Chaos clenched his left fist and Goldenized it. A dense array of golden spikes appeared across its surface, each one sharp and gleaming coldly. He punched Poison Fang, whose expression changed drastically as he quickly backed away, barely dodging the blow.
But Chaos used Shave to close the distance in an instant, then leaped high and swept his right leg across Poison Fang's face. Teeth and blood sprayed as Poison Fang's face contorted in agony. The kick sent him flying through a mass of broken walls and wood chips with a sharp whoosh. He landed at the far end, dazed and barely able to get up.
Chaos landed and raised a hand. Five Golden Longswords shot out one after another, each gleaming in the sunlight. Now, though, they were deadly weapons.
Poison Fang struggled to his feet and rolled aside, with no time to worry about how he looked.
The five Golden Longswords struck the deck and embedded themselves in it, leaving only their hilts exposed.
Chaos toyed with Poison Fang like a cat playing with a mouse, using him to test the techniques he'd developed with the Gold-Gold Fruit.
Metal clashed, sending sparks flying. The five Golden Longswords split apart into a dense cloud of golden needles, their sharp points aimed at Poison Fang.
"Damn it!"
The needles whistled toward him like a swarm of bees. Poison Fang's face went deathly pale with terror, and he hurried to duck behind cover, panting.
Devil Fruit. That guy was a Devil Fruit user.
Poison Fang knew a thing or two about the basics. After all, with a bounty of over eight million, he was a small-time pirate with some fame in the surrounding waters.
He'd heard more than once of the great treasures of the sea, but never thought he'd run into one today.
"Chains of Heaven!"
Three Golden Longswords collided and fused into a gleaming golden chain that lunged toward Poison Fang like a python. It was no use, even when Poison Fang fired several shots or tried to fend it off with his cleaver.
The chain could dodge attacks, and even if it was cut, it could reconnect.
It wrapped around both of Poison Fang's hands, then lifted his massive body into the air. The chain wound tighter and tighter around him, as if even his bones were about to break.
Chaos flicked a hand. The two remaining Golden Longswords turned into spears and hovered behind him, ready to fall and pin Poison Fang in midair.
"P-please, spare me!"
"I can serve you!"
The fear of death engulfed Poison Fang's soul. His mouth was bloody, his face full of terror as he begged for mercy.
He didn't want to die.
Chaos glanced around. In the distance stood the Captain Commander and several guards, along with many people peeking out from the ship's cabin. They were all watching him.
As for Poison Fang's men, most were already dead.
The few who remained had been tied up. They would likely be killed or sold into slavery.
That was how things usually ended for pirates!
"Pfft!"
A golden spear pierced Poison Fang through the back. His body shuddered, blood seeping from his mouth and nose, his eyes filled with despair and terror.
With Poison Fang dead, the golden spear and chain floated in the air, flicking off the blood before slipping into Chaos's sleeve and re-forming into the Golden Inner Armor against his body.
Killing Poison Fang would serve as a warning to others. Besides, who knew how much blood the man had on his hands? Chaos had done the world a favor.
If Poison Fang had been a little stronger, Chaos might have taken him on as a subordinate.
What a pity he was too weak.
"Thank you for saving us, sir."
The Captain Commander, the captain, and the others came over, all expressing their gratitude to Chaos.
Without him, they might have ended up at the bottom of the sea.
The young steward who'd given Chaos his ticket earlier stood there with his mouth wide open, utterly stunned.
He'd misjudged him.
This wasn't a hunter. He was a powerful man.
"It's nothing. It was the least I could do!"
You never knew what people were really thinking. Chaos couldn't tell whether they were truly grateful or merely pretending. Either way, he was the strongest person on the ship now, so he had nothing to worry about.
Demon Valley Town lay in the first half of the Grand Line. It was a pirate town where people spent money like water—a veritable paradise for pirates, and a bustling place.
It had gambling dens, a Red Light District, and bars. It was less a town than a small country, a place built specifically for pirates to gather.
There were no so-called ordinary people there, because everyone's hands were stained with blood.
The town center was full of people coming and going, every one of them carrying a sword or a gun at their waist. Even a seemingly delicate young girl might have several lives on her hands.
A fight could break out at any moment over the slightest disagreement. Without your guard up, you might not even know how you died!
Far out on the horizon, a merchant ship was anchored well away from Demon Valley Town.
From the bow, the town looked no bigger than a speck of dust.
"Mr. Chaos, are you sure you want to go to Demon Valley Town?"
On the deck, the Captain Commander, a group of guards, and several others looked at Chaos.
"Yes."
Chaos gazed at the speck in the distance.
His fight with the Poison Fang Pirates two days ago had been his first battle against people in three years. He'd dealt with them effortlessly, but Chaos felt he could still improve—his speed at controlling gold, for example, and his ability to use it in flexible, varied ways.
Besides, fighting people was completely different from fighting animals!
The fight had been easy, but it had still broadened Chaos's perspective and raised his level of understanding a little.
He really did need to fight people. Some things could only be mastered and honed through battle.
So Chaos had decided to live by Honey Badger's creed: if someone challenged him, he'd fight. He'd either be fighting or on his way to a fight.
Go all out!
Demon Valley Town was right here in the surrounding waters, and the merchant ship was happy to drop him off.
Ever since Chaos had saved them, his treatment had changed completely.
They'd given him the most luxurious room and even offered him the Poison Fang Pirates' treasure. But Chaos had only taken the gold, refining it and merging it into his Golden Inner Armor.
That was the difference strength made.
With enough strength, wealth, fame, power, and women were all within easy reach!
Chaos also remembered that Demon Valley Town was part of Sky Island. In other words, Sky Island was right above the island. He planned to take a chance and have a look, to see if he could find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Even if he couldn't find it, he could stockpile the gold up there. It would surely come in handy someday.
Besides, Sky Island was an ideal base of operations and a rare safe haven.
Demon Valley Town below was also a fine place, full of every sort of pirate and scoundrel. It would be perfect for some training.
After thinking it over, Chaos decided to stay in Demon Valley Town for a while instead of rushing off to Water Seven or the Sabaody Archipelago.
"But Demon Valley Town is a pirate town. There are a lot of powerful pirates there."
"I'm off."
Chaos waved, giving the others no chance to say anything. He controlled the Golden Inner Armor, lifted into the air, and shot toward Demon Valley Town like a cannonball.
"We should leave these waters too, quickly!"
The captain was a little anxious. They were too close to Demon Valley Town and could run into a pirate crew at any moment.
The merchant ship quickly turned around and soon vanished beyond the horizon.
At that moment, Chaos landed in the jungle on the far side of the island. He didn't enter Demon Valley Town openly from the front, keeping a relatively low profile.
Demon Valley Town truly lived up to its reputation as a pirate town where people spent money like water. Even twenty years later, it would still hold tremendous influence.
Many pirates with sky-high ambitions or unshakable confidence went out of their way to stop by, even if it meant taking a detour on the Grand Line.
After all, it was easy to make a name for yourself there.
Making a name on this island could quickly bring you fame across the Grand Line, so Demon Valley Town was one of the best places to build a reputation.
That was, if you were strong enough!!
Before you continue