When Bemira heard the wild man Taro's words and saw Rosinante charging toward him, a confident smile curled at his lips.
A swordsman wants to slash me? Don't forget—swords are inorganic matter, and that means they can be detonated. You really think I'm that easy to take down?
With that thought, Bemira decided to go all out. One ultimate move to blow away this annoying Marine, grab the batch of Amber Lead, and then sell it off to recruit more men and grow his forces.
"Boom Boom—Self-Detonation!"
The moment Bemira activated his ability, his entire body began to swell. This was the foundational power of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit: he could cause himself to explode with devastating force. If he went off now, no one on this deck would survive—not even Wildman Taro, who he had only ever considered a tool, nothing more than a blade in his hands.
As for the alliance and sharing profits? That was just a lie to manipulate him. Once he took care of CP, he was planning to dispose of Taro too. So why not wipe them all out right now?
Rosinante accelerated, sword at ready. His blade, Bloodslash, gleamed with tension. But he too noticed Bemira's swelling form—he recognized the signs of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. In the original manga, this fruit belonged to Gladius, a Spade Executive of the Donquixote Family.
A terrifying ability capable of detonating any inorganic matter, including the user's own body. Judging by his current state, one blast would annihilate everyone on deck. A noncombatant like Spandine—trash-tier in strength—would be reduced to a smear.
Rosinante's mission would completely fail if he exploded. He couldn't let that happen.
Snap.
A sharp finger snap rang out: "ROOM."
First, he established the zone—a massive Silent Room fifty-eight meters in diameter instantly enveloped the entire ship. The next moment, Rosinante snapped his fingers again.
"Extinction."
"Boom—eh?!"
Bemira had reached critical mass, just about to detonate—when he suddenly realized his ability had vanished. Stunned, he froze. In that moment, Rosinante lunged in front of him.
"One-Sword Style—Slash!"
SLASH!
His blade sliced straight through his chest. Blood sprayed into the air. Drawing on his experience with the Quick Slash Pirates, Rosinante didn't hesitate—he struck again and again, hacking Bemira into several pieces. Only when he was unquestionably dead did he finally ease his stance.
"Bemira!"
Wildman Taro roared in fury, seeing his comrade butchered. With a shout, he hurled his twin spears at Rosinante:
"Spear Style: Flying Fish Pierce!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two steel spears sliced through the air toward Rosinante, but he raised Bloodslash and blocked both effortlessly using his impeccably stable swordsmanship.
Clang! Clang!
Taro charged, snatching up his twin spears once more.
"Spear Style: Twin Whirlwinds!"
He spun the spears like twin windmills, hurling them at Rosinante in a deadly rotational strike. Rosinante narrowed his eyes and gripped his sword with both hands.
"One-Sword Style: Guard!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
…
Rosinante locked weapons with Taro in a fierce stalemate. Could he have ended it immediately? Absolutely—he had the skill. But he didn't. He was using Taro as a sparring partner to polish his technique.
Especially that realm he glimpsed when he killed the Quick Slash Pirates' boss, Boss Dars—the power to cut through steel. He'd only barely brushed the edge of that level. Now, against Taro, he was trying to grasp it for real.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hundreds of exchanges later, Rosinante found his blade techniques growing more refined. He could feel it—he was nearing that elusive state of swordsmanship.
"Hey, Boss Blue Eagle! We got all the lackeys tied up. You done playing around yet?"
Just as Rosinante was deep into his duel, his allies—Water Duck and Turkey—shouted from the other deck. They had finished capturing the crews from both pirate ships.
Rosinante had now mostly grasped the steel-cutting technique. Taro was no longer helping him improve. With a single powerful strike, he pushed Taro back.
"Pirate, I've had my fun. Surrender, or you'll die."
He delivered his final warning. Taro raised his spears defiantly.
"There are no cowards among wild men, only those who die in battle! If you're a true warrior, Marine, then strike me down. To die at the hands of the strong is an honor for us wild men! Come—Spear Style: Dire Wolf Lunge!"
"Sigh… Fine, then. I'll end this with the ultimate move you helped me forge. One-Sword Style: Steel-Cutting Flash!"
SWISH!
Huff…
The two clashed like true warriors in a final duel. As they passed each other and stood still, a quiet moment fell. Rosinante exhaled, sheathing Bloodslash.
Clink.
As the sword slid fully into its scabbard—
SPLURT!
Taro's twin spears were sliced clean down the middle. A deep gash split his chest, and with a soft grunt, he collapsed—lifeless.
Rosinante turned to his allies.
"You two—take their heads. We're done here."
"Hey! You can't touch those pirates!"
Just as Water Duck and Turkey moved in, a familiar shriek rang out. Spandine—who had nearly pissed himself earlier—finally found his voice.
Rosinante turned to him.
"You have a problem?"
Spandine flinched at the look in Rosinante's eyes, but puffed up his chest anyway. After all, the man was just a Marine, and wouldn't dare touch him.
"Marine, state your rank!"
"Marine cadet. I have no rank."
Rosinante replied flatly.
Spandine smirked.
"Huh… no rank? Let me educate you. I am Spandine, sub-leader of CP9 under the World Government. My position is equivalent to your Marine Rear Admirals. So listen up, kid—I order you to leave the pirate heads. Disobey me, and I'll have you dismissed from the Navy for insubordination!"
Rosinante chuckled.
"Trying to steal the credit, huh? Spandine… do you even know the meaning of fear?"
With a flash, Bloodslash leapt from its sheath and came to rest gently on Spandine's neck.
"AAAAAH! What are you doing?! I'm with CP9! If you kill me, you'll be hunted by the World Government! The entire world will come after you!"
Spandine trembled, overwhelmed by the blade's fresh scent of blood.
Rosinante smiled coldly.
"Spandine… do you have any idea who I am? You think the World Government would dare hunt me? If I kill you, they won't even fart in protest. You believe that?"
"Y-You're bluffing! Who do you think you are—a Celestial Dragon?! Kill a Government agent and not get hunted?"
Rosinante laughed quietly, then tilted his head.
"Hunted? Oh right... I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Donquixote…"
(End of Chapter)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access the advanced chapters of the story, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23