Bricks and Flesh Flew Together

Merimee Island was a small island that had yet to recover from its suffering.

Dark clouds drifted over the island once again, shrouding the entire Town.

On the horizon, a pirate ship's flag came into view first.

On that flag, the skull was crossed not by swords, but by two chainsaws.

The pirate ship sailed slowly but steadily toward Merimee Island, finally dropping anchor.

On deck, a man who was not particularly muscular and looked utterly ordinary rose from his chair.

His face was unremarkable and expressionless.

Yet deep in his eyes lurked a glimmer of frenzied anticipation.

This was Texas, the Chainsaw Maniac!

Texas glanced at the hazy outline of the distant town, then silently disembarked.

Aside from the few left to guard the ship, all his underlings followed behind him, jostling and shouting.

Time for more burning, killing, and plundering! How exciting!

The band of pirates made their way to the outskirts of town.

Someone in Town spotted the approaching group.

At first, they froze. So many people?

Then... Why does that man look a little familiar?

Those eyes!

Those are the eyes that have haunted my nightmares these past few days!

That demon is back!

In an instant, everyone who spotted the returning pirates turned pale with fright.

They scattered like startled wild horses.

Then more people learned that those demons had returned.

The entire Town sank into despair, as though the end of the world were upon them.

For them, though, it truly was the end of their world.

The chaotic scene irritated Texas.

He looked at the people running wildly in the distance and raised his right hand. His five fingers instantly transformed into furiously spinning chainsaws.

Then he swept his hand down, slashing from the upper right to the lower left.

Five serrated Slashing Waves shot toward the crowd.

Bzzzz—

Crack—

The Slashing Waves struck the buildings, instantly slicing and grinding them to pieces.

Debris flew through the air, raining down among the crowd like scattered petals.

Cries of anguish rose everywhere.

Some unlucky souls were struck in vital spots by bricks and died on the spot.

Bricks and flesh flew together, while the ground and their clothes turned the same color—blood red.

The sight of blood sent the crowd into an even greater frenzy.

"Shut the fuck up! Anyone who makes a sound dies!"

Texas shouted, watching the scene before him with irritation.

The people instantly fell silent.

Every one of them clamped both hands over their mouth, their faces filled with terror.

They even stopped running.

They stood rooted to the spot, like pigs in a slaughterhouse awaiting their fate.

A short while later, almost everyone had gathered in an open space.

Some had not even known the pirates had arrived, but those who did had dragged them over.

Good fortune might not be shared, but misfortune certainly had to be.

Right, good neighbor?

Seeing the crowd huddled there like frightened quails, wanting to cry out but not daring to, Texas finally looked at ease.

He paced back and forth before them, his indifferent gaze sweeping over every face.

There was nothing vicious about that gaze, yet everyone it passed over shuddered instinctively.

Texas suddenly spoke.

"Come to think of it, the Marines caught up with me not long after I left that day.

Do any of you know what happened?"

His even voice echoed over the silent clearing. Everyone heard him clearly, and everyone understood what he meant.

Someone had tipped off the Marines!

Who?!

People began exchanging glances.

Was it you who ratted him out?

You look like trouble. Was it you?!

Among the crowd, a stubble-faced middle-aged man was deathly pale.

He was the one who had brought the Marines here.

At the time, anger and grief had clouded his judgment. After a few others egged him on, he had summoned the Marines.

He had figured that no matter what these Pirates were capable of, they could hardly cause trouble with the Marines hunting them.

That would count as revenge, too.

But he had never expected...

Since the pirates had made it back here, that meant the Marines were finished.

Even the Marines couldn't stop them... Are these Pirates really that powerful...?

Now all the fear and grief that had overwhelmed him vanished, leaving only terror.

Please don't find me!

Come to think of it, if I don't say anything, no one will know it was me, right...?

No, there are still the people who egged me on.

But surely they wouldn't...

We're on pretty good terms, after all. We drink together all the time.

Besides, if they give me up, they'll get dragged into this too...

At that thought, some color returned to his face.

"Randall, actually, I've been able to hear certain sounds ever since I was little.

I can hear what people are really feeling inside.

Oh, wait, it's not exactly hearing.

No, it is hearing.

Hmm, I don't know how to explain it!

Anyway, I can hear that you mean me no harm!"

Christa looked at Randall as she explained, her little face earnest.

By the end, she looked troubled and embarrassed.

"Um, am I really useless...?"

"No! Christa, you're a genius!"

Randall spoke earnestly.

"A genius?" (●ω●)

"That's right! Your talent is one in a hundred thousand—maybe even one in ten million!"

Randall explained with some excitement.

"There's a power in this world called Haki.

Haki is a power anyone can train to develop. It's part of humanity's latent potential.

There are three kinds of Haki, and one is called Observation Haki. It's a power that lets you hear things.

With Observation Haki, you can hear all kinds of incredible sounds.

Like what someone is feeling inside!

Little Crystal, Haki normally requires special training before it awakens.

But you were born with your Observation Haki already awakened!"

Christa looked a little bewildered and asked with an adorably blank expression,

"So, so I'm pretty amazing?"

Randall chuckled, patted her head, and said,

"That's right. Little Crystal is amazing! And you'll be even more amazing in the future!"

Christa asked, "Then can you use Observation Haki too, Randall?"

Randall smiled and said, "Haha, I'm just as amazing as Little Crystal.

I can use it too!"

As he spoke, he released his Observation Haki.

He let Christa feel that power.

But in the next instant, Randall's expression abruptly changed.

His Observation Haki had revealed that something was wrong in Town.

Someone unlike all the others had arrived.

A certain person immediately came to mind.

He had come here to try his luck, never expecting to actually stumble upon what he was looking for.

"Randall, what's wrong?"

Christa noticed the change in his expression and asked.

Randall smiled and said,

"Nothing. My prey has just shown up."