One Piece; Full Counter!

Chapter 16: On the Island of Matarona

"Please stop! He's just a child!" the young princess cried out, her voice trembling with anger yet resolute.

Elizabeth, with her mesmerizing light-blue eyes and cascading locks of white hair tinged with a faint green hue, stood defiantly in the clearing. Her dress, though befitting her royal status, was tarnished with mud, its fine stitching and embroidered edges sullied by the harsh realities of the island. In her hands, she gripped the whip that moments ago had lashed the young boy now huddled behind her, tears streaking his dirt-smudged face.

A member of the CP6, clad in the distinctive navy blue uniform that marked their status as agents of the World Government, stepped forward menacingly. But before he could reach her, the celestial dragon—the man draped in a pompous white spacesuit-like attire with the signature bubble helmet atop his head—yanked the whip back forcefully, halting his subordinate with a wave of his hand.

"Don't touch her," he ordered coldly, his voice dripping with arrogance. "It has been over two decades since I've laid eyes on a girl of such beauty. I will raise her myself when we reach Mariejois. As for the rest," his lips curled into a cruel grin, "I'll sell them off as slaves to serve us."

The shackled villagers gasped in horror, despair etched into their weary faces. Mothers clung to their children, their chains rattling as they trembled, while men hung their heads low, powerless against their captors.

Elizabeth clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as rage simmered beneath her calm facade. She bit her lip, her thoughts racing. How can I save them from this nightmare?

The celestial dragon's condescending voice cut through her thoughts. "You should be grateful for that pretty face of yours, girl," he sneered. "It saved you from my wrath."

Before Elizabeth could respond, an unnatural stillness spread across the clearing. The agents of CP6, trained to detect even the subtlest shifts in the air, froze. Slowly, they tilted their heads skyward, sensing something ominous descending upon them.

Elizabeth, the celestial dragon, and the villagers followed suit, their gazes drawn upward by the rhythmic sound of wings cutting through the air. High above, a massive figure loomed, blotting out the sun.

A colossal pink bird adorned with intricate black patterns plummeted toward them like a meteor, its descent swift and unrelenting.

The ground trembled violently as the creature crashed nearby, sending waves of dust and debris surging outward. Trees toppled like dominoes, and the impact knocked several villagers off their feet. Elizabeth staggered, her long hair whipping in the gusts of wind that roared past her. She shielded her eyes with her arm, struggling to maintain her footing.

When the dust began to settle, Elizabeth hesitantly opened her eyes, her heart racing. "What… what just happened?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The villagers whispered among themselves, their chains clinking softly as they adjusted to the chaos. Even the celestial dragon appeared unnerved, though he quickly masked his unease behind a veneer of disdain.

As the dust cleared further, the enormous pink bird came into view, its ornate feathers lying flat against its unconscious form. Standing atop its defeated body was a boy—no older than seventeen—with spiky blond hair that gleamed like gold under the sunlight. His piercing green eyes scanned the scene lazily, and he wore a crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves. A sword, strapped diagonally across his chest, gleamed faintly in the light.

The boy ran a hand through his hair, his expression one of mild irritation. "What a bother," he muttered, his tone exuding nonchalance. "I've never come across a bird as persistent as this one. Not even worth eating."

His gaze shifted from the bird beneath his boots to the spectacle before him. Five figures in matching navy uniforms, a haughty man in an outlandish white suit, and a group of frightened villagers shackled like cattle. In front of them all stood a young woman with striking blue eyes and an air of quiet defiance, her muddied dress evidence of her struggle.

Meliodas tilted his head, his voice breaking the tense silence. "Sate sate sate… You're not playing hide-and-seek, are you?"

The villagers' eyes widened in shock, their chains rattling as they whispered among themselves.

"That boy… he took down Matarona, the guardian of this island," one of them muttered in disbelief.

Elizabeth, still reeling from the impact, whispered to herself, "How… how could someone so young defeat that beast?"

The celestial dragon's face contorted with anger. "I thought you had captured everyone on this forsaken island!" he barked at the agents. "Why is there still someone roaming free?"

One of the CP6 agents—a woman with long black hair and sharp, calculating eyes—removed her white mask. Her gaze locked onto the boy. "Who's roaming free? I've already captured him."

Without warning, she propelled herself forward, her movement so swift it created a gust of wind in her wake. Her leg shot out in a precise kick aimed at the boy's face.

Meliodas raised his arm casually, blocking her strike effortlessly. Her foot struck his forearm, but he didn't so much as flinch.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "What?" she hissed, leaping backward to reassess.

Meliodas smirked, his tone teasing. "What's with the aggression? Did I hit a nerve?"

Her lips curled into a sinister smile as she held up her hand. A thin, glimmering pink thread extended from her palm, its other end attached to his arm. "It's over," she declared confidently. "You're already caught."

Meliodas glanced at the thread with mild curiosity. "Huh," he muttered. "And what's this supposed to do?"

With a sharp tug, the agent yanked the thread, and Meliodas was suddenly hurled forward against his will. The other agents joined in, their coordinated strikes turning him into a human pinball as they kicked and punched him between them. The assault lasted mere seconds but felt like an eternity to the villagers watching in horror.

Finally, Meliodas crumpled to the ground, motionless. The woman crossed her arms smugly, the pink thread dissolving into nothingness. "We didn't even need to try," she scoffed.

But her arrogance was short-lived.

"This is just self-defense, you know," a calm voice spoke from behind her, sending a chill down her spine.

She whirled around, only to see Meliodas standing there unharmed. Before she could react, his fist collided with her face, the force of the blow sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed through tree after tree before disappearing into the forest.

The remaining agents stared in stunned silence as the Meliodas on the ground vanished into thin air, revealing it to be a mere illusion.

Meliodas stretched casually, his green eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I hope the rest of you aren't as fragile as her," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm just starting to have fun."

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No chapter tomorrow.

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