The Demon Within

Under the blazing sun, Luo Ya practiced swordsmanship in an open field, his straight blade swishing as it sliced through the air.

At twenty-three, Luo Ya looked nothing like a native of the pirate world. Barely over five feet seven, he seemed especially short in a world where people routinely stood over six and a half feet tall.

Luo Ya was practicing with gusto when he heard Maynard call his name. He slid his sword back into the sheath at his lower back, picked up his clothes, and walked over to Maynard.

"Kid, you're in luck. Your first job is a big one—the client is paying five million Beli." Maynard patted Luo Ya on the shoulder, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"What kind of big shot is the target? A mafia boss?" Luo Ya asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"No. He's a noble on Setting Sun Island. He's only a noble from some tiny country, but he's trying to imitate those damn Celestial Dragons. He likes to abuse the island's commoners for no reason."

"Is he strong? Does he have a lot of bodyguards?" Luo Ya asked, puzzled.

"No, no. The target's name is Pingqi Ichiro. He's just an ordinary man, and he's so stingy he hasn't hired any skilled fighters as guards. The reason the client is paying so much is that the target isn't just him—it's everyone on his estate." When Maynard finished speaking, he tossed Luo Ya a stack of papers.

"The merchant ship to Setting Sun Island leaves tomorrow. Take your time reading, kid." Maynard then tossed him a long sword, over three feet in length, with a black-and-red cloud pattern on its scabbard and hilt.

Luo Ya caught the sword and drew it with a sharp shing. Its blade gleamed coldly.

"Twenty-One Great Grade Swords: Scorching Cloud. Ordinary swords can't withstand the heat of your flames. The hotter it gets, the tougher and sharper this blade becomes. Only in your hands can it unleash its true power. Don't die, kid." Maynard turned and walked away.

After dinner, Luo Ya lay in bed, unable to sleep, and examined the Scorching Cloud he'd just received. Just as Maynard had said, the hotter the blade got, the tougher and sharper it became. It was simple and brutal. He just wondered how it would feel to cut someone with it.

He passed the time studying the target's file, waiting for the next day, when he would board a ship for the island.

Three days later, Luo Ya finally reached his destination: the docks of Setting Sun Island. He couldn't help reflecting on how heavily the anime had romanticized things. Real sea voyages were much more boring than they looked in the show. Thankfully, he could still train to pass the time. This island was close enough to reach in just three days; he had no idea how long it would take to sail to more distant ones.

Once ashore, Luo Ya stopped a passerby and asked for the target's address. The most conspicuous estate stood at the island's center, with no commoners living nearby. Pingqi Ichiro thought being too close to those lowly people would pollute the air he breathed, so he had driven them all away from the estate.

"Heh, this job's hardly challenging." Luo Ya swallowed his last skewer of octopus balls, then decided to find an inn and get some rest.

It was four in the morning. From Luo Ya's experience reading novels in his previous life, people slept deepest at this hour.

Luo Ya had only just reached the estate's entrance when two tall guards shouted, "Stop! Who are you?"

"The man who's going to kill you!" Luo Ya shouted excitedly.

He drew Scorching Cloud and charged straight at the two guards.

Before the guards at the gate could react, he cut them in half at the waist. Fun fact: someone who'd just been cut in half didn't die immediately.

Their horrifying screams rang out! The guards inside the estate rushed over at the sound. Seeing their companions in four pieces on the ground, still screaming, they broke into a cold sweat.

They stared at Luo Ya with fear and hatred.

Luo Ya had never even killed a chicken in his previous life. Whether it was because he'd crossed worlds or because of his Zanpakuto, his first time killing a person didn't unsettle him in the slightest. If anything, it thrilled him.

Maybe everyone had a demon inside them. They just needed a chance to let it out.

Luo Ya grinned chillingly and held his sword in one hand. Then he charged into the crowd.

Support Slash! Several flaming sword waves flashed alongside the gleam of his blade. The group of guards before him split apart—quite literally.

The sword waves tore through the crowd and struck the estate, setting it ablaze.

Holding his sword in one hand, Luo Ya walked inside.

"Don't move! I'll shoot!" Pingqi Ichiro, the target, shakily aimed a flintlock pistol at Luo Ya. Behind him, a little girl and a middle-aged woman stared at Luo Ya in terror.

"Hehehe. I hardly know how to thank you, sir. You're being so cooperative it's making me feel a little bad. To thank you, why don't I let your family of three be buried together?" Luo Ya said, rubbing his forehead with a bitter smile.

"You filthy lowlife! How dare you attack me? The Marines will be here any minute—you're dead! No, I'll put a slave collar on you and torture you every day! I'll make you wish you were dead!" Pingqi Ichiro grew more and more agitated as he waved his flintlock around.

Seeing that textbook Celestial Dragon attitude, Luo Ya couldn't be bothered to waste words on Pingqi Ichiro.

Fire Burning City Walls! Luo Ya drew his sword and slashed out a massive wave of flame. As it flew, the sword wave scattered, and a huge hand of fire engulfed Pingqi Ichiro and his family.

Amid their screams and the crashing, booming roar of the burning house collapsing, Luo Ya exhaled a ring of smoke.

"Phew. Real men never look back at an explosion."