"Step aside."
Just then, a brutal voice erupted from behind the pirates.
Upon hearing the voice, the pirates hastily cleared a path.
A massive, sturdy figure strode forward.
This newcomer stood over 4 meters tall, making him a veritable giant among the pirate ranks.
*Thump—!*
*Thump—!*
*Thump—!*
The giant's footsteps on the deck caused the dilapidated sailing ship beneath him to tremble, as if it might fall apart at any moment.
Standing at the prow, he gazed at the two small ships gradually approaching in the distance, a bloodthirsty glint flashing across his face.
There were ships, and one of them looked like a merchant vessel. That meant there must be an island ahead.
Although his arrogance had led their pirate crew to sail through the night, resulting in half their members lost and their ship heavily damaged.
It didn't matter.
They were pirates, fierce and wicked pirates. With ships to plunder and people to recruit, they could have anything as long as they had money.
The large sailing ship they were on was one they had plundered.
As for his subordinates, as long as he was here, his pirate crew would exist.
"Boss, the opposite side looks like a pirate ship too. Should we go over?"
*Slap—!*
The giant swatted the subordinate with his hand.
"Who do you think I am?"
"Steer the ship closer."
"Aye."
The pirates, with excitement, adjusted their course and charged directly towards the Freedom.
Now was not the time for dawdling. Once they plundered the other ship, they could abandon this wreck.
"Huh!"
On the prow of the Freedom, Kong Tai softly exclaimed in surprise, seeing the pirate ship suddenly change course and head straight for them.
Judging by their previous course, the other ship shouldn't have been on the same route.
Were they turning back to rob them?
"Interesting!"
He had planned to ignore them and head straight for the uninhabited island where the Basunese were held captive.
Who would have thought they were so eager to court death?
Since they wished to die, he would oblige them.
With that thought, he leaped lightly onto the prow, drawing his sword with his left hand while gripping the hilt with his right.
Seeing Kong Tai's action, Huofeng excitedly raised his camera, his face alight with enthusiasm.
He had seen this pose last night.
The memory of that scene still sent shivers down his spine.
"Is he going to make a move again? Silver-haired Kong Tai."
Just then, a surge of black Haki wrapped around Kong Tai's arm and sword.
Kong Tai instantly drew his blade.
*Clang—!*
"One Sword Style: Iaido: Wave Slash!"
When it came to long-range slashes, he had learned from Shiki.
A massive, silver-gray, crescent-shaped slash shot out, swiftly cleaving towards the distant, dilapidated giant sailing ship.
*Hiss—!*
The slash effortlessly cut through the sea's surface, leaving a bottomless rift in its wake.
From afar, it looked as if the entire ocean had split open.
Standing at the prow of his ship, Bada's eyes narrowed as he stared at Kong Tai in astonishment.
"This strength is too damn exaggerated!"
"Did the Marines make a mistake? For this, shouldn't his bounty be in the billions?"
In his experience, only Shiki, seven or eight years ago, had given him such immense pressure.
No wonder he could kill Shiki.
With such strength, even the World Government would have to tread carefully.
As Kong Tai's power became increasingly evident, Bada felt increasingly at ease.
Although he trusted Kong Tai, the opponent was the World Government. It was impossible not to worry.
On the dilapidated sailing ship.
Facing the colossal slash, the pirates were utterly stunned.
"Hey! Are you kidding me?"
"How can such a terrifying slash exist in the world?"
The slash hadn't arrived yet, but its sheer aura had sent their souls soaring.
What terrible luck.
They had barely navigated the treacherous opening of the Grand Line, only to be met not with a bright future and a glorious life, but with a deadly, colossal slash.
"Boss."
The pirates had no choice but to place their hopes in their captain.
At the prow, the giant's eyes turned blood red, veins bulging on his forehead. As he watched the incoming slash, he let out a roar to the heavens.
Then, his entire body transformed into a colossal elephant.
The elephant was ten meters long and seven or eight meters tall, occupying the entire prow.
Due to the elephant's immense size, the ship beneath it groaned continuously.
Even though he knew the ship couldn't withstand his weight any longer...
*Honk!*
The elephant trumpeted and charged towards the slash, attempting to use its mighty tusks to deflect or break it.
However, this was merely a fantasy.
Every year, countless pirates like him, overestimating themselves, dared to challenge the Grand Line. Some, by sheer luck, survived the beginning, only to be forever halted at the first island, never daring to venture further.
They had been utterly demoralized by this demonic stretch of sea, leading to their stagnation.
This was why most of the pirates were found on the first island.
Clearly, this giant captain, who possessed a fruit similar to "Ship King" Jack's, had the misfortune of encountering Kong Tai. He had the misfortune of being arrogant, and the misfortune of uttering the same words as Jack.
Though he spoke Jack's words, he lacked Jack's fate.
*Screech—!*
A brief burst of sparks flew as the slash collided with the tusks, then it swiftly sliced through the colossal elephant and the sailing ship.
With a *shink*, it disappeared behind the dilapidated sailing ship.
The slash was so sharp that the colossal elephant had not yet fallen.
However, from its forehead, a bloodline was expanding like a volcano, continuously bleeding.
The elephant raised its head, the bloodlust in its eyes rapidly fading, leaving only a desperate will to live.
"Is this the Grand Line?"
"What a shame!"
*Thud—!*
Its tusks snapped, followed by its body, then the ship, and finally the sea beneath them.
"Captain."
The pirates cried out in alarm, feeling as if they could grab onto something, but the ship and the sea had separated, splitting them and their vessel in two.
The hull caved inward, crashing together with a rumble, then rapidly slid into the widening chasm in the sea below.
"Ah..."
The remaining pirates screamed, much like the villagers in the towns they had once plundered. They trembled, they were terrified, and more than anything, they feared death.
But it was useless.
With the vastness of the sea, they had no hope of escape.
Before long, the entire pirate ship, along with all the pirates, vanished beneath the waves.
The Grand Line was different from the Four Seas. While falling into the ocean might offer a sliver of hope in the Four Seas, in the Grand Line, it was certain death.
Especially when they fell into the abyss of Kong Tai's slash.
Only a Fish-Man could possibly survive such a blow.
...
*Ding—!*
On the prow of the Freedom, Kong Tai sheathed his sword. Then, bending his legs, he sat cross-legged on the ram's head at the bow, pulled out his gourd, and began to drink.
Huofeng, meanwhile, was excitedly reviewing his camera, which clearly displayed the entire process of Kong Tai's slash.
Then, as if struck by an idea, he cast a grateful glance towards the dilapidated sailing ship slowly sinking into the depths.
Although he didn't know the other party's name from start to finish.
This did not negate the fact that they had provided him with a front-page news story.
So!
He couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.
"What a good person!"