Law POV:
At first, Law thought the kid would just take out a couple of bandits, and then he'd step in. He had already seen the potential in the boy and had a plan to recruit him into the Heart Pirates. Their crew was still new, and adding someone talented like this would surely bolster their strength. But as the fight went on, Law realized he had severely underestimated him.
Law himself used a sword, though paired with his Devil Fruit abilities. He wasn't a proper swordsman. But this kid? He was a swordsman through and through. Every movement was precise, fast, and deadly—like watching a blade in its purest form.
Less than a minute had passed, and three more bodies littered the docks of Swallow Island. The only one left standing was the bandit leader, 'Club' Morgan. The boy was clearly exhausted. But he hadn't sustained a single scratch. Morgan, on the other hand, was visibly shaken. The fight was nearing its end—or so it seemed.
Then it happened.
ROOOAAAR!
With a guttural roar, Morgan's body began to shift and change, growing into a massive, 5-meter-tall gorilla.
'Devil Fruit?!'
Law's eyes widened. He didn't know Morgan had eaten a Devil Fruit. It must've been something he'd recently acquired, probably through his dealings with the slave traders.
Bepo, ever the compassionate one, instinctively moved to step in. But Law raised a hand, stopping him. It wasn't something he'd done consciously—his body just reacted.
Logic told him the kid wouldn't stand a chance now. But there was something else, a thrill running through his veins—the battle maniac inside of him that wanted to see how this would play out. He wanted to know just how far the kid could push himself.
"Let him fight," Law muttered.
Bepo hesitated but saw the resolve in Law's eyes. There was no point in arguing. He gritted his teeth and turned his attention back to the battle.
BOOOOOM!
The ground trembled as Morgan's club smashed the spot where the kid had been standing moments ago, cracking the earth beneath the force of his attack. Even though the kid had dodged, the shockwave sent him stumbling slightly. But he regained his footing quickly, his eyes hardening with fiery determination, replacing the initial shock.
Before he could fully recover, Morgan swung the massive club again, aiming to crush him. One clean hit, and the kid was done for.
Law knew it. The spectators knew it. And the kid knew it too.
This was a battle of speed versus raw power.
The game of cat and mouse continued for a couple of minutes. The kid was getting pushed back more and more. Then suddenly the kid did something that took everyone by surprise. He took a few steps back using a movement technique, distancing himself from the raging gorilla, gripping his katana with both hands, and for the first time since the fight started, he spoke—his voice still juvenile.
"You can't even hit me, you ugly piece of shit. Your little bandit crew was useless. You should just die like the rest of them."
It was a blatant provocation, but instead of enraging Morgan further, it had the opposite effect. Morgan's wild fury cleared, his eyes focusing with malice.
"You fucking trying to provoke me? You don't even know how to insult people properly! You think you stand a chance against me and my Devil Fruit power? I'll crush you and sell your organs to the black market, you little shit!" Morgan growled, gripping his club with both hands, his body swelling even larger. He was getting used to his devil fruit powers.
This was bad.
The air seemed to tremble as Morgan leaped into the air with a roar, aiming to obliterate the boy beneath him.
In that exact moment, Law saw something that made his blood run cold—the kid closed his eyes.
'What the hell is he doing? Does he have a death wish?'
The massive club came crashing down, its force was enough to destroy the tavern they had been drinking few minutes ago. The sheer power of it was overwhelming, and standing in the path of destruction was a teenager with his eyes closed.
Just as Law was about to intervene, the boy's eyes snapped open, and in a single fluid motion, he swung his sword.
TAAAAANG!
A sharp, piercing sound rang out as Law's eyes widened in disbelief.
The kid just parried that fucking huge club with a simple sword!
The parry was flawless. Morgan, taken completely off guard, lost his balance. The club was sent flying upward, leaving the gorilla-like bandit wide open. And the boy didn't miss the opportunity.
Law barely caught the soft murmur on the wind.
"Gentle Death."
The sword moved as gracefully as the name implied. It didn't seem fast, nor did it appear particularly strong. Yet Law's sixth sense screamed at him. This attack was lethal; he could feel it even from here.
The blade sliced through Morgan's flesh like a hot knife cut through butter, cutting him cleanly from shoulder to torso.
The fight was over.
The kid stood there with a simple smile on his face as Morgan's body hit the ground in two halves. Law also found himself grinning from ear to ear. His boredom, gone. Replaced with excitement. With a swift hand motion, he murmured under his breath,
"ROOM."