{ERROR… ERROR… Book Trial Challenger: Hyoudou Satō… CHEATED the trial quest to unlock offensive abilities.}
{Offensive ability shall be revoked. In consequence of the challenger cheating during the quest, dire consequences shall be made…}
His eyes widened in shock, his mind racing.
Cheated? What the hell is this bullshit?!" he thought in panic. I completed the damn quest! Booze Beard Jack is dead! He—
But then a horrible realization crept over him.
"Unless… he isn't."
His pulse quickened, and sweat mixed with the water dripping from his soaked clothes. He could feel the blood pounding in his ears as the voice continued, cold and relentless.
{Reason for cheating: Offensive ability gained while target is still alive. Consequence and offensive ability will be taken away in… TWENTY SECONDS… NINETEEN… EIGHTEEN…}
Satō stumbled backward, panic surging through him. His breath quickened as he clenched his fists, desperate to think of a way out.
Anne noticed his change in expression and frowned. "Oi, what's with that face? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Sophia also noticed, her gentle demeanor replaced by concern. "Satō? What's wrong?"
Satō's voice cracked with desperation as he screamed, his face drenched in sweat:
"Booze Beard Jack… he's still alive!"
Both Anne and Sophia turned toward him in shock. Their eyes widened in disbelief—until a searing beam of light tore through the air.
ZAP!
The beam pierced through Sophia's side, vaporizing her right arm and the entire right side of her body in an instant. Her eyes fluttered in shock as she collapsed into the water, steam rising from the smoldering wound.
"Sophia!" Anne screamed, her voice trembling with rage and fear.
Satō's heart raced, his mind spiraling into chaos. His eyes darted toward the source of the attack.
There stood Booze Beard Jack.
Undeniably alive.
His singular eye burned with white light, and his signature amulet—once hanging from his neck—crumbled into dust. The wicked grin on his face twisted with sadistic glee as he stood tall amidst the bloodied water.
Satō's voice trembled with disbelief.
"How… how the hell are you still alive?!"
The robotic voice continued its merciless countdown in his mind.
{Sixteen… fifteen… fourteen…}
Anne's expression twisted into pure fury. She grabbed her cutlass, her crimson eyes blazing with murderous intent.
Without a word, she charged.
Her footsteps splashed through the water as she dashed toward Jack. Her blade gleamed, her rage sharp enough to cut through mountains.
But Booze Beard Jack moved faster.
In a blur, he disappeared from her sight.
Anne barely had time to blink before a massive hand clamped down on her arm. Jack's grip was iron, his strength overwhelming.
She struggled, teeth clenched, but Jack's voice cut through her efforts like a knife.
"Weak…" he growled.
His singular eye glowed with pure white light as he smiled cruelly. With a snap of his fingers, he fired another beam of light directly into her right shoulder.
ZAP!
Anne cried out in pain as her shoulder exploded into a gory wound, blood splattering into the water. Her body crumpled, and she collapsed into the water.
Satō's entire body shook with rage and terror. His hands trembled as he grabbed his cutlass and sprinted toward Jack.
He wasn't thinking anymore. There was no plan.
Only instinct.
"BASTARD!" he screamed, running straight at the man.
But before he could close the distance, Jack vanished again.
A giant hand clamped around Satō's entire body, squeezing him tightly. His ribs creaked, the pressure crushing him.
Jack lifted him into the air like a ragdoll, his massive form looming over the boy.
The pirate's eye blazed with power, and his voice echoed with madness.
"The weak should die by the hands of those with strong bodies and souls. If I didn't have this amulet that brings me back from the dead… I might've been killed. BUT THIS IS THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRACY!"
He squeezed Satō's body tighter.
"AND YOU THREE WILL ALL DIE BY MY HAND, LIKE THE WEAKLINGS YOU ARE!"
Satō screamed in agony as his bones strained under the pressure.
Pain tore through his body, and he could feel his strength slipping away.
The robotic voice echoed again, louder, as if mocking him.
{Twelve… eleven… ten… nine…}
Jack's grip tightened, and Satō's vision blurred. His mind screamed at him to give up, to let go.
But something burned inside him.
A spark.
A flicker of defiance.
With trembling hands, Satō raised his arm and pointed a shaking finger directly at Jack.
"If I… the weakest of all…" he gasped through the pain, his voice trembling but defiant,
"…kill you, who claims to be strong…"
His eyes locked onto Jack's singular, glowing eye.
"…then what does that make me? And what does that make you…?"
His lips twisted into a crooked grin.
"You weak bastard."
Jack's laughter boomed across the flooded village.
It was a sound filled with cruelty and madness.
"HAHAHAHAHA! YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME?! YOU THINK—"
Satō's eyes narrowed as he whispered through gritted teeth:
"Guess we're about to find out…"
He let the fire within him ignite.
Flames erupted from his fingertips, swirling with raw power.
"…FURNACE BULLETS!"
Before Jack could react, Satō jammed his burning fingers directly into the pirate's open mouth.
BOOM!
A cascade of flaming bullets erupted inside Jack's skull.
Jack's singular eye widened in shock and pain as the flames tore through his head. The back of his skull exploded into ash, fire spewing from his mouth like a dragon's breath.
His body twitched violently, then fell limp.
The massive hand that had been squeezing Satō released its grip, and Jack's lifeless corpse hit the ground with a resounding splash.
Ash floated in the air, mingling with the steam rising from the water.
Satō staggered backward, breathing heavily. His vision blurred as the robotic voice whispered one last time in his ear.
{Target… dead.}
{Consequence shall not be pursued.}
{Quest successfully achieved.}
{Offensive ability retained: Furnace Bullets.}
Satō let out a shaky, exhausted laugh. His body trembled as relief washed over him.
"I did it…" he whispered.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed into the water.