Whimper.
Whimper.
Dave looked down at the Celestial Dragon, foaming at the mouth and clutching his groin, clearly having passed out from the pain as the woman relentlessly kicked him over and over.
"Anyone else want to do it too?" Dave asked, placing a million-berry reward in the woman's hands.
The woman stared at the berries, looking back up at Dave with gratitude. "This…this isn't necessary," she said, her voice soft.
Dave shook his head. "It's okay. Take it."
She nodded and walked away, and Dave turned to the crowd. "I've gotten quite a haul from these pigs anyway," he thought to himself, eyeing the other slaves who had been freed.
"Come on! Earn some money by beating up these pigs!" he called, grabbing a microphone and gesturing at the lined-up Celestial Dragons.
"Bastard! How dare you?"
"Call an Admiral! This madman is tearing us apart!"
"Kill his entire family!" one of them shrieked.
One of the Celestial Dragons tried to raise his head, muttering incoherently. "Call an Admiral… my family will…"
Dave picked up his weapon—a nun chucks called Cerberus. He swung it once, striking a Celestial Dragon who yelped in agony.
"Shut up. If any of you make another sound, I'll beat you to a pulp." He raised Cerberus as a few more attempted to shout, but a few quick snaps of the whip like weapon silenced them all.
"Now, bark," Dave commanded. The Celestial Dragons glared back defiantly, so Dave lifted Cerberus higher. At last, one of them caved and let out a weak "Woof…"
"Hahaha, good!" Dave chuckled, amused by the sight. He raised Cerberus once more, "Now, louder!"
The Celestial Dragons whimpered, but soon the barking echoed through the streets.
"Good!" Dave smirked, enjoying the moment. "Now, louder! Bark like you mean it!"
And, one by one, they all began to bark, their pride crushed under the fierce sting of Cerberus.
"Let's move now," Dave commanded as he began walking with the Celestial Dragons trailing behind him like obedient dogs.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his ear. "Ever been kicked by light?" Dave paused, recognizing the tone of Admiral Kizaru. He waited until Kizaru was close enough, then swiftly turned as Cerberus transformed into a staff, coated in Armament Haki. With one fierce swing, Dave met Kizaru's incoming kick, their Haki-clad powers clashing.
Clang!
Crack!
The sickening sound of bones breaking filled the air as Kizaru staggered back, his leg visibly injured from the impact. It was twisted!!
"Move any closer, and these pigs go flying," Dave warned, keeping his grip firm on Cerberus. Kizaru glared at him, eyes narrowed as he observed the strange weapon and the man wielding it.
"Who…are you?" he managed to ask.
"Me? I'm the Demon Slayer, here to deal with demons of every kind," Dave replied, As he continued moving leisurely not minding Kizaru even a bit.
Dave's power was already formidable, enhanced further by his mastery over Haki. Even before training in Haki, he was as strong as a Roger and Garp, if not stronger. Now, with his abilities refined, he was on par with a seasoned Four Emperor or higher.
Meanwhile, Kizaru tapped his Den Den Mushi, attempting to make contact.
"Hello? Hello?" he muttered, his call connecting after a slight delay.
Back at Marine HQ, an operator responded, "Sir Admiral Kizaru! Did you manage to save the Celestial Dragons?"
Kizaru hesitated, frustration evident. "No, they're still being held. I've been severely injured… I'm sending an emergency signal. I need backup immediately," he said, grimacing.
The operator was stunned. "Injured? By a single person? Kizaru is one of the fastest in the Marines… how could he get injured so easily?" they whispered, baffled.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the operator activated the emergency alert, signaling the severity of the crisis. Vice Admiral Garp, passing by, overheard the commotion and glanced back, unimpressed.
"What's going on?" Garp asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sir, the Celestial Dragons are under attack…!" The operator replied nervously.
Garp gave a dismissive wave. "Oh, it's just those pigs. Pretend I'm not here," he muttered, chuckling as he continued walking, clearly unfazed by the news.
The operator stood there in shock before quickly dashing to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office. "Sir! There's been an emergency! Admiral Kizaru… he's been injured," she reported breathlessly.
"What?!" Sengoku shot up, visibly alarmed. "Kizaru, injured? He's the fastest Marine we have! Who could possibly manage that?" he wondered aloud, his mind racing.
"If there's someone out there capable of hurting Kizaru, they must be on a level near the Four Emperors!" Sengoku said, troubled. "Call Garp—immediately!" he ordered.
The operator, trembling slightly, didn't dare to say what Garp has said earlier. "Garp! Come to office quickly!" Sengoku's voice could be heard echoing through the Den Den Mushi.
On Garp's ship, the Vice Admiral rubbed his ear, chuckling. "Huh? Did someone call me?" His crew stared at him in disbelief, having heard Sengoku's unmistakable shout.
"Haha, must've been my imagination. Well, let's keep going! It's been a while since I last saw my grandson." Garp said, grinning broadly. His crew could only nod in agreement, half-amused, half-exasperated at Garp's carefree attitude.
While others appeared in the Office as they all looked at him.
Akainu entered the room, settling into his chair with a stoic expression, while Aokiji strolled in more casually, a carefree smile on his face and a blindfold resting over his eyes. Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived shortly after and looked to Sengoku with concern.
"What's going on here?" she asked, sensing the tense atmosphere.
Sengoku, still visibly troubled, replied, "There's been an attack on the Celestial Dragons. I sent Kizaru, but it turns out it's not just a reckless pirate... Kizaru has been seriously injured."
Akainu scowled, his fists clenching at the news, while Tsuru looked contemplative. "If they've injured Kizaru, they must be a formidable threat. But why would they attack the Celestial Dragons?" Tsuru inquired.
"It's not the usual pirates. This one calls himself the 'Demon Slayer,'" Sengoku explained with a heavy sigh. He gestured to the operator, who stepped forward nervously.
"He... he claims he's just 'slaying demons' by taking down the World Nobles," the operator stammered, his face pale.
Akainu slammed his fist onto the table, his voice dripping with fury. "This 'Demon Slayer' is openly defying Marine authority and mocking our protection of the World Government!"
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