One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The battlefield was silent for a brief, fleeting moment—Kara's body lying motionless on the ground, and Tatsuo standing in front of me, his fists clenched in rage. His breathing was heavy, his eyes wild with anger. I could feel the intensity of his hatred radiating from him, as if he wanted to tear everything apart in his path.

"You… you killed her," Tatsuo spat, his voice thick with venom. "You killed the only one who understood me. You think you've won?"

I stood tall, my sword at the ready, my breath steady despite the exhaustion weighing on me. "This wasn't about winning, Tatsuo. This was about stopping you from destroying everything we've fought for."

His eyes darkened as he took a step forward. "You don't understand anything. You think this world can be saved? It's too late. The wheels are already in motion. Nothing you do will change it."

I could feel the tension in the air, the raw energy building between us. Tatsuo was a formidable foe—someone who had once fought beside us, trusted by our crew. But now, he was our enemy, and there was no going back. I couldn't afford to hold back any longer.

"You betrayed us," I said, my voice cold. "You betrayed everything we stood for. And now, you'll pay the price."

With a sudden roar, Tatsuo lunged at me, his weapon raised high. His movements were swift, calculated—he was a fighter to be reckoned with. But I was ready. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, every muscle in my body primed for this moment.

The clash of our weapons echoed through the night as Tatsuo's blade met mine with a deafening crash. Sparks flew as we pushed against each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. The force of his strikes sent shockwaves through my arms, but I didn't falter. I couldn't.

"You're stronger than I thought," Tatsuo said, gritting his teeth as he pressed forward. "But it won't be enough."

I could feel the rage boiling within me as I parried another of Tatsuo's strikes. "I won't let you destroy everything we've fought for!"

We continued to exchange blows, the battle between us a brutal dance of swords and fury. Tatsuo was relentless, but I could see the cracks in his resolve. He was angry, yes, but there was something else beneath that anger—something deeper, more personal.

"You think I don't know what this is about?" I said between strikes. "You think I don't understand the pain you've been through? But this isn't the way to fix it. This is just revenge, and it won't bring you peace."

Tatsuo froze for a split second, his eyes widening slightly. It was just enough of a pause for me to launch my final attack. With everything I had, I swung my sword, landing a clean strike across his chest.

Tatsuo stumbled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked down at the wound, a trickle of blood staining his clothes. His hands shook as he tried to steady himself, but the fight had left him. The anger, the drive, it was all gone. He was exhausted, broken.

"You… you think I can just walk away from all of this?" Tatsuo whispered, his voice hollow.

I lowered my sword, staring at him. "No. But you can make things right. You can stop this madness before it's too late."

For a moment, Tatsuo just stood there, his gaze distant, lost in thought. The chaos of the battle seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie stillness.

Then, slowly, he nodded. "I… I thought I was doing the right thing. But now, I see… I see how wrong I was."

I felt a heavy weight lift off my shoulders as Tatsuo dropped to his knees, the fight gone from him completely. His hands were trembling as he looked at me, his expression one of sorrow.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm so sorry for everything."

The anger that had once consumed me faded, replaced by a deep, aching sadness. It wasn't victory that I felt—it was the crushing weight of the world we had tried to save, and the realization that no matter how hard we fought, there were no easy answers.

Tatsuo's apology felt like a final, heavy toll on our souls. The battle was over, but the scars would remain.

⚔🔥🔥🔥

Behind me, I heard the sound of footsteps, and I turned to see the others—Selene, Smoker, Shira—approaching. Their faces were weary, their bodies bruised and bloodied from the fight. But there was a sense of relief in their eyes. The battle was over. The threat was over.

For now.

"Is it really over?" Smoker asked, his voice low as he scanned the battlefield. "Tatsuo's surrender doesn't change everything he's done."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "It's over for now. But we still have a long road ahead."

Selene stepped forward, her face solemn. "We've won the battle, but the war is far from over. The Navy still has its sights set on us, and there are others out there who won't stop."

I turned to look at Tatsuo one last time. He was still on his knees, his face pale and his body slumped in defeat. But for the first time in a long time, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"You've made the right choice," I said quietly, watching him carefully. "But you'll have to prove it."

Tatsuo nodded, his lips pressed into a tight line. "I will. I won't run anymore."

I turned to the others. "We're not done. But we've taken the first step."

The world we were fighting for wasn't just about defeating our enemies. It was about protecting the future, even when the odds seemed impossible. And though we had won this battle, the road ahead would be filled with more trials and sacrifices.

But we would face them together.