Boom!
A massive, three-meter-tall figure leaped from the pirate ship onto the merchant vessel's deck. The brawny man had thick brows, large eyes, and sharp teeth. He wore an open coat, sported a full beard, and had three pistols at his waist. In his hand, he gripped a massive cleaver that gleamed coldly.
A murderous aura washed over them, pressing down on everyone.
Many of the guards gripped their weapons nervously. Even the Captain Commander wore a grave expression.
Poison Fang, captain of the Poison Fang Pirates, had a bounty of 8.7 million berries.
Twenty years later, a bounty like that would be worth at least 40 million—not the sort given to some nobody who only knew how to kill ordinary people.
"Who's in charge here?!"
The two-meter-long cleaver slammed into the deck. Poison Fang swept his ruthless gaze over the guards, a hint of amusement lurking in his eyes.
"I am!"
The Captain Commander, clad in armor and holding a spear, strode forward with a gallant air and fixed a fierce gaze on Poison Fang.
As for the captain, he was hiding behind the guards, too afraid to come out.
He was the captain of a merchant ship, not a pirate ship. Aside from being able to fire a few shots, he had no other skills—perhaps he was just a bit more seasoned than the others.
In a situation like this, they could only rely on the strongest person aboard: the Captain Commander.
"Hand over your treasure, women, and cargo, and I might spare your lives."
Poison Fang eyed the Captain Commander and the wary guards around him with open contempt, danger glinting in his gaze.
"Never!"
The Captain Commander didn't hesitate. He had traveled far and wide for years and knew just how greedy pirates could be.
Handing over all their treasure, women, and cargo would damage the merchant ship's reputation, and the pirates might still go back on their word.
Besides, if they gave everything to the pirates, they wouldn't last three days in the vast, boundless sea.
Not unless the nearest island was close.
But according to the sea chart, they were still two days away from the nearest island. And there was no telling whether they'd run into a storm or other foul weather along the way.
The Grand Line's weather was unpredictable. One moment the sky could be clear, the next a torrential downpour could begin. All kinds of bizarre weather could strike without warning.
Handing everything over to the pirates would be tantamount to waiting for death.
"Hmph! Keep the women. Kill all the men."
Poison Fang snorted. He had just taken a good look around.
The Captain Commander was the strongest one here. The other guards and ordinary people were no threat.
As for the strange incident his men had just reported, it was probably caused by a few shots fired from hiding. Even if there was someone strong lurking in the shadows, he wasn't afraid. Poison Fang was confident in his own strength.
"Kill the pirates!"
"Charge!"
"Kill them!"
The fighting began again, fiercer and more brutal than before.
Chaos remained by the cabin entrance. He lightly raised a finger, and the bloodstained Golden Needles scattered in the corner shot out once more, whistling through the air as they reaped lives.
"Ah!"
"Captain, we're under attack!"
The scream cut off abruptly. A pirate's temple had been pierced, and he fell to the deck. He twitched a few times, then went still.
"Damn it, it's a sniper!"
"Find the sniper's position!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Charge!"
Severed limbs and scalding blood flew everywhere as bullets whizzed through the air. But the most thrilling fight was between Poison Fang and the Captain Commander at the heart of the battle.
As Chaos continued reaping lives, he watched Poison Fang and the Captain Commander fight.
Poison Fang wore a mocking grin as he gripped his cleaver and swung it in a flash of steel, sweeping across the battlefield.
The Captain Commander leaned back at the last second to dodge. A cabin behind him shattered as easily as tofu.
Chaos was a little surprised. Was that a Slash attack?
The Captain Commander braced himself with one hand and thrust his spear with the other, aiming straight for Poison Fang's heart.
Unfortunately, Poison Fang dodged it.
"You think that little bit of skill is enough to stand against me?"
Poison Fang leaped high, both hands gripping his cleaver. He swung it at full speed, pouncing like a ferocious beast.
The Captain Commander stayed calm and met his attacks steadily. He couldn't match Poison Fang's strength, but he had the advantage in speed.
They exchanged blows, cleaver clashing with spear in a shower of sparks. The wind from their strikes swept up bodies, splintered barrels, and scattered debris around them.
"Clang!"
Sparks flew as the Captain Commander held his spear above his head. His face flushed, and his feet sank into the deck. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Poison Fang's eyes bulged, the veins in his hands standing out as he gripped the cleaver and pressed down with all his might.
"Die!"
Poison Fang grinned viciously. He suddenly drew a pistol from his waist with his right hand and fired at the Captain Commander from point-blank range.
Even though the Captain Commander turned his head at the last moment, the bullet still grazed his face, taking a strip of flesh with it. Poison Fang followed up by turning sideways and driving a heavy kick into his chest.
Scalding blood burst from the Captain Commander's mouth. He flew backward, smashing through a pile of cargo before landing among the wreckage, his armor stained red and his face deathly pale.
"Hahaha!"
Poison Fang didn't let his successful sneak attack go to his head. He immediately shot forward, intent on finishing the Captain Commander off while he was down.
Once he killed this man, the entire merchant ship would be his.
Then he could take his pick of the treasure, food, and women.
Chaos, who had been watching everything, sighed. Poison Fang had been slightly stronger than the Captain Commander to begin with, and he was also cunning and treacherous. This outcome wasn't surprising.
He couldn't keep watching.
The Golden Inner Armor on his body softened and flowed out from his trouser legs, transforming into a Giant Golden Sword. With a point of Chaos's finger, it shot toward Poison Fang with a whistle.
"Who's there?!"
Poison Fang was highly alert. The moment he heard the whoosh, he raised his cleaver in front of his chest. The Giant Golden Sword struck, and its immense force drove him backward. He nearly toppled into the sea.
"Found you!"
Chaos had given himself away with that move. Many of the pirates turned to look, then charged or opened fire, their faces twisted with murderous fury.
The skin beneath Chaos's clothes rapidly turned to gold. He spread his hands toward the Giant Golden Sword, and it quickly split into countless Fine Golden Needles, which hung suspended in the air like a dense cluster of falling rain.
The pirates stopped in their tracks, staring at the needles above them and swallowing nervously.
"Fall!"
Chaos pressed both hands down. The needles poured down like rain, piercing pirate after pirate in a barrage of terror-stricken screams.
"Go to hell!"
Poison Fang's eyes were bloodshot as he charged, cleaver in hand.
At the critical moment, Chaos vanished with Soru and reappeared beside Poison Fang. He kicked with tremendous force. With a crack, Poison Fang screamed and flew into the cabin like a cannonball, setting off shrieks from within.
A few people hiding inside rushed out.
Chaos remained calm. With a movement of his right hand, the needles embedded in the deck floated into the air and reassembled into five Golden Longswords above his head. Pirates lay scattered all around.
The guards hadn't just stood by watching, after all. They'd seized the opportunity to finish off the stragglers and capture the rest.
"You've made me angry."
Poison Fang's furious voice came from inside the cabin. Dragging his cleaver, he spat the blood from his mouth and stared at Chaos with a savage look.
All five Golden Longswords pointed at Poison Fang. Chaos gave him a mocking smile.
Bang!
Poison Fang charged forward, firing five shots in rapid succession with the pistol in his left hand.
At Chaos's command, one Golden Longsword dropped down and transformed into a shield, hovering firmly in front of him. The other four Golden Longswords shot out.
Clang, clang, clang!
Roaring, Poison Fang batted away the four Golden Longswords with his cleaver. He reached Chaos, raised his weapon high, and brought it down in a world-splitting blow.
Chaos didn't panic in the slightest. The Golden Shield transformed back into a sword, and he caught it in his right hand, holding it above his head. The tremendous force bore down, cracking the deck and whipping Chaos's coat around him.
He had thought his opponent would be much stronger. But after exchanging a few blows, Chaos realized he could wipe the floor with him.
I'm actually really strong!!
Before you continue