Rody looked at the ugly man before him and spoke indifferently.
"What a noisy bug."
The moment those words fell, Gree Dong's expression twisted with rage. He was just about to step forward—
Clang.
The massive axe in his hand slipped free and struck the ground.
A split second later, Gree Dong's upper body slid diagonally from his right shoulder down to his left abdomen. Blood erupted like a fountain from the standing lower half of his corpse, splashing violently over the face and head of his younger brother.
Gree Lumen froze in place, drenched in blood. His body trembled uncontrollably as he stared at his brother's fallen torso, eyes wide with disbelief and despair.
"H-how… how is this possible…?!"
"Brother… you're a pirate with a bounty of tens of millions of Berries!"
The once-noisy town square fell into absolute silence.
Not a single pirate dared to breathe.
---
[Kill Value +1]
"Oh?" Rody murmured softly. "That's interesting."
As the system notification echoed beside him, a familiar translucent panel unfolded once more.
---
Host: Rody (Ryomen Sukuna)
Age: 24
Kill Value: 1
Abilities:
1. Reverse Cursed Technique
2. Supreme Learning Talent
3. Domain Expansion — Malevolent Shrine, fused with Chimera Shadow Garden
4. Ten Shadows Technique — Black Box: Open
5. Powerful Soul
---
Rody briefly studied the newly added kill value—
Before Gree Lumen suddenly threw his weapon aside.
He dropped to his knees with a heavy thud and slammed his forehead against the blood-soaked ground.
"P-please spare us, sir!" he begged in a trembling voice. "We're willing to follow you! We'll do anything!"
The remaining pirates snapped out of their shock and hurriedly followed suit, discarding their weapons as they knelt.
"Please spare us!"
"We're willing to serve you!"
Rody stared at the kneeling pirates with cold indifference.
"Do you think," he said flatly, "that I'm some kind of garbage dump that accepts everything?"
With a casual wave of his hand—
Slash.
Every kneeling pirate was cut cleanly in half.
Blood burst forth from their severed bodies, pouring down like a crimson curtain. The town square was instantly dyed red.
The townspeople who had been forced into the square erupted into terrified screams. Some elderly people, women, and children fainted on the spot.
Rody turned his gaze toward them.
The screaming stopped immediately.
Hands flew to mouths. Bodies trembled. No one dared to raise their head, let alone meet his eyes.
Stepping over the corpses, Rody walked to the edge of the square where a large armchair stood. He turned around and sat down, resting his elbow against the chair's back, his chin supported by his fist.
His gaze settled on the old mayor lying limply on the ground.
The mayor crawled forward, his entire body shaking.
"S-sir… is there… anything we can do for you?"
"Bring out all the wine, drinks, and food in this town," Rody said calmly.
"Everything that's worth eating or drinking. Go."
The mayor hurried away.
Rody then turned his eyes toward a narrow alley at the edge of the square.
"Woman," he said lazily. "You've been watching long enough. Come out."
---
What should I do…?
If I don't go out, I'll definitely die.
What about Nojiko? Uncle Genzo? Everyone in Cocoyasi Village?
We're so close… almost ten million Berries…
Pressed against the cold wall of the alley, Nami clenched her fists, her body trembling.
I can't die. Not now.
I have to survive—no matter what.
Finally, she stepped out.
Carefully avoiding the pools of blood and corpses, Nami walked toward Rody with unsteady steps.
Her short orange hair framed her pale face. She wore a blue-and-white striped short-sleeved shirt and an orange skirt that hugged her hips. Compared to the mature Nami of later years, she still carried a trace of youth and immaturity.
Yet despite her shaking body, her eyes burned with stubborn resilience.
"Nami… right?" Rody said lightly. "I know a bit about your situation, so I'll skip the pleasantries."
He smiled faintly.
"My name is Rody. I'll help you kill Arlong."
"How about you serve me for the rest of your life?"
Nami stiffened.
"H-how do you know—?! No, wait!" she blurted out. "Stop joking! That's a fish-man!"
"Their strength is ten times that of humans! They can fight underwater! Even Marine warships from the Marine Branch can't deal with them!"
Rody's smile deepened.
"Then do you know," he said calmly, "that fish-men are one of the most popular commodities in the human slave markets of the Grand Line?"
"…Slave?"
"Yes," Rody replied. "Slaves."
Nami froze, her mind going blank.
Those arrogant, cruel fish-men… commodities?
Rody stood and stepped in front of her. His tall figure blocked out all the light, casting her in shadow. He reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"How about becoming a little wild cat that belongs only to me?" he said softly.
"I'll clear every obstacle in your way. And you'll draw a navigation map of the entire world for me."
Nami swallowed hard.
"Let's put aside how you know about me," she said, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Who are you?"
"Pirate? Marine? Bounty hunter?"
"None of those," Rody replied proudly. "I'm just myself."
"I kill whoever I want to kill. I save whoever I want to save."
"I am truly free."
"…Okay," Nami said quietly. "Then what do you want?"
"I want to eat every delicious food in the world," Rody replied.
"And travel to the Grand Line to fight strong opponents."
"The Grand Line?" Nami frowned. "If that's all, why come to me?"
"Because of talent."
"…Talent?"
"I want to go to Skypiea," Rody said. "I'm interested in Dials and the so-called gods up there."
"It's ten thousand meters above the sea. You need to ride the Knock Up Stream to reach it."
"Not many people have the talent to navigate something like that."
Nami stared at him blankly.
"Skypiea… me…?"
Rody nodded. "You."
"…Will you really kill Arlong?" she asked.
"Yes."
Silence fell.
"…Alright," Nami said at last. "I agree."
She suddenly forced a flattering smile.
"Captain, when are we leaving?"
"Don't rush," Rody replied.
Flames ignited in his right hand as he gently placed it on her left shoulder.
"I don't want my little wild cat carrying such an ugly mark."
He turned away, hands slipping back into his pockets as he walked toward where the townspeople were preparing food.
"Oh—and call me Rody."
Nami stared down at her left shoulder.
Her body shook violently. Her teeth sank into her lower lip as tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.
The Arlong Pirates' tattoo—the mark of humiliation and hatred—was gone.
Erased as if it had never existed.
"…Yes," she whispered.
"Captain Rody."
....
Bro, why are there so many female sukuna fan art, i found many of them when I was looking for a cover.
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