NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Pandora
"You won't harm any innocent villagers today, you villainous scum! Wait, haven't we dealt with you before?"
Luffy panicked upon hearing the familiar voice from the open sky. Recognizing it, he became alert, a departure from his usual carefree demeanor. Zoro, too, nervously gripped the Wado Ichimonji at his waist, puzzled by the man's sudden reappearance.
Koby, Usopp, and the children were frozen in place. They didn't understand how the man they met at Kaya's palace could now be in the sky above them, nor what he wanted. They only knew what Koby had told them, which was enough to instill fear.
"Alright, no one moves from their spot. As for the pirates, my crewmates will handle them. Is that clear?"
Hector's stern tone frightened Usopp. He was about to agree when Luffy's furious shout interrupted him.
"Who the hell are ya' to give me orders? Fight me, you bastard!"
Luffy yelled in anger, unable to bear the thought of being controlled. He had always craved freedom, which is why he never heeded his grandfather's urging to join the Marines. And now, Hector was trying to dictate his actions—how could he not be enraged?
Zoro's patience with his captain was wearing thin. He knew Hector was stronger than them; they had the scars to prove it. Despite Hector's apparent strength, Zoro believed that with enough training and determination, he could reach and even surpass him. But why did his captain want to fight someone who had spared their lives less than twelve hours ago?
Unbeknownst to them, Hector was observing Zoro's Loyalty Meter.
Roronoa Zoro: Loyalty Meter to Monkey D. Luffy
[Affection= -5]
[Obedience= 40]
"Gum Gum, Pistol!"
Luffy swiftly punched at Hector, his rubber hand stretching out and nearly striking Hector in moments. Usopp and the three children watched in horror, unaccustomed to Luffy's Devil Fruit powers. Their shock deepened when Hector vanished, then reappeared behind a stunned Luffy. Zoro, too, was petrified, unable to track Hector's movements, which seemed instantaneous.
At that moment, Luffy was as intimidated by Hector as he was by his formidable grandfather, who would never harm him despite his fears. Hector, however, showed no such restraint.
Hector's kick sent Luffy flying, his body tumbling in agony as he hit the ground. Struggling with reopened wounds, Luffy knelt, clutching his stomach, coughing up blood and gasping for air.
Hector then confronted Zoro, who had drawn two swords to defend his captain. With Armament Haki, Hector's Finger Pistol shattered Zoro's sword and wounded him deeply. Zoro collapsed, echoing his captain's struggle for breath, overwhelmed by Hector's overwhelming speed and power.
Like his captain, Zoro collapsed, gasping for air. He stared in terror at Hector, who loomed like an unscalable peak. For the first time, he felt insignificant, like an ant. The presence before him seemed to mock and toy with him.
"Why did you insist on resisting? I warned you my crew would handle these pirates, yet you tested my patience so thoroughly."
Luffy, still kneeling and clutching his stomach, realized in shock that sheer determination and willpower were futile against Hector. He struggled to stand, failing repeatedly with each attempt.
"Dammit!!!"
Zoro's cry of agony echoed; his swords were shattered again, and he had been felled by a mere finger. "One finger!" It was a deep insult. Zoro had acknowledged Hector's strength, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine a defeat by a single finger.
Hector's menacing gaze shifted to Usopp, Koby, and the three children.
"If you wish to avoid their fate, stay silent and don't act clever, understood?"
"Yes sir!"
Usopp quickly acquiesced, followed by the others, driven by fear. Witnessing the swift defeat and the palpable pain on their comrades' faces, any thought of resistance vanished. Hector the Black, the mightiest pirate in the East Blue.
"Have a good day, stay safe, and remember, if you defy me, you may not see another day."
With those words, Hector vanished with a Shave technique and reappeared before the girls. Carina and Kaya stood silently beside him, their jaws practically unhinged in shock. Carina had experienced a glimpse of Hector's power when he first confronted Luffy, but this was on another level. He might indeed be the strongest in the East Blue.
Koby had never witnessed anything like it. Perhaps he had hit his head yesterday morning, and this was all an elaborate dream? That seemed more plausible than the god-like strength this man appeared to wield. A mysterious force that resonated with his presence and now a single finger that defeated Zoro in one move? It must be a head injury.
Jango was now genuinely fearing for his life, while the injured Siam and Butchie were furious to discover the presence of the one who had wounded them. As they braced for retaliation, Hector's declaration cut through the air.
"Carina, if you join my crew, I guarantee you'll return home more powerful. As proof, Kaya will handle the remaining pirates who escaped from me. Nami, Nojiko, ensure she's covered; if anything happens, intervene."
Nojiko and Nami smiled as he cupped their soft plum bottoms. Kaya's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she observed the intimate scene between her captain and her female crewmates. Her face reddened, and she attempted to look away, yet her gaze lingered on them. She then took a slow step forward, revealing a new outfit Hector had crafted for her.
She donned a blue underskirt beneath a dress with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt. The white frock parted at her shoulders, adorned with a large white and blue bow at the front, complemented by white tights, white ankle boots, and a blue and white cap. In her hands, she carried a briefcase emblazoned with a demonic skull.
Now confronting the Blackhead Pirates, she positioned Pandora in front of her chest, gripping it with both hands as it began its transformation into Form 262: Jealousy. The briefcase unfolded into four segments, allowing the barrels to emerge. The skull emblem protruded, revealing a bandolier, resembling a six-barreled Gatling gun.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Carina exclaimed, spinning around to see Hector observing Kaya with a smirk, yet he remained stationary.
"Focus on your battle, Carina. Afterwards, we can discuss whether you want to join or stay with the Straw Hats,"
He advised the perplexed Carina, who was clueless about the unfolding events.
Meanwhile, Captain Jango the Hypnotist, his eyebrows arching in astonishment, began to succumb to panic and hypnotized his crew.
"When I chant 'ONE, TWO, JANGO,' you will become stronger, faster, and impervious to pain. ONE, TWO, JANGO!"
He commanded, still alarmed by the sight of the Gatling gun, and quickly utilized his ring once more.
"Oi!"
He shouted, prompting Kaya to glance his way reflexively.
"When I say 'one, two, Jango,' you will fall asleep. One, two, Ja-."
At that moment, all eyes turned to Kaya's weapon as it unexpectedly unleashed a barrage of bullets upon the Black Cat Pirates, swiftly bringing them down. She ceased firing after a brief spurt, as the action rapidly drained her stamina and spirit. The barrels smoked from the discharged rounds, and below, fewer than a dozen pirates remained.
"Aaaagh!!"
"Agh, it's hurt!"
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Hector, who had watched the show with satisfaction, began to applaud Kaya.
"Good job, Kaya."
He then ascended into the sky using Geppo, looked down at the pirates still alive, and then at Kaya, who was beaming at his praise, before finally turning his attention to the survivors.
"I didn't tell you this before... but your Captain Kuro is dead. I killed him."
"What?!"
The survivors screamed, momentarily forgetting the Gatling gun aimed at them.
"As I mentioned, I killed Kuro and set a trap for you... As for why I'm telling you this, there's no particular reason, perhaps just for amusement?"
Even he wasn't sure why he had revealed this.
Hearing his words, they began to scream and weep. They had lost many friends to this fiend, and now, in the midst of battle, they realized it had all been a meticulously planned trap!
"You monster!!"
Unable to hold back their fury any longer, the survivors screamed, poised to attack.
Boom!
Carina was struck by a mix of shock and admiration. The delicate Princess she had met the day before had morphed into a relentless warrior with the weapon Hector had provided. Once Pandora ceased its assault, the lesser pirates lay scattered on the ground, bloodied and dismembered. Observing only a handful of survivors, Carina watched as Kaya readied her weapon for another transformation, taking a moment to replenish her stamina.
With a single press of a button, Pandora transforms from a briefcase into its Form 013: Epidemic. It was an over-and-under, double-barrel bow-rocket launcher with frill-like panels coming out from the sides. The skull emblem was in between the two barrels with a golden gear around it.
"It's time to end this!
Epidemic had a long recoil making Kaya unable to move, but it was fast and easy for her to use while she constantly fired at them. The rockets themselves only travel mid-distance before exploding. She learned that by holding the firearm button, the rockets will not fire, and letting go of the firearm button will lock on the rocket at her target.
Kaya loved the gifts that Hector gave her, and was excited about the gifts, he promised her in the future.
RACE: Human■■■■■■
NAME: Hector Barbossa■■■■■■
Level: 25
Health Points: 5,800
Mana Points: 4,320
Stamina Points: 2,900
Attunement: 216
Vitality: 145
Endurance: 145
Strength: 145
Dexterity: 250
Perception: 145
Skill: 145
Safe Rewards From Daily Quest:
+Stat Points: 0
+Skill Points: 0
Skill Tree:
+Haki:
-Observation Haki: A Rank
-Armament Haki: A Rank
-Conquers Haki: S+ Rank
+Rokushiki
-Moon Step: A- Rank
-Iron Body: A Rank
-Tempest Kick: A+ Rank
-Shave: A+ Rank
-Finger Pistol: A Rank
-Kami-e: A- Rank