Woof! Woof!
Huh? What's wrong, Wangzai?
Fang Yi, who had been sleeping soundly on the beach, was suddenly awakened by the barking of his companion, the loyal dog Wangzai. He looked over in confusion.
"Grr... woof woof!"
Wangzai stood stiffly, baring his teeth and growling toward the jungle behind them.
Fang Yi narrowed his eyes and instinctively raised his hand. In a flash of light, the Sunshooter Bow appeared in his grip.
Whatever Wangzai had sensed wasn't friendly.
"What's going on, Yi?"
Nearby crew members noticed the sudden tension and looked toward Fang Yi.
"Not sure," he replied, puzzled. "Wangzai seems to have spotted something. Maybe a large beast?"
"Oh? Looks like we might be adding something extra to tonight's feast!" one of the pirates chuckled, rubbing his hands.
But at that moment, from the dense brush stepped out a broad-shouldered teenage boy.
"Huh? Just a kid?"
Eliot, one of the crew, blinked in surprise and chuckled.
"You're pirates, aren't you?" the towering boy asked in a deep, firm voice.
"Oh? Then you'd better scram while you still can," Eliot said mockingly. "Pirates are terrifying, you know? Mwahahaha...!"
"Pfft, come on, Eliot. He's just a kid. Don't go scaring him like that."
Head chef Yao-ichi walked up, smiling warmly. "Hey there, little guy. Are you from around here?"
The boy grinned darkly. "If you're pirates... then I guess robbing you is fair game!"
Aside from Fang Yi, the other crewmen burst into laughter.
Even though the boy looked more muscular than Fang Yi, he seemed about the same age—and none of them believed anyone his age could match Fang Yi's freakish strength.
But Fang Yi didn't laugh. For one, the boy looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he'd seen him—after all, the main story took place decades later, and appearances had changed.
And two, Wangzai was still growling—his instincts had never failed before.
Whoever this was, he wasn't ordinary.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the teenager vanished—and reappeared right in front of Eliot.
Before Eliot could react, a devastating punch landed in his stomach, sending him flying.
"Next," the boy said flatly, "is you."
He didn't even glance at Eliot's limp body—he just stared at the remaining crew, his tone calm and cold.
"This one's no pushover! Yi, fire the signal flare!" Yao-ichi shouted, eyes wide with concern.
"Wangzai!" Fang Yi jumped back, already nocking an arrow infused with signal magic.
"Woof!"
Wangzai rushed in and crouched, letting Fang Yi land smoothly on his back.
Whoosh!
The arrow soared skyward, exploding in a brilliant flare.
But by the time Fang Yi turned back, the other crewmen had all been knocked out. Only Yao-ichi remained standing.
"Yao-ichi!" Fang Yi shouted, releasing a frost arrow straight at the boy.
The youth didn't dodge. He raised his arm to block, but underestimated Fang Yi's strength.
The arrow smashed into him, knocking him back two steps, and a layer of frost began to spread along his arm.
"Who are you?" the boy growled, glancing at the freezing limb.
"Roger Pirates intern—Fang Yi!"
Fang Yi, still mounted on Wangzai, drew another arrow. "And who are you?"
"Douglas Barrett," the boy answered.
Fang Yi's eyes widened. Douglas Barrett?!
The future demon heir? The legendary war machine of chaos?
"You know me?" Barrett asked, narrowing his eyes. "Did you see my bounty poster?"
Truthfully, Fang Yi hadn't recognized him until now. But since Barrett confirmed it himself, Fang Yi nodded.
"Yi, who is this guy?" Yao-ichi asked warily, joining Fang Yi.
"Douglas Barrett," Fang Yi replied grimly.
"A terrifying powerhouse. Grew up in the army, destroyed both his enemies and his homeland after being betrayed. He's... a serious monster."
"No way. He's still a kid!"
Yao-ichi looked at Barrett in disbelief.
"You're not my match," Barrett said bluntly to Yao-ichi. "But you... You're interesting."
Fang Yi understood the implication.
"Yao-ichi, please take care of the others. I'll handle this guy."
Yao-ichi nodded. "Be careful. The captain and the others should be on their way after seeing the flare."
"I'm starting," Barrett announced, cracking the frost on his arm and lunging forward.
"Wait!" Fang Yi called out.
"What? Surrendering already?" Barrett raised a brow.
"No. I want a fair fight. Wangzai is my partner—fighting with him would be unfair," Fang Yi said.
"No problem. Let's start," Barrett replied eagerly. Fang Yi's strength had lit a fire in him.
"Oh? Underestimating us, huh? Wangzai—let's show him what we've got!"
Fang Yi patted Wangzai's head and raised his bow.
BOOM!
Barrett smashed the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. But Fang Yi and Wangzai were gone.
Whoosh!
From the dust, an arrow zipped toward Barrett's forehead.
"This won't work on me!" Barrett sneered, punching the arrow.
BOOM!
It exploded into flames, engulfing his arm and crawling over his body.
A combination of fire and explosive arrows—Fang Yi's latest deadly innovation.
"Argh... haha! I told you that won't work on me. Bring something better!"
With a burst of aura, Barrett blew away both the flames and the dust cloud.
"Seriously? This guy's unreal," Fang Yi muttered.
"Woof!"
Wangzai barked, ready for more.
"Alright, time to show him why they call me the Phantom Archer!"
Fang Yi drew three arrows and loosed them in rapid succession.
Each arrow glowed with a different hue.
The last one, glowing green, struck first.
Binding Arrow (LV.2):
"Fires a binding arrow that deals damage and releases vines to immobilize the target."
Barrett stood firm, coating himself in Armament Haki, ready to tank the hit.
CRACK!
The arrow struck true—and to his surprise, pierced through his defense. Pain shot through him as vines erupted, wrapping around his limbs and torso.
Before he could react, the other two arrows hit—one to the left rib, one to the right.
BOOM!
One side erupted in flames, the other was encased in ice.
"Damn... that's insane," muttered Eliot, now half-conscious. "Is anyone even capable of stopping an attack like that?"
"He's not done yet," Yao-ichi said grimly.
Sure enough, Fang Yi's voice rang out:
"Still standing? Say something before you die!
Charged Arrow—Fire!"
A silver streak of light flew straight toward Barrett's heart.
At that distance, with that force—even Jaba or Rayleigh would have trouble blocking it.
BOOOOM!!
The arrow hit squarely in Barrett's chest, sending him flying.
The impact was so fierce, it blew away the vines, flames, and frost wrapped around him.