Chapter 37: DemonBear Pirates
When Gion and Blaize reached the perimeter of the Fishman District, a huge commotion attracted their attention while screams and helpless cries of Fishmen and Merfolk spread the region.
Just like Blaize expected, the Demon Bear pirates came here to capture some Fishmen.
Blaize and Gion looked at one another and sped towards the source of the noise. Arriving at the location, both of them were startled by what they saw.
Around six human pirates were forcibly dragging a huge net that enclosed Fish-men and merfolk. A pirate kicked a struggling child merman and threatened him with his pistol.
"Shut the fuck up! If any of you scream again, I'm going to shoot him. Do you want him to die?"
The captured Fish-men ceased their struggle and grew quiet.
"Kakaka, that's right. Be good, we won't hurt you." The pirate laughed while other pirates followed suit.
"Hehe, I don't know how many fishes the Captain side caught?"
"I bet it would be higher than what we caught." Chattering they dragged the Fishmen towards the large ship which had the jolly roger of DemonBear Pirates.
The Pirate flag is a standard one; a black flag with a skull and crossbones while the skull resembled a Bear's unlike a human one.
At that moment, a pirate rushed out of the cabin carrying a Den Den Mushi. Looking at the pirates he asked, "Where's Vice-captain Glave?"
"What happened?" Before the pirates could reply, a silhouette came from the distance and asked.
The pirate replied: "It's Captain. He wants us to gather the crew and ready the ship. We will set sail as soon as the captain comes."
Glave was a quiet person, it can be seen from his stoic disposition. Nodding his head, he looked at the captured fishes and ordered, "Lock them in a cell and ready the sail.
Here, secure her in a separate cell. She's special." Glave then threw a net that held a shark mermaid who struggled fiercely in the net with a panic-stricken face.
She's none other than Shyarly, the fortuneteller and future owner of Mermaid cafe.
Staring at this cruel display from distance, Blaize's eyes turned sharp. His entire being boiled in anger, while high heat emanated from his body.
"Blaize-kun, restrain yourself we are under the sea." Gion reminded softly. From her interaction with Blaize, she grasped the latter hates anything associated with the word slave.
Calming his emotions, Blaize spoke without looking at Gion. "We aren't going to capture them anymore. Kill them all and leave none alive."
Saying this, Blaize used 'Soru' and flashed towards the DemonBear pirates with a dagger in his hand. Sighing, Gion followed. She felt pity for those pirates who are going to die miserably.
Without knowing the incoming danger, the pirates chatted among themselves. "Why's the captain on such a rush?"
"Who knows?" The pirate with a pistol uttered. At that moment, Glave shouted at them, "Enemy. Watch out!"
Before the pirates could digest his warning, the pirate with a pistol had a red thread-like cut on his neck. Soon, blood spewed out and his head languidly slid from his neck and touched the ground.
Before the pirates could comprehend what's happening, another two dropped to the ground with their hearts pierced.
Glave reacted. With his hatchet, he flung a horizontal slash at Blaize. Pity, since they were underwater the heaviness of his slash was diminished by seventy percent.
When it reached Blaize, he simply deflected the attack with a wave of his left hand. Only then the surviving pirates reacted and clearly saw who their opponent is; a young man.
Discerning his attack is neutralized with just a wave of a hand, Glave tightened the grip of his hatchet. Though the intensity of his attack weakened, Glave knew how powerful it can be.
If truth to be told, he isn't the young man's opponent. Glave knew in his heart, facing such an opponent running isn't an option.
He can only confront head-on. "Why did you attack us?"
Blaize simply stretched his hands and beckoned, "Come! Glave the cleaver. Let's see whether you are as strong as your bounty claims."
Provoked by his scornful gesture, the surrounding DemonBear pirates lunged at Blaize with their weapons raised without heeding Glave's warning.
'Extinction wave!' Blaize muttered in his heart while an extreme heatwave erupted from within him and spread in all directions.
The pirate minions were struck by the heatwave and flung far away with their entire body scorched and the bubble enclosing them poped.
The embarrassing thing is, as the source of such a large-scale attack Blaize's bubble was also ruptured along with the pirates.
The surrounding seawater crushed his body, but aside from feeling slightly uncomfortable, lack of oxygen, and losing his devil fruit power, nothing happened.
At that moment, Gion appeared next to him and pressed the huge bubbly coral she bought, which in turn produced an enormous bubble and drove out the surrounding seawater out.
The bubbly coral is similar to the one Nami used in Ryugu Palace to flush the water out.
"Can't you change your reckless nature? For once, think and act; we are 10000 meters under the sea." Gion grumbled while Blaize shrugged.
"Devil Fruit User?" Glave was shocked a little and reevaluated Blaize's combat power.
The sudden change in situation caught the Fish-men and Merfolk off guard; both the captured and hidden ones alike.
It sparked a little hope in their heart. They have a chance to escape if both the humans hurt each other.
Looking around, he asked Glave. "Where is your captain, DemonBear Ridge?"
Hearing the question, Glave knew his conjecture is correct. The young man wasn't blindingly attacking them, he came looking for them specifically.
They didn't provoke anyone in Fishman District aside from fishing these folks. It means this person came to Fishman Island chasing them from the surface.
The assumption shocked him a little. Who in the right mind would chase someone to the depth of the sea, unless he has huge hatred against the Demon Bear pirates.
But looking at Blaize's serene expression, it can be perceived that they don't have any prior enmity. Glave thought, 'Who is he? A bounty hunter, marine, or someone from an underground organization.'