"That was an offering meant for you Marines! If you kill him, 100 million Beli belongs to you! Even all the treasure in this damned Arlong Park is yours!"
Arlong's desperate roar echoed through the ruined courtyard.
Each word stoked the greed burning inside the corrupt Marine branch captain.
Captain Nezumi's narrow, rat-like eyes widened as the glittering symbol of Beli filled his vision.
One hundred million Beli?
Even after years of shaking people down in the East Blue, that sum made his heart race.
With that much cash, he could bribe his way into a better spot at Headquarters or become a true kingpin in this sea.
As for the black-haired boy standing right there?
Nezumi quickly scanned the area.
The kid held only a single bloodstained sword, and despite his strange aura, he was still just a teenager!
Behind Nezumi stood thirty elite Marines armed with rifles.
He had an easy choice to make.
"Ahem!" Nezumi straightened his posture and adjusted his crooked Marine cap.
His greedy look shifted into a fake mask of authority. "Arlong, you are a pirate, but cooperating with the Marines to identify this criminal earns you some credit. As for this guy..."
He raised a gloved finger and pointed at Zaraki standing in the pile of bodies.
A cold smile curled his lips.
"Publicly committing murder, slaughtering innocent Fish-Men, and attempting to assault a Marine officer. A brute like this needs no trial."
"All units, listen! For the peace of the East Blue, execute him on the spot!"
Click, click, click.
Thirty pitch-black gun barrels rose together and locked onto Zaraki.
Zaraki held his ground.
He stared at the dark muzzles, frowning slightly at the annoying noise.
"I've seen plenty of guys sell their souls for money," Zaraki sighed. "But throwing your life away for it is just stupid."
"Fire!"
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
Flames erupted from the rifles at Nezumi's command.
A dense wave of lead bullets shot forward and blanketed Zaraki's position.
Smoke and dust filled the air, swallowing the boy's figure as bullets chewed up the dirt.
"Hahaha! Die! Just die!" Arlong laughed from the ground, watching the cloud of smoke.
No matter how tough a guy was, nobody could survive a barrage like that at point-blank range.
Nami covered her eyes.
'It's over... everything is over.'
Before the gunfire even stopped, Nezumi's savage grin froze.
The boy didn't fall to the ground full of holes like he expected.
"Too slow, too light and too damn weak!"
Whoosh—
A sudden gust of wind blew the smoke away.
Zaraki stood there, having not moved an inch.
He looked down at the dozen scorched holes in his clothes. Those were the only marks the bullets left behind.
Beneath those holes, his skin remained flawless.
The lead bullets, meant to pierce thick wood, had flattened into metal discs against his Busoshoku Haki-hardened muscles.
The smashed lead clattered to the ground around his boots.
"W-what kind of monster are you?!" Nezumi shrieked.
His cap fell to the dirt, his legs shaking uncontrollably. "Devil Fruit? Did you eat a Devil Fruit?!"
Zaraki gave no answer.
He slowly lifted his head, the golden light in his eyes burning brighter.
"Had enough fun? My turn."
The ground shattered.
Zaraki vanished from his spot.
In a flash, he crossed twenty meters and appeared right in front of Arlong.
The wild joy on Arlong's face twisted into pure terror.
"Wait—I still have money! I can—"
His voice cut off.
Zaraki's bare hand punched straight through the chest Arlong took so much pride in.
The heart that cast an eight-year shadow over Cocoyashi Village stopped beating in Zaraki's grip.
With a casual flick, Zaraki tossed the Fish-Man corpse aside.
Blood splattered across the Arlong Park sign, painting a harsh red stain over the logo.
"Keep the money for your coffin."
Zaraki shook the blood off his hand and turned around.
His gaze cut right through the group of stunned Marines and locked onto Captain Nezumi, who was trying to sneak away.
The beast found his next prey.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
Nezumi shrieked.
All thoughts of his pride and the hundred million Beli vanished.
He shoved his own men out of the way, scrambling and stumbling as he bolted for the main gate.
"Stop him! Shoot! Whoever kills him gets promoted to Lieutenant!" Nezumi screamed over his shoulder.
The Marines shook too hard to even hold their rifles. Nobody dared shoot at a monster who casually brushed off bullets.
Watching the fleeing rat, Zaraki curled his lip.
"Too far. Can't be bothered to chase him."
He glanced at the plain nameless sword still in his hand.
The moment his fingers tightened around the hilt, a voice echoed in his head.
[Ding! Host has slain key storyline boss Arlong.]
[Zaraki Kenpachi Template unlock progress increased to 15%.]
[Skill evolution condition met: improvised Reiatsu-thread manipulation has been consolidated.]
[Acquired exclusive skill: Telekinetic Sword Control (Elementary).]
The world slowed down for a second.
A strange, sharp energy flowed through his fingertips.
Unlike the rough Reiatsu-thread trick he had forced out before, this new power felt incredibly precise.
It allowed him to project his direct will onto the blade.
Zaraki stared at the plain sword in his hand.
He loosened his grip and gave his mind a slight push.
The sword floated up on its own, the tip spinning around to point straight at the running Marine's back.
"This feeling... interesting."
A playful smirk tugged at Zaraki's lips. He aimed his fingers like a gun and gave a quick flick of his wrist.
Whoosh—!
The sword turned into a streak of silver light.
It moved fast enough to tear the air apart, leaving a clear shockwave trailing behind it.
The blade shot straight for Captain Nezumi's spine.
Running for his life, Nezumi felt an icy killing intent creeping up his neck. He turned his head, watching helplessly as the silver light grew larger in his eyes.
"No!"
The tip of the blade reached within ten centimeters of Nezumi's back, ready to pin him to the dirt.
Then, a thick wave of white smoke poured in through the main gate.
The smoke quickly hardened into a massive white fist.
Moving with extreme speed, it slammed hard into the side of the flying sword.
Clang!!
A deafening metallic crash rang out.
The heavy punch knocked the fatal strike off course.
The blade grazed past Nezumi's ear and buried itself deep into a nearby stone pillar, sinking all the way to the hilt.
The shockwave sent Nezumi tumbling to the ground. A dark wet stain spread across his pants. He lay there limp in the dirt, gasping for air like a dying fish.
Zaraki raised an eyebrow.
His gaze skipped over the pathetic captain and locked onto the fading white smoke.
A man draped in a Marine Justice coat stepped through the haze.
He sported silver hair, kept two lit cigars clenched in his teeth, and carried a large jitte strapped to his back,
Behind him stood rows of disciplined Marines, all radiating a heavy battle intent.
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