"Is Satoru always this brutal?" Herac whispered to Chris, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the aftermath of Satoru's strike.
Chris, equally shaken, glanced at him and replied dryly, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Herac immediately shook his head and took a step back. "No thanks. I'm afraid he might rip my head off next."
Hearing this, Satoru turned his head toward the two, flashing his trademark smile—a smile that usually felt warm and reassuring. But now, after his recent display, it seemed unnervingly predatory.
"Don't worry. I'm only cruel to enemies," Satoru said, his tone casual. "I'm much gentler with allies."
Chris forced a nervous laugh. "Uh, Satoru, maybe focus on the pirates instead of us? You're really scaring us here."
Satoru laughed heartily, turning his attention back to the pirates. "Relax, Chris. That was just a joke!"
Still, the Elite Class couldn't shake the image of Satoru's merciless strike from their minds. His actions had been a stark reminder of the grim reality of battle, one that contrasted sharply with the camaraderie they usually shared.
---
The pirates, on the other hand, were still reeling. One of their own had been decapitated in the blink of an eye, and the rest had been sprayed with blood. None of them had seen what had happened, and the sheer mystery of the attack unnerved them.
"Don't panic!" their captain, Cermo, barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "He's just a Devil Fruit user like me. Stay focused!"
Cermo's words had a calming effect, though the pirates still eyed Satoru warily. The students, meanwhile, had regained their confidence, bolstered by Satoru's show of force.
Cermo's gaze locked onto Satoru. "So, you're the real threat here, huh? Not the navy officers, but you."
"There's no leader among us," Satoru replied with a smirk, "but I am the strongest."
"Then it seems my opponent is clear," Cermo said, his eyes narrowing.
"And it looks like mine is, too," Satoru replied, his voice calm but tinged with tension.
---
Cermo raised his arms, and blood began to flow from his hands, forming two crimson swords. The liquid solidified into sharp, glistening blades as he brandished them.
Satoru's Six Eyes observed the transformation closely. He noted how the blood shifted from liquid to solid and deduced its properties in an instant.
"Interesting ability," Satoru mused.
Chris took this moment to step forward. "We've got the rest of the pirates covered. You can focus on him."
"Good," Satoru said, glancing over his shoulder. "But remember what I promised Zefa. I'm bringing everyone back alive. Don't let me down."
Chris straightened up and nodded firmly. "We've got this."
The pirates overheard their exchange, and the mention of Zefa caused a ripple of unease among them. Despite being retired, the former admiral's name still carried weight.
"You're Zefa's students, huh?" Cermo sneered, trying to mask his unease. "Well, that just makes taking you down even sweeter."
"No," Satoru said coolly, stepping forward. "You're the ones who've been handed to me on a silver platter. I'm the one who's picked up the bargain."
Cermo's face twisted in anger. "Let's see how cocky you are after this."
He flicked one of his swords, and the blood blade stretched toward Satoru, defying the limits of its original length.
Satoru didn't flinch. "I see. Your swords are made of blood, which means their range is only limited by how much blood you have. Clever."