Bucky couldn't help but find it amusing when he saw that only twenty or thirty townspeople, led by the mayor, dared to resist. They were holding swords, charging at Bucky's crew.
"Do these idiots not understand what it means to throw an egg at a stone?" he muttered with a sneer, then shouted, "Fire! Blast them apart!"
The pirates obeyed immediately. They loaded cannonballs into the barrels, lit the fuses, and soon, pitch-black cannonballs shot forward.
Five cannonballs landed near the charging townspeople. Explosions roared through the air, sending shrapnel and flames in all directions. Bodies were torn apart by the blasts. Blood and flesh flew everywhere.
Watching the townspeople's corpses fall one by one, Bucky touched his big red nose and laughed with cruel pride.
The pirates, emboldened by their brutal success, cheered and turned to Bucky:"Captain! Let us go down and finish them off!"
Bucky grinned. "Not yet. Let me give them something extra first."
He raised his foot, and three bullet chambers popped open on the side of his shoe."Special Machi Shells!" he announced.
With that, a bean-sized shell launched from his shoe and flew into the heart of the town. A deafening explosion followed. Thick smoke billowed into the sky as buildings collapsed. Entire sections of the residential area were destroyed.
Bucky loved using cannons on people. These [Machi Shells] were devastating munitions he had developed himself—perfect for widespread destruction.
"Young men, charge in! Take the town!"
"Ooooohhh!" The pirates roared in unison.
With that command, they rushed ashore wielding muskets and swords. Mochi rode his lion Richie, and Kabaji charged in on his unicycle, killing innocent people indiscriminately.
Screams filled the air. Cries for help and pleas for mercy echoed everywhere.
But nothing could stop the bloodshed. Blades and bullets cut down everything in their path.
It was a one-sided massacre. A hopeless, brutal slaughter.
Back to the present…
Kurosawa Raion had slept late and heavily after exhausting himself the day before. He hadn't heard any of the morning's carnage.
He had just escaped the cabin below deck. As he stepped outside and looked toward Orange Town, now engulfed in chaos and flames, he couldn't help but frown.
Bucky had ordered Raion locked up for two days, and with the pirates busy looting and burning, no one had noticed he'd escaped. Raion leapt from the ship and cautiously approached the island...
"You! How did you get out?" several pirates barked when they saw him.
Raion casually picked at his ear. "Your flimsy wooden door wasn't enough to keep me locked in."
Just then, Bucky arrived, still counting the spoils. He scowled. "You little punk… you actually managed to sneak out?"
Mochi stepped forward. "Captain, this guy disobeyed your direct orders. Let's execute him now."
"Yeah! Get rid of him!" other pirates echoed.
Most of them were still high from the thrill of the slaughter and more than eager to kill someone else. Raion, weak and formerly beaten down, seemed like the perfect target.
But Raion only smiled. "Let's be honest. None of you rotten eggs ever stood a chance against me."
What?!
The pirates froze for a second—then burst into laughter.
"Is this guy insane?"
"Ha! Did he seriously just say that?"
"Maybe he lost his mind after being bullied so much."
Mocking laughter filled the air. Some pirates were laughing so hard they clutched their stomachs.
Laugh all you want... I'll make sure you cry later.
Kabaji had had enough. Riding up on his unicycle, he sneered at Raion. "Captain, let me deal with this idiot for you."
Bucky folded his arms. "Do it."
Kabaji charged forward, raising his Western-style sword and lunged at Raion.
But Raion sidestepped the thrust effortlessly—and then drove a chakra-charged punch into Kabaji's ribs.
Kabaji flew several meters off his unicycle and landed hard on the ground, screaming in pain.
This wasn't just an ordinary punch. Raion had infused it with chakra, increasing its force tremendously.
"What the hell?!"
The pirates stared in shock, unable to believe their eyes.
Even Bucky's clown-painted face looked frozen in disbelief. "What… what did you do to Kabaji?!"
Raion cracked his knuckles. "You blind or just dumb? You saw it, didn't you? Why ask?"
Bucky's face twisted with anger. "How dare you talk back to me?!"
"What's the big deal? I've been putting up with your garbage long enough… you damn red nose!" Raion's eyes gleamed with fury.
Gasp!
The pirates were stunned. In less than three days, two people had dared to call Bucky "Big Red Nose"—and the second one had just shouted it to his face!
In their minds, Raion had just signed his death sentence.
"YOU CALLED ME BIG RED NOSE?!" Bucky trembled with rage. "You've pushed me too far! I'll blow you to pieces—so badly not even a bone will be left!"
"Bring it on, Big Red Nose."
Bucky was shaking now, his fury boiling over. "Fine! I've changed my mind. I'll execute you myself to calm my rage!"
He drew four flying knives from his waist. "Split-Split Cannon!"
He hurled them all at Raion.
As the flying knives spun through the air toward him, Raion finally activated his jutsu—
Thunder Release – Chidori Style!
Lightning erupted around Raion's body as he raised his arm in a defensive stance.
The moment Bucky's knives touched the lightning field around Raion, a jolt of electricity surged through Bucky's extended hand.
Bucky's ability allowed his body to separate, but it didn't protect him from the elemental shock. His limbs twitched uncontrollably as volts surged through his system.
Even his signature red nose was scorched black from the current.
Bucky had eaten the Split-Split Fruit, making him immune to physical slashes—but he was still vulnerable to elements like fire or lightning.
"Captain Bucky!" his crew cried out.
As Bucky collapsed from the electric shock, several of his loyal pirates rushed at Raion with swords drawn.
They were charging toward death.
Raion didn't hesitate. He directed the roaring lightning from his body straight at them, unflinching...