The next morning, Kairo set sail with a dozen younger crew members aboard the fishing boat, converted from the three old pirate ships.
These boys were skilled sailors. Upon hearing that Kairo was heading out to hunt Sea-King Beast, they eagerly volunteered to navigate the boat.
As the fishing vessel left the port and ventured into uncharted waters, it was Kairo's first time sailing so far out in the sea.
Watching the shoreline vanish behind them, Kairo focused her mind, ready for any danger.
"Captain! There's a ship spotted ahead!" one of the crew called out.
Kairo closed his eyes, letting his Observation Haki ripple outward like a sixth sense scanning the sea. In seconds, he felt it — the presence of a ship approaching fast.
"Huh… already?" he muttered, eyes still closed. "Let's see if they're a friend or a foe…"
Before he could finish the thought, a loud BOOM shattered the calm sea, a cannonball tore through the air, crashing into the waves nearby.
Kairo opened his eyes, a grin tugging at his lips."It's the Pirate, Everyone prepare yourselves."
More cannonballs splashed down around them, spraying the deck with seawater. The crew began to panic, scrambling for cover.
"Steady!" Kairo barked. "As long as I'm on this ship, we're not sinking!"
His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. The crew looked at him — wide-eyed, but now steady.
"You lot just keep the ship on course. Leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for a reply, Kairo leapt into the air. His fist met an incoming cannonball mid-flight — BOOM! It exploded in a brilliant flash before it could hit their ship. He landed lightly back on deck, completely unscathed.
The crew erupted in cheers.
"Boss, that was insane!!"
Kairo gave them a quick nod, then turned his attention to the enemy.
On the pirate ship, a lookout squinted through his spyglass. "Captain! That kid... he just punched a cannonball outta the sky!"
The pirate captain growled. "Hah! So what if he's flashy? We've got numbers. Bring us in — we'll crush that brat!"
The enemy ship turned, bearing down fast.
Kairo's smile widened. "Guess they're in a hurry to get smacked."
With a burst of speed, he shot into the air, using a rough version of the Moon Step — not perfect, but good enough for short bursts. He streaked across the sky and landed square on the enemy's deck.
Pirates stumbled back, startled.
The captain blinked, confused. "Who the hell are you?!"
Kairo's eyes flicked up to the fluttering black flag above.
"Just a guy hunting Sea Kings who doesn't have time for bottom-feeders."
And with that, he dashed forward and slammed a punch straight into the captain's face.
CRACK!The pirate captain hit the deck like a sack of bricks, out cold before he even knew what happened.
"Get him!!" The pirate captain snarled, clutching his broken jaw as he pointed furiously at Kairo.
Kairo just smiled. There was no fear in his eyes — only calm confidence.
A wave of low-level pirates charged at him.
But Kairo didn't even bother drawing his blade.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He dashed into the crowd with his fists alone, a whirlwind of raw power and precision. Bones cracked. Bodies flew. Screams filled the air.
One by one, the pirates collapsed, either with their chests caved in or their skulls shattered. Not a single one left breathing.
"What the hell...?"The pirate captain's eyes went wide with terror. He stumbled backward, legs shaking violently.
Kairo turned his bloodstained fists toward him and, in one swift motion, leapt across the deck. Before the man could say a word—
CRACK!One clean punch to the face. His head snapped back with a sickening crunch.
He dropped like a puppet with its strings cut — neck twisted unnaturally, dead on impact.
Kairo looked down at the headless corpse, bits of blood and gore still clinging to his coat.
"…Since when did I start killing without hesitation?"He muttered to himself, voice low and unreadable.
Then, turning toward the sea, he raised a hand and waved.
Far off, the crew on the fishing boat saw the signal.
"Boss is calling us over!"They scrambled to steer the ship toward him.
"C-Captain!"A few of the younger sailors clambered aboard the pirate ship, faces paling at the carnage.
Kairo looked over his shoulder. "Pile up the bodies. We'll use them to lure in Sea Kings."
"Y-Yes, sir!" they stammered, moving quickly to follow his orders.
Kairo stepped into the captain's quarters, checking for loot. The room was mostly barren—until he spotted a small, locked chest tucked away behind the desk.
His heart skipped.
"A Devil Fruit...?"Hands trembling with anticipation, he yanked it open.
Inside?
"...A map?"
Kairo blinked. It wasn't a fruit at all, but a rolled-up parchment. He carefully unrolled it.
"Looks like some kind of navigation chart... maybe a treasure map?"
He stared at the markings — unfamiliar seas and islands. No names. No landmarks he recognized.
Still, he tucked it away. "Might be worth something later."
Rummaging deeper, he uncovered a stack of bounty posters.
"Only 100,000 belly?"Kairo scoffed. "All that bark for a bounty this weak?"
But then his eyes landed on a stash of belly — stacks and stacks of it.
"Six hundred million? Jackpot."
Just as he was about to pocket the loot—
"Boss! We've got trouble!! Sea Kings! A whole swarm!!"
Kairo's heart dropped.
"A swarm?" he repeated, reaching out with Observation Haki.
His senses spread across the waves... and his breath caught.
"Tch… What the hell?! Did I stumble into a Sea King nest?!"
He bolted out of the cabin.
Massive shadows moved under the waves. Giant fins sliced through the water. Dozens of Sea Kings circled the ship like sharks smelling blood.
"Throw the corpses overboard! Use them as bait! We need to move—now!"
The sailors rushed to obey, chucking the dead pirates into the sea as fast as they could.
"Boss! They're blocking the path!"The helmsman shouted, sweat pouring down his face.
"Damn it!"Kairo growled.
With no choice, he drew the long sword from his waist, its steel glinting under the sun.
"If they want a fight... I'll give 'em one."