(send power stones please)
"Still nothing?"
Twenty days had passed since the last battle.
At the Two-Wheel Pirates' headquarters, Kokos stared at his men.
He knew the best chance was gone.
The nightmare would repeat.
Damn it.
"Nothing. We turned Mayute upside down."
"What about clinics?"
"All checked. Clinics and pharmacies."
"So what now? That bastard will pick us off one by one."
Fear spread.
Some pirates were already considering leaving—just like last time.
Let the captain fight alone.
"Keep searching," Kokos said darkly. "That kid hasn't left Mayute."
He knew Hermes.
That bastard wouldn't let him go.
That last fight—Hermes was clearly off. Passive. Defensive.
Strange.
"Yes!"
The pirates dispersed, each with their own thoughts.
Outside town.
Five pirates trudged eastward.
"Captain said that kid's seriously injured. It's only been twenty days—he's probably hiding somewhere. Might even be dead."
"Possible."
"Let's just go through the motions, then drink. I became a pirate to enjoy life."
"After that, grab a couple women to blow off steam."
"HAHAHAHA!"
Their laughter was obscene.
Then—
"You're truly a scumbag-generating machine."
"And somehow… I kind of relate."
A voice came from above.
The laughter stopped instantly.
"Who's there?!"
They looked up.
A young man in a white shirt and black trousers crouched on a thick branch, staring down at them calmly.
"Shit—"
"Hermes Jormungandr!"
"RUN!"
They bolted without hesitation.
They weren't stupid.
They weren't winning this.
"Damn it, what shitty luck!"
One pirate cursed wildly.
"FASTER!"
Someone glanced back.
Hermes was gone.
"AAAAAH—!"
The fattest pirate, running last, dropped dead.
Another turned, pulled his gun, and fired.
Desperate.
Missed.
A blur passed him.
He looked down.
A finger-sized hole was erupting blood from his chest.
Heart pierced.
He collapsed.
"Please—"
No mercy.
Near the headquarters, all five were dead.
Hermes waited openly outside the camp until more pirates rushed out—then left.
A silent message.
Hermes Jormungandr is back.
Panic exploded.
Ten minutes later, the core members gathered.
Kokos sat at the head, face grim.
Discussion dragged late into the night.
Eventually—
Same old plan.
Let Kokos fight alone.
Even Kokos began wondering if he was the captain or just the designated tank.
This time—
They were wrong.
Hermes didn't follow the script.
He began systematic extermination.
One day.
Two days.
Numbers plummeted.
Fear spread.
Midnight.
Hermes entered the camp openly.
THUD.
Blood soaked the sheets.
One kill.
Then another.
Then another.
Sleeping. Eating. Shitting.
No one was spared.
"Enemy attack!"
Too late.
By the time Kokos arrived—
Only scraps remained.
"Long time no see."
Hermes stood atop a dying pirate, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
A perfect training dummy.
Kokos felt only rage.
No words remained.
Gunfire erupted.
Hermes went fully defensive.
Pain exploded through his arm.
Still no trigger.
"COME ON!"
Blood poured.
Then—
The world slowed.
Bullets traced clear paths.
Joy surged.
This was it.
Observation Haki.
He dodged effortlessly.
But blood loss mounted.
Time to go.
Hermes vanished.
Again.
"Jormungandr!!!"
Kokos roared, vomiting blood.
That bastard had escaped again.
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