In Kai's memories,
Foosha Village had always been peaceful, safe, and harmonious.
The ruthless pirates of the seas could never threaten this humble little village.
On the contrary—
the bandit groups lurking around the mountains nearby were far more dangerous than any pirate crew.
He remembered clearly…
in the future, Ace and little Luffy would suffer under the threats and oppression of these bandits.
To prevent such tragedies from ever happening, Kai had made a decision:
Before leaving Foosha Village for Marineford, he would wipe out every bandit group in the surrounding area.
Only then would the villagers live free of fear.
For the kind and honest people of Foosha, Kai had genuine affection.
He couldn't stand the thought of them being tormented by those scum.
So there was only one option—
strike first.
Eradicate them all.
Turn Foosha into an absolutely safe haven.
"You're saying… there's a bandit group here with over three hundred members?" Ace asked, eyes wide.
"And you… you're planning to face them alone?"
"That's right." Kai smiled, nodding casually.
"You're insane!" Ace exclaimed, his young voice trembling.
"Three hundred armed bandits—and you want to fight them all by yourself? What if something goes wrong?"
"Wrong?" Kai chuckled.
"With me here, nothing goes wrong. Just three hundred bandits… nothing worth worrying about."
He turned, his eyes gleaming with meaning as he looked at Ace.
"So keep your eyes open. Don't blink. I brought you here for one reason—so you can see this fight with your own eyes."
"You—" Ace faltered, unable to form words.
But before he could say more—
Thud, thud, thud!
The sound of countless hurried footsteps thundered from deep within the mountain path ahead.
At least a hundred… no, several hundred!
The earth seemed to tremble under their march.
Moments later, a mob of bandits poured out from the shadows.
The moment they saw the two children, sneers spread across their faces.
"Well, well…"
"Look what we've got here—two pale little brats!"
"Hah! What a surprise."
"Brothers, we found ourselves a bit of unexpected fun. Let's play with them before the night's over."
Their rough voices echoed like growling beasts.
Ace's face drained of color, his body trembling. His hands and feet grew cold as fear clutched his chest.
"T-they're here…" he stammered.
In his panic, he looked desperately at the boy standing before him.
At that moment, Kai's back loomed in Ace's vision—towering, unshakable, radiating security.
The chaos in Ace's heart slowly calmed.
That back… gave him a pillar to lean on.
"Kai, please… be careful!" Ace bit his lip, his voice taut with fear.
He knew he couldn't help.
In fact, he'd only get in the way.
So he could only stand aside and watch.
The mob of bandits encircled them, nearly three hundred strong.
A wall of bodies, sealing off every escape.
Their eyes burned with cruelty and bloodlust as they stared at the two boys—like wolves sizing up two lambs ready for slaughter.
"Hey, brats," one sneered.
"Didn't your elders tell you? This isn't a place for kids."
"Still, since you're here… why don't you show us the way to your little village?"
"We'll pay a nice, polite visit. We promise not to hurt anyone. How's that sound?"
Their grins were sinister.
Their words—poison.
If these scum reached Foosha Village, the peaceful villagers would be doomed.
"Kid, take us to your village," a burly thug growled, looming over Kai. His eyes were cold, his killing intent sharp.
"Or else… I'll kill you right now."
"Oi, oi, don't be so hasty," another bandit cackled.
"Don't scare the little brats. We've got plenty of time… let's have some fun with them first."
They weren't showing mercy.
They were savoring cruelty.
"Kai…" Ace whispered, teeth clenched.
And then—
"Do you know why I brought you here?" Kai suddenly spoke, his voice calm, steady.
It reached Ace's ears, sweeping away his fear like the tide.
"What…?" Ace croaked, dazed.
Kai's eyes narrowed, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Because I want you to see. See with your own eyes—"
"Ace, I'll show you what it means to be truly strong."
"I'll show you what kind of being a true powerhouse of this sea really is!"
"I know one day you'll set sail yourself. So before I leave Foosha… I'll give you this. A glimpse of strength."
"The strength of the strong."
His words were thunder.
Then, with a sharp motion—
Riiip!
The fabric tore.
Kai ripped open his shirt with one hand.
Muscles coiled and rippled beneath the sunlight.
Lines of steel-like definition carved across his torso.
A beast's body. A predator's physique.
Explosive power radiated from every fiber of his being, pressing down on the bandits, pressing down on the air itself.
The sunlight glinted against his bare upper body, casting a golden sheen over his sculpted frame.
Behind him, Ace's eyes went wide. His breath caught in his throat.
He saw it.
Kai's "Ghost Back."
A physique that seemed carved from diamond, an indomitable frame brimming with might.
For Ace, it was overwhelming.
A sight that imprinted itself on his soul.
At that moment, as he stared at Kai's back, a strange calm filled his chest.
Safety.
Reliability.
Strength.
"Strong…" Ace murmured, trembling.
"What it means… to be strong…"
Kai's words echoed in his heart, searing themselves deep into memory.
This day, this moment—
he would never forget it for the rest of his life.
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