Blood Axe Pirates

The Blood Axe Pirates were a rookie pirate crew that had been at sea for less than a year, yet their total numbers had already surpassed three hundred.

Among them, Captain "Blood Axe" Vidal had a bounty of 31 million, First Mate "Ghost Hand" Rute had a bounty of 13 million, and the bounties on the others added up to roughly 10 million. In other words, the Blood Axe Pirates' total bounty was nearly 55 million!

A total bounty of 55 million was nothing in the Grand Line or the New World, but this was the West Blue.

In the West Blue, the Blood Axe Pirates were feared as a major pirate crew.

A few days ago, under Blood Axe's leadership, the Blood Axe Pirates had once again looted a small town. Countless residents had been killed or wounded, and the property losses had been especially severe.

This was already the third town the Blood Axe Pirates had massacred in the year since their founding!

The Blood Axe Pirates' actions had thoroughly enraged the West Blue Marines. Kaxiu Beru, vice admiral and commander of the West Blue 1st Branch, had issued an order for nearby Marine bases to search with all their strength for the Blood Axe Pirates. Once they found any trace of them, they were not to report in—they were to kill them on the spot and leave no survivors!

The 15th Branch was one of the branches that had received the order. Therefore, a few days ago, Colonel Whiteman had personally led a fleet to sea to search for the Blood Axe Pirates.

At this very moment, a banquet was being held aboard the Blood Axe Pirates' ship.

Moreover, the banquet had already lasted several days, mainly to celebrate the successful completion of their raid and their return loaded with loot.

Inside the cabins and across the deck, a group of burly men drank, ate meat, smoked, played cards, laughed, cursed, and made a tremendous racket.

Some drunken pirates were also sprawled in corners, snoring away.

None of them noticed that the Marines were rapidly closing in on them.

"Hahaha, the past few days were great! Those women in that town were damn fine!"

"Exactly. Too bad the captain wouldn't let us bring them aboard. Otherwise... just thinking about it gets me excited."

"Damn, stop talking about it. We were so busy having fun this time that we only grabbed a little treasure. What a loss!"

"What's the point of talking so much? Have fun first. There'll be plenty more chances later. Come on, cheers!"

"Right, right, with the captain here, we—"

Suddenly, a pirate reeking of alcohol, his pants only halfway pulled up, rushed in and shouted in panic:

"Bad news! Bad news! The Marines... the Marines are coming after us!"

He had gotten drunk the night before and had just been awakened by the need to piss. He had gone to the stern, intending to relieve himself, only to see a warship speeding toward them in the distance. His mind instantly cleared.

"The Marines?!"

"Where?!"

Though the pirates usually looked down on the Marines, insulting and mocking them at every turn, when they actually encountered the Marines, they immediately revealed their true reactions. Like mice meeting cats, they were terrified.

"Fuck, what are you standing around for? Sound the alarm! The party's over, you idiots!"

First Mate Ghost Hand was the first to react. He hurriedly shouted:

"Move! Get the ship up to top speed and shake them off! Don't let that Marine warship get close!"

"The Marines have powerful cannons and plenty of them. If they get close, their firepower can easily suppress us."

"Hey, hey, wake the hell up, you bastards!"

"Someone go notify the captain! Everyone else, get on deck and prepare for battle!"

Ghost Hand Rute directed the crew as the ship's bow slowly turned, intending to flee in the direction opposite the Marine warship.

"Hmph! Trying to run? No chance!"

Seeing the Blood Axe Pirates suddenly change course, Colonel Whiteman took a hard final drag from the cigarette between his lips, casually flicked away the butt, and roared:

"Full power! Advance at top speed!"

"All artillery crews, take your positions! Once we're close to the Blood Axe Pirates, blast the hell out of them! Whoever hits their ship first gets the first merit!"

"Fuck, you're still sleeping? The Marines are at our doorstep! Wake the hell up!"

Aboard the Blood Axe Ship, Ghost Hand strode over and slapped a hungover pirate awake, then shouted:

"Bring water! Splash them all awake!"

After three straight days of partying, there were only a handful of sober pirates aboard the Blood Axe Ship. Most of them were drunk, making everything terribly inefficient.

Ghost Hand shouted himself hoarse, but the ship was still moving sluggishly. All he could do was watch helplessly as the Marine warship drew closer and closer.

Seeing this, Blood Axe Vidal's expression darkened terrifyingly. His eyes glinted with savagery as he said viciously:

"Someone, throw every last one still sleeping into the sea!"

"If they aren't awake, let them keep their eyes shut forever. It'll lighten the load. Everyone else, get ready to meet the enemy!"

"The Marines actually dare chase after me? I'll slaughter them until not a single piece of armor remains! None of them are going home!"

Blood Axe Vidal gripped two axes, murderous intent filling his eyes as he stared fixedly toward the Marine warship.

"Captain, the enemy is coming in force. I'm afraid..." Ghost Hand Rute walked to Vidal's side, hesitating.

"With me here, what's there to fear? A mere branch wants to deal with me? How ridiculous! Who do they think I am? I'm Blood Axe!"

Seeing the 15th Branch designation on the Marine warship, Vidal looked utterly disdainful.

Did they really think just any random nobody could scare him? Blood Axe was no pushover!

"It's better to be safe than sorry. Later, Captain, you hold off their leader first. Leave the rest to me. Once I deal with the others, I'll come help you."

Compared with Blood Axe, Ghost Hand Rute was clearly more cautious.

"Don't worry. I know what to do." Though Vidal was fierce and cruel, he was willing to listen to Ghost Hand Rute.

A while later.

"Reporting, Colonel! The enemy has entered our artillery's firing range!"

Hearing his subordinate's report, Colonel Whiteman shouted:

"Then what are you waiting for? Blast the hell out of them!"

"Yes, sir!"

Upon receiving the order, more than a dozen cannons aboard the ship all aimed toward the Blood Axe Pirates. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, more than a dozen cannonballs whistled through the air toward them.

Before the first volley even arrived, the second volley had already been fired, followed by a third...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The distance was too great, and the cannonballs crashed into the sea, throwing up sprays of water.

The waves churned as the Blood Axe Ship rocked violently like a fallen leaf amid raging seas.

Though only a few shells struck home, the Blood Axe Pirates were still badly frightened. Their faces went pale, and their morale visibly plummeted.

Although they had not been hit, Ghost Hand showed no sign of relief. He frowned slightly. "Captain, if this keeps up, getting hit is only a matter of time. We can't just sit here and wait to die."

Blood Axe Vidal looked rough and brawny, not like a man with much of a brain, and that was indeed the case. He was anxious as well. "Then what do you suggest?"

"At this point, we can only make a desperate stand!"

"Speak plainly!"

Seeing Vidal's stupid expression, Ghost Hand Rute took a deep breath and said gravely, "Turn around, charge over there, and fight them in a boarding battle!"

Vidal's eyes lit up. He immediately roared, "Good, we'll do it your way! Boys, turn the ship around and close in! I'm going to smash them to pieces!"

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