Fierce Battle

"Hoo hoo, cough!"

Red Nose was hanging halfway over the ship's side, gasping for air. Seawater gushed from his mouth, and Louis could even see a small fish mixed in with it.

"That's why I said I'd never want to be an ability user!"

Shanks, with his red hair, said with schadenfreude, "Isn't it embarrassing for a pirate not to be able to swim?"

"Cough! As long as I don't fall in the water, it's fine!"

Buggy looked up, glaring fiercely at Louis standing in front of him.

"I thought you'd say that if you fell in, your nakama would just save you."

Shanks sounded regretful.

"Who would do that!"

Buggy shouted angrily, "If you just rely on others, what kind of pirate are you then!"

"Is that so?"

Red Hair paused slightly, stroking his chin. "I actually think it's better to rely on your nakama more. Things I can't do, you do. Things that are my responsibility, I'll do to my death. Isn't that what a pirate crew is all about?"

"Dream on! You bastard Shanks!"

Buggy's big red nose was practically touching Shanks' face. "I'd rather die than rely on you!"

"But I just saved you a moment ago."

Shanks laughed, shaking the water off his straw hat.

"I don't admit it!"

Big Nose gritted his teeth.

"Bang!"

"Ding!"

Shanks grabbed Buggy's head and slammed it onto the ship's side. Buggy cried out in pain as his big red nose hit the railing hard. At the same time, Shanks raised his long saber and deflected a bullet.

"What kind of trick is this?"

Louis watched the two of them fooling around and waved his hand. "Open fire."

"Pah pah pah pah pah pah pah pah!!!"

Behind Louis, the pirates on the ship were already furious. Just two brats had wreaked havoc on their ship. The red-nosed brat's strange ability, the red-haired brat's exquisite swordsmanship—they, who had been sailing the great sea for a long time, couldn't do anything to these two bastards. It was too humiliating.

Now, it was time for revenge.

Dozens of people opened fire simultaneously, the barrage already quite dense.

"Tch!"

Shanks gritted his teeth, slashing and flicking his sword on the deck. Several pieces of wood from the deck sprang up, blocking the pirates' bullets like shields.

"En?"

Louis was slightly surprised. By the time the wood blocking Red Hair and the other fell, the two of them had vanished without a trace.

"Careful! They went into the cabin!"

Louis immediately spotted the large hole pried open by Red Hair's sword.

"Pfft!"

It was too late. From the rear, amidst the crowd, the deck suddenly burst open, and a black shadow charged out. The sword in his hand was like a moon wheel, emitting a captivating halo.

"Ah!"

"This guy..."

Screams erupted everywhere. In just an instant, a circle of victims lay on the ground.

"You bastards, die, die, die, die!!"

The red-nosed brat followed closely behind, flicking his hands to send out several flying daggers. Even alone, he managed to create a formidable barrage.

The pirates, who hadn't even reacted, instantly fell in another wave.

"Ah, really,"

Louis sighed helplessly. The fodder pirates of this fodder pirate crew were unimaginably weak. Shanks, though already one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World in his twenties, was only twelve years old now. Being utterly unable to fight back against a twelve-year-old brat was truly pathetic.

"Swoosh!"

He couldn't let these two continue their rampage. Louis was counting on this ship to escape the coming storm. A complete crew was essential. Louis crouched down, and the surrounding scenery blurred. The whistling wind roared in his ears, and the figures blocking his path seemed to stretch out.

"Thump!"

He stomped heavily on the ground, his body suddenly refracting. His sword was already tightly gripped in his hand.

"Buggy, watch out!"

Shanks kicked his partner away, raising his right hand with his sword held high.

"Clang!!!"

Louis's sword sliced upwards like a viper, aiming straight for Shanks's neck. Red Hair's sword descended like a waterfall, a heavy downward chop.

"What?"

With immense force, Shanks was sent flying backward. The hand holding his sword felt numb. "This guy has so much strength!!!"

"He's only twelve, after all!"

Louis understood. Just like his past self, his body hadn't officially entered puberty. No matter how talented someone was, unless they were a natural disaster like Charlotte Linlin, the difference in physical condition was overwhelming.

"This guy..."

Shanks retreated two steps on the deck, his gaze fixed on Louis, "So strong!"

"Still have time to marvel?"

Having gained the upper hand, Louis wouldn't let up. He stomped his foot and shot forward, his sword descending heavily. The muscles in his right arm, hidden beneath his clothes, bulged.

"Tch!"

Shanks only had time to cross his sword in front of him.

"Clang!!!"

A clear ringing sound echoed. The Red Hair brat was blasted away, unable to hold onto his sword. His body flew like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the mast.

"Urgh..."

Gritting his teeth tightly, blood welled up from his throat. Shanks felt his mind go blank for an instant. "His strength... it's even greater!"

"Die!!"

Louis's attack followed closely. He leaped up, his sword about to impale Shanks on the mast the next moment.

"It's not over yet!!"

Red Hair clasped the mast with both hands behind him, exerting force. His body flipped over, rising upside down.

"Tch!"

His sword plunged into the mast, but his target was no longer there. Louis looked up.

I can't fight this guy head-on!

Shanks thought this as he pushed off the mast with his legs. His body shot out, whistling as he fell into the crowd below.

"Ah!"

He stomped a pirate underfoot, snatched the knife from his hand, and crouched low, dodging weapons from all directions. With a powerful swing of the knife, a group of pirates around him fell.

"Don't think you can escape!"

Louis wouldn't show mercy just because his opponent was an important figure in the future. If he didn't exist now, how could there be a future?

Using the Soru technique, his speed became almost imperceptible to the naked eye. He charged at Shanks like a bomber.

"His speed is also astonishing!"

Shanks gripped his sword with one hand, the other pressing down on his straw hat. He rolled on the ground. The opponent's speed was indeed fast, but since he was coming for him, positioning was key.

"Clever guy!"

Louis landed on the deck. Shanks had already blended into the crowd, making it difficult to even track him with his eyes.

"Spread out! Make some space for me!"

Louis shouted.

"Go to hell, you bastard!!"

Big Red Nose, who had finally managed to get up, roared. He flung his hands, and a flying dagger shot towards Louis.

"Hm?"

Tilting his head slightly, Louis easily dodged the flying dagger that came from behind. He turned around and looked at Buggy.

"Eh..."

Buggy trembled and instinctively took a step back.

For example, if there's a recommendation ticket, a big shot might not care and give it to someone else, while a nobody would shamelessly beg for one.

I like recommendation tickets.

I'm not a big shot. I just want to write my book and then beg for recommendations, rewards, collections, and book lists.

Monkey D. Flower Water