Your Life, Like a Candle in the Wind

Tekkai: Thousand Rending Blades!

Under the panicked, horrified gazes of the surrounding Marines soldiers, Will's hands turned into twin blades as he began wildly slashing at everything around him.

His arms swung at such high speed that they left a trail of afterimages in the air, like the gleaming arcs of real weapons.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Amid the unbroken sound of tearing wind, the gun-wielding Marines had no time to block or dodge such an onslaught.

Anyone or any gun that touched Will's arms was instantly sliced apart!

Screams! Blood! Severed limbs! Shattered rifles! Heads!

All of this played out chaotically among the crowd, as if providing an impromptu accompaniment to Will's martial display.

And Will made no effort to avoid the blood spraying through the air; he was already drenched in it.

As the soldiers' blood met his scorching skin, it began to vaporize continuously.

A thick mist of blood-red steam coiled around Will's entire body, making him look utterly terrifying.

Coupled with his nearly three-meter-tall frame, he resembled a demon god charging straight out of hell.

"Ha! Now this is satisfying!"

Weaving through the Marines, killing them as easily as chopping vegetables, Will couldn't help but grin, a flash of excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"H-he's a demon!!"

One of the Marines farther back, trembling all over, dropped his gun and muttered to himself.

But just then.

Hidden behind severed limbs and splattering blood, a figure suddenly shot toward Will from his blind spot!

"Tekkai: Shatter!"

With an afterimage streaking across the air, Robert, who had been nowhere in sight, appeared beside Will and threw a heavy punch straight at him!

This was the perfect moment he had been waiting for!

"Finally decided to show yourself, you rat skulking in the shadows!"

Even with his back turned, Will had full awareness of what was behind him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Kami-e: Reverse Kill!

His body twisted abruptly, dodging Robert's attack by the narrowest of margins.

The next second.

Using the immense momentum from his spin, Will turned and swung his fist upward with all his force!

Boom—!

Before Robert's missed punch could even hit the ground, Will's fist slammed into his jaw!

Crack—!

With a sound of shattering, Robert was launched into the air, flying backward at high speed.

Even though he had quickly used Tekkai: Steel to defend, his teeth were still shattered.

His head rattled violently, and he fell into a daze midair.

By the time he hit the ground, Robert had regained some clarity and stumbled to his feet.

Staring at the man who was cutting through his forces like a god of war—someone even he likely couldn't defeat—

Robert roared in disbelief: "Impossible! How could someone like you exist in the East Blue?!"

"How are you this strong?!"

His eyes dazed, he began guessing wildly:

"Did you eat the Human-Human Fruit? Or some other body-related Devil Fruit?!"

"Otherwise, how could you have such power?!"

After all, this was the East Blue, known as the weakest sea.

And yet he had the misfortune of running into someone whose strength was at least at the level of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.

In the CP Organization, someone like this might even be selected for CP0.

Hearing this, Will frowned slightly and said sternly: "Human-Human Fruit? What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Everything I have today comes from my own talent and hard work!"

After saying this, seeing that his opponent was already showing signs of exhaustion from just one moderately powerful blow, Will lost interest in wasting more time.

Shave—!

Without another word, Will vanished from his spot.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Robert.

Tekkai: Demon Spear!

Will tensed every muscle in his right arm, making it as hard as steel.

Then he pressed his fingers together like a blade, gathered his strength, and suddenly thrust them toward the other man's heart!

Pshh—!!

Under Robert's horrified gaze, Will's entire arm pierced through his burly body like a spear!

And in Will's hand, he was actually holding a stubbornly beating heart!

"You...!"

Robert opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a torrent of blood gushing from his lips.

He couldn't understand why, even after using Tekkai: Steel again, he still couldn't block the attack.

This body he had tempered through countless drills was as fragile as tofu before this terrifying man.

Feeling the faint pulse in his hand.

Will glanced at the man beside him with eyes as cold as frost, and said in a detached tone:

"Your life is already like a candle flickering in the wind."

Then he pulled his arm out of the man's chest and crushed the heart in his hand with a single squeeze!

Smack—!!

Watching the heart—both familiar and foreign—burst before his eyes, Robert's gaze gradually lost its light.

Then, covered in blood, he fell straight to the ground, the gaping hole in his chest still gushing blood.

"As expected, even someone who can use the Six Powers isn't pure enough when I put out more strength."

Will withdrew his hand and stood still, looking at the broad-chested man on the ground, pondering to himself.

He had originally wanted to try out the clothes-ripping technique, but found there was no need.

"Die!"

Just then, a Marine soldier with a crazed expression suddenly charged out from the side, apparently trying to launch a sneak attack.

Hearing the commotion, Will spun around, grabbed the Marine by the neck, and lifted him high, growling:

"Do you want to dance too?!"

The Marine soldier couldn't answer; his face instantly flushed red from the grip, and his eyes rolled back.

Finding it boring, Will casually tossed the Marine soldier off the bridge, disappearing into the snowstorm beyond.

Seeing that aside from that one Marine soldier, the rest had completely lost their will to fight.

Will also lost any desire to continue the slaughter.

After all, trampling a group of ants that didn't resist brought him no pleasure at all.

Then he turned his icy gaze toward the Celestial Dragon, who had been standing behind everyone all along.

But Saint Charlos showed no sign of panic; instead, he stood up and clapped excitedly, praising:

"Not bad, not bad! What a splendid fight!"

"Especially the part where you finished off that waste—it pleased me greatly!"

Then he tilted his head slightly, looking down with an arrogant tone, as if granting a favor:

"I've decided to give you, this rude fellow, a rare chance—become my slave!"

"As for those wastes you killed, you don't need to worry at all."

"As long as I speak up, Marine Headquarters wouldn't dare say a thing."