Pirates: Invincible from the Start

Amid the flashes of gunfire, countless bullets gleaming with a metallic sheen hurtled toward Crocodile.

"Die!"

The duck following Igaram charged straight toward Vivi. It had to get its mistress out of there before Crocodile could react.

Just as Igaram's bullets pierced Crocodile's body, the duck reached Vivi from behind. It thrust its head upward, throwing off the robe covering it, and let out a loud cry at her back.

"Quack!"

It was a duck, a duck that understood people. Commonly called "Spot-Billed Duck," its real name was Karoo.

Its species was the fastest animal in the Alabasta Kingdom and also formed one of the kingdom's cavalry units. Karoo was the personal mount of the Alabasta Kingdom's princess, Nefertari Vivi.

Seeing its mistress in danger, it had to follow her even knowing that Crocodile was an opponent it could never defeat. Princess Vivi was not merely its mistress, but a companion it could never abandon, no matter what.

"Karoo."

Karoo's cry snapped Vivi out of the terror Crocodile had imposed on her. She glanced at Crocodile, quickly turned around, and stared at Karoo, a flicker of guilt crossing her face.

She had finally come to her senses.

With that clarity came profound guilt and regret. One impulsive outburst had exposed their identities after all the trouble they had gone through to infiltrate Baroque Works.

She had not even sent word back to the Royal Palace that Crocodile was the boss of Baroque Works!

That moment of recklessness might cost her life, and she had dragged Karoo and Igaram into it, too.

She raised her head and looked at the countless Baroque Works members surrounding them, her heart filling with despair.

Can we escape?

"Quack!"

Seeing Vivi frozen in place, Karoo could not help letting out an urgent cry.

*There's no