Tenjin didn't hesitate.
The moment Nagels' panicked shout rang across the battered clearing, Tenjin's feet dug into the ground and he bolted forward, his small frame becoming a blur as dirt and broken planks kicked up behind him. The wind whistled past his ears as the world narrowed to a single target.
"TENJIN!" Makima screamed, her voice sharp with fear as she reached out instinctively, fingers grasping at empty air.
Nagels' eyes went wide.
"P-Protect me, you fools!" he shrieked, his voice cracking as he stumbled backward. "Don't just stand there!"
The two remaining conscious crewmembers who had been keeping Homes occupied immediately abandoned him, spinning around with pale faces. Steel rang as they raised their swords, planting themselves directly in Tenjin's path.
"Stop right there, brat!" one barked, knees trembling despite his aggressive tone.
Tenjin skidded to a sudden halt, his sandals scraping hard against the ground as he leaned back into a sharp front skid. Dust billowed around his feet. His head lowered slightly, shadowing his eyes.
"…Don't," he said quietly, anger simmering beneath the surface, "get in my way."
He lifted his hands.
The ground answered.
With a deep, rumbling crack, thick wooden tendrils burst upward like awakened roots. Bark twisted and snapped as forest-like growths spiraled around the two pirates' legs and arms.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" one of them screamed.
"No–NO, GET IT OFF!"
The wood tightened, lifting them screaming into the air as entire uprooted trees followed, suspending them helplessly above the battlefield. They thrashed uselessly as vines wrapped around their torsos, binding them tight and leaving them dangling like caught prey.
Tenjin watched them sway.
"…Huh," he muttered, blinking once. "This is kinda… easy."
The realization came naturally, like a muscle memory he hadn't known he possessed.
Behind him, Sticks swallowed hard.
Even knowing it was pointless, even knowing what he had just witnessed, desperation took over. With a wild yell, he lunged forward, sword flashing.
The blade sliced cleanly.
Tenjin's head separated from his shoulders and tumbled to the ground.
Time froze.
Sticks stared, eyes bulging. "…I—I did it?" he whispered, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"TENJIN!"
Makima's scream tore through the air, raw and panicked. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs as her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
She knew. Somewhere deep down, she knew her son wasn't dying like this. Something, whatever this power was refused to let him fall.
But seeing her child beheaded, even knowing that, sent ice crawling up her spine.
What if it had limits?
What if it stopped working?
What if—?
Her breath hitched.
Then the earth shifted.
The severed head was pulled downward, swallowed by the soil as if claimed by the land itself. Wood creaked and stretched as roots intertwined, reshaping flesh and bark together.
Before anyone could blink, Tenjin's head regrew, reconnecting seamlessly to his body.
Sticks staggered back, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"You—you have GOT to be kidding me!" he screamed. "Even beheading doesn't work?!"
Tenjin rolled his neck once, glaring at him.
"You jerk," he snapped. "Stop cutting me! I'm not a vegetable!"
"TENJIN! What did I say about swearing."
Makima's voice cracked like a whip.
Tenjin froze.
Cold sweat poured down his back as he slowly turned around.
"I-It was just a thing of the moment, Mom!" he blurted out. "I'm sorry!"
Makima crossed her arms and simply hummed in response, her expression unreadable.
"…Mmh."
Tenjin gulped.
He turned back sharply, eyes blazing as he pointed at Sticks. "See? You made my mom mad!"
Sticks stared at him, utterly baffled. "HUH!? WHAT DID I EVEN DO?!"
He turned to run.
Tenjin thrust his hand forward.
Wood erupted from the ground in a violent surge, racing across the dirt like a living wave. Sticks glanced back, his face draining of color.
"You've gotta be kidding—!"
The wood wrapped around his legs and arms, yanking him into the air. He screamed as his body was forced to face Tenjin.
Tenjin stepped in.
His right forearm transformed, bark forming instantly as it thickened into solid wood. He lunged forward and punched.
The impact slammed into Sticks' abdomen, forcing the air violently from his lungs as spit flew from his mouth.
"GAAH—!"
Tenjin was seven years old.
But he was no normal seven-year-old.
This was a boy who trained obsessively, whose punches carried weight far beyond his age.
He shifted his stance.
His left forearm hardened into wood.
Another punch.
Sticks groaned in agony.
Left. Right. Left. Right.
The blows came in relentless succession, each one crushing, each one stealing more strength until blood sprayed from Sticks' mouth and his eyes rolled back.
His body went limp.
Nagels watched in horror as his last line of defense collapsed.
His knees shook as Tenjin's gaze snapped toward him.
"No—NOPE!" Nagels screamed, scrambling to his feet and turning to flee.
Tenjin lifted his hand again.
Wood burst forth, wrapping Nagels instantly and hoisting him helplessly into the air.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down Nagels' face as Tenjin approached, his footsteps slow, deliberate, and heavy with intent. A cold aura surrounded the small boy, making him look far more terrifying than his size suggested.
"H-Hey… brat, no, Tenjin-kun!" Nagels babbled. "Let's talk! Let's make a deal!"
Tenjin kept walking.
"I'll leave the island!" Nagels cried. "You'll never see me again, I swear!"
Tenjin's voice was barely above a whisper.
"…You kicked my mother."
Another step.
"You kicked the beautiful face of my mother."
Nagels turned desperately toward Makima, forcing a trembling smile. "Makima-chan! So beautiful, truly! Please forgive me! It was just a moment of weakness!"
Makima turned away.
Ignored him completely.
All color drained from Nagels' face.
Tenjin stopped.
"Wrath of the Forest God."
His right arm bulged, expanding violently as it transformed into an enormous wooden limb, so massive it lifted his small body off the ground.
Then his left arm followed.
The air trembled.
Tenjin pushed off the ground and landed firmly, now standing beneath the weight of arms far too large for his frame.
He shifted his foot.
Pulled his right arm back.
Nagels' entire life flashed before his eyes.
The punch landed.
A fist the size of his body smashed into him, bones fracturing instantly as teeth exploded from his mouth and blood sprayed through the air.
Before he could even scream, another blow followed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
When it was over, Nagels hung limp, nothing more than a bloodied pulp.
Silence fell.
Homes stared, mouth hanging open. "…A seven-year-old," he whispered, "just wiped out a pirate crew that terrorized us for years… without any effort whatsoever. I can't believe it."
Makima rushed forward, pulling Tenjin into a tight hug. "Are you okay Tenjin? Does it hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine, Mom," Tenjin said, snuggling in.
Makima's aura then turned sharp. "Good, but I have to say, that was a lot of violence you were committing there."
Tenjin stiffened. "H-Huh—? Mom I can explain."
Makima seeing his reaction laughed. "I'll allow it this time simply because It was funny seeing Nagels beg."
Tenjin chuckled, then he too broke into laughter.
---
Elsewhere, a Marine ship cut through the sea.
A man with a ponytail hairstyle, a mustache and wearing a pristine suit stood at the stern of the Marine ship looking out at sea.
"Captain Momonga, I sense no signs of battle up ahead," a Marine said beside him.
Momonga frowned. "…Neither do I. Could we have come too later?"
"It's impossible Captain Momonga," the Marine answered. "We responded swiftly as soon as we got the distress signal."
Momonga says, "Yes, you are right. I guess we will see what is the problem when we get there."
The island loomed ahead.
The Marines have arrived.