1 Step?

When they heard that, there wasn't a single person who wasn't shocked, including Benjiro!

Ori didn't bother with their surprise as he put his hand on Benjiro's shoulder and channelled his Heavenly Demon Qi into his body to help suppress his wounds. Although he wasn't a doctor he was still able to do basic first aid with the use of his Qi.

Hallorian who moments ago was shocked by Ori's arrival, just comprehended what was said. He glared at Benjiro and barked.

"Benjiro, for you to betray the marines, the organisation which made you into the man you are… You really are worse than trash."

When he heard that, Benjiro didn't even bat an eyelid as if his words meant nothing to him. Ori glanced his way with blatant disdain.

"Idiot!"

When he saw the way Orion looked at him and heard what he said, his blood boiled in rage.

"What did you say?!"

It wasn't Ori who replied to him this time, but the female assassin.

"He called you an idiot and to be honest I don't blame him. You came here to kill Benjiro before you knew about his connection to the Heavenly Demon's, yet you still have the nerve to call him trash for betraying the marines?

You even got that vile slut you call your wife to seduce and force him away from Mary Geoise to kill him! If yours aren't the words of an idiot I don't know what is!"

Hearing her rebuke him the way she did only served to anger him further. His eyes went red and his palms turned white as the grip round his saber tightened.

"You… You…"

"I what?! Is that all you can say? Hmph, you really are an idiot!"

Hallorian was on the verge of collapsing due to his anger but Benjiro acted as if Hallorian wasn't there. He faced in Ori's direction and said with a shaky voice.

"Why are you here?! If my father finds out…"

"Enough!"

Ori knew what Benjiro was going to say but he didn't care.

"I'm the man who's going to be the future king of the pirates! If I get scared off by the thought of a mere Admiral, what right do I have to pursue my dream of becoming Pirate King?!"

Benjiro clenched his fist as he said sombrely.

"It won't just be him, he'll use his rank as an admiral to send all Marines after you."

Ori smiled indifferently as he replied.

"Let him! If he dares to send them, I dare to kill them! Come one, Kill one. Come in pairs, Kill in pairs!"

When he heard that, he felt his blood boil. He knew that a man of Ori's stature understood the power that the Admiral's had at their disposal, so for him to say that meant that it wasn't just words.

"Arrogant! The power of the marines isn't something a 2nd rate Pirate like you could ever hope to understand!"

Hallorian was a proud marine who like Akainu believed in absolute justice. As far as he was concerned all pirates were worse than scum and the Marines were the embodiment of honour and justice.

"According to the views of the world the Demonic Trio matches the Navy's Empyrean Trinity, but that's just the view of the ignorant. The strength of the Empyrean Trinity isn't something a piece of trash rookie pirate can compare to. I'll show you here and now that other than the piece of trash you're here to rescue, just about any of the 100 Marines who graduated from the Genius Camp surpass you in strength!"

As he finished speaking Benjiro explained slightly anxious.

"Don't underestimate him, he's ranked 8th out of the graduates of the Genius Camp!"

Ori looked lightly at the man and softly said.

"Onigumo managed to withstand 5 steps protecting someone else, how about you?

"What are you tal…"

"9 Steps Conquering Heaven:

1st Step!"

As he said that Hallorian and Stussy seemed to sense something as they coated their body in haki and used "Tekkai" to further strengthen their bodies defence.

Ori took a step in their direction whilst glancing at the couple indifferently. As his foot touched the ground a terrifyingly sharp wind erupted from Ori's body. The wind didn't even last a second before disappearing as if it were never there, but the devastation caused by that one step was undeniable.

The heads of all Hallorian's subordinates rolled from their necks as their decapitated bodies slumped over. Although still breathing, the bodies of Hallorian and Stussy had several deep cuts and one of the arms of the arrogant Marine Commander was now by his feet.

Ori looked at the state Hallorian was in after only one step and shook his head disappointedly.

"One step?"

Hallorian and Stussy heard the disdain in his voice and felt ashamed and enraged but they knew that they were outclassed in every way. It was obvious to both of them that he had reached the Grandmaster Swordsman boundary and killing them was simplicity!

Ori didn't know how they felt and even if he did, he wouldn't care. He motioned as if he was about to take a 2nd step when Benjiro who had just woken from the shock of Ori's display stopped him.

"Ori wait!"

Ori calmly turned his head to Benjiro and gazed at him as if to ask, "why are you stopping me?". Seeing his gaze, Benjiro glanced at the couple before turning back to Ori and said.

"I know not killing them may bring more trouble and I don't have the right to ask you for anything more but please, allow me to finish it in the future!"

The assassin who was also dazed by Ori's incredible strength suddenly turned to Benjiro and snapped.

"What are you talking about? If you don't kill them now, the whole world will soon know about your connection to the Heavenly Demon Pirates and you'll bring more trouble not only for yourself but to the Heavenly Demon as well."

Benjiro knew what she said was completely true, but he felt if he didn't end things with his own strength, then he would come to an unbreakable bottleneck in the future which would prevent him from achieving his dream.

Ori looked deeply into the eyes of the now blind former Marine. He could see the guilt for making such a selfish request but more than that he could see the resolve to do what he asked.

Ori turned back to the terrified couple and smiled indifferently as he said.

"You can go now!"

He didn't notice the shocked expressions on their faces as by then he'd already turned and started making his way to where Benjiro was sat.

The female assassin tightened her grip of the daggers in her hands, tempted to finish the duo off herself before looking at Benjiro. She let out a gentle sigh and decided to respect his wishes as she stored her weapons away and glanced at the still shocked couple.

"Why are you to still here? Either kill yourselves or leave, staying here any longer will only serve to embarrass yourself further."

Hallorian and Stussy glared icily at the poisonous mouth assassin but didn't refute as what she said wasn't wrong. The now one armed Marine Commander re-sheathed his saber and grabbed his fallen arm before hobbling off with his wife.

Just as they were about to leave Ori turned and said.

"Ooh and tell that scarlet puppy Sakazuki, if he insists on coming after us in the future he should clean his neck and await our arrival in the New World."