Kyle ignored the panicked townspeople and headed straight for the port. The sounds of cannon fire and screams didn't make him back away. Instead, a burning excitement filled his golden eyes. He needed an outlet for the frustration of being lost at sea and the confusion of being in this new world. These thoughtless pirates were the perfect targets.
"Hey, brothers, this shop looks like it has a lot of good stuff!" A wooden door was violently kicked open near the port, and several Black Shark Pirates rushed in, ready to steal. Kyle appeared silently behind them, his gaze sweeping over the group. An invisible vibration sensing spread out, locating their weapons and the weak points on their bodies.
As soon as Kyle focused his mind, the pirates froze. The leader had just raised his scimitar to open a locked box when the blade began to buzz violently. With a grinding sound, it shattered into a pile of metal fragments that clattered to the floor.
"My sword... what's going on?!" The pirate stared at his empty hands in shock. Before he could react, a strange tingling sensation began inside his body, followed by intense, cramping pain. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing and kneading his internal organs. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. He could only watch as his companions also fell to the ground, clutching their stomachs and convulsing. Blood foamed from their noses and mouths.
The entire process was silent, except for the faint sound of metal breaking and bodies falling. Kyle didn't even look at them again as he walked toward his next target.
"That kid! He did it!" a pirate screamed in horror, finally realizing what had happened. Under the threat of death, the other pirates aimed their weapons at him. Several muskets fired, and swords and blades came at him from every direction.
Kyle didn't dodge or retreat. As the bullets and blades came close, his body became transparent and blurry, like the air on a hot day. "Swish swish swish!" The bullets passed right through him, hitting the wall behind. The swords passed through his body as if he were an illusion, only causing ripples in the air.
"He… he cut through the air!?"
"Wh-what is he?"
"He's a ghost!" The pirates were terrified, their attacks stopping. Kyle smirked. It was his first time using elementalization so smoothly in a real fight, and it felt good. He moved quickly, his body switching between solid and vibrating forms. With each flicker, a pirate fell. Their chests would suddenly cave in as their weapons flew from their hands, or their eyes would roll back as blood seeped from their noses and mouths, and they would collapse without a scream.
"Too slow, too weak," Kyle's mocking voice echoed across the battlefield. He stopped suddenly, pushed his hands forward, and targeted the dozen pirates in front of him. The first shockwave shot out, creating a clear path in the air. "Boom! Boom!" Two more powerful shockwaves followed, hitting the group of pirates. The violent force sent them flying, smashing them into nearby wooden houses and filling the air with dust and debris.
The sounds of the battle stopped, and the townspeople and surviving pirates stared in shock at the terrifying scene.
"He's a... monster!" a pirate said, dropping his weapon and trying to run.
Kyle was about to finish off the rest of the pirates when a wave of dizziness suddenly hit him, and his vision blurred. He grunted, forcing himself to stay steady. The excitement faded, replaced by deep fatigue. Constant, high-intensity use of his Devil Fruit ability, combined with not eating for several days, was finally taking its toll.
"Damn it," Kyle thought, realizing the danger. "I need to finish this fast!"
"Captain! That kid seems to be weakening!" a sharp-eyed pirate shouted in surprise.
The captain of the Black Shark Pirates, a large man with a scarred face holding a giant ship's anchor, looked grim. He had ruled these waters for years and never expected to be defeated by an unknown kid. "Everyone attack! Kill him, and the bounty doubles!" he roared.
Just then, a fierce sword light came from Kyle's side and behind him. A tall, thin pirate officer with sinister eyes had been hiding, waiting for Kyle to get tired. The tip of his long blade was covered in a black substance, and he aimed for Kyle's back like a striking snake.
"Wait, isn't this supposed to be the novice village? Where did he get Armament Haki?!" Kyle thought, his heart pounding. He barely managed to turn to the side. "Rip!" The sharp blade cut through his clothes and left a wound on his ribs. Blood stained his black shirt.
The intense pain made Kyle grunt, and he stumbled back, leaning against a broken wall. The swordsman smiled triumphantly. "Kid, your ability is strange, but you're dead now! I'm a master of Armament Haki!" He walked toward Kyle with his dripping sword, his eyes filled with victory.
Kyle was panting, cold sweat on his forehead. "Damn it! I was too reckless!" He thought. "Do even minor characters pretend to be weak to ambush people now? Am I going to die right after leaving the Newbie Village? This is so frustrating! Mom, I'm going to become a hungry ghost." He shook his head. "Just kidding, I lied to you!" A fierce glint appeared in his eyes. He moved, creating two blurry clones that attacked from three sides.
The swordsman was confused and tried to defend himself. Just then, an incredibly fast black shadow came down from the sky. "Clang!" A piercing metal sound rang out. A figure stood in front of Kyle, wearing a familiar straw hat. The swordsman was pushed back and stared at the newcomer in surprise.
And Kyle, seeing the person's face, was completely shocked. His heart pounded. "Is that... Ace?!"