Chapter 5: Chapter 4: A Hundred Steps Flying Sword – A Blade That Seals the Throat
Himmel had no idea about Yod's history or crimes.
What Himmel did know, however, was the overwhelming bloodlust radiating from him. That, and the fact that Yod's Haki was weak—barely hardened enough to block a proper attack.
That's why Himmel killed him in a single, decisive strike.
"Everyone, attack together! Something's off about this guy," one of the newcomers called out.
The rest exchanged quick glances but nodded in unison. Nobody wanted to risk fighting this strange swordsman alone.
If they teamed up, they could at least guarantee their survival—even if it meant betraying each other in the end. After all, survival was the only law of the New World.
---
"Remember that brawl we had back at Sabaody? With those Marines?" someone muttered nervously.
"Yeah... but I didn't think our next fight would be against a single rookie."
"Kid, don't call us cowards for ganging up. We're pirates, not saints!" another sneered.
The group of seven advanced together, confident in their numbers. To them, Himmel was just a cocky upstart, his 150 million bounty barely worth acknowledging.
"It's about time," Himmel replied coldly. "You're all trash anyway."
His words stung, but the calm disdain in his voice enraged them more than the insult itself.
---
"Sword Domain!" Himmel growled, and a sudden shift in the air silenced the room.
A suffocating presence radiated from Himmel, sharp as the blade in his hand.
It was as though invisible swords hung above everyone's heads, ready to strike at the slightest movement.
The seven pirates froze mid-step, their confidence crumbling under the weight of Himmel's pressure.
"What is this? Conqueror's Haki?" Newgate—soon to be known as Whitebeard—narrowed his eyes.
"No… it's something else," he murmured.
Golden Lion Shiki, seated nearby, leaned forward, a gleam of curiosity in his eye. "This isn't Conqueror's Haki… but damn, it's close. The kid's got potential."
Rocks D. Xebec himself smirked from his seat. His monstrous crew was made of ambition and raw power, but even among them, this rookie stood out.
---
The seven pirates were formidable in their own right—masters of Haki, seasoned fighters who had carved their way through the New World.
But under Himmel's suffocating presence, their carefully honed instincts faltered.
"You're nothing but stepping stones," Himmel said, his voice sharp and cold.
A pirate with a Zoan-type Devil Fruit stepped forward, his body growing taller as scales erupted across his skin.
Within moments, he transformed into a hulking hybrid form—a prehistoric predator, its sharp claws glinting under the light.
"Hahaha! Scared yet, brat? In this form, I could crush a warship with my bare hands!" the dinosaur-like pirate roared, his confidence swelling.
---
"An ancient Zoan fruit?" Himmel tilted his head slightly. "What a waste of power."
Before the dinosaur could reply, Himmel vanished, leaving only a shallow crater where he'd stood.
"A sword seals the throat."
The simple declaration echoed in the hall as the dinosaur's head flew clean off its shoulders.
Blood sprayed in all directions, the lifeless body crumpling to the ground with a heavy thud.
Himmel's blade, still dripping with blood, gleamed menacingly in the flickering light.
---
The remaining pirates stumbled back, their faces pale.
"How… How is this possible?" one whispered, his voice trembling.
They had underestimated him. No—Marine intelligence had failed them entirely. A bounty of only 150 million for someone this dangerous? It was laughable.
"He's a rookie?" another stammered. "A rookie?! Are they joking? This guy's bounty should be at least 500 million!"
---
The Rocks Pirates, seasoned monsters of the New World, watched with fascination.
Himmel's movements were unpredictable, his swordplay an art form. Every strike was precise, every kill clean.
"He didn't even use Haki," Rocks muttered, his smirk widening.
"What kind of monster doesn't use Haki in the New World?"
By the time Himmel's blade finished its bloody dance, only four of the original ten challengers remained standing.
---
The survivors looked at Himmel, their terror plain to see.
They wanted to run, but their legs refused to move.
This wasn't just a rookie pirate.
This was a demon in human skin.
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