Chapter 22 : One Piece (12)

The pirates who attacked the island seemed like a relatively successful New World crew. Each member was likely worth at least a 10 million berry bounty, with their captain possibly reaching hundreds of millions.

But they were no match for my crew. Yamato, easily worth over a billion berries, along with Law and Lami, capable of taking down 10 million berry pirates, were far too powerful.

Moreover, I had enhanced their abilities with Divine Haki-boosted spells.

• Mid-Low-Grade Radiant Magic + Tenshinki

• Radiant Blessing

• Radiant Protection

• Radiant Fury

The buffs and protective shields significantly amplified their strength. These pirates stood no chance.

“Let’s finish this quickly,” I said, landing on the island.

My crew immediately sprang into action.

“Here I go!”

• Thunder Bagua

Yamato unleashed a technique she learned from Kaido.

“Hey, that’s mine!”

• Room

• Amputate

Law used her Op-Op Fruit ability.

“Hey, look behind you!”

• Spear Technique + Armament Haki

Lami wielded the Holy Spear, combining it with Haki and the spear techniques I had taught her.

“W-what are these brats?!”

“Run! We can’t beat them!”

“Damn it! What bad luck!”

The pirates were either defeated or fled in terror. But their escape was futile. I wouldn’t let them get away.

• Mid-Grade Radiant Swordsmanship + Toushinki + Aura + Holy Lightning

Swish!

My sword, imbued with Aura, Holy Lightning, and the extending reach of Toushinki, bypassed the limitations of my range, slashing and piercing through pirates from afar.

“I’m really starting to like Toushinki.” Its ability to freely transform and extend my reach was incredibly useful, effectively making my range nearly limitless within the confines of my mana capacity.

“Is it over?” I impaled a nearby pirate and activated my detection magic.

“Quite a few injured.” I sensed the fallen pirates, the islanders, and the survivors. I approached the survivors and healed their injuries. Initially wary, mistaking me for another pirate, their fear turned to gratitude as they realized I was helping them.

“Thank you!”

“We thought we were done for! Thank you for saving us, Marines!”

“You avenged my family! How can I ever repay you?!”

“It’s nothing.” I gently disentangled myself from their effusive thanks and rejoined my crew.

“Shine, they think we’re Marines,” Yamato whispered, amused. It was understandable. We had defeated the pirates and healed the islanders without asking for anything in return. To them, we were righteous heroes, upholders of justice, just like the Marines.

“Ignore it. Where’s their ship?”

“Over there.”

I looked at the pirate ships, smaller than the Maxim and adorned with various Jolly Rogers.

“Law, Lami, loot everything of value.”

“Yes.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” They immediately set off towards the ships, experienced in the art of plundering.

I led Yamato towards an altar in the center of the ravaged village.

“W-wait! You mustn’t go there!”

“The ritual isn’t over yet! Only the offering is allowed on the altar!”

I ignored the villagers’ pleas and stepped onto the altar.

“Shine…” Yamato’s voice was low, tinged with anger.

“I know.” I already knew what was inside the treasure chest on the altar.

“This…” I pointed. “Why is there a person inside this?”

“What?”

Earlier, my detection magic had sensed a small child, a girl no older than two, inside the chest. I addressed the oldest villager, who seemed to hold some authority.

“Th-that’s…” He stammered, unable to explain. Or perhaps, unwilling.

“Yamato.”

“Yeah?”

“Subdue them all.”

Yamato didn’t hesitate, understanding my unspoken command. Her Observation Haki had also sensed the girl inside the chest, the one the villagers referred to as a “sacrifice.”

“H-hey! What are you doing?!”

“Please! Stop!”

The villagers’ protests were met with Yamato’s overwhelming strength.

Hum.

“Silence.”

“Gah…!”

“Can’t… breathe…!” Yamato, losing her patience, unleashed a controlled burst of Conqueror’s Haki, knocking out most of the villagers.

I opened the chest.

Inside…

“Who…?” A young girl with wide, violet eyes and striking red and pink hair stared up at me. She was undeniably cute.

‘This child is…’ I recognized her. Uta, the world-famous singer, Shanks’ adopted daughter, and Luffy’s childhood friend.

“Wow… pretty…” She reached out towards my golden hair, shimmering in the sunlight.

“You think so?” I lowered my head so she could touch it.

“Mmm… pretty…” she murmured, her small hand gently stroking my hair. I lifted her out of the chest, unable to bear the sight of her confined in such a small space.

“No! I can’t leave! I have to stay here!” She struggled, as if compelled to remain within the chest.

“Why can’t you leave?” I asked gently, softening my aura to calm her. My aura, granting stat boosts and status ailment resistance, eased her anxiety, confusion, and fear.

“Because… I’m a sacrifice. Sacrifices can’t leave the chest. I… I have to be fed to the Sea God…”

“Who told you that?” I asked softly, stroking her hair.

“The… the villagers… they put me in the chest. They said… I’m a sacrifice… since I was born. They said… I have to be eaten so they can live.”

“I see.” I looked down at the villagers.

“…”

“…”

“…” They avoided my gaze, shame evident in their downcast eyes. They knew what they had done was wrong.

“What’s your name?” I asked Uta.

“My name?”

“Yes, your name.” I glared at the villagers, my gaze cold and unforgiving.

Her answer was unexpected.

“Name? What’s a name?”

“Ha…” I covered her eyes with my hand, casting calming and sleeping spells, along with healing magic, and gently put her to sleep.

BAM!

Yamato, who had overheard everything, slammed her kanabo into the ground, her voice filled with barely suppressed rage.

“Should I just destroy this place?”

The villagers trembled at her words.

“Shine-san? What’s going on?”

“Why are these people…?” Law and Lami returned, having looted the pirate ships.

“Law, take care of her.” I handed Uta to her.

“Who is she?”

“The poor child they were going to sacrifice.”

“Oh.” Law and Lami’s expressions hardened, understanding dawning in their eyes.

“Shine-san, what are we going to do with them?”

“Deal with them.” I stored the loot in my Inventory and pulled out a Holy Spear.

“Everyone, stay back. This might get a little… messy.”

“Shine, I’m staying.” Yamato stepped forward, her hand resting on her kanabo.

“Stay back.” I smiled at her, a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. Yamato, recognizing the dangerous glint in my gaze, took a step back.

“Alright,” she conceded. “Make sure you get my share too.”

“Of course.”

I sent them away and erected a barrier, soundproof and opaque, concealing what was about to happen inside. I ran a hand through my hair, a chilling smile spreading across my face.

“This is infuriating.” From Uta’s fragmented words, I understood the situation. This small, isolated island relied on meager farming and fishing. Unable to sustain themselves through farming alone, they placed immense importance on fishing, which likely led to the development of various superstitions, including the belief in a Sea God who demanded sacrifices in exchange for bountiful catches. They had locked Uta away, intending to offer her as a sacrifice. Then the pirates arrived, disrupting their ritual. And then we arrived.

“Don’t even think about surviving.” Even for someone like me, who wasn’t exactly a saint, this was too much. They were going to sacrifice a child who didn’t even know her own name, a child who had clearly been deprived of even the most basic love and care.

“P-please! Have mercy…!”

“Mercy? You don’t deserve mercy.”

“Aaaaagh!” I ripped through the man’s mouth with the Holy Spear. I was furious. There would be no mercy. They would pay for their sins.

The air within the barrier grew thick with the stench of blood, filled with the screams of pain and despair.