10 Chapter 10

Maybe it was my words, because after a few moments of deep contemplation, the old man sighed and agreed to sell me the blade. After we returned to the counter, the old man helped me polish the sword and the scabbard. He said it was a free service offered to anyone who purchased a sword here, but I knew the old man was waiting to see if I would change my mind. After realizing that it was a futile effort, he sold me the famed blade for a mere 20 thousand Belly, which I happily paid.

"Take care, kid, and remember not to kill innocents. It's believed that the more good deeds you do, the less the curse affects you," the old man advised as I exited the shop. I simply smirked without answering the old man, and I left the shop.

Just as I exited the shop and walked about a few hundred steps, a commotion caught my attention. I used Observation Haki to scan my surroundings, and I was surprised to see a lot of Marines quickly converging on my location from different directions. I could hear their hurried footsteps, and within moments, the Marines had quickly surrounded me.

"Captain, that's the kid! It's that kid; I'm sure that's him!" A civilian was frantically waving at me while pointing. I quickly used my Observation Haki to read the surface thoughts of the man pointing at me, and that's when I realized what exactly was happening.

"Kid, we are Marines. We need to interrogate you regarding a recent incident near Loguetown. Quietly follow us back to the base. Seize him!" The Marine with the rank of captain quickly ordered his subordinates to seize me by force.

Some of the surrounding people voiced their concerns regarding Marines using force against a little child, but the surrounding Marines pushed them back, threatening them not to interfere with Marine business. I knew I had no way out, and today I had to shed blood. After reading the captain's thoughts, I understood that surrendering peacefully was not an option.

"Hehe, it seems like your curse has already caught up," I commented loudly while drawing the new blade, ready to engage the Marines.

"Kid, is this supposed to be a joke? Hand over the weapon and surrender quietly." One of the officers stepped up to retrieve the blade from my hand. But I was not going to wait. I knew these Marines had come with a single purpose: to capture me, and nothing I said would make them change their decision.

As the man extended his hand to wrench the blade from my hand, I dodged and quickly swung the katana, slicing the Marine officer's neck. No one expected me to retaliate, and blood gushed out of the neck wound as the man was too late to react to my attack. The civilians who had been standing around started running in various directions as they saw me cut down a full-grown man with relative ease.

"Capture him! As long as he is alive, everything is good," the Marine Captain quickly recovered from his shock and shouted at the other Marines. I counted close to a hundred Marines that had surrounded me, and only the captain might prove to be a challenge and might be a bit stronger than me. But I was confident in handling him.

The battle escalated within moments after I cut down the officer. The Marines rushed, brandishing their weapons, trying to impale me. For some odd reason, they were not using their guns, maybe because their captain had declared that he wanted me alive.

As the first Marine fell to the ground, his comrades roared in fury, their faces twisted in determination. Without hesitation, they charged at me, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. The clash of steel filled the air as swords clashed against swords, creating sparks that danced around us like tiny fireflies.

I swiftly parried the incoming strikes, my movements fluid and precise. With each swing of my blade, I aimed for vital spots, aiming to kill rather than incapacitate. Even the Marines showed no mercy; their attacks were relentless and unforgiving.

In the midst of the chaos, I spotted the Marine Captain, his eyes blazing with fury as he lunged towards me with unmatched speed and strength. His sword sliced through the air like a viper, aiming straight for my sword arm.

Determined not to be outmatched, I met his strike with equal ferocity, the clash of our blades sending shockwaves rippling through the air. We danced around each other, each move calculated and precise, as if locked in a deadly game of chess. And after a brief clash, he retreated back behind the other Marines. Though I was a child, he was facing me with caution.

As I fended off the Marine captain's attack, the other Marines started closing in on me, attempting to encircle me. I flared my Observation Haki to the max, allowing me to anticipate their moves and dodge their deadly strikes with agility and precision. However, the Marine Captain retreated, using the other Marines as cover to launch surprise attacks.

Despite their coordinated efforts, I remained focused, my senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through my veins. With each strike, I countered swiftly, my blade flashing in the sunlight as I deflected their blows with ease. The dance of battle continued, with the sound of clashing steel echoing through the air.

The Marines fought with determination, their faces set in grim determination as they sought to capture me at any cost. But I refused to yield, my resolve unshakeable as I met their attacks head-on.

As the battle raged on, I remained vigilant, my senses attuned to every movement around me. With each passing moment, I grew more confident in my abilities, my movements becoming more fluid and precise. Despite the odds stacked against me, I refused to back down, determined to emerge victorious. With a fierce battle cry, I launched a counterattack, driving back the encroaching Marines with a flurry of powerful strikes.

The Marine Captain, seeing his forces falter, redoubled his efforts, launching a series of devastating blows in a desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle. But I was ready, my instincts sharp as I parried his attacks with expert skill.

"BANG! BANG!" My Observation Haki picked up multiple incoming projectiles as I was engaged in deadly combat with the Marine Captain. Just as I was about to dodge, the Marine Captain intervened with a sword strike of his own, preventing me from evading. Despite my best efforts, a bullet pierced through my shoulder. Unflinching, I parried the Marine Captain's attack while gritting my teeth in pain, then re-engaged him in combat.

But despite my best efforts to balance the fight again despite the injury, the Captain's skill proved formidable, and with a swift movement, he punched me, sending me flying across the ground. With a triumphant smirk, he raised his sword, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

But I refused to go down without a fight. With a burst of adrenaline, I summoned all my strength and agility, dodging his strike at the last moment and delivering a powerful kick to his chest, sending him staggering backwards.

Seizing the opportunity, I unsheathed my second blade and launched a series of lightning-fast strikes, each one aimed with deadly precision. The Marines fought valiantly, but one by one, they fell before my onslaught, their cries of pain echoing across the battlefield.

As the battle raged on, I cut down the Marines one by one, their numbers dwindling rapidly with each swing of my blade. Despite the bullet wound in my shoulder, I fought fiercely, fueled by adrenaline and determination. With each fallen foe, my confidence surged, knowing that victory was within reach.

The Marine Captain, realizing that his forces were being decimated, grew desperate and launched a relentless assault against me. But I met his strikes head-on, my swordsmanship matching his blow for blow. With each clash of our blades, sparks flew, illuminating the chaos around us.

Suddenly, the gunfire from the hidden snipers ceased, leaving the Marine Captain bewildered. But a smirk played across my lips as I realized that Diamante had intervened, neutralizing the snipers and tipping the scales further in my favor.

With renewed vigor, I pressed my attack, cutting through the remaining Marines with ferocity. The sound of clashing steel and cries of battle filled the air as I fought with all my might. Despite the odds stacked against me, I refused to yield, my determination unwavering.

Finally, after a fierce exchange of blows, I landed a decisive strike against the Marine Captain, incapacitating him and leaving him with a stump sprawled on the ground. With his defeat, the remaining Marines faltered, their morale shattered. Sensing victory, I pressed my advantage, driving them back until they were forced to retreat.

I was seething with anger at the Marines for targeting me, and with the Marine Captain at my mercy, I was determined to end it. As I thrust my blade toward his neck, a sudden movement from behind caught my attention. Reacting on instinct, I dodged sideways just in time to evade an arm reaching out to grab me by the shoulder.

Surprised by the unexpected intervention, I quickly rolled to safety and turned to face the newcomer. Standing before me was a man I immediately recognized—Monkey D. Dragon, albeit younger and still clad in a Marine uniform. Despite his young age, there was an air of authority and power about him that commanded respect.

"Interesting! Such high mastery of Observation Haki, at such a young age. Maybe you awakened it innately," Dragon remarked calmly, his voice carrying authority. "Sorry, kid, I do not know who is at fault here. I cannot let you kill any more Marines. Because you have already taken lives, even in self-defense, I must take you in. I hope you understand."

With that, Dragon walked past me, his back exposed as he checked on the fallen captain. Despite his calm demeanor, I knew better than to underestimate him. Trained by the revered Hero of the Marines, Monkey D. Garp, Dragon was undoubtedly a formidable marine, even in his youth.

As I observed Dragon, I caught sight of a few brave onlookers who remained, watching the events unfold. From the corner of my eye, I saw Diamante drawing his blade, poised to intervene. But I knew better than to let him face Dragon. Even with his strength, Diamante would be no match for the trained Marine.

With a subtle gesture, I signaled to Diamante not to intervene. I couldn't risk him falling into the Marines' hands, especially with the devil fruits in his possession. I had to face this problem alone.

Meanwhile, Dragon had already tended to the wounded captain, halting the bleeding from the stump of his arm. The epaulette on Dragon's uniform indicated his rank as Rear Admiral, confirming my suspicions of his formidable strength. Despite the odds stacked against me, I held both my blades at the ready, refusing to back down.

"Are you sure you want to do this, kid? I promise you, unlike the other Marines here, you will not be subjected to any harm if you surrender peacefully," Dragon said, still with a calm tone, trying to convince me to surrender. But I had other plans. I rushed forward, swinging both my swords frantically around like a madman. Unlike my earlier finesse in swordsmanship, my current display was anything but elegant. My strikes were totally random, hitting the ground, the surrounding walls, and anything that impeded my path.

However, Dragon simply dodged these attacks as if he were taking a walk in the park. Suddenly, he vanished and reappeared behind me with a chop aimed at knocking me out, but my Observation Haki, allowed me to track his movements, despite his speed. I quickly crouched and swung both my swords behind me. Dragon caught both swords with his arm, but I knew he was using Armament Haki to coat his arm. Although I couldn't use it, I could instinctively feel it.

Even the famed cursed blade could not tear through Dragon's skin. While I tried to pull back the swords, none of them budged as they were clutched by Dragon's grip. So, I gave up on my swords and quickly retreated. I unholstered a pistol from my back and started firing, but Dragon simply swatted the bullets like flies.

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