"I'm still too weak…"
Even after eating a Devil Fruit and gaining powers that surpassed the average port soldiers, Grayza realized she still paled in comparison to the monsters of the Grand Line.
"Last time, I could rely on Mr. Gawain to deal with everything, but this time…"
The more she thought about it, the more her heart filled with regret and self-blame.
She had once believed that managing the port well and ensuring a prosperous life for the residents would be enough to make her a great leader.
But now, it was clear—she had been too naïve.
In this chaotic era, pirates ran rampant, the navy stood idly by, and the nobles, corrupted by greed and the burden of the Heavenly Tribute, exploited the people with reckless abandon.
Power.
The only way to survive was to gain overwhelming power.
Power greater than anyone else's.
"If I survive this… if I have a future at all, I swear—I will obtain a power stronger than anyone!"
At that moment, Grayza's pupils contracted sharply.
She finally understood the root of her downfall—twice now, she had relied on others to save her.
Those who wait to be rescued will never rise above fate!
"No…"
"I will survive—no matter what it takes!"
"Even if I have to fight stray dogs in the street for scraps… even if I have to give up everything I have—I will live!"
"I'll live until the day I gain true power!"
A storm of determination surged within her.
Though her body was battered and her spirit drained, Grayza had finally found her purpose—her pillar of strength.
The ship rocked, creaking with unsettling sounds from the dark. Outside the prison door, pirates with lecherous grins stood guard, but Grayza no longer felt fear.
She had only one desire now: to survive—and to awaken her will to power.
In the darkness...
The curled figure in the corner began to move. Her trembling limbs slowly steadied.
Grayza closed her eyes and waited—either for her final judgment… or the moment to fight back.
Time passed. It was impossible to say how long.
Then, the ship shook violently—this time far worse than before. It felt like the vessel had been struck head-on. Panic erupted outside the cell.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Grayza opened her eyes. Drawing from memory, she dragged herself toward the cell door. Then—
Swish!
A gleaming silver blade tore deep into the hull, stopping mere centimeters from her face before fading into smoke.
Grayza clenched her jaw and, despite the seastone cuffs draining her strength, began crawling toward the opening.
What she saw stunned her.
The blade had nearly split the pirate ship in two.
Sunlight poured in through the crack.
Beyond the gash in the ship's side, she saw the open sea—and a pirate flag waving in the distance. Its emblem was a round shield with a carved skull.
"Mr. Gawain..."
She stared at the figure hurtling toward the ship.
Her cheeks flushed. Her eyes welled up with tears.
He came for me… right?
No—maybe he came for the injured crewmates.
But still… maybe part of it was for me… right?!
Her heart spiraled into confusion, flustered and overwhelmed, until the creaking of the ship snapped her back to reality.
Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she crawled toward safety.
On the chaotic deck above, no one paid attention to the prisoners.
Bang!
Gawain landed heavily on the deck, the impact shaking the entire ship and sending a wave of seawater over the sides.
Labute and Lachet glanced at the deep gash in the hull, then turned to face Gawain, rage burning in their eyes.
"A swordsman with flying slashes?"
"In a place like the East Blue, you might act like a king," Lachet growled, his voice low and dangerous. "But do you know the consequences of crossing us?"
Without another word, he hunched forward and began to change—transforming into a human-beast hybrid.
His once lean figure now resembled a predator—fast, agile, lethal. As a leopard cat-type Zoan user, Lachet exuded ferocity.
Beside him, Labute transformed as well. His body expanded rapidly, thick muscles bulging beneath his skin. His Maine Coon form towered over Lachet, now nearly four meters tall. His jagged teeth glinted with menace.
The two feline Zoans stood side by side on the deck.
They didn't need words—their aura alone was enough to make nearby pirates retreat in fear.
Some even panicked and leapt into the sea, clutching lifebuoys.
"Both Lord Labute and Lord Lachet are serious? Together, they once tore apart a pirate worth over 100 million!"
"That guy is dead!"
"Whoever dares attack the Hanafuda Pirates is asking to regret it!"
A wave of murderous intent swept across the ship, focused entirely on Gawain.
He stood calm, sword in hand, meeting their anger with cold disdain.
"You raided my port. You stole from me. And now you expect to leave?"
He raised his voice, firm and unyielding.
"Where are my people—and where are my things?!"
Lachet sneered, his lips curling into a wicked grin.
"So that port really was yours, huh? That's a shame…"
"That woman? Played to death by the crew. She was still crying out your name when she died~"
"As for the Devil Fruit… already eaten."
Labute snorted, eyes gleaming with mockery.
"You look different from the bounty poster… but you must be the so-called Knight Gawain. Eighty-five million berries? Sounds impressive."
"But let me tell you something."
He stepped forward.
"The strength of the Grand Line and the Four Seas aren't even close. Even if the bounty's the same, the pirates in the grand line are built differently."
"In the Grand Line, every swordsman knows how to send a flying slash."
"You?"
"You're nothing."
Gawain narrowed his eyes, glancing at the two transformed catmen.
"Though it goes against the natural order… I suppose beating up cats doesn't count as animal abuse—if they're not actually cats."
Lachet's face darkened. He understood the insult. A snarl formed on his lips as killing intent surged through his veins.
He lunged forward without hesitation.
The deck cracked under his feet as he sprang, claws extended like razors aimed straight for Gawain's face.
As a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, Lachet's body was powerful—his claws could tear through steel, even rip apart ships.
Swish!
His strike connected—yet something felt wrong.
There was no resistance. No satisfying rip of flesh.
He blinked—and saw two arms spinning through the air like broken branches.
His own arms?!
"Huh?"
Then came the pain.
Searing, blinding pain.
Lachet crumpled to the deck, screaming, unable to maintain his beast form. He dropped to his knees before Gawain, wailing like a child.
"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!"