"It's the Marines!"
"That guy… isn't he the Marine Colonel stationed at Sabaody?"
"Hahaha, will he freak out when he sees us?"
A chorus of mocking laughter echoed among the gathered pirates.
"I thought it was an Admiral, but that's it?"
Ever since the Straw Hat kid had punched a Celestial Dragon, the entire Sabaody Archipelago had become a powder keg ready to explode. Everyone knew that a Marine Admiral would soon descend upon the island, so they had already been preparing to flee.
Yet, the first Marine to arrive was just a Colonel?
For a moment, the tension eased, and the pirates grew bolder.
"Let me kill this Marine first, or I'll have to run away anyway."
A pirate stepped forward, brandishing a flintlock pistol in one hand, while his other rested on the hilts of three swords strapped to his waist.
Boom!
The conical bullet shot forward, spinning at high speed, and struck Carl's forehead—
—only for nothing to happen.
Carl didn't even blink. He calmly pulled out a cigar, lit it, and took a slow drag.
"What the hell? You were so close, and you still missed?" A pirate turned to the shooter in disbelief.
The gunman's face went pale. "No… I hit him. I know I hit him…"
"Useless idiot. Let me do it." Another pirate raised his gun, took careful aim at Carl's throat, and pulled the trigger.
Boom!
This time, everyone clearly heard it—a faint metallic clang rang out.
Pirates with sharp eyes saw a brief spark fly from Carl's neck.
"M-Monster!!"
"The bullets don't work on him!"
"RUN!"
Panic erupted as the crowd of pirates scattered in all directions.
Carl exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze sweeping over the chaos.
"Scatter—Senbonzakura."
Pink petals fell from the sky like gentle cherry blossoms.
One pirate, caught in their beauty, muttered, "Wow, that's so—"
Schlick.
His words never finished.
Across the battlefield, heads flew into the air as the delicate petals turned into razor-sharp blades.
Blood rained down.
The last pirate standing turned slowly, his entire body trembling.
Carl's eyes glowed faintly—
—Tenshindo.
The pirate's body moved against his will, his legs stepping forward mechanically.
Carl released the technique.
The pirate snapped back to himself and collapsed to the ground, hyperventilating as he stared up at the Marine in sheer terror.
"D-Don't kill me! PLEASE!!"
The gruesome sight of the decapitated bodies around him had completely broken his spirit.
Carl exhaled another puff of smoke.
"I'll ask you a question. Answer correctly, and I'll let you go."
"Y-Yes! Anything! I'll tell you anything!" The pirate groveled, tears and snot streaming down his face.
"The Celestial Dragons—where are they?"
Carl frowned. His Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) had already spread across the entire Sabaody Archipelago, but he still couldn't pinpoint the Celestial Dragons. Their presence was too insignificant. Their life force was even weaker than that of ordinary people, making them indistinguishable from the crowd.
"I-I don't know! I swear, I really don't know, sir!!" The pirate sobbed.
"Tch." Carl clicked his tongue. The number in his right eye shifted from '6' to '1' as he fixed his gaze on the pirate.
The pirate's body convulsed, his expression twisting in agony.
Seconds later, he collapsed, drooling and twitching. His mind had been completely shattered.
Carl raised an eyebrow. "Mental destruction is this effective? It's almost like Tsukuyomi."
But unlike Tsukuyomi, which manipulated time perception, Carl's ability plunged victims into an endless nightmare, directly obliterating their consciousness.
He sighed. "Tsk. That's annoying."
Shifting his gaze, he took off toward another part of the island.
Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop…
A long-armed pirate, wearing headphones and an ancient-style robe, watched Carl with wide eyes. Even the long braided pigtail at the back of his head trembled.
"That mere Colonel… has that kind of power?"
"Mr. Apu! We need to retreat! That Marine is a monster! And the Admiral will be here any minute!"
Scratchmen Apoo grinned, showing his shark-like teeth.
"No rush." He chuckled. "What's the fun in running before you piss off the enemy?"
The pirate beside him gulped. "M-Mr. Apu, what are you planning?"
Apoo's smirk widened. "Wait and see."
Elsewhere on the island…
Carl followed his instincts down a street lined with unconscious Marines—some transformed into elderly men, others into children.
A group of pirates laughed from atop a high tower.
At the front stood a tall, pink-haired woman wearing denim shorts, a cropped white shirt, and long brown boots.
Jewelry Bonney.
The Supernova with a 140-million bounty.
She casually munched on a drumstick, her lips painted into a heart shape.
"Hah! A mere Marine dares to chase us, the Bonney Pirates?"
Footsteps echoed.
A trio of blades clanked softly as a figure emerged from the shadows.
Carl strolled into view, cigar in hand.
Bonney frowned. Her Kenbunshoku Haki suddenly screamed at her—danger!
"Boss Bonney! That Marine… That's the Sabaody garrison colonel!"
"…Just a Colonel?" Bonney narrowed her eyes.
Behind Carl, a surviving Marine gasped.
"C-Colonel Carl! Be careful! That's Jewelry Bonney! A bounty of 140 million!"
Carl exhaled a lazy breath of smoke.
"So, it's her…"
Her Devil Fruit ability was dangerous—capable of instantly aging or de-aging targets with a single touch.
The old men and children lying in the street were undoubtedly her handiwork.
Carl waved his hand dismissively. "All of you, fall back. This isn't your fight."
"Yes, sir!" The Marines retreated immediately.
Carl turned to Bonney, gripping the handle of Sakura Ten.
"Now then… let's begin."
In a blur, he vanished—
—reappearing above the tower.
BOOM!
A colossal black-and-gold slash cleaved through the top of the structure, reducing it to rubble.
Half of Bonney's crew was instantly obliterated.
Bonney barely dodged in time, her heart pounding.
"H-How is this possible?!"
She was a Supernova, one of the Most Evil Generation, with a bounty of 140 million—
—yet she had almost been killed in a single strike!
Carl tilted his head. "Huh. You dodged? Must be Kenbunshoku Haki."
Bonney clicked her tongue. "Tch! Whatever, I'm outta here!"
She bolted.
Carl casually swung his blade—
BOOM!
A deep crater split the earth, forcing Bonney to shrink herself into a child just in time to escape.
Before she could move again—
"You can't escape."
Carl's voice came from right in front of her.
Bonney's pupils shrank.
His hell realm activated.
Her eyes glazed over as she was plunged into a never-ending nightmare.
Carl sighed, rolling his neck.
"Supernovas, huh? You guys really are terrifying…"
He cracked his knuckles.
"But I wonder… how long your luck will last."
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