The White Ostrich Pirates.
Their laughter and drunken revelry were suddenly pierced by a terrified scream.
"Not good!"
"Captain! The Navy!"
"They've sent a warship after us!"
A pirate stumbled before Captain Kukari, his voice trembling with fear.
In an instant, panic rippled across the ship.
Even though they had sunk a Navy warship not long ago, the sudden appearance of another struck fear into their hearts. Pirates, after all, were born with fear of the Navy.
"Captain, what do we do? Do we run?"
The crew turned to Kukari, eyes wide with desperation.
But their captain stood calm, unfazed. He sneered, radiating confidence.
"Run? From the Navy? You forget—we crushed their warship last time with ease!"
"This isn't the Grand Line, it's the East Blue! Out there, the Navy is strong. But here? They're nothing but soft-legged shrimp."
His voice boomed across the deck.
The panic ebbed. The pirates straightened, snarls returning to their faces.
"Yeah! The captain's right. East Blue marines are weak!"
"Unless they send three warships at once, they'll never catch us."
"The Navy capturing us? Hah, dream on!"
The crew roared, confidence flooding back.
Just then, another cry:
"Captain! Look! The warship stopped moving… Are they going to fire? No—wait, they're lowering a small raft!"
Hundreds of pirates turned their eyes.
A single raft drifted toward them.
And on it—
A boy.
"…What the hell?"
"The Navy… sent a kid?"
"Are they insane?"
Even Kukari, with his 11 million bounty and Zoan powers, was baffled.
"What game are they playing?"
"Sending a brat to negotiate with me?"
Then his scarred face twisted into a grin.
"No matter. Clearly, they fear our power! They must be sending this boy to parley, to avoid provoking us."
Laughter broke out among the crew.
"Don't scare the Navy's little messenger, boys!"
"Hah! The poor brat will piss himself before he even speaks!"
The raft bumped against their ship.
Kai stepped forward.
Calm. Steady. His small figure climbed onto the deck.
Hundreds of bloodthirsty eyes bore down on him.
Most grown men would collapse in terror. But Kai's face never wavered.
He walked until his gaze fell on Kukari.
"White Ostrich Kukari?"
The boy's voice was level.
He had already memorized the intel: Captain of the White Ostrich Pirates. Zoan-type Devil Fruit. Bounty: 11 million.
"Oh? You've got guts, brat," Kukari said coldly, stepping forward.
"Most men would be pissing themselves just standing here."
A pirate sneered from the side.
"Or maybe he's just too scared to show it yet."
Kukari narrowed his eyes.
"So the Navy sent you here to negotiate?"
Kai chuckled.
"No, no. You're mistaken. The Navy sent me…"
"…to kill you all."
Silence.
The waves lapping the hull were suddenly deafening.
Kukari's grin vanished. His face hardened, his eyes sharp.
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to, brat?"
"I am Kukari! Eleven million Berries on my head! A Zoan Devil Fruit user!"
Murderous intent surged from the pirates, their glares like blades.
"Captain, let me handle this arrogant brat!"
A hulking pirate shoved forward, grinning wickedly.
"Kid, are you brave or just stupid? You dare insult our captain on our ship?"
"You're tired of living!"
The pirates erupted.
"Rip him apart!"
"Feed him to the fish!"
The brute loomed over Kai, sneering.
"On your knees, brat!"
His massive hand swung down—
But the boy vanished.
"Eh?!"
The pirate's eyes widened in confusion—then froze as a voice whispered behind his ear.
"Looking for me?"
A fist filled his vision.
The air cracked with a sharp boom.
BANG!
His skull exploded like a watermelon. Blood and brain sprayed the deck in a crimson mist.
His corpse crumpled to the floor with a thud.
The stench of blood spread across the ship.
Silence fell.
Hundreds of pirates stared at the small figure standing calmly amidst the gore.
Their bravado turned to dread. Their fear swelled with the sight of their fallen comrade.
Kai looked down at his bloodied fists.
"So this is what it feels like… to kill."
"…Strange. I don't feel disgusted at all."
"Maybe… my body was born for battle."
Hot blood rushed through his veins. His eyes burned with battlelust.
He ripped off his shirt with a sharp tear—
Muscles rippled across his young body, veins bulging, his ghostly back faintly visible in the light.
Small though he was, he radiated crushing force.
He grinned at Kukari, blood dripping from his fists.
"Come on. Let's have a man's fight."
"Either you die… or I do."
"Every pirate on this ship—none of you are leaving alive."
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