The Black Cat Pirates

West Blue - On the route to the Grand Line

The azure sea was tinged gold by the sunlight as an unassuming merchant ship slowly sailed away from the last island in the West Blue.

A woman with black hair stood quietly by the ship's side, the sea breeze ruffling her long hair.

She wore a wide-brimmed hat and held a thick, ancient book in her hands, her fingertips gently stroking the yellowed pages.

"Finally... we're about to enter the Grand Line."

Nico Robin murmured softly, a complex light flashing in her deep eyes.

Twenty-three years of life, a life of wandering and struggling to survive in solitude.

But this time--

She raised her head, gazing at the gradually emerging outline of the Reverse Mountain in the distance, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"I will find the truth of history."

The merchant ship slowly entered the turbulent current, heading towards the legendary sea route that buried all secrets.

Meanwhile--

In the East Blue Sea, a small Warship encounters the Black Cat Pirates.

Beneath a backdrop of azure sky, the sea glistens in the sunlight.

A small Warship cut through the waves like an arrow, its flag fluttering in the wind.

At the bow, Ace squinted at a black cat-shaped Pirate ship fleeing rapidly in the distance, his brow furrowed. "Another one? Why are the Pirates in the East Blue all going crazy lately, rushing out to their deaths?"

Luffy to the side, wrinkled his nose and muttered under his breath, "They wouldn't be after Grandpa's pickled radishes, would they?"

The two men looked at each other, their expressions darkening.

"Did something happen to Grandpa and Grandma?"

Roy stepped off the Bridge, sunlight casting a cold glare on the epaulets of his uniform.

He walked over to the two of them, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty. "Don't worry."

"The East Blue is already very peaceful."

"They were just unlucky."

He raised his hand and pointed to the Black Cat ship that was gradually entering the range of the artillery fire. "The last few survivors... well, they've all run into us."

Roy's sharp eyes stared at the small Pirate ship with cat-ear prow carvings, which was trying to turn around and escape, and a memory flashed through his mind.

"Black Cat Pirates, Hundred Plans Kuro."

"In the original story, the guy who poisoned Kaya's father and spent three years working as a butler, all to get his hands on Kaya's family fortune, and even dressed up like a refined gentleman every day while adjusting his Glasses? Ha, that's pretty cunning..."

"His plan was indeed meticulous, and his disguise skills were among the best in the East Blue, but... ultimately, he was only at the level of the East Blue."

His thoughts shifted, Roy's eyes darkened.

"Naval Morgan."

"Originally a passionate Justice recruit, he lost all his comrades on the ship to the Black Cat Pirates in an Encounter Battle, and his own jaw was crushed."

"As a result, he Jango by one of Kuro's men, which rewrote his brain, making him mistakenly believe that he had captured Kuro himself."

"From then on, the 'distinguished warrior' Morgan was promoted to second lieutenant of the 153rd Branch, but the side effects of being 'hypnotized' also distorted his personality, causing him to become domineering, irritable, and greedy."

"This led him to gradually become insidious and shameless, causing the image of the East Blue Navy to plummet... It wasn't just the military emblem that was tarnished."

"This kind of cancer... it's best to get rid of it as soon as possible."

Roy snapped out of his thoughts and said calmly, "Ace, Luffy."

"Leave no one alive."

Ace grinned, and flames instantly erupted from his right arm. "I love this kind of command."

Luffy jumped up excitedly. "Great! I'm best at fighting those self-important guys!"

A moment ago, on the main deck of the Black Pirate Ship...

The sea was churning, and the waves were surging.

Standing at the bow of the ship Kuro pushed up his round-framed Glasses, which had slipped down his back. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his fingers clenched his cloak stiffly.

The approaching small naval Warship, with its jet-black hull like Razor cutting through the sea and its sails billowing in the wind, bore no resemblance to the style of the East Blue.

Even more terrifying was that the three men on the bow of the ship stood casually, yet their aura was as imposing as a mountain pressing down.

"Something's not right."

Kuro's Adam's apple bobbed as he murmured, "They're not from the East Blue Navy... that's not the kind of aura that would appear in this sea area."

"Captain! What do we do!" Second-in-Command Jango rushed forward, the Hypnosis Ring in his hand jingling, his face ashen.

Kuro gritted his teeth, flicked his cloak, and his voice suddenly deepened. "Full speed retreat—turn around immediately!! Quickly—!"

Before he finished speaking, the sea surface suddenly changed.

"Boom!!"

"Flame Pillar!"

The clouds in the sky seemed to be torn apart by a giant hand, and a blinding Fire Pillar suddenly fell from the clouds, smashing into the bow of the Black Cat Pirate Ship!

"Ughhh--!"

Several Pirates didn't even have time to react before they were engulfed by the flames, screaming in agony as they fell into the sea!

The firelight illuminated the deck, and a crimson figure descended from the sky, a flaming cloak billowing wildly, his fists burning with intense flames.

Ace swept his cold gaze across the deck, his eyes burning with fury. "This sea has no need for parasites like you."

With a powerful right punch, flames distorted the air, transforming into a giant fire dragon that roared down!

"Boom--!"

The entire Pirate ship trembled violently, the Mainmast and sails snapped off, and fire instantly spread to all parts of the hull!

Kuro turned his head sharply, only managing to see another pink dragon shadow breaking through the sky!

"That's...!?"

A roaring storm erupted, and a colossal humanoid dragon covered in scales suddenly descended.

"Bang!!"

Luffy Hybrid Dragon Form, crashed straight into the deck, nearly breaking the entire ship apart, sending thick smoke and dust billowing several meters into the air!

Buchi and Sam drew their swords and charged forward, but before they could even see each other clearly, Luffy's dragon tail swept them away!

"Bang! Bang!!"

The two men were sent flying backwards like rag dolls, crashing through several layers of ship cabin walls and dying instantly!

Jango trembled as he raised the Hypnosis Ring, his voice breaking. "No, no! I... I'll surrender—"

"Whoosh."

A streak of fire suddenly appeared, Ace was already in front of him, his fist pressed against his forehead, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're too noisy."

"Boom!!"

A burst of flames erupted, Jango flew backward like a meteor, crashing through the guardrail and plunging heavily into the sea while still burning fiercely!

In a short while.

The entire Pirate ship was engulfed in flames, the Mainmast was burned and the hull was broken. Nearly thirty Pirates were either blasted away by the flames or knocked away by Luffy's punch.

Blood and fire intertwined on the deck, creating a scene of death.

"What... joke..."

"What kind of monster-level navy is this...?!"

Kuro slumped onto the blood-stained deck, looking utterly disheveled. His Cat Claws knife had slipped to the side, and his hands, still in the position of pushing up his Glasses, were frozen in place.

Once known for his "Hundred Plans" and his calm cunning, he was now pale-faced, his eyes devoid of calculation, filled only with deep fear and despair.

The entire Black Cat Pirate Ship has become a fiery Purgatory.

His men were either engulfed in flames or crushed by the Dragon Tail; none survived.

He didn't even have time to execute a complete move before his spirit shattered, and he dared not stand up again.

"This isn't right..." he murmured, "I shouldn't have died here... I am—"

Before he could finish speaking, a tall figure slowly emerged from the flames.

Ace walked on fire, his gaze as scorching as lava.

The flames wrapped around his right arm transformed into chains, which flung the still-dead remains of Pirate into the sea, sending up a cloud of scorched steam.

A huge pink figure soared into the air behind him, and Luffy, transformed into a dragon, roared, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy from his mouth!

"Dragon Breath!"

The blazing Dragon Flames, mixed with distorted air currents, roared out from its throat!

Kuro opened his eyes in terror, his face contorted into a ferocious roar, "No!! I can't—"

"Boom--!"

Blazing white Dragon Flames swept across the entire ship, turning Kuro and the entire deck to ashes in an instant!

Debris flew everywhere, and Kuro's body was instantly incinerated in the sea of fire, his screams drowned out by the roar of the explosion.

The firelight pierced through the clouds, reflecting a scarlet sky onto the sea.

The sea breeze carried the stench of blood, and charred planks sank one by one into the sea, completely erasing the Black Cat Pirate Ship—ship and crew alike.

Ace materialized in flames and floated in the air. The flames gradually dissipated, and his eyes turned icy.

Luffy slowly descended back onto the Warship, transforming into human form, his eyes still bloodshot, his killing intent undiminished.

They looked back and saw Roy standing quietly on the Warship, watching the burned Pirate ship, his tone indifferent. "The East Blue doesn't need this kind of scum."

He turned and stepped back onto the Warship.

Ace and Luffy followed closely behind without saying a word.

The waves crashed against the charred remains, as if bidding farewell to this "execution."

Starting today--

The Black Cat Pirates have been erased from the annals of the East Blue.