One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

Robbie was one of the few who knew about Maude's origins.

This information had come from Gion.

At first, Robbie thought little of it. Maude was merely the wealthy scion of a merchant family—not someone worth remembering for more than a few days.

But what truly caught Robbie's attention was Gion's description of Maude as a dangerous individual.

Initially, Robbie found this perplexing.

However, after witnessing Maude shatter a Tempest Kick with a single slash, he began to understand why Gion had regarded Maude as such a threat.

That said, Robbie still dismissed it as an exaggeration.

It wasn't until Maude overwhelmed him in their duel, leaving him utterly disoriented, that Robbie truly grasped the extent of Maude's terror.

It wasn't just about strength—it was about growth.

In mere months, Maude had developed his physical abilities, speed, reflexes, and even combat experience to a staggering degree.

Knowing the full story, Robbie couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

He had always been proud—proud of his talents, his achievements, and his standing as unmatched among his peers.

Yet Maude had achieved in months what had taken Robbie years.

"Is this what true talent looks like?"

The more he compared himself to Maude, the more Robbie felt like a frog at the bottom of a well, struggling against his own inadequacy.

Even Maude's earlier words of flattery now felt like mockery, each one a slap across Robbie's arrogant face.

And with Maude's growth rate, leaving him unchecked...

Robbie's eyes burned with a murderous glint.

Suddenly, he felt Gion had understated Maude's danger. In Robbie's view, Maude wasn't just dangerous—he was extremely dangerous.

Watching the killing intent flare in Robbie's gaze, Maude simply assumed his earlier teasing had angered him.

He had intended to use this brief reprieve to reload Usopp and his two pistols, but seeing Robbie's aggressive approach, he abandoned the plan.

Maude slung Usopp onto his back, his focus narrowing on Robbie, who was now charging at him with unbridled hostility.

Thanks to his mastery of Observation Haki, Maude felt no pressure during their previous clash. On the contrary, he found it exhilarating—like fighting on instinct, free and unrestrained.

"No wonder there are always monsters who grow stronger through combat in every world."

A faint smile tugged at Maude's lips.

Seeing Maude's smirk only fueled Robbie's rage.

"Shave!"

In a flash, Robbie reappeared behind Maude, his hand already poised for a deadly Finger Pistol.

But before the strike landed, a blade streaked toward him with blinding speed.

"Did he predict it…?"

Startled, Robbie abandoned his attack and used Shave again, retreating over ten meters in an instant.

Maude's blade cut through empty air.

Stopping in his tracks, Robbie felt a cold sweat bead on his forehead.

The attack had come the moment he appeared—it was too close for comfort. A split-second delay would have spelled disaster.

But before Robbie could gather himself, Maude was already closing the distance.

Robbie retaliated with a barrage of Tempest Kick slashes, hoping to halt Maude's charge.

Maude's eyes flashed red briefly as he dodged the incoming strikes with swift, fluid movements. Once within striking range, Maude unleashed five quick slashes at Robbie.

"Paper Art."

Robbie's body twisted and swayed like a piece of paper caught in the wind, evading each of Maude's attacks.

Maude's eyes gleamed sharply. Rather than retreat, he intensified his assault, weaving a web of slashes that left Robbie no room to escape.

Maude's goal was clear: to corner Robbie and prevent him from using Shave to disengage, avoiding any unnecessary delay.

Now, forced to rely on Paper Art for defense, Robbie found himself in an increasingly dire situation.

Although he dodged hundreds of slashes, he began to realize Maude's intent.

"He wants to end this quickly... How insulting!"

Fury bubbled within Robbie.

Yet despite his indignation, each attempt to counterattack was thwarted. He soon found himself trapped, unable to escape the relentless onslaught of Maude's blade.

Finally, a shallow cut appeared on Robbie's seemingly weightless body—a harbinger of worse to come.

More slashes followed, each leaving a new wound on Robbie. Though none were deep, they were a clear sign that his Paper Art was faltering.

If this continued, it would only be a matter of time before Maude carved him apart.

Robbie considered betting on Maude's stamina running out before his own, but quickly dismissed the idea.

When a third wound opened on his body, Robbie gritted his teeth and made a bold decision: he abandoned Paper Art to try and regain the offensive.

But the moment he did, Maude's Observation Haki guided his blade to strike first.

Robbie barely managed to use Shave, but Maude's slash still caught his chest, leaving a deep gash.

Blood spilled onto the ground as Robbie reappeared a short distance away, clutching his bleeding chest with a pale face.

Before he could catch his breath, Maude was already upon him again.

Forced into another retreat, Robbie attempted Shave, but his injuries slowed him. Maude closed the gap with ease.

As the fear of death gripped him, Robbie's fighting spirit crumbled.

In desperation, he tried to escape once more, but his injured leg gave out, and he stumbled.

"Damn it!"

Looking up, Robbie saw Maude's blade descending.

Desperation led him to activate Iron Body, hoping to withstand the blow.

But...

Schlink!

The Haki-infused Chidori pierced through Robbie's Iron Body like paper, the blade emerging from his lower back in a spray of blood.

Robbie's face froze in shock, his eyes locking with Maude's cold, emotionless gaze.

With a sharp pull, Maude withdrew his blade, unleashing another wave of blood as Robbie collapsed to the ground.

Nearby, Sunny lowered her gun, silently watching the scene.

At the same time, the fleeing pirates paused, stunned by Robbie's defeat.

A moment of silence was followed by an uproar of cheers and whistles.

Maude ignored the commotion. Planting his Chidori into the ground, he summoned his Hunter's Notebook in plain view, prioritizing the collection of experience over hiding its existence.

After all, unless he revealed its secrets, no one would understand the true power of the notebook.

When Maude conjured the black book from thin air, the cheers from the pirates quickly died down, replaced by confusion.

"Wait, Usopp's a Devil Fruit user?" one pirate muttered in disbelief.

But as they reflected on the fight, they realized...

It didn't seem like Maude had used any Devil Fruit abilities at all.

-------

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON!!!

Join here: patreon.com / emperorgarus

There are more than 90 advance chapters available for you!