In this era of the Great Pirate Age, perhaps due to the prevalence of firearms or the difficulty of mastery, sharpshooters often lack the destructive power and presence compared to swordsmen or martial arts specialists.
This disparity results in most pirate crews prioritizing close-combat fighters when assigning combat roles.
Even someone as formidable as Yasopp, a sniper under one of the Four Emperors, had to rely on physical strength and Armament Haki in the latter half of his career to ensure he didn't become a liability to his crew.
Given the need to enhance physical resilience and develop Armament Haki, wouldn't it make more sense to channel that effort into melee weapons or pure martial arts, which yield more immediate results in combat?
Consider the rulers of the seas—are any of them not wielders of cold weapons or masters of martial arts? This highlights the inherent disadvantage of snipers.
Yet, in certain scenarios, a sniper can become the most vexing nightmare for their enemies.
Take the current situation as an example.
The Redhorn Pirates, holed up in their position, had become sitting ducks for Maude.
With just ten shots, Maude had already taken down eight of their crew.
The gunfight, illuminated by the shadows of night, did not go unnoticed by onlookers.
It was hard to believe that the numerically superior Redhorn Pirates were being completely suppressed by a lone marksman.
The lurking vultures—hidden scouts from other pirate crews looking to snatch a piece of the action—saw opportunity in this spectacle.
Although unsure which pirate crew this deadly sniper hailed from, they didn't care. Driven by greed, they quickly informed their bosses to prepare for the spoils of victory.
From the darkness, the wolves' eyes gleamed with predatory intent.
Meanwhile, perched atop the warehouse roof, Maude swiftly adjusted his sniping position.
The process was executed effortlessly, the advantage of "enemy in the light, me in the dark" playing out to perfection.
After relocating to a favorable vantage point, Maude trained his rifle on Wells and his men, who were still executing their suppressive fire strategy.
"First target."
The ones he had killed earlier barely registered in Maude's mind. His focus remained fixed on the three names inscribed in his notebook.
With icy determination, his gaze locked onto Wells, who remained oblivious to the danger looming over him. Maude pulled the trigger.
The lead bullet sliced through the night sky.
As the gunpowder smoke curled into the air, Maude, without sparing a glance at the results, holstered Usopp and leapt down from the warehouse to the ground below.
Without the protection of Wolfrat and Tatamu, Maude couldn't afford to recklessly keep firing from a fixed position.
Reloading his ammunition, he moved swiftly toward the Redhorn Pirates' ship docked at the harbor.
He had barely taken a few steps when a star point appeared on the cover of his mental Hunter's Notebook.
The immediate feedback from the enhanced physique felt like soaking in a warm spring, prompting Maude to exhale a long, contented breath.
Savoring the unfamiliar sensation, Maude quickly realized what it signified.
With a thought, the Hunter's Notebook materialized in his hand.
The countless silver star points adorning the black cover began to streak downward like meteors, tracing delicate silver lines across the darkness—a dazzling meteor shower condensed upon the notebook.
Finally, the starlight converged beside the Physique entry in the notebook's stats column, forming a hollow star frame: ☆.
Seeing the star frame materialize, Maude's eyes lit up with delight.
"So fast... I've already formed the star frame. If I can take out Kazte tonight, maybe I can fill it in one go. Then, I'll finally experience my first true transformation!"
Excitement surged through him, but he quickly calmed himself.
Celebrations could wait until after the hunt was over.
Closing the Hunter's Notebook, Maude turned his gaze toward the Redhorn Pirates' ship, his eyes glinting with resolve.
The formation of the star frame had been an unexpected bonus.
He had assumed it would take eliminating five to eight targets on par with Evan Watt to complete the frame.
Thinking back, it was likely the fish-man Sam he had hunted at the auction that significantly boosted his progress.
"Now, as long as I can take down Kazte…"
Maude slung Usopp onto his back. A more cautious plan briefly crossed his mind: regroup with Wolfrat and the others, wipe out the Redhorn Pirates' assault squad together, and then launch a coordinated attack on the ship.
However, the risk of someone else stealing his kills made Maude dismiss the idea. He preferred to face Kazte alone.
With his Heart Drop Combat Perception technique, he could retreat at a moment's notice if necessary.
Drawing a dagger, Maude advanced toward the Redhorn Pirates' ship.
Meanwhile.
Aboard the Redhorn Pirates' ship.
"Captain Wells!!!"
A gunner's voice cracked with fear as he stared at Wells' lifeless body, a bullet hole drilled cleanly through his temple.
Even their captain had been taken down.
The remaining crew glanced toward the distant darkness. Although the sniper's gunfire had ceased, an unshakable dread of sudden death lingered in the air.
This was the oppressive aura a sniper could create from the shadows of the night.
The poor performance of the last three surviving gunners left the melee fighters hiding behind cover increasingly frustrated.
Amid their mounting fear, sweat dripped onto the deck, the droplets scattering like tiny blossoms of despair.
"Surely Captain Gabdon must've dealt with that sniper by now?" someone muttered, clutching onto a thread of hope.
After all, this was the first time the sniper hadn't fired for over a minute since the battle began.
But what they failed to realize was that the deadly marksman, now wielding a dagger, had already infiltrated their ship.
Maude's efficiency with the dagger left no time for resistance. By the time the Redhorn Pirates realized what was happening, seven of their crew lay dead.
Even as more pirates charged at him, Maude showed no fear. Gripping his blade tightly, he dove into the fray, blood and steel flashing in the night.
In the captain's quarters, Kazte could no longer remain idle.
Storming onto the deck, his eyes fell on the massacre unfolding before him. His crew lay scattered like broken toys, and at the center of it all stood Maude.
Recognizing his nemesis, Kazte's face twisted with fury, veins bulging across his rugged visage.
"U—so—pp!" he roared, his voice brimming with murderous intent, echoing through the night.
From the shadows, the hidden watchers gasped in recognition.
It was him—the newly risen star of the pirate world: Usopp.
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