In a certain underworld nation in the West Blue, inside a quiet room, Robin sat beside the window. Soft light illuminated the freshly delivered newspaper in her hands.
A year had passed quietly. Twenty one year old Robin remained beautiful and captivating, and the years she had spent surviving in the shadows had given her an even more mature and mysterious charm.
When her eyes fell upon the familiar name Alvin printed in the newspaper, the calm expression on her face immediately stirred, like a stone falling into a quiet lake and creating ripples that spread outward layer by layer.
It had already been a year.
Seeing news about Alvin again caused memories of the past to surge through her mind like a rising tide.
This time, the newspaper's headline focused on the shocking news that Alvin had obtained a legendary blade ranked among the Twenty One Great Grade Swords, the Demon Blade Chronicle.
The rarity of the Twenty One Great Grade Swords was known throughout the world, not to mention that this weapon was also rumored to be a mysterious cursed blade.
A year ago, Alvin had already reached the level of a true swordsman when he was only fifteen years old. Now that he possessed such a terrifying blade, the World Economic News confidently predicted that Alvin would inevitably become a great swordsman in the future.
Such a report caused countless people across the seas to fall into fear and unease.
"West Blue's Ultimate Evil, Red Hawk Alvin."
This title alone was like the whisper of a demon, sending chills down people's spines.
Now that he possessed such a strange cursed blade, many people could already imagine that the Alvin of the future would be even colder and more ruthless than he had been a year ago.
"Demon Blade Chronicle… Alvin, you are truly handsome~"
Robin gently pinched the edge of the newspaper and softly traced Alvin's photo with her fingertips. Her eyes were filled with admiration and quiet anticipation.
Since Alvin was working hard to pursue his dream, she also needed to keep living well.
She wanted to witness the day when Alvin stood at the very peak of the world and became the strongest.
At the same time, at the port of Flame Island, Alvin pushed out the motorcycle boat he had not used for an entire year.
In an instant, the nearby crowd scattered like frightened birds, as if they had suddenly encountered a walking disaster.
Many of them might not have immediately recognized Alvin himself.
But that uniquely shaped and bizarre little boat had long been engraved in their memories like a nightmare.
Alvin paid no attention to their reactions.
He stepped onto the motorcycle boat, carefully studied the sea chart in his hand, and then twisted the throttle hard.
The motorcycle boat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, speeding across the sea toward Skull Bay in the direction he had originally come from when he arrived at Flame Island.
During this past year, Alvin had transformed from a complete navigation amateur into someone who had finally mastered basic sailing skills after countless attempts and studies.
At the very least, he no longer had to worry about getting lost in the endless ocean.
Meanwhile, in the waters surrounding Flame Island, the fleet of Skull Bay had already assembled.
Seven warships formed a powerful formation upon the sea.
On the warship positioned at the center, Sabrino narrowed his long and sharp eyes while gazing at the endless ocean. A faint smile hung on his lips, as if everything was already under his control.
His black cloak fluttered violently in the sea wind, while the armor on his shoulders reflected a faint golden shine.
A year ago, after Luna and Duke of Bones were killed by Alvin, Sabrino seized the chaotic opportunity. Acting with ruthless speed, he eliminated every sibling who opposed him one by one and successfully ascended to the throne as the new ruler of Skull Bay.
Even so, many people still refused to acknowledge him.
They openly declared that if Sabrino wanted their loyalty, he must personally kill Alvin and avenge Duke of Bones.
Sabrino obviously could not kill all of them, so he had no choice but to accept this demand.
However, deep down he understood something clearly.
Red Hawk Alvin had already killed Duke of Bones. How could such a monster be easily dealt with?
Fortunately, this cunning and calculating man soon came up with what he believed to be a brilliant plan.
He spent an enormous amount of money purchasing large quantities of Seastone from the black market. These pieces of Seastone were then forged into special cannonballs and bullets.
In his mind, since Red Hawk Alvin was a Devil Fruit user, Seastone would undoubtedly have a powerful suppressing effect on him.
As long as one Seastone cannonball exploded near Alvin, there was a high probability that he would be hit.
At that moment, Sabrino did not believe Alvin could continue fighting while enduring the terrifying suppression of Seastone.
Unfortunately, Alvin had spent the entire year inside Flame Island, where fighting was strictly forbidden.
Sabrino had been forced to suppress his murderous intent and patiently wait for an opportunity.
Now the opportunity had finally arrived.
Just as Sabrino was immersed in the fantasy of imminent success, a sharp mechanical roar suddenly echoed across the sea, interrupting his thoughts.
"King Sabrino, it's Red Hawk Alvin. He's here!"
A guard captain on the warship pointed toward the direction of the roaring engine and shouted in panic.
Sabrino immediately snapped back to reality. A flash of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes as he gave his order without hesitation.
"All warships, aim the cannons at Red Hawk and fire immediately. Do not allow him to approach the fleet even a single step. Do not give him the chance to use his gun."
"Yes!"
"King Sabrino!"
"All warships!"
"Fire!"
The captain quickly acknowledged the order and began shouting commands across the fleet.
In an instant, every cannon on the seven warships rotated toward Alvin.
The next moment, a continuous thunderous barrage erupted.
Seastone infused cannonballs roared through the air like furious iron beasts as they shot toward Alvin's position.
Seeing Sabrino's decisive reaction, Alvin simply showed a trace of disdain in his eyes.
He twisted the throttle to its absolute limit.
The motorcycle boat instantly changed direction like a bolt of black lightning, executing a sharp turn while rapidly flanking toward Skull Bay's fleet.
At almost the same moment, violent explosions erupted where Alvin had been moments earlier.
Massive pillars of seawater surged upward nearly ten meters high, as if the ocean itself were roaring in anger.
"Damn it!"
Sabrino saw that the bombardment had completely missed and his face twisted with rage.
"Aim ahead of his path! Destroy that demon for me!"
Across the seven warships, every cannon shifted direction again. The gunners recalculated Alvin's route and fired once more without hesitation.
But Sabrino had severely underestimated the terrifying speed of Alvin's motorcycle boat.
With the throttle pushed to its maximum, the incoming cannonballs looked slow and clumsy, unable to land a direct hit.
Even the most skilled sniper would struggle to track such a lightning fast target.
Alvin skillfully controlled the motorcycle boat, weaving through the rain of artillery fire while rapidly closing the distance with Skull Bay's fleet.
As Alvin drew closer and closer, Sabrino's eyes widened.
A trace of uncontrollable fear appeared on his face.
Was he truly destined to follow the same fate as Duke of Bones and Luna and die at Alvin's hands?
No.
He had only just enjoyed one year as the supreme ruler of Skull Bay.
He could not bear to lose this intoxicating feeling of power.
When Alvin finally entered the effective range of their flintlock pistols, Sabrino shouted desperately as if grasping for his last chance.
"Fire! Everyone fire! Use Seastone bullets. You must kill him!"
In the next moment, every pirate aboard the seven warships raised their flintlock pistols and aimed at Alvin.
Gunfire erupted simultaneously.
A dense storm of bullets poured toward Alvin.
However, at this distance the gap between them could be crossed in the blink of an eye.
"Sabrino, I'm taking your seventy one million bounty head. No one can stop me!"
Alvin's voice roared across the sea, filled with overwhelming confidence and killing intent.
The instant he finished speaking, he violently pulled back on the controls.
Driven by powerful propulsion, the motorcycle boat surged upward into the air like a ferocious sea beast launching an attack.
It flew directly toward Sabrino's warship.
Sabrino stared in horror as the motorcycle boat descended toward him like a collapsing mountain.
His face turned pale.
His legs trembled uncontrollably as he staggered backward, already seeing the shadow of death closing in step by step.
...
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