"So… you've chosen death."
Killer waited a moment.
Seeing Penny's stubborn silence, he finally lost all patience.
He lifted his scythe, Punisher, his voice cold enough to freeze bone.
"As you wish."
Penny's pupils shrank.
Fear rippled across her face—she clenched her jaw and shut her eyes tight.
She should not fear death.
She had long since made peace with it.
At one time, she had even wished for it.
Then why?
Why did her heart tremble?
Why did she feel unwilling? Afraid?
Her mind flashed through the days aboard the ship—
Exhausting days, yet fulfilling.
Peaceful.
Warm.
The only time in her life when she didn't have to worry about food, shelter, or survival.
A fleeting dream she had secretly hoped would last a little longer.
So that's why…
After tasting what it means to live… I fear death again?
CLANG!
The clash of metal ripped her from her final memories.
Penny opened her eyes in shock—
And saw the back of a man.
Not tall.
Not imposing.
But steady.
Comforting.
A back she longed to rely on.
A brief spark of joy flickered across her face—
Only to be replaced instantly by worry.
She hadn't expected him to come.
She had never wanted to drag him into trouble.
"Who are you?"
Killer flicked his gaze to the faint notch now carved into Punisher's blade.
Though his face was hidden behind the mask, his voice turned grave.
Davy activated Observation Haki, locking onto Killer's every movement.
He spared Penny a glance.
"Can you move?"
Penny tried.
Pain twisted her features, but she held back any sound.
She managed to raise her torso—barely.
Her injuries were severe; effort alone couldn't change that.
Seeing her bow her head like a scolded child, Davy sighed inwardly.
He extended a hand—
And pulled the Chop-Chop Soul from within her.
Then he pressed the second Soul Flame—the Smooth-Smooth Fruit—into her body.
Of all his fruits, Smooth-Smooth was one of the best defensive abilities.
It worked even passively.
"You'll rest for now. Once I deal with this, I'll take you home."
"Deal with me? With what strength?"
Killer finally spoke again, folding his arms in contempt.
From their brief exchange earlier, he had gauged Davy's ability.
A mediocre fighter relying on a sharp weapon.
Someone with strength far inferior to his own.
Just be wary of that strange green fire, and killing him shouldn't be hard.
"Davy…" Penny whispered, "he wanted me to join their crew."
Davy raised an eyebrow.
His eyes swept the surroundings, piecing the situation together.
So Penny didn't chase them—
Killer came for her.
He saw her potential, tried to recruit her, and when she refused, he tried to kill her?
These thoughts passed in an instant.
Davy narrowed his eyes.
"You think I'm unworthy?"
Killer didn't respond—but his silence said enough.
Davy grinned, lifted Red Princess, and pressed the Chop-Chop fire into the blade.
"Penny, I've only guided you a little. Most of the time, you learned on your own.
Remember this—abilities are tools.
How you use them is everything.
Watch closely."
Killer let out a mocking laugh.
Making excuses? Blaming poor teaching?
Even if he had trained her from birth, how could trash teach anyone to become strong?
"I won't kill you," Killer said flatly.
"I'll show her how weak you truly are—so she joins us of her own will."
He gripped Punisher's hidden handle.
"Sound Blade: Slice!"
Punisher screeched as it shot forward, slicing through the air.
Fast.
Davy's face tightened.
No wonder Killer would become a Supernova with a 162 million bounty.
Even without his fruit, his physical ability—speed, power, technique—all surpassed Davy's current base level.
Of course, Davy had Devil Fruits.
With the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, he could tank these attacks effortlessly.
But if he relied on abilities alone—
He'd be proving Killer right.
He wanted to win using swordsmanship.
Using the Chop-Chop Sword Style.
To defeat Killer with the same fruit—even while the weaker one.
He gripped Red Princess tightly.
Armament Haki spread from his right arm, coating the entire blade in black.
CLANG!
Their blades collided with deafening force.
Instantly, Davy shifted his sword angle, redirecting the strike—
And used Soru to retreat.
"Hmm?"
Killer let out a low sound.
Punisher was unscathed.
Davy's sword, however, no longer displayed that initial razor-like bite.
A Fruit ability, then?
He gave Davy no chance to catch his breath.
He lunged.
The sounds of clashing blades filled the air as the two fought their way across the ship.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Sword aura tore through the hull; the cabin shook like it was in a storm.
Boards split.
Beams cracked.
Finally—
CRAAAASH!
The deck gave out beneath them.
Forced to separate mid-fall, the two landed apart.
Davy was bleeding from over a dozen cuts, the worst slicing deep into his left shoulder, almost splitting his clavicle.
Speed and strength—
The gap made it impossible to avoid everything.
But Killer wasn't unscathed either.
A corner of his iconic mask had been sheared off, revealing a bloodied cheek underneath.
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