"A fish that's never seen the sea is no different from a frog in a well. Ah, stupid people—they're no better than salted fish."
Brian said lazily as he yawned, completely unconcerned by the chaos around him. His tone alone was enough to make anyone want to hit him.
BOOM!
A pillar of flame erupted skyward, tearing through the deck of the flagship. From the gaping hole emerged Astona, face twisted in rage, flames coiling off his shoulders.
"You bastard! You dare sneak up on me? You must be tired of living!"
Cunning though he was, ever since gaining the Flame-Flame Fruit, Astona's confidence had swelled to arrogance. After all, he'd been slaughtering fleets all day with ease—what could possibly threaten him now?
Brian just smiled faintly and turned to Ann, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Hey, Little Pepper—my offer's still open. Want to reconsider before it's too late?"
"Watch out!" Ann shouted.
Before Brian could finish his smirk, Astona thrust his fist forward.
BOOM!!!
A Fire Fist exploded point-blank, engulfing Brian in flames.
Astona grinned coldly, smoke curling from his fingers.
"I thought he might be a challenge—but I guess not. One Fire Fist is enough for anyone. If not…"
He smirked.
"Then two will do."
When the blaze died down, only a blackened patch of deck remained. In the middle of it lay a charred, unrecognizable corpse.
"No… impossible…"
Governor Karl fell to his knees, despair washing over him.
He had pinned his final hopes on Brian—that the rogue officer would somehow turn the tide. But now, even he was gone.
"Hahahahaha!"
Astona threw back his head, laughing wildly. He lived for this—the look of despair on a once-proud man's face.
"Now, Karl, I'll take my time enjoying your pretty niece… right in front of you."
"Boss, let us have a turn when you're done!"
"Heh, the Governor's niece? I bet she'll be a fine treat!"
More pirates flooded onto the deck, overwhelming the remaining sailors. One by one, the marines fell.
Ann backed away, pale and trembling, her blade shaking violently in her grip.
"S-stay back! Don't come any closer!"
Astona grinned, his steps slow and deliberate.
"If you want to fight, go ahead and fight with everything you've got. I love a woman who resists."
Ann retreated until her back hit the railing, panic filling her eyes.
"Ahh!"
At that moment, Karl suddenly lurched to his feet and charged, his expression twisted with madness.
"Governor's lost it," one pirate snorted.
Astona raised a finger, smirking, and flicked out a tiny flame.
Psshh!
The ember shot through Karl's path like a bullet, blowing a hole in the deck under his feet. He stumbled, crashing face-first to the floor.
"Uncle!" Ann screamed.
"Pick him up," Astona ordered. "Make him watch while I have my fun."
"Aye, boss!"
A hulking pirate with slicked-back hair and a floral vest kicked Karl hard in the gut, forcing a cough of blood from him, then grabbed him by the hair and wrenched his head up.
Astona ignored the man's groans and turned his full attention to Ann again.
"Still think you can fight me?"
Ann's arms trembled as she swung her blade in blind desperation. The steel cut clean through Astona's chest—
and did nothing.
"Haven't you realized yet? The Flame-Flame Fruit makes me untouchable. Your attacks mean nothing."
He advanced leisurely as Ann hacked and slashed, every blow passing harmlessly through his fiery body.
It was a cat playing with a mouse—he wanted her to tire out, to break completely before he took everything from her.
"Miss Ann!"
"Protect Miss Ann!"
A few young marine officers, all secretly infatuated with her, threw themselves forward, shouting as they charged.
"Don't interfere with the boss!"
A flash of blue steel cut through the air. In an instant, the marines were sent flying, bleeding from fresh sword wounds.
Jerak, watching from the side, nodded approvingly.
"As expected of Ghost Blade Mado. Perfect form."
The blue-haired pirate, Mado, merely grunted coldly in response.
Clang!
Ann's sword slipped from her trembling hands, clattering onto the deck. Her body sagged against the railing, strength gone.
"So, Miss Ann," Astona mocked softly, stepping close enough that she could feel his heat. "Who's going to save you now?"
He reached out, fingers curling toward the collar of her uniform—
And froze.
Footsteps.
Behind him.
So familiar…
"Move your filthy hands off her," drawled that lazy, taunting voice. "Or you'll die in a way that's really, really ugly."
"It's him! He's alive?!"
Astona's eyes went wide. The burned corpse… then what had he seen earlier?!
"Kill him!" he roared, fury and disbelief twisting his face.
Mado and the others surged forward.
Brian just grinned, glancing at Ann.
"Keep your eyes open, Little Pepper. The next act's about to start—'Hero Saves Beauty from Despair.' Took me a lot of brainpower to write this one, so don't blink."
As he spoke, Mado lunged, both blades flashing in a lightning-fast cross slash—one of the twin swords stopping less than a centimeter from Brian's eye.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.