Gulp, gulp...
Bang!
A wine cup slammed heavily onto the table as a drunken man let out a boozy hiccup.
"Please... I beg you, let me go…"
The tavern's proprietress, who had just tried to escape, was immediately dragged back by a few men wearing sleazy grins.
What followed were the sounds of men laughing and a woman crying.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
The tavern owner, eyes bloodshot, mustered all his courage. He picked up a dagger from the ground and charged at the bastards.
The next moment, he was hacked to death by a flurry of blades.
"Pah!"
"Hey, you guys hurry up. There are still a bunch of brothers waiting their turn."
"What's the rush? Once we take down that village up ahead, there'll be more than enough women."
"I can't wait anymore."
A burly man with a face full of scraggly beard chugged down the rest of his wine, wiped his mouth casually, and lifted a square hammer from the floor. "Alright, boys, time to get to business."
"Huh? Isn't that a little too soon, Captain?"
"Give us five more minutes, no, two minutes is enough."
"Go f*** yourself! Two minutes? Who are you underestimating?"
"Skinny Monkey's talking about himself. Two minutes is his personal best."
"Hahahahahaha~"
The bearded man didn't care. He walked forward, raised his hammer, and brought it down.
Smack! With one blow, he smashed the woman's skull.
The nearby men all flinched on the spot, visibly shaken and disturbed.
"Anyone who still wants to continue, feel free to stay."
"Back to business, back to business, let's go, let's go…"
The ones who had been swaggering just a moment ago hurriedly pulled up their pants and scrambled out the door.
Who knows if they'll have psychological trauma after this.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group grabbed their weapons and marched toward the village ahead.
As they thought about the slaughter and chaos to come, cruel expressions appeared on many of their faces.
Soon, the village came into view.
"Charge in! Same rules, leave the women, kill everyone else!"
"Kill them all!"
The peaceful and tranquil life of the village was shattered just like that.
Meanwhile, another group had just arrived at the tavern.
"We're a step too late."
"Those damned pirates!"
Upon seeing the horror inside, Buck and the others were furious.
"The blood's still fresh, means they left not long ago. Odds are, their target is that village up ahead."
Jay walked out of the tavern and, in the distance, saw black smoke rising into the sky.
"I'll go ahead. Catch up quickly."
With those words, Jay dashed off at full speed.
...
Plop!
A villager's head hit the ground, eyes wide open, refusing to close.
"Hahaha, hell yeah! That's number five!"
"I've already killed seven!"
"Cut the crap. Hurry up and get it done so we can get back and have a drink."
"Relax, these villagers can't stir up any trouble."
The entire village was already a living hell. The Iron Hammer Pirates were running rampant, burning, killing, looting without restraint.
Because the attack had come so suddenly, the villagers couldn't even begin to organize any effective resistance.
Especially after a few of the bravest were smashed into pulp by "Iron Hammer" Beck in just a couple of swings. The rest completely lost their courage and scattered in panic.
But the village wasn't that big. Where could they possibly run?
The pirates had already surrounded the entire place.
No one was getting out alive.
Just as it seemed the village was doomed...
Suddenly, another scream rang out!
At first, the pirates didn't think much of it. The village was already full of screams anyway.
But very quickly, they realized something was wrong
Because the screams were coming from behind them...
"Hey there,"
Jay greeted them with a friendly smile, and then, without hesitation, snapped a pirate's neck cleanly and efficiently.
"A... A Marine man?!"
"Where'd this Marine guy come from?!"
"Captain! There's a Marine over here!"
The Iron Hammer Pirates were startled at first when they saw Jay, especially the Marine uniform he was wearing. Panic briefly flashed across their faces.
But when they realized it was only one Marine, their nerves quickly settled. Grins crept across their faces.
"Well, kid, looks like your luck's run out."
"You could've just run and saved your life, but no, you had to play the hero. What a pity."
"Iron Hammer" Beck gestured for the others to continue with the raid, then hefted his massive square-headed hammer and walked toward Jay.
Come to think of it, he'd never actually killed a Marine before.
First time for everything. It had him kind of excited.
This job alone might bump up his bounty quite a bit.
Double win!
"You're 'Iron Hammer' Beck?"
"That's right. Didn't expect a lowly Marine like you to know my name. I'll try to leave your body in one piece."
"Good. Then I've got the right guy. Your head is mine."
Before the last word even finished leaving his mouth, Jay suddenly burst forward like a bolt of lightning!
Beck was caught off guard and quickly swung his massive hammer to crush this cocky Marine.
But...
"Too slow! And..."
"You're full of openings!"
Jay ducked low, then launched a straight punch.
BOOM!
Before Beck's hammer could even touch him, Jay's fist smashed hard into Beck's chest.
The immense force blasted straight through Beck's torso. His eyes rolled back, blood gushed from his mouth.
Even his hammer slipped from his hands with a loud clang as it hit the ground.
Beck staggered, then slowly dropped to his knees, and finally collapsed with a thud.
The infamous "Iron Hammer" Beck, with a 6 million Berry bounty, had been one-shotted by Jay!
The Iron Hammer Pirates were stunned, faces frozen in disbelief.
Gulp...
Someone nervously swallowed.
Then Jay gave them another smile and said:
"Don't be afraid. You're next."
It was then they realized…
That was the smile of a devil.
By the time Buck and the others arrived, what they saw was this
Jay, alone, chasing down the remaining pirates of the Iron Hammer crew.
A few pirates did try to fight back, shouting and charging at the Marine in a desperate attempt to turn the tide.
The very next second, their heads exploded like ripe melons.
The arrival of Buck and the other Marines was the final nail in the coffin.
The pirates completely lost any hope of survival and scattered like frightened rats.
"Don't let a single one get away, kill them all!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Buck and the others gritted their teeth and gave chase.
The good news was that the pirates were so terrified they only cared about running.
All Buck and the rest had to do was chase behind and pick them off one by one.
That gave the once-nervous Marines newfound confidence.
Maybe... pirates weren't so scary after all.