Chapter 10: A Storm of Consequence
A stunned silence fell on the pirate deck, broken only by the creaking of the ship. "How... how is he still standing? Who is this guy?" a pirate stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
Gladius frowned, his earlier arrogance replaced by a sharp, calculating focus. This unorthodox boarding method was a clear statement. This "Adjudicator of the Sea" was not some simple-minded fool from the backwaters. Having survived the brutal ecosystem of the New World, Gladius had seen his share of strange powers. It seemed the man standing before him had a reason for his audacity.
As the ship steadied and the dust settled, Ian stepped forward, casually brushing splinters from his white uniform jacket. A familiar, almost lazy smile played on his lips as he surveyed the scene. With a coordinated rush, the pirates surged forward, fanning out to surround him in a half-circle, cutting off any escape.
Ian simply ran a hand through his wind-tousled hair and offered a congenial wave. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. Jock Ian, at your service." His tone was light, almost conversational. "I must admire your collective courage. Or is it insolence? You heard my request to heave to for inspection, and you chose to ignore it. I assume that means you're all prepared to face the consequences. Is there something on this ship you're so desperate to hide?"
His words were a carefully cast net. Let them wonder if his actions were mere impulse or if he possessed specific intelligence. A flicker of uncertainty crossed Gladius's features, and he held back, choosing to observe.
His crew, however, lacked his restraint.
Click-CLACK!
Click-CLACK!
The sound of multiple hammers being cocked echoed across the deck. A variety of pistols and rifles were now leveled at Ian's center mass.
"This damn Navy has a death wish! Blow him away!"
"Who does he think he is, boarding us alone? He's not leaving this ship alive!"
"The base commander of the East Blue? Don't make me laugh! That uniform won't save you here!"
"Enough talk! Let's waste this bastard for Boss Gladius!"
The jeers and threats filled the air. Gladius did not stop them. A cunning glint was in his eyes; let his men be the test. Let them probe this Navy man's limits while he watched for weaknesses.
BOOM!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sharp retort of gunfire shattered the tension. The pirates showed no mercy, aiming for vital points and firing in a sustained volley. Several of the bullets were tinged with a faint black shimmer—Armament Haki. This was the fundamental difference between New World pirates and their weaker East Blue counterparts; even the rank and file could possess power that dwarfed ordinary men.
Ian didn't flinch. He didn't dive for cover. He merely shifted his feet, his body moving in a series of subtle, almost imperceptible adjustments. His tall frame weaved and swayed within an impossibly small space, a blur of motion leaving afterimages in his wake. The air around him seemed to warp as bullets whistled past, harmlessly embedding themselves in the deck and mast behind him.
Not a single shot found its mark.
"W-What?! He... he dodged them all?"
"What did he just do? Did he even move? He was just standing there!"
"That afterimage... his speed is unreal! I couldn't even track him!"
"He actually... dodged everything?"
A wave of shock and disbelief rolled through the pirates. Even Gladius felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach. Damn it! This was not the skill level of a standard East Blue marine. The speed and precision Ian had just displayed were on par with the most agile fighters in the New World. He had relied on nothing but pure, unadulterated physical prowess.
Click-CLACK!
Click-CLACK!
The pirates, enraged and humiliated, began reloading, determined to unleash another barrage.
"EVERYONE, STOP! FALL BACK!" Gladius roared.
It was pointless. He could see that now. More bullets would yield the same result. This man was playing with them.
"Conditions met," Ian stated, his voice cutting through the chaos, cold and final. "Refusing to comply with an inspection and assaulting a Naval officer. Negotiations have failed. Lethal force is now authorized."
He didn't give Gladius a moment to counter. Ian's eyes sharpened, and an invisible, crushing wave of spiritual pressure exploded outwards, engulfing the entire ship in a suffocating storm.
The pirates froze mid-action. The vibrant colors of the world drained away into a monochrome haze of grey and blue. A deafening, high-pitched ringing filled their skulls, scrambling their thoughts into a vortex of disjointed consciousness.
Thud!
Thump! Thud!
One by one, like puppets with their strings cut, the pirates who had been shouting for his blood moments before collapsed, hitting the deck in a series of heavy, lifeless thuds.
Of the entire crew, only Gladius managed to stagger back two steps, his body trembling as he fought against the overwhelming spiritual assault. Cold sweat drenched his clothes. His heart hammered against his ribs like a war drum.
He had miscalculated. Catastrophically.
"Conqueror's Haki...!" he gasped, the words tasting like ash. "The same kingly quality as the Young Master...! An East Blue Captain... How is this possible?! Jock Ian, you bastard...!"
In less than a minute since boarding, without even raising a hand in physical combat, Ian had neutralized the entire crew. The sheer, brutal, and unreasonable force of his will had done all the work. Gladius's plan to test his limits had backfired spectacularly.
Was this man truly just a Branch Captain?
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully defeating Pirate 'Behemoth'!]
[Reward Gained: 20 Enhancement Points!]
[…]
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully defeating Pirate 'Lightfoot'!]
[Reward Gained: 40 Enhancement Points!]
[…]
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully defeating Pirate 'Granhan Nar'!]
[Reward Gained: 30 Enhancement Points!]
[…]
The system's chimes were a pleasant, private melody in Ian's mind as he looked at the sole man left standing. The pirates of the New World were, indeed, something else. Their points value was significantly higher.
End of Chapter