Ding—!
A sharp metallic clang rang out as Wood's long sword clashed against Iron Arm Cook's other armored fist. Sparks flew from the sheer force of steel meeting steel.
Wood gripped his sword with both hands, pressing down with all his strength, his expression betraying the strain. Despite months of training, the young man was still at a disadvantage against Cook's sheer size and power. Wood's two-handed stance barely held the line against a single iron-armed fist, while Cook's other hand moved like a battering ram, the air whistling as it streaked toward Wood's head.
Knowing he couldn't match raw strength, Wood chose mobility over brute force. A series of nimble backward jumps quickly put distance between him and the attack.
"You little brat… I thought you might have some backbone, showing up here alone. But now? You're just a coward running in circles," Cook growled.
The captain's strength was immense, and his custom iron gauntlets added tons of extra weight behind each blow. But his power came at a cost: speed. Pure iron, while reinforcing both offense and defense, made every movement heavy. The ground around them was torn to pieces from Cook's desperate attempts to land a hit, yet Wood remained untouched, his figure darting through the chaos like a shadow.
Cook's initial confidence had evaporated, replaced by frustration and mounting rage. Meanwhile, Wood's face was calm, unfazed by the insults.
This wasn't a shonen anime where raw power solved everything. Life and death were very real here. Strength alone wasn't enough; Wood needed strategy and patience.
Cook's prolonged inability to land a strike had already tilted the mental game in Wood's favor. The heavy gauntlets drained Cook's stamina, while Wood, constantly evading, barely broke a sweat. Once Cook's endurance faltered, that would be Wood's opening.
This kind of fighting wasn't heroic, and it wasn't the "manly way" of pirates in the New World—but Wood didn't care. Survival meant using the smallest advantage for the greatest effect.
In theory, with his speed and the sword techniques absorbed from the system, Wood could face Cook head-on. But even if he won, he would be badly wounded. And Cook wasn't his only opponent—he faced the entire Iron Arm Pirates. Defeating Cook while leaving himself battered could easily turn victory into defeat. Red Leaf Island had only him to rely on; if he fell, the remaining residents stood no chance.
"Captain Cook… this brat is underhanded. Why not go straight for the islanders? We're pirates; no one said we have to duel one-on-one. And we don't even need to beat the kid to enter the town."
The voice came from the Iron Arm Pirates' vice-captain, the ship's strategist, contrasting sharply with Cook's brute force approach.
Both Wood and Cook reacted sharply. Wood's expression hardened. This was exactly what he had feared: if the pirates targeted the islanders, everyone else would be in danger. That's why Wood had spent the fight taunting Cook—to draw all the hostility toward himself and protect the civilians.
Cook was no stranger to Wood. Even if Wood's original timeline had no record of him, the system had given Wood the task of defending Red Leaf Island. He had studied the bounties of numerous rookie pirates across the Four Seas—Cook's name and notorious reputation were familiar. His plan had been to wear Cook down, force him into a rage, and drain his stamina. But now, with the vice-captain's suggestion, Wood realized that plan wouldn't work. He had to act first.
Unlike Wood's calm focus, Cook's eyes lit up at the vice-captain's words. A cruel smile spread across his face.
"You want to keep running? Fine. I'll slaughter everyone on this island, then deal with you slowly. Men, start with the children and the elderly. Leave the able-bodied men to chop wood; the women… for the crew's pleasure."
The Iron Arm Pirates numbered nearly a hundred. At Cook's command, they surged toward the town.
Wood had no time to spar with Cook. With a swift movement, he intercepted the first wave of pirates.
"One-Sword Style—Iaijutsu: Falling Cherry Blossoms!"
The blade tore through the air, a flash of silver. By the time Wood returned his sword to its sheath, ten pirates before him were carved with intersecting cuts. The wounds opened explosively, spraying blood like cherry blossoms in the wind.
The crew froze, stunned. Before this, Wood had seemed nothing more than a fleeing child to their captain, giving the illusion of weakness. But now, it was clear: he had been hiding his strength from the very beginning.