Chapter 7 – Clash with the Black Cat Pirates
East Blue, Snowflower Island – Three Days Later
"Boss, we're surrounded!! (ー_ー)!!"
"What do we do, Captain?!"
After recruiting Gin, Monkey D. Ash and his crew continued sailing toward the Grand Line, training daily and gaining strength. Most days, Gin sparred with Fatty Tuan—though he still couldn't overpower him, his growth was undeniable. Ash had also started teaching Gin the basics of Haki. After all, once they entered the New World, there wouldn't be much time for focused training. The first half of the Grand Line was their best window.
But now, as the crew awoke from a short rest on Snowflower Island, they discovered something concerning: the Smile Pirate Ship was surrounded.
"Huh… the Black Cat Pirates?"
Ash squinted at the ship anchored nearby, easily recognizing the black cat-shaped figurehead. According to his memory, the current year was 1515 of the Sea Circle Calendar. In the canon timeline, Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates hadn't yet begun his infamous plot to steal the fortune of Kaya, the rich girl from Syrup Village. That plan was supposed to happen two years later.
> [System Notification!]
🔔 Group Mission Triggered!
Objective: All members of the Smile Pirates cooperate to eliminate the Black Cat Pirates!
🎖 Reward: +20 Points
🎰 Bonus: +1 Lottery Draw
"A system mission?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "Looks like group missions activate only after forming a proper crew. Good—this should be an easy point grab."
"Fatty Tuan, Gin—practice time. Go!"
"Hehe! Leave it to me, boss!" Fatty Tuan grinned ear to ear. Finally, a real battle! Sparring with Gin was too limiting—he'd always held back, not wanting to hurt the guy.
"I'm in too, Captain!"
Gin gripped the Overlord Golden Hammer that Ash had gifted him and charged forward. Unlike the talkative Fatty Tuan, Gin was the strong, silent type. Even during training, he rarely spoke, choosing instead to push himself past his limits without complaint.
"Just two of them? Kill them! They're asking to die!" Captain Kuro adjusted his glasses and sneered. In East Blue, the Black Cat Pirates were feared. Few dared cross them.
But Fatty Tuan smashed through their crew like a wrecking ball. Pirates went flying, crashing into the ground in droves.
"Buchi… that bear is terrifying! What do we do?! I'm so scared!" The scrawny pirate Sam trembled as he inched closer to Tuan, feigning terror. When he got within a meter, his eyes gleamed with cruelty. He leapt forward, cat claws flashing.
Clink!
A metallic shriek rang out as his claws scraped uselessly against Tuan's fur. Not only was there no damage—his own claws were dulled by two centimeters!
"What the hell are you?!" Sam gasped.
"No manners, huh?" Tuan muttered. "Ash always says: 'Among three people, there's always one I can learn from.'"
Fatty Tuan found this group pathetically weak. He yawned, eyes half-lidded.
> Skill: Tai Chi – Burst Fist!
In the blink of an eye, his massive paws slammed into Sam and Buchi's stomachs, blasting them across the beach and straight into the sea. Two colossal splashes followed.
"Damn… where did that monster come from?!" Jango, the hypnotist, trembled.
"Jango, take the guy with the hammer. I'll handle their leader," Kuro said coldly, his body vanishing in a blur as he darted toward Ash.
Silent Step—a stealthy, high-speed assassination move rivaling the Navy's Rokushiki: Soru.
"Die!" Kuro lunged, claws aimed at Ash's neck—certain of his victory.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. Kuro's claws stopped cold against Ash's Armament Haki-coated arm.
"What?!"
"Even Captain Kuro's attack didn't work?!"
"Who is this guy?!"
Ash stood calmly, unfazed. Kuro staggered back, stunned.
"You want to use your 'Death Spin' already?" Ash smirked. "Looks kind of like Cavendish's berserk mode—but if you can't even control it, maybe you shouldn't exist at all."
> Technique: Xùn – Wind Shackles!
Technique: Kūn – Earth River Cart!
A sigil resembling a Bagua symbol appeared beneath Ash. The wind howled as glowing ropes shot from the sky, binding Kuro in place. The earth erupted, sending a massive stone dragon crashing into him. He vanished in an explosion of dust and debris.
On the other side, Gin had already finished his fight. Jango's hypnotism had no effect on his stone-cold resolve. Two swift hammer strikes ended the match.
> [System Notification!]
✅ Mission Complete!
🎖 Reward: +20 Points
🎰 Bonus: +1 Lottery Draw
Ash grinned.
"Boss!!" Tuan shouted, pointing out to sea. "Someone's stealing our ship!"
The Black Cat Pirate Ship was retreating, sailing off fast. Ash squinted at the few Black Cat Pirates still conscious on the shore, staring at him like he was a monster.
"Someone dared steal my loot… in East Blue?!"
To Ash, the ship's treasure was already his. He was a pirate after all. And in this world, the winner takes everything.
---
To be continued…