Pain.
That was all Chezare could feel.
He clutched the bleeding stump where his left hand had been, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His crew scrambled around him, panicked shouts filling the air as they tried to stop the bleeding.
"Captain, hold still!" one of his men stammered, wrapping a blood-soaked cloth around the wound.
Chezare barely heard him. His mind was consumed by rage.
"That bastard… that damn bastard…"
Yuji's cold stare burned into his memory. The moment of impact. The way his severed hand spiraled through the air before vanishing into the sea. The sheer power behind that attack.
Chezare gritted his teeth, his vision swimming. The Warp Pirates' ship turned sharply, retreating at full speed, putting as much distance as possible between them and the Leviathan.
But even as they fled, Chezare couldn't take his eyes off the enemy ship in the distance.
"I'm gonna get my revenge, you shitty bastard!!" he roared, his voice carrying over the waves.
His crew flinched at the raw fury in his tone.
Chezare slammed his remaining fist into the deck, his entire body trembling with rage and humiliation. "I'll make you suffer, Yuji! I'll tear that damn ship apart with my own hands!"
No one dared to speak.
As the Warp Pirates vanished into the horizon, Chezare seethed in silence, his mind already plotting.
The battle was over, but the mess remained.
Chunks of broken wood littered the deck, splinters scattered from cannon fire, and a few torn sails flapped limply in the wind. The scent of burnt gunpowder still lingered in the air.
Yuji stood at the railing, watching the retreating ship with an unreadable expression. The battle had ended in their favor, but something told him this wouldn't be the last time they saw Chezare.
Behind him, Reon let out a loud, boisterous laugh, slamming his hammer against the deck.
"Did you see that, you bastards?! The Leviathan barely took a scratch!" He crossed his arms and grinned smugly. "This ship ain't just tough it's a damn legend in the making!"
Kisame snorted. "Legend, huh? It still looks like a mess to me."
Reon whirled on him, face turning red. "Oi, fish-bastard! That's battle damage! Adds character!"
Kisame smirked. "Yeah? Looks like a wreck to me."
"You wanna fight, huh?!"
Law, who was kneeling next to a broken railing, sighed. "If you two start breaking more things, I'm making you fix them yourselves."
Reon grumbled but backed off. "Tch. Killjoy."
Bepo, holding a broom, looked around at the mess. "I-I'll help clean up! I mean… I should help clean up, right?"
Reon clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him over. "Damn right, you will! Every great shipwright needs an assistant!"
Bepo brightened. "R-Really?"
"Of course not, you idiot! Just grab a mop!"
Bepo slumped. "R-Right… sorry."
As the crew got to work, Hancock stood at the far side of the deck, arms crossed, nose wrinkled in disgust. "Filthy men…"
Law glanced up. "You could help, you know."
Hancock scoffed. "A goddess such as myself does not do menial labor."
Kisame chuckled. "Too good to lift a finger, huh?"
She shot him a glare. "If you wish to keep that ugly fish face intact, I suggest you keep your mouth shut."
Kisame grinned. "Scary."
Yuji, still watching the sea, finally turned back to the others. "Alright, enough arguing. Let's fix the ship and move on."
Reon grinned. "Damn right, Captain! And while we're at it, I'll add some improvements!"
Law sighed. "Here we go…"
Reon clapped a hand on Law's shoulder. "Oi, Ope-Ope bastard, you like fancy modifications, right? I was thinking flamethrowers!"
Law stared at him, deadpan. "Absolutely not."
Reon ignored him. "Or maybe hidden cannons inside the figurehead! Imagine BAM! Surprise attack!"
Kisame smirked. "Now that I like."
Law pinched the bridge of his nose. "You people are impossible."
Hancock huffed. "At least *someone* here has common sense."
Reon jabbed a finger at her. "Shut it, snake-woman! You're not even helping!"
Hancock flipped her hair. "Because I *do not need to*."
As the bickering continued, Yuji closed his eyes for a moment, letting the chaos wash over him.
This was his crew.
Broken railings, scattered debris, bruises from battle but they were still standing.
And the Leviathan?
Reon was right. It had barely taken any damage.
Yuji ran a hand along the railing, feeling the solid strength beneath his fingertips. This ship… it was something special.
The Warp Pirates had been strong, but they weren't enough.
Chezare would be back Yuji had no doubt about that. But next time?
Next time, he wouldn't just lose a hand.
Yuji smirked to himself. "Let him come."
To be continued…