheld melee weapon, with range?
A nearby pirate ducked instinctively behind a tree. "That girl fired from some kind of tonfa!? What the hell is that weapon!?"
Another pirate stumbled forward, eyes popping from his skull. "That doesn't make any sense! That ain't normal!!"
But no one had time to question it longer.
More shadows emerged—pirates. Dozens of them. They were already far closer than expected.
"Th-They're already here!?" Usopp panicked.
The three backed up. The coast was suddenly swarming.
Seryu stood in front, eyes dead serious. "Koro, stay alert."
Koro growled low, his fur bristling.
"You're crazy..." Nami muttered, gripping her staff tighter as the pirates began to circle in.
"We'll hold this line," Seryu said with a grim smile. "For the sake of justice... and this village."
Usopp gulped. "Y-You know, I thought we'd have more space for a dramatic moment..."
The pirates roared as they rushed in.
"NOPE, NO TIME FOR THAT!" Usopp shouted. "EVERYBODY GET READY!!"
Seryu stepped forward, her gaze steely and unflinching.
"You two—hide!"
"Huh? Wh—" Usopp began.
"Just do it!" she snapped.
Startled by her tone, Nami and Usopp didn't argue. They ducked behind a jagged wall of rock, just out of sight. Peering from the edge, they could still see the line of pirates drawing nearer… slow, confident, and cocky.
Seryu stood alone now. One girl. Against an army.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Koro... NUMBER ONE!"
Koro barked sharply, his fluffy tail stiff like a blade. In a flash, he charged at Seryu, leapt—and without hesitation—bit down hard on her left arm.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Usopp nearly shouted from behind the rock.
"Is he attacking her!?" Nami gasped, frozen.
But what happened next made their jaws drop.
As Koro released his jaws, metal clanked.
A powerful hum of machinery sparked.
And then—BOOM!
From the shredded sleeve of Seryu's jacket emerged a massive iron flail, chained and glowing with mechanical energy.
"Shinkou's Ball of Justice!" she declared, slamming the weapon down once beside her. The earth cracked beneath the weight.
The pirates slowed their approach, eyes now wide with alarm.
"...What is she?" one muttered.
Nami and Usopp said nothing.
They couldn't.
Because neither of them had any idea either.
Usopp and Nami were frozen stiff—mouths agape, eyes twitching.
"Wh…what…!?" Usopp stammered.
"That was a flail…" Nami whispered, sweat dripping down her face, "But it came from her arm?!"
Even Jango was rattled. His usual lazy grin had vanished.
"Wh-What is that girl…?"
Seryu slowly turned to the now visibly nervous pirates, her expression fierce, righteous fire blazing in her eyes.
"Evil shall not pass… as long as I stand here!"
With a mighty yell, she swung her flail in a colossal arc.
CRASH!!!
The ground beneath the pirates shattered, chunks of stone flying through the air. The impact sent nearly the entire front line soaring off the cliff, flailing like ragdolls. A shockwave rippled through the remaining men—terror filling their hearts.
Dust clouds rose.
Silence fell.
Usopp and Nami snapped back to reality—both visibly shaking.
"S-She just wiped out a dozen of them in one swing…" Nami whispered.
"Remind me never to make her mad," Usopp said, pale as paper.
"W-Where did this girl come from!?" Jango muttered to himself, his hands trembling as the dust finally began to settle.
As the smoke cleared, the aftermath came into view—pirates littered across the battlefield, groaning in pain, twitching slightly, but all very much alive… though barely.
"W-What strength…" one of them wheezed, clutching his ribs.
"My spine's spelling words…" moaned another.
Seryu stood still, watching.
Then she frowned.
"They're… still breathing?" she asked aloud, baffled. "That strike should've been enough to split their bodies in half."
That single sentence alone made Usopp and Nami visibly wince in horror.
"Did… did she just say split their bodies—!?" Usopp gagged a little.
"She said that with a straight face!!" Nami whispered, inching back.
Seryu didn't notice—or didn't care. She simply stepped forward, dragging the enormous flail behind her like it was a purse. Her eyes locked on the next group of pirates still standing, stunned and wide-eyed.
"…Am I out of touch?" she wondered aloud, sounding more concerned than violent.
The remaining pirates, battered and dazed, tried to push themselves upright, their bodies trembling from the shockwaves of the earlier attack. But as they slowly rose, they were met with the sight that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Seryu stood before them, her body exuding an eerie, almost otherworldly aura, amplified by the massive flail she wielded with terrifying ease. The sheer weight of it made the air itself feel heavy, oppressive, as if the very atmosphere was afraid to be near her.
The pirates could feel the malicious energy radiating off her. Every muscle in their body screamed to run, but they couldn't move. They were paralyzed by fear.
"Wait, wait! I—" one pirate stammered, but before he could even finish his sentence, Seryu spoke.
"It doesn't matter. I can just attack as many times as I want." She smiled coldly, her voice dripping with malice, as if she were enjoying the power she held over them.
It was too late.
With a swift and brutal motion, Seryu swung her flail once again. The sheer force behind it was like a cataclysmic storm, sending shockwaves rippling across the coastline. The pirates were helpless as the gigantic weapon tore through the ground with a deafening CRACK, its swing sending debris flying in all directions.
The pirates were flung back, unable to react, as the sheer power of the blow sent them tumbling like ragdolls. The shockwave reached even the pirates who had been further back, and they too were knocked off their feet, sprawling onto the rocky coast as the ground around them buckled under the force.
Some pirates barely managed to regain their bearings, their eyes wide with terror, while others were left completely immobilized, groaning in pain from the overwhelming force.
Seryu stood, surveying her handiwork with an almost detached look, as if she were merely swatting at flies.
"Next?" she called out, her voice filled with dark amusement. Her face twisted. "Who else wants to test their luck?"
Jango's mouth fell open as his eyes darted between the hilltop figures and his traumatized crewmates.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" he barked. "Attack—!"
He turned to rally them, but stopped cold.
"...Huh?"
His voice died in his throat.
Down below, the surviving Black Cat pirates were trembling on the ground. Some were curled into fetal positions, hugging their knees. One was sucking his thumb. Another whispered softly, "Mommy… don't let the flail lady get me…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Jango's cheek.
"...What the hell did that girl do to them?"
Then—
"Geez, has the fun started already?" said a laid-back, cocky voice.
Jango spun around, heart skipping.
Standing atop the rocky hill were three new figures. The sun silhouetted them dramatically: a swordsman with green hair and a furious scowl, a grinning rubber boy cracking his knuckles, and a red-haired girl with her fists on her hips.
"They finally arrived!" Nami said, relief washing over her face… though her nerves hadn't quite left.
"It's Luffy-san!" Seryu exclaimed, lowering her weapon just slightly.
Seryu's stance relaxed, but she still looked mildly annoyed.
"What took you so long…?" Usopp asked, slumping from the adrenaline crash.
"NAMI!" Zoro suddenly roared, storming down the slope. "WHAT'S THIS STORY ABOUT LEAVING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT STUPID OIL TRAIL!?"
"USOPP!" Luffy yelled, throwing his arms up. "YOU IDIOT! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHERE NORTH WAS!!"
"HOW IS THAT MY FAULT!?" Usopp shouted back.
"YOU'RE THE GUY WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE VILLAGE EXPERT!!" Shana added from behind Luffy, arms crossed and twitching in frustration.
"HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW A COASTLINE NAME WORKS?!" she added with a fierce glare.
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose.
"We're in the middle of a battle, you guys."
Zoro grumbled. "Fine. Let me cut something."
Luffy cracked his knuckles again. "Good. 'Cause now it's my turn!"
"D-Damn, we're barely dealing with that woman, and now more of them are coming?!" he muttered, beads of sweat lining his brow.
Still, he clenched his teeth and raised his voice.
"Come on! Don't lose to a bunch of kids! Now look here—when I say One, two Jango, your wounds will heal, your courage will return, and your strength will double!"
Meanwhile, up on the hill, the crew was watching with mixed levels of confusion and concern.
"...What's he doing?" Nami squinted.
"Is he trying to hypnotize them into thinking they're okay? What nonsense."
"Huh?" Luffy tilted his head, clearly interested in the spinning disc.
"Hypnosis?" he asked with a childlike curiosity.
Shana furrowed her brow. "What do you mean by hypnosis?"
And just then—
"ONE! TWO! JANGO!!"
"AHHHHH!!"
A burst of unnatural adrenaline surged through the pirate crew.
One of the men, previously knocked halfway into a crater, shot up with blazing eyes and let out a guttural roar—
then slammed his fist into a cliffside and ripped out a chunk of rock as large as himself.
Even Nami took a step back.
"...Okay. That nonsense just got a lot more serious."
"They tore off a piece of the wall!? What strength!" Zoro said, visibly impressed despite himself.
"If one of them is already this strong, imagine the rest!?" Usopp added, nearly jumping behind the nearest rock.
"AHHHHH!!" the pirates roared, charging toward Seryu with reckless force.
But the girl didn't move an inch. Her eyes were calm. Her flail-arm gleamed in the light like a divine weapon of judgment.
"W-Wait, why is that girl's arm a flail now!?" Zoro asked, finally locking in on the absurdity before them.
"DID YOU NOTICE THAT NOW!?" Nami shouted, sweat flying from her forehead in pure disbelief.
The pirates inched closer… step by heavy step, some twitching under the residual terror—but driven by their newly enhanced strength and Jango's hypnotism.
And yet, in the center of it all—Luffy stood quietly, arms crossed,
"Okay, you two stay back, while I, Zoro and Luffy deal with them," Nami commanded firmly.
"No complaints," Usopp said, already hiding behind a nearby rock.
"Let's go, Luffy." Zoro turned toward him—but paused. "...Luffy?"
A long, awkward silence followed.
Then—
"AHHHHHH!!" Luffy let out a wild scream.
"WHAT!? That idiot was hypnotized too!!" Zoro yelled in disbelief.
"Luffy-san?" Seryu said, raising an eyebrow.
Suddenly, with veins popping and eyes blazing, Luffy launched himself into the fray like a cannonball.
"GOMU GOMU NO GATLING!!"
His fists blurred as they struck the hypnotized pirates with incredible force, sending them flying in all directions, colliding with each other, and bouncing off walls like pinballs.
BOOM. BAM. WHACK. THUD.
"Incredible..." Seryu muttered, eyes wide with amazement. "Captain Kuro made a mistake with his plan. These aren't common brats!"
Luffy, still supercharged from the hypnosis, turned toward the semi-unconscious pirates.
But instead of attacking again—he dashed past them.
He zipped right by Jango, who flinched in confusion, and headed straight for the ship.
"What does he want?" a random pirate asked.
Luffy leapt forward and grabbed the cat-shaped figurehead at the front of the ship.
Luffy's muscles bulged slightly as he used all his hypnotic strength to rip the figurehead clean off the front of the Black Cat Pirates' ship. With a splintering CRACK, the massive cat-shaped carving tore loose, chunks of wood flying in every direction.
"AHHHHHH!!!" Luffy yelled, eyes wild, still completely out of control under Jango's hypnosis.
Nami's eyes widened. "D-Did he just rip off the whole front of the ship?!"
Zoro blinked, lowering his sword slightly. "Okay... that might've been overkill."
"He's gonna destroy everything before we even get to fight!" Shana shouted, already jumping down the slope toward him.
Jango staggered backward in horror. "No no no! That was our coolest part!"
The Black Cat Pirates behind him flinched. "That guy's a monster!"
Luffy swung the massive wooden figurehead over his head like a club, his grin as big as ever.
"RUN!!!"
"He's so strong!" Seryu admired, fists clenched in excitement.
"Well, whatever works in our favor. Go, Luffy!" Nami cheered quietly, peeking out from behind a rock as the rubber man began charging the mass of hypnotized pirates, swinging the cat-shaped figurehead like a titan's club.
"He fights like an indomitable tiger now. He cannot understand his own actions due to the sorcery," Alastor said in his usual cryptic tone.
"I can see that," Shana muttered, eyes tracking Luffy's chaotic charge.
Jango, now visibly sweating, staggered back and ripped his chakram from his belt. "N-No choice now… When I say one, two, Jango—you will fall asleep!!" he declared, preparing to swing and re-hypnotize Luffy out of control.
Seryu's eyes sharpened. "Koro!!" she barked, pointing toward the hypnotist.
With a bark of determination, the tiny dog sprinted through the battlefield like a furry missile.
"One. Two. JAN—AAAHHH!!"
CHOMP!
Jango let out a high-pitched yelp as Koro sank his teeth into his arm. The chakram clattered to the ground, and his rhythm was broken.
"You little beast!" Jango shrieked, shaking his arm wildly. Koro refused to let go, growling with full puppy fury.
Behind him, Luffy was getting closer, now laughing wildly with the figurehead held overhead. The hypnotized Black Cat Pirates were too busy panicking at his approach to do anything else.
"Uh-oh…" one pirate whimpered. "He's coming this way!!"
Koro's teeth suddenly began to grow larger, elongating like a pair of massive, jagged fangs. "AHHHH!! He's gonna eat my arm!!" Jango yelled in desperate panic, flailing around as the tiny dog dug deeper into his flesh.
Seryu wasted no time. She dashed forward and stomped down hard on Jango's chakram, shattering it into pieces with a single, powerful blow.
"Damn!! AHHH!!" Jango howled, pain shooting through his arm as the sharp metal clattered away. He tried to shake Koro off, but the dog refused to let go, its jaw locked tight.
Meanwhile, Luffy finally saw his opening. With a wide, gleeful grin, he charged toward the pirates, his muscles bulging as he swung the massive figurehead in a wild arc.
It was nothing short of comical as the Black Cat Pirates, previously so confident, scrambled in every direction—some running in circles, others tripping over each other, and a few trying to hide behind the mast in sheer panic.
"Well, it's looking like this invasion has been busted," Usopp said, lowering his slingshot as he watched the chaos unfold with a grin.
Shana, however, wasn't so carefree. Her eyes narrowed, her senses suddenly piqued. Why am I feeling three different existences inside the ship... she thought, her heart skipping a beat as something didn't feel right. Wait… It left…!
"Look out!" she shouted, her warning ringing out just a moment too late.
Before anyone could react, Koro suddenly released his grip on Jango's arm, growling softly as something strange scratched at his flesh—like tiny claws or something even smaller than him.
"K-Koro?" Seryu asked, her voice wavering with concern as the dog whined and backed away, eyes wide with unease.
Just as Koro whimpered and stepped back, two shadowy figures suddenly appeared in a blur of motion, darting from the shadows of the Black Cat Pirates' ship. Before anyone could react, they struck.
Slash!
Luffy screamed as twin claws raked across his back, causing blood to spill from the deep gashes. His body jerked forward, and he staggered back, blinking rapidly as his senses returned. The hypnotic haze was shattered.
"LUFFY!!" Shana shouted, her eyes widening in alarm as she darted toward him.
"What happened? We were winning until a little…" Nami muttered, her eyes darting between Luffy and the mysterious attackers.
Jango, despite his injured arm and the chaos surrounding him, couldn't help but grin, his lips curling with a knowing smile. "Our trump cards have arrived!"
. "This battle's just begun, pirates," he said in a voice that seemed to echo unnaturally.
The other figure, smaller but just as menacing, flicked a hand, and the air around the group seemed to distort, like reality itself was bending. "The end of your journey is closer than you think."
The two figures emerged fully from the shadows, now clearly visible to everyone.
The two shadows stepped out of the smoke and shade—not the dark, mysterious assassins anyone had expected.
One was a shirtless, overweight man with a giant cat hat perched on top of his head like it was trying to eat his face. He had a goofy grin and carried a massive paw-shaped gauntlet.
The other was lanky and hunched, with messy green hair, sharp fake cat claws, and a smug look on his face. He stretched his back with a lazy yawn.
"Sham and Butchi, the Nyaban Brothers!" Jango announced dramatically, throwing his good arm into the air. "Our second line of defense!"
"Who are these guys?" Usopp asked, pointing with a face full of disbelief.
"That's the presence I felt…" Shana murmured to herself, eyes narrowing.
"You're having that much trouble with these guys? That's embarrassing," Sham scoffed as he eyed the fallen pirates. "We're not even real killers, and we managed to leave a scratch on that brat."
Luffy gritted his teeth, rising slowly, blood dripping from his back. "Ow… what was that for…?"
"Shut up…" Jango grumbled, still nursing his arm. "By the way—where did Kery go?"
Everyone paused.
Then they heard it. A very faint, squeaky voice from somewhere beneath Jango's feet.
"Huh? What'd you say…?"
"I think I'm hearing something, Sham," Butchi said, tilting his head and scratching his ear with one paw-glove. "But I don't know what it is…"
"I SAID I AM RIGHT HERE, DAMN IT!!! ARE YOU GUYS DEAF!?" came a sudden shriek from the dirt.
The ground near Jango's boots erupted in a puff of dust as a tiny figure popped out—barely the size of a cat. Dressed in a full mouse costume, complete with tiny whiskers, was a furious dwarf waving a sharpened toothpick-like blade.
"What the heck is that?" Nami blinked.
"A mouse?!" Usopp yelled, jumping back.
The dwarf stomped his tiny foot. "I'M NOT A MOUSE, I'M KERY!! KERY THE BLADE!"
"You look kind of dirty, Kery," Butchi said as he peered down with a tilted head.
"OH YOU THINK SO!!?" Kery snapped, whipping his tiny sword around like a baton. "DON'T BLAME ME IF THAT WEIRD DOG HAS SO MUCH FUR INSIDE OF HIM, AND YOU BETTER NOT COMPLAIN BECAUSE I'M ALREADY PISSED AS IS!!"
Butchi scratched his head. "You're always pissed…"
"WELL, DUH!!" Kery bellowed, practically vibrating with rage. "I WAS FORCED TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING!! IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH I TRY TO BE CALM, WHEN EVERY LITTLE THING CAN MESS UP MY DAY!!!"
The battlefield froze.
The Shadow Pirates, the Straw Hats, even the beaten Black Cat crew members just kind of stared at the scene like they were watching some bizarre theater performance.
"Uh… is this their trump card?" Usopp asked, glancing around.
"They look like goofballs," Nami muttered, not impressed.
"…."
Luffy tilted his head, staring at Kery with a blank expression.
Even Seryu, still holding Koro close, blinked slowly. "I don't know if I should be scared or… just confused."
Shana folded her arms. "I don't sense any immense power from him, but… the way he moves underground is unnatural."
Meanwhile, Jango had dramatically fallen to one knee, clutching his still-bleeding arm. "Don't underestimate Kery! That little freak's a menace! He once chewed through the ship's entire keel because someone forgot to feed him for one day!"
"IT WAS TWO DAYS!!!" Kery yelled, leaping into the air and landing with a tiny plop next to Jango.
He pointed his toothpick-sword at the group. "NOW WHO'S READY TO HAVE THEIR TOES DISLOCATED ONE BY ONE?!"
"You're the one who attacked Koro, right?" Seryu asked, narrowing her eyes, her hand gently petting the now-growling dog by her side.
"THAT'S RIGHT, YOU WHORE!!" Kery shrieked, puffing his tiny chest out proudly. "I ATE THE MOUSE-MOUSE FRUIT, MODEL: MOUSE! I CAN SHRINK TO A MOUSE'S LEVEL AT WILL, GIVING ME ENHANCED SPEED AND LOW VISIBILITY! I CAN EVEN RETAIN MY NORMAL STRENGTH WHEN SMALL!"
"A mouse? So that's how he got to Koro without being noticed…" Usopp muttered.
Shana's eyes flicked toward the ground. "He was hiding in the soil... disturbing."
Seryu blinked, still fixated on something else. "What did you just call me?"
Kery, ever the moron, stomped his foot again and doubled down.
"YEAH! A WHORE! A PETITE AND UGLY WHORE!" he screamed with rage-fueled pride. "DON'T YOU KNOW PONYTAILS ARE OUT OF TOUCH NOWADAYS!? AND QUIT THE WHOLE 'LOYAL KNIGHT' COSPLAY! IT'S MORNING, FOR PETE'S SAKE!! WHO THE HELL PLAYS NOBLE AT 9AM?!"
For a long second… there was silence.
Everyone turned to Seryu.
Her expression hadn't changed much.
But her eye twitched.
"W-Wait, what do you think you're doing?!" Jango stammered, inching backward in pure panic. "Don't provoke her!!"
Koro had already backed away.
Seryu slowly reached up, tightening the ribbon that kept her ponytail in place. "You know…" she said calmly, though her voice now sounded like glass cracking under pressure. "I was gonna give you the least gruesome execution..."
Her eyes burned crimson. "But you insulted my hair."
The ground under her feet cracked.
Seryu began marching forward—every step booming like a war drum.
"Oh no," Nami muttered. "Oh no no no."
"YOU THINK I'M PETITE?! YOU WANNA SEE PETITE!?" Seryu roared.
"WAITWAITWAIT—!!"
Kery turned tail and tried to burrow back into the ground—
BANG!
Seryu drop-kicked the dirt he was trying to escape into with enough force to send a shockwave through the coastline.
Fwip!
Kery went rocketing into the air like a bottle rocket, a tiny scream trailing behind him as he vanished into the sky like Team Rocket.
Everyone stared up.
"…I think I see a sparkle," Usopp whispered.
"Y-You maniac! That was our scout!!" Jango cried.
Seryu flipped her hair back into place. "Get a better one."
However, suddenly…
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
Everyone looked up just in time to see a tiny missile screaming from the sky.
THUD!!
Kery smashed into the ground, coughing and twitching, now back to his regular dwarf form and smoking like overcooked stew.
"H-He came back!?" Usopp gasped, backing up behind a rock.
"You're alive…" Seryu said coldly, cracking her knuckles.
Kery's one eye twitched open. "DAMN BITCH, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? THESE TEENAGERS NOWADAYS DON'T KNOW WHEN TO TAKE GOOD ADVICE!?!?"
Seryu didn't answer. She just stepped forward, menacingly.
"WHATEVER!! I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO SHOW YOU WHAT A MOUSE IS REALLY CAPABLE OF!!" he roared, dramatically throwing his arms wide. "SHRINK!!"
But just before shrinking, he glanced at Sham and Butchi and gave them a subtle hand signal.
Then poof—he shrunk in an instant and dove straight toward her.
Seryu gritted her teeth and stomped, trying to catch him in the dust cloud again—but her anger got the best of her, and before she could react—
WHAM!!
Two figures appeared beside her in a flash: Sham and Butchi, one grabbing each of her arms.
"Seryu, look out!!" Nami shouted.
"GET OFF ME, GET OFF ME!!!" Seryu roared, thrashing violently as the two Nyaban Brothers struggled to hold her.
Then—
"Kor—!"
She tried to shout the command, but suddenly—
"G-GAAAAHH!!"
She froze.
"…What just happened?" Shana narrowed her eyes.
Seryu's whole body tensed, and her eyes twitched in raw disbelief. Her face flushed not from anger this time… but pure shock.
"…No," she whispered. "He didn't."
"Oh no," Jango whispered. "He did."
Inside her armor, a faint, sinister voice echoed with a wicked little laugh.
"Heheheheh… This is a mouse's domain now…"
...
...
...
"I-Is it just me," Nami whispered, eyes wide, "or is something... moving around where Seryu's chest is supposed to be?"
"HUH?" Luffy blinked, still not fully getting it.
"HAHAHA!!" came Kery's muffled voice. "LOOK AT THIS!! EVEN FROM THIS HEIGHT, IT'S LIKE A DRY, SHRIVELED GRAPEFRUIT FIELD!!"
He zipped across under her armor again, now heard near her back. "AND YOUR FLAT ASS WOULD LOSE A CONTEST TO A PUMPKIN SEED!"
"S-Stop…!" Seryu growled, her body trembling in fury.
"Is he—Is he sexually harassing her?" Usopp gasped.
"That's so messed up!" Nami snapped. "Luffy, don't just stand there—help her!"
"Got it!!" Luffy roared, running forward with steam still hissing from his arms.
But before he could reach—
"OOPS! TIME TO JET OFF! BUT FIRST—LEPTOSPIROSIS BITE!!"
A tiny CHOMP! echoed from under Seryu's armor.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
A pulse of pure rage exploded from her. Koro's fur stood up. Butchi and Sham instinctively let go and dove for cover.
"THAT'S IT!!"
CRASH!
Seryu ripped off a chunk of her own shoulder armor and hurled it into the cliffside, detonating it like a missile.
"Damn. He's gone!" Luffy growled, scanning the terrain.
But just then—"LEPTOSPIROSIS BITE!!"
"GAAAHH!!" Luffy cried as something sharp pierced his skin. He swung wildly, punching the ground, but caught nothing but dirt. A nasty green bite mark was left on his arm.
"Huh…? What the—why is it glowing…?"
Meanwhile, Shana's eyes narrowed. She focused—there. She could feel his presence again. "EVERYONE!" she yelled suddenly, voice fierce. "STAND ON TOP OF A ROCK!! DON'T ASK—JUST TRUST ME!!"
Without hesitating, she leapt onto a nearby boulder. The others followed, confused but obedient. Nami tugged Usopp by the arm, and even Zoro complied with a grunt.
"Damn. I was too late…" Kery muttered, crawling out near Jango, flicking dirt from his whiskers. "But I managed to infect two of them!"
"I-Infection...? WAIT!" Nami's face twisted in realization. "He's a rat!!"
But it was too late.
Seryu suddenly stumbled, her skin paling to a faint sickly yellow. "Nnngh… My strength… it's—fading…"
Koro barked in panic.
Luffy winced and dropped to a knee. "Ugh… why do I feel… dizzy…"
"Leptospirosis…" Shana muttered grimly, looking down at Kery. "It's a disease spread by rat bites. And that little freak just turned it into a weapon."
Kery smirked, arms crossed. "NOW YOU GET IT! You thought I was just a pest—but I'm the PLAGUE you never saw coming! HAH!! LET'S SEE HOW YOU FIGHT WHEN YOUR BODY'S SHUTTING DOWN!!"
"Don't worry," Jango chuckled with a crooked smile, clutching his still-bandaged arm. "They won't have to fight alone for long…"
The Nyaban Brothers cracked their knuckles and stepped forward.
"Time for round two," Sham grinned.
"Now that the poison's kicking in," Butchi growled, "they'll be easy meat."
"Damn," Usopp muttered, gripping his slingshot tighter. "And I thought that power was lame just 'cause it's from a rat... but he just took down two of our strongest members."
"I-I can still..." Seryu staggered forward, trying to stand tall. But her legs gave out and she collapsed with a heavy thud.
Koro barked and rushed to her side, nuzzling her protectively.
Across the battlefield, the half-conscious Black Cat Pirates raised weak cheers, swaying and wobbling, but still hopeful.
"Don't just stand there!" Nami snapped at the group, eyes wide with urgency. "Those two are wide open! We have to get them out of here—get them to a doctor, now!"
"I'll go!" Zoro growled, already moving forward.
"I'm going too!" Shana said firmly, unsheathing her blade with a fiery gleam in her eyes.
But as the two charged ahead—
CLANG!
Two figures landed in their path.
Sham and Butchi—the Nyaban Brothers.
"Going somewhere?" Sham sneered, twirling his claws lazily.
Butchi cracked his knuckles, grinning wide beneath his cat-eared hat. "Wouldn't wanna leave your sick friends behind, would you?"
And then—FWOOSH!
A blur rose up from the shadows near Jango. A wicked glint flashed in the grass as a tiny figure swelled back to full size.
It was Kery, grinning like a madman.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, voice low and smug. "You're all gonna watch as the infection eats away at your little heroes."
Zoro and Shana locked eyes with their enemies, tension thick in the air.
Both sides stood still, tension crackling in the air like a taut wire.
The Nyaban Brothers grinned, claws at the ready. Kery paced near the fallen Seryu, still twitching with energy. Jango clutched his wounded arm but smirked despite the pain. And across from them, the Straw Hat crew and their allies glared with sharp eyes—Zoro, Shana, Nami, Luffy (despite being sick too.) , and Usopp all ready to strike.
Seryu groaned weakly behind them, Koro growling at her side, fur bristling.
A storm was brewing.
Just then, a calm but chilling voice sliced through the standoff like a dagger through silk.
"Why are they taking so long...?"
Everyone froze.
The Black Cat Pirates—all of them—visibly tensed. Jango's eyes widened in terror as his jaw quivered.
"C-Captain Kuro...!?"
A shadow sat lazily on a nearby rock. He hadn't been there a moment ago.
Slender-framed. Spectacles glinting. A hand rested under his chin, legs crossed elegantly.
Captain Kuro.
"Where did he come from?!" Usopp shouted, startled, his heart hammering in his chest. "He wasn't there just a second ago!"
"...This pressure," she muttered, narrowing her eyes.
Kuro didn't even look their way.
He simply brushed some dust off his coat, bored and quiet.
But the battlefield had already shifted. The calm before the storm had shattered.
"T-T-There's a very good explanation for this! T-These kids, they're—!" Jango stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of panic. He stepped back slightly, sweating bullets as Kuro's gaze shifted slowly in his direction.
The infamous captain didn't raise his voice. Not yet.
Instead, he stared toward the battlefield, calm… almost detached.
"The sun has been high for quite some time," Kuro said coldly, standing from the rock with eerie grace, brushing off the back of his coat with a slow, practiced motion.
His words were measured—sharp and deliberate.
"At this time… they were supposed to be in the village."
He took a single step forward. The sound of his boot tapping against the stone echoed like a gunshot.
"But instead…"
He paused.
A tense silence fell over the beach. Even the wind dared not blow.
"…Ten minutes pass," he continued, his voice darkening. "Ten minutes."
Kuro's head tilted slightly—his glasses catching the sun.
"And this…"
His arm rose, gesturing to the chaos: the broken pirates, the injured Seryu, Luffy's bruised form, the shattered chakram, and the trembling looks of his own crew.
"…This is what I see."
Close-up.
One by one, the Straw Hats and their allies turned their attention toward him.
Luffy's usual aloofness was gone.
Zoro's eye twitched slightly, sensing the killing intent.
Nami's breath hitched.
Usopp gulped.
Shana's hand gripped her sword instinctively.
"So, this guy is the captain?" "His power of existence is high but not higher than Luffy's or Zoro's. Not even Seryu's."
Then—
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?!"
Kuro's voice thundered across the battlefield like a cracking whip.
Even the shadows seemed to recoil.
TO BE CONTINUED.