Your Life Is Already Like a Candle Flickering in the Wind

Tekkai: Thousand Rending Blades!

As the surrounding Marines stared in panic and terror, Will's hands became two blades, wildly slashing at everything around him.

His arms moved so fast that they left countless afterimages in the air, like the flashes of blades swung by real weapons.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Amid a continuous rush of wind, the Marines with guns couldn't block or dodge the assault in time.

Anyone or anything that touched Will's arms—people and guns alike—was instantly sliced apart!

Screams! Blood! Severed limbs! Shattered guns! Heads!

All of it played out chaotically among the crowd, like an improvised accompaniment to Will's deadly performance.

Will didn't bother dodging the blood spraying through the air. His entire body was already drenched in it.

The moment the soldiers' blood touched Will's scorching skin, it began to evaporate.

A thick red mist coiled around his body, making him look utterly horrifying.

Combined with his towering height of nearly three meters, he looked like a demon god who had slaughtered his way out of hell.

"Hahaha! This is exhilarating!"

Will darted among the Marines, killing them as easily as chopping vegetables. He couldn't help grinning, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"He... He's a demon!"

One of the Marines farther back trembled all over at the sight. His gun slipped from his hands and clattered to the ground as he muttered to himself.

But just then—

Concealed by the severed limbs and spraying blood, a figure suddenly rushed toward Will at high speed from his blind spot!

"Tekkai: Shatter!"

A blur swept through the air. Robert, who had been nowhere to be seen, suddenly appeared beside Will and swung a powerful punch at him!

This was the perfect opportunity he'd been waiting for!

"You finally decided to come out, you rat scurrying around in the shadows!"

Even with his back turned, Will knew exactly what was happening behind him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Kami-e: Reverse Kill!

His body suddenly twisted, dodging Robert's attack with an extremely sharp turn.

The next moment—

Will used the tremendous momentum from his spin to turn around and punch upward with all his might!

Bang—!

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

Crack—!

With a crunch, Robert was sent flying into the air.

He had reacted quickly enough to defend himself with Tekkai: Steel, but Will's blow still shattered all his teeth.

His head kept rattling, and he was left dazed in midair.

Only after he hit the ground did Robert manage to regain some of his senses. He staggered to his feet.

Staring at the powerful man before him, who had slaughtered his way through the Marines and might even be too strong for Robert to defeat, he shouted in disbelief, "This is impossible! How could someone like you exist in the East Blue?"

"How can you be so strong?!"

His eyes still unfocused, he continued, wildly guessing:

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

"Otherwise, how could you have such incredible strength?!"

After all, this was the East Blue, known as the Weakest Sea.

Yet he'd been unlucky enough to run into someone whose strength was at least that of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.

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

Hearing this, Will's eyebrows twitched. He said sternly, "The Human-Human Fruit? What are you talking about?"

"I got this strong through my own talent and hard work!"

After saying that, he saw that his opponent was already showing signs of exhaustion after taking a single, barely forceful blow. Will immediately lost interest in wasting any more time.

Shave—!

Will couldn't be bothered to say anything else. He vanished from the spot in an instant.

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

Tekkai: Demon Spear!

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

Then, with his fingers held together like a blade, he gathered his strength and drove his arm toward Robert's heart!

Squelch—!!

Under Robert's horrified gaze, Will's arm became like a long spear, piercing straight through his burly body!

And in Will's hand, there was even a still-beating heart!

"You...!"

Robert opened his mouth to speak, but a rush of blood pouring from his throat cut him off.

He couldn't understand why Tekkai: Steel hadn't stopped the attack, even after he used it again.

The body he'd spent years tempering was as fragile as tofu in front of this terrifying man.

Feeling the faint pulse in his hand, Will glanced at the man beside him with an icy gaze and said coldly:

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

Then he pulled his arm out of Robert's chest and crushed the heart in his hand!

Squish—!

Seeing the heart in Will's hand—both strange and familiar—burst before his eyes, Robert's gaze gradually went blank.

Then he collapsed, drenched in blood, the gaping hole in his chest still pouring blood.

"Just as I thought. Now that I'm using more of my strength, even someone who knows the Six Powers still doesn't have enough purity."

Will stood with his arms lowered, gazing at the broad-chested man on the ground as he thought to himself.

He'd originally wanted to try out the exploding-clothes skill, but it turned out there was no need.

"Die!"

Just then, a crazed-looking Marine suddenly charged out from the side, apparently trying to take advantage of the moment and attack Will by surprise.

Hearing him, Will spun around, grabbed the Marine by the throat, and lifted him high into the air. He said in a deep voice:

"Do you want to dance, too?!"

The Marine couldn't answer. His face instantly reddened under Will's grip, and his eyes began to roll back.

Will found the sight dull and casually flung him off the bridge, where he disappeared into the blizzard beyond.

Seeing that every other Marine had already lost the will to fight, Will lost his desire to keep killing as well.

After all, crushing a bunch of ants that didn't fight back wouldn't give him the slightest pleasure.

He then turned his cold gaze toward the Celestial Dragon, who had remained behind the others the whole time.

But Saint Charlos didn't look the least bit flustered. Instead, he stood up and clapped excitedly in praise.

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

"Especially the way you finished off that good-for-nothing at the end. I was extremely pleased!"

Then he raised his head slightly and spoke with an arrogant air, as if granting a reward:

"I've decided. I'll give you, you insolent fellow, a rare opportunity to become my slave!"

"As for these good-for-nothings you killed, you don't need to worry about them at all."

"With just one word from me, Marine Headquarters won't dare say a thing."