On the vast sea, the wind howled sharply.
"Woo woo woo…"
The Jolly Roger of the Whale Slaughter Pirate Crew snapped violently in the gale. A black harpoon pierced through the skull of a white whale on the flag, a symbol of brutality and profit soaked in blood.
Their captain, Black Gun Heck, carried a bounty of sixty three million Berries issued by the Marines. Through secret dealings with the Celestial Dragons, he ruled these waters without fear. Marine ships that crossed paths with his fleet turned a blind eye, pretending not to see the slaughter.
"Push harder! Just a few more steel harpoons into this leader whale and it will bleed out faster!"
"It is the White Whale leader! The Celestial Dragons will pay a fortune for it!"
Five whaling ships surged forward at full speed, encircling the wounded White Whale leader. Pirates lined the decks, their seawater soaked harpoons raised high before they hurled them again into the churning crimson below.
At the helm of the lead ship stood Black Gun Heck, bare chested and muscular, a massive scimitar at his waist. Two spiral steel harpoons rested across his back. He narrowed his eyes at the blood staining the sea beneath the massive whale.
"Hmph. Let us see how you run this time. You shook off my special steel harpoon once before, but you will not escape again."
A fat pirate beside him grinned eagerly.
"Boss, our luck is unbelievable. The leader of the White Whales. The Celestial Dragons will shower us with Berries."
Heck sneered.
"Of course. If they do not offer five hundred million Berries for this prize, I will not sell."
Suddenly, panicked shouts erupted from the surrounding ships.
"Not good! The White Whale is jumping out of the sea! Dodge it!"
A massive shadow surged upward, swelling rapidly as it broke through the surface.
Heck clicked his tongue in disdain. He pulled the remaining two steel harpoons from his back and coated them with Armament Haki. Black lightning crackled faintly along their shafts.
"Trying to die together? Prey caught by my steel cannot choose its fate."
Bang!
The White Whale leader burst from the ocean, water cascading from its enormous body. It opened its mouth wide and released a mournful cry that shook the air.
Then Heck noticed something.
Inside the whale's gaping mouth, a figure hung upside down, cloaked in a blood red aura, staring at them with cold, burning eyes.
"Hmph. Whatever you are, it changes nothing."
With a roar, Heck hurled both harpoons. They tore through the air with sonic force, streaking toward the whale's open mouth like black lightning.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
The steel harpoons reached their target in an instant.
A clawed hand, sharp and almost demonic in shape, moved with unnatural calm and caught one of the harpoons mid flight.
Crack.
Armament Haki clashed violently. The red figure's aura flared, overwhelming and fierce. With a twist of his body, he redirected the harpoon and hurled it downward toward one of the pirate ships.
The second harpoon was seized just as effortlessly and flung toward another vessel.
"What?"
Heck's pupils shrank.
Before he could react, both ships were struck.
Crunch.
One harpoon pierced straight through a ship's keel. The vessel lurched violently as seawater poured in through the massive breach.
"We are taking on water! Plug it!"
"The keel is split! It is beyond repair!"
"Forget the keel, save the ship!"
Boom.
The other harpoon slammed into an ammunition room. Sparks ignited gunpowder in an instant.
An explosion thundered across the sea.
Pirates screamed as they were blown into the air. Some were torn apart immediately. Others staggered across the deck, engulfed in flames.
"It burns!"
"Save me!"
Desperate men threw themselves into the ocean, extinguishing the fire with frantic splashes. The blazing ship was quickly abandoned as surrounding vessels veered away, fearing the flames would spread.
Heck inhaled sharply.
"The harpoon he threw was stronger than mine. What kind of monster is he?"
The red figure vanished from the whale's mouth and reappeared along its abdomen.
With a swift motion, he tore out the heavy chains embedded deep in the whale's flesh. Blood sprayed across the air.
The White Whale cried out, a mix of pain and relief, before crashing back into the sea. Though wounded and bleeding, it was free.
The red figure flickered again.
"Boss! He disappeared!" the fat pirate shouted.
Heck snorted and drew his massive scimitar.
"Open your eyes. He is already here."
A gasp escaped the fat pirate.
The blood red figure now stood atop their mast, lightly stepping on their pirate flag. His aura pulsed ominously as he watched the distant White Whale pod retreat into the horizon. Only after ensuring their escape did he lower his gaze.
His blood red eyes locked onto Black Gun Heck.
Heck felt a chill crawl down his spine.
"Are you human or a monster? You released my prey and destroyed my ships. Explain yourself."
The figure said nothing.
Whoosh.
He vanished.
"I see you!"
Heck sensed the movement and spun, swinging his scimitar with full force. Steel met claw in a violent clash.
Creak.
The razor sharp blade pressed against hardened claws, both coated in Armament Haki. Yet it was Heck who was pushed back, boots grinding against the deck.
Such strength.
"Boss, I will help you!"
From behind the red figure, the fat pirate drew a pistol and fired several shots in quick succession.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
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Patreon = _Zeph