They say you get what you ask for, but sometimes fate delivers more than you bargained for.
This time, however, it wasn't Lady Luck smiling upon them, but the Goddess of Misfortune herself.
Tiger, known as the One-Eyed Tiger, had lost his eye in a brutal fight, a scar that marked his ferocity. He wasn't tall, but his muscular frame and battle-scarred chest spoke of countless battles. His weapon of choice—a massive cleaver-shaped blade—was as menacing as his reputation.
Leading a crew of over eighty, with sixty-four dedicated fighters, Tiger was a force to be reckoned with. His bounty stood at 6 million berries—a considerable sum in the East Blue, where such a figure was enough to rule over smaller seas.
"Come on, lads! Just a bit more, and we'll be at the port! Women, food, fresh water—all ours for the taking!"
Tiger's voice roared over the waves as he brandished his blade, his crew cheering in bloodthirsty anticipation.
Why had Tiger chosen the path of piracy?
Because it was the ultimate freedom. To pillage, to kill, to take whatever he desired—without anyone to stop him. He relished the carnage; a day without bloodshed felt incomplete.
"Captain, look… up there!"
One of his men suddenly pointed skyward, his voice trembling.
"What now?" Tiger snapped, annoyed, before following the man's gaze. His one good eye widened in shock.
There, hovering above them, was a young man with massive wings, his expression cold and unreadable. Shirayama's calm yet piercing gaze felt like that of a Sea King about to strike.
"This… can't be…"
Tiger swallowed hard, taking a step back, his confidence wavering. Even his words faltered.
But Shirayama had no interest in small talk.
A bounty of 6 million berries? On Kuroro Island, such a figure represented the weakest of beasts. He'd dealt with hundreds like Tiger—if not more.
This wouldn't take long.
"Photon Stream," Shirayama muttered, raising his left hand and pulling the trigger.
A barrage of blinding light beams erupted from his weapon, filling the air with deadly precision.
"No!" Tiger roared in despair, but his voice was swallowed by the storm of light.
In seconds, the pirate ship was engulfed in the glowing onslaught.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed across the sea like thunder, the brightness cutting through the gloom. When the light finally faded, the ship and its crew were gone, leaving only a blood-red stain on the ocean. The scent quickly drew hungry Sea Kings to the scene.
It had taken less than ten seconds.
Shirayama exhaled, ready to return to the island. But suddenly, a wave of danger prickled at his senses. Without hesitation, he spun around, his weapon aimed.
From 100 meters away, a volley of dark iron projectiles came hurtling toward him, like a deadly meteor shower.
"Photon Stream!"
A cascade of light met the incoming attack head-on.
Clang!
To his surprise, the iron projectiles shattered his energy beams, continuing their relentless advance.
"Photon Barrier!"
Shirayama's eyes narrowed as he quickly conjured a shimmering energy shield in front of him. The barrier pulsed, absorbing the brunt of the attack as the iron hailstorm slammed into it.
(If you want to read the full story, follow me on Patreon.com/ Pirate_Kingman!)