Under the veil of night, Rashed moved through Syrup Village with the silence of a shadow. The village was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. His destination was clear—the opulent mansion perched atop the hill, Kaya's home. Scaling the outer walls with ease, he avoided the patrolling servants and slipped into the house through an open window on the second floor.
Kaya's bedroom door creaked slightly as Rashed opened it, stepping into the dimly lit room. Kaya, pale and frail, stirred at the sudden presence but froze when she saw the figure of a man cloaked in black, his face obscured except for piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the faint moonlight.
"Who… who are you?" she stammered, clutching her blanket.
"I am called Shadow," Rashed said calmly, his voice low and measured. He reached into his coat and retrieved a worn, yellowed bounty poster, tossing it onto her bedside table. The image of Captain Kuro, alive and dangerous, stared back at her, with a bounty of 16 million Berri beneath it.
"That's... Klahadore," Kaya whispered, her voice trembling. "But… that's impossible…"
"It's the truth," Rashed interrupted, his tone unwavering. "Your butler, the one you trust, is not who you think he is. He's Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates. Years ago, he faked his death to escape the Marines. He killed his first mate to pull it off and has been hiding here ever since."
Kaya's eyes widened in disbelief. "But why? Why would he…?"
"To kill you," Rashed said bluntly, watching her flinch at the words. "Kuro poisoned your parents to take control of their wealth. You're his next target. He's been weakening you over time, preparing for the day he rewrites your will and ends your life."
Kaya's hand trembled as she grasped the poster, staring at the face she had trusted for years. "What do you want from me?" she asked, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Nothing. I don't save people for gratitude or glory," Rashed replied. "Tomorrow, I'll visit your home as a guest. You'll introduce me to him as such, nothing more. Let him believe I'm just another traveler. That's all I need from you."
Kaya hesitated but then nodded, her fear mingled with a faint glimmer of hope. "And then?"
Rashed turned to leave, his movements as fluid as his entry. "And then," he said, pausing at the window, "justice will find him. Sleep for now. Tomorrow, the game begins."
With that, he vanished into the night, leaving Kaya to clutch the poster, her heart racing with both fear and anticipation.
Rashed arrived at Kaya's mansion in the late afternoon, the golden rays of the sun casting a serene glow over the estate. The pristine grounds betrayed no hint of the chaos brewing beneath the surface. He approached the door with the demeanor of a humble traveler, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Moments later, the door swung open, and Kuro, disguised as the polite and composed butler Klahadore, greeted him.
"Welcome, traveler," Kuro said, his tone laced with false warmth. "Kaya mentioned we might be expecting someone. Please, do come in."
Rashed entered, nodding politely. "Thank you. I've heard this village is as peaceful as it is beautiful."
"Indeed," Kuro replied, leading him to the sitting room. Moments later, a tray with tea and snacks appeared. Kuro set them down, gesturing for Rashed to help himself. "I'll fetch Miss Kaya. She'll be delighted to meet you."
The moment Kuro turned his back, Rashed slipped a tranquilizer-loaded dart into the small concealed pistol in his sleeve. With a sharp, quiet thwip, the dart struck Kuro's neck. Kuro stiffened, spinning around with widened eyes, understanding immediately that his facade had been pierced.
"Tranquilizer," Rashed said nonchalantly, sipping the tea. "You've got about five minutes of strength left."
Snarling, Kuro tore the dart from his neck and bolted toward the door. "You won't take me that easily!" he spat, his movements growing erratic.
Rashed intercepted him in the foyer, his calm demeanor unshaken. Kuro unleashed his Stealth Footwork (Shakushi), blurring as he moved at lightning speed, slashing with his Cat Claws. Rashed, however, anticipated each strike, effortlessly dodging and parrying with precision.
"You're supposed to be 'Kuro of a Hundred Plans,'" Rashed taunted, his voice cool. "But this is hardly impressive."
Kuro's attacks became desperate, his slashes wild and unfocused as the tranquilizer began taking hold. Rashed finally ended the exchange by disarming Kuro with a brutal counterstrike, spinning him to the ground. Without hesitation, he severed one of Kuro's feet with a clean blow, leaving the once-proud pirate captain writhing on the floor in agony.
"Call your crew," Rashed ordered, his voice cold. "Now."
Seething, Kuro reluctantly obeyed, blowing a whistle concealed in his coat. Moments later, the Black Cat Pirates arrived, their wicked grins turning to confusion as they spotted their captain, defeated and bloodied.
Rashed stepped into the open yard, giving the villagers, now peering from their windows, a clear view of the confrontation. As the pirates advanced, he unleashed a devastating assault, systematically taking them down with his combination of firearms, martial arts, and haki-infused strikes. The battle was over in minutes, leaving the field strewn with lifeless bodies. The villagers whispered in awe, astonished that someone had done what seemed impossible for so long.
From her balcony, Kaya watched in stunned silence, her hand clutching her heart as she realized the magnitude of what Rashed had done. When it was over, she descended to meet him as he prepared to leave with the unconscious Kuro slung over his shoulder.
"Shadow," she called softly. He turned, his gaze meeting hers. "You've avenged my parents and saved my life. I'll never forget what you've done for me."
She handed him a chest containing 50 million Berri, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Please, take this. It's the least I can do."
Rashed accepted it with a nod, his expression humble. "If I can help someone in need, that's enough for me," he replied quietly before turning to leave.
lougetown:
In his office at Loguetown, Captain Smoker sat behind a mountain of paperwork, the faint scent of cigars mingling with the crisp sea breeze from the open window. His eyes scanned the latest bounty updates, and a particular pattern caught his attention. Several high-value bounties had been cleared within days—Alvida, Buggy, Kuro—all notorious pirates brought to justice with remarkable efficiency. He leaned back, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
"Who's responsible for these captures?" Smoker asked, his tone carrying an edge of curiosity.
One of his officers stepped forward, saluting. "Sir, the rumors point to a bounty hunter called Shadow. But aside from his black mask and coat, no one knows his identity."
Smoker's brow furrowed. "If he comes to Loguetown, notify me immediately. I'd like to meet this so-called Shadow in person."
Meanwhile, on an unknown island, Zoro sat under the shade of a tree, sharpening his swords with calm precision. Nearby travelers spoke in hushed voices about a mysterious bounty hunter clearing high-value targets with unmatched skill. Zoro's ears perked up when he heard the words "unknown swordsman."
"A bounty hunter taking down pirates, huh?" Zoro muttered to himself, his lips curling into a grin. "If he's skilled enough to make a name for himself, I want to see what he's made of."
He sheathed his swords and stood, the excitement of a potential duel fueling his determination. "Shadow... let's see if you can hold your ground against me."
Ding!
Total SP Earned
Defeating Kuro and Crew: 250 SP
Timeline Alteration: +150 SP
Total SP Earned: 400 SP
System show me the scan result of the kuro
Stealth Footwork (Shakushi) - Kuro's Skill
Stealth Footwork, or Shakushi, is a high-speed movement technique used by Kuro to confuse and overwhelm his opponents. By rapidly stepping in unpredictable patterns, Kuro creates the illusion of vanishing and reappearing, making it nearly impossible for enemies to track his movements. This skill is ideal for evasion, sudden strikes, and disorienting foes during combat.
Full Skill Acquisition: 300 SP
Compatibility with Rashed: 80%
Buy it.
Ding!
Skill purchased.
Cost: 300 SP
Remaining SP: 1413
System use authority Customization to integrate all my footwork techniques to stealth footwork and integrate it.
Techniques Integrated:
Kendo Footwork (Suriashi, Ayumiashi)
Martial Arts Maneuvers
Enhanced Reaction
improvement in Stealth Techniques
The integration enhances several aspects of Stealth Footwork:
Speed and Agility: +20% (Combining Kendo's controlled steps with Shakushi's speed bursts).
Silent Movement: +30% (Kendo sliding techniques ensure quieter, smoother steps).
Evasion Precision: +25% (Martial arts techniques improve adaptability to sudden attacks).
Stamina Efficiency: +15% (Utilizing energy-efficient movements learned from martial arts).
Overall Stealth Technique Improvement: +90%
As I move, my body feels like it's flowing with new purpose. The sliding steps from Suriashi are smooth, and effortless—almost like gliding. Then, without thinking, my feet switch to rapid, explosive changes in direction, the Martial Arts techniques taking over. It's fluid, my muscles firing in sync, every step purposeful.
I don't feel strain, just perfect control. The transition from one technique to the next is seamless like my body is anticipating the movement before I even make it. In battle, it's instinctive—each shift, each step is a step ahead of my enemy, as if my feet are already predicting where I need to be.
I need a new sword. This trash sword of 50,000 berri can't cut it. Should I just fuse titanium, diamond, steel, and carbon nanotube Graphene (the sharpest material on earth, theoretically it can be 1 atom sharp) to make a new sword? I should make some for zoro as well. He will be happy to have those. Let's see mihawk if you can destroy his sword this time. It will be fun to watch.