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"You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Shin didn't look angry at all. If anything, there was a slight smile on his face as he studied Shiryu. It had been ages since anyone had the guts to challenge him.
The novelty was almost entertaining.
But just because Shin wasn't pissed off didn't mean everyone else was keeping their cool.
Hancock, for one, was absolutely livid.
"You arrogant bastard! I'll cut you down where you stand." Hancock drew Ame no Habakiri, unleashing a terrifying sword intent that made the very air around them ripple.
Shiryu said nothing, but his pupils contracted sharply. He had initially seen Shin as his only opponent, but now, feeling Hancock's aura, he realized her strength was nothing to scoff at.
"Blackbeard, as their captain, aren't you going to say something?" Shin asked, his tone calm and detached.
"Are you here looking for trouble?" Blackbeard's expression turned grim.
Even though Shiryu had started this mess, Blackbeard couldn't just leave him to die. It wasn't about loyalty—if he abandoned Shiryu now, the crew he'd busted his ass to put together would probably fall apart.
"Looking for trouble?" Shin asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Do you honestly believe I came all this way just for you? If I wanted you dead, you'd already be at the bottom of the sea."
His words, blunt as they were, were nothing but the truth. If he truly wanted Blackbeard gone, it would have already happened.
"Shiryu, put away your sword," Blackbeard said, his voice low and heavy.
He didn't want a conflict with Shin Uzumaki—not until he had the Tremor-Tremor Fruit in his grasp.
Shiryu hesitated for a moment, then started to sheathe his blade, deciding to back down out of respect for his new captain.
But just because Shiryu was backing down didn't mean Hancock was. She gripped her sword and lunged, unleashing a slash so powerful it threatened to cleave the Blackbeard Pirates' ship in two.
Blackbeard's face contorted. He instantly used his elementalization to block Hancock's attack.
"Gah, that hurt like hell!"
The Dark-Dark Fruit's elementalization was different from other Logias. It didn't nullify attacks—it absorbed them. The ability was powerful, but it came at the cost of feeling double the pain. Even a man like Blackbeard couldn't help but cry out.
Despite using Armament Haki and absorbing most of the damage, a deep gash was still left on his body.
"Hmph."
Hancock snorted, clearly annoyed that Blackbeard had intercepted the attack meant for Shiryu. She quickly unleashed another cross-slash, this time aimed directly at her original target.
Shiryu wasn't about to stand there and die. He drew his own sword to counter her attack.
Blackbeard's expression darkened, and he prepared to intervene again.
In his mind, Shin Uzumaki had to be here to cause trouble. He wondered if Whitebeard was involved—perhaps they had struck some deal, with Whitebeard sending Shin to deal with him.
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"I wonder if you have the guts to make a move."
Shin's gaze fell on Blackbeard, and the man felt a wave of pure terror wash over him.
"If anyone makes a move, kill them," Shin said to Olvia.
With Olvia's power, annihilating Blackbeard's crew would be simple.
Even Blackbeard himself might not be a match for her. And besides Olvia, there was Momousagi, another formidable fighter on his ship.
Shirahoshi was even stronger.
The three Ancient Weapons were feared for a reason. A Sea King larger than an island could unleash unimaginable destruction. And Shirahoshi could command more than one...
"Murufufufu." Catarina Devon let out a mocking laugh.
Clearly, she found Shin's words laughable. As the most vicious female prisoner from Impel Down, the Crescent Moon Hunter was not easily intimidated.
'This one seems to have a death wish.'
Shin's gaze fell on the grotesque Catarina Devon. In the world of pirates, women were either stunningly beautiful or truly hideous. Catarina Devon fell squarely into the latter category, so much so that just looking at her was an offense.
'Alright, I'll use her to make an example. One quick kill should be enough to get the rest of them to fall in line.'
"Shin, let me do it." Olvia said.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I'll handle this myself."
In an instant, Shin figure vanished, reappearing directly in front of Catarina Devon, a blade of pure light already in his hand—Ama no Murakumo, forged from the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit.
With a single, fluid motion, he brought the blade down. Catarina Devon's head tumbled from her shoulders. Despite being a Mythical Zoan user, she never even had a chance to activate her Devil Fruit ability.
Shin was back in his original spot before Blackbeard and the others could even process what had happened.
"..." They stared at Catarina Devon's lifeless body, a chill running down their spines.
If it had been them, they would have been just as helpless. The speed was terrifying. To appear in an instant and kill her with a single slash—even Observation Haki couldn't track his movements.
Cold sweat dripped down Blackbeard's back. It seemed that even with the Dark-Dark Fruit, the gap between him and the world's strongest man was still immense.
"I was just making an example of her. If any of the rest of you want to test me, I wouldn't mind letting you taste my blade."
Shin's calm gaze swept over the remaining members of the Blackbeard Pirates. He alone was enough to intimidate the entire crew.
Instantly, everyone fell silent. Shin's show of power had rattled them to their core.
Blackbeard knew his authority had just taken a massive hit, but even so, he remained silent.
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