14 First Kill
A/N: Big news my friends. The final saga of One Piece is going to be starting this July. After twenty years the end is near, and I have to say I am both excited and saddened at he same time.
Now here is the chapter, please enjoy.
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(MC: POV)
Sitting on a rock I looked out at the ocean in front of me.
Just like I did when I used to live on Bunny Island.
Doing this not only calms me, but allows me to think.
And right now I am thinking about several things.
Over a week has passed since we entered the Grand Line and our crew faced off against Garp and Sengoku.
A battle which I can't get out of my head.
No matter how much I try I just can't stop thinking about the fighting I saw on that day.
The way Roger & Rayleigh clashed with Sengoku & Garp. It truly showed me just how small in the world I am right now, and how far I still have left to go.
Which makes me excited.
So terribly excited the next day after made our escape from the marines I asked Rayleigh to increase my training load.
A request which he agreed to.
I have the bruises to prove it.
Even so I know I am getting stronger, that's a fact.
So I won't stop. Even if my life ends up in danger.
Because Roger is right, what's the use of living life unless you do so to the fullest?
The man knows what he's talking about.
Moving on.
I continued looking out at the waves, until suddenly I spotted something out in the distance.
As it got closer I saw it was another pirate ship.
It is on a course directly towards the island we Roger pirates are currently on.
Which is uninhabited by the way. We stopped here only to repair the damage to the Oro Jackson during our most recent battle.
The moment I confirmed another pirate ship was approaching the island I got up and ran back to the Oro Jackson.
Arriving I spotted the others.
"Everyone, another pirate ship is approaching the island!" I yelled out.
"Oh, so someone wants a fight eh?" Roger mused. "Well then, they can come at us. We won't lose, right boys?"
"Yeah!" Everyone shouted.
"Excellent. Prepare for battle." Roger said. "You three apprentices as well. Depending on the enemies strength this might be a good chance for you all to get some hands-on experience in battle." He explained to us.
"Yes captain." I said.
"Yes." Shanks happily said.
"Right." Buggy said. His entire body shaking as he did so.
I guess his cowardice is starting to rear its ugly head.
Well whatever. Since he is my crew mate at the moment I won't let him die.
But after we part ways he's on his own.
Maybe.
It will all depend on how I'm feeling in the future.
Anyhow.
I drew my blade and got ready for battle. Same with Shanks.
While Buggy took out his knives.
We three then got ready as did the rest of the Roger pirates for our guests to arrive.
Twenty minutes later the enemy pirates made landfall.
As they stepped off their ship I counted 70 to 80 of them.
Once they all disembarked one man stepped forward. "Roger pirates, surrender now and maybe we'll let you live." He said with arrogance.
'This dumb bastard.' I thought.
"Hell no." Roger said.
"Men, kill them!" The captain of the enemy pirates said.
His entire body then transformed and he became a Rhinoceros.
'So he's a zoan-type huh?' I thought.
As I did so the enemy captain charged right at Roger.
Who unsheathed Ace and did the exact same thing.
Meanwhile Rayleigh unsheathed his blade and pointed it towards the enemy crew. "Take them down and take all their treasure." He told us.
As soon as he did so we sprung into battle.
Sticking together with Buggy and Shanks the three of us entered onto the battlefield. Watching each others backs as we did so.
All three of us shaking.
This is our first time in a real combat situation after all.
Usually Roger and the others handle this, but today we are a part of it as well. Which means we are going to have to kill.
But that's the life of a pirate.
We three knew this when we chose this for ourselves.
And unlike Luffy who has plot armor we can't avoid killing our enemies.
Also personally I don't want to. Since I am not a shounnen protagonist who allows enemies to live just so they can come back stronger in the future and fuck with me.
So yeah.
These guys are dying.
A few of the enemies started approaching me, Buggy, and Shanks. Probably thinking we are easy targets.
They are sadly mistaken.
Turning my right arm into a cloud I unleashed [Rakiri] and struck several of the enemy pirates down.
"Fuck, that kids a devil fruit eater." One of them cried.
"I got this." A guy said.
He then aimed a pistol at me and pulled the trigger.
I flinched, despite the bullet passing right through me thanks to me having logia powers.
Not many people have been shooting at me after all.
But I need to get used to that, otherwise it will be a weakness in the future, and that I cannot allow.
"The fuck?" The man who shot at me questioned.
Ignoring him I turned my arm holding my sword into a cloud and sent it towards the man holding the pistol.
When it reached him I sliced open his neck. Blood spurting into the air as I did so.
"Little shit!" An enemy cried.
He then charged toward me, his blade raised.
But before he could reach me Shanks stepped in.
Getting in front of the enemy pirate he parried the blow and then slashed the man across the stomach, forcing him to stumble back.
Once this happened Shanks stabbed him through the gut.
Killing him.
As the enemy pirate fell to the ground dead Shanks threw up a little bit.
But that's understandable.
Even I have a little bile in my throat right now.
Despite this I am holding it down until the battle is over.
While Shanks worked to get his bearing back I covered him.
As for Buggy...
He is actually doing alright.
Currently he is facing off with an enemy pirate using his knives.
Parrying blows he slashed at the man and stabbed him repeatedly. Doing well not to get injured himself.
Eventually Buggy managed to slash an artery on his opponent and then the man started bleeding out.
Giving Buggy his first kill and his first win.
Just as this happened Shanks managed to stand back up again.
When he did so I looked at him. "You good to continue?"
"Yeah." Shanks said, looking me in the eyes.
I knew I could trust his words so I stopped covering him.
Once I did so we charged right back into battle.
Staying in it until everything was over.
Once it was Roger gathered the three of us before him.
"So, you all killed for the first time today." He said.
We three nodded.
"Yes, you never forget your first time. Trust me." Roger said. "But don't let it weigh down on you. Those men you killed were enemies, and if you didn't kill them they certainly would've killed you. Remember that. Also remember this, killing is necessary sometimes but not all the times. It all depends on the situation and your own strength." He explained to us. "One more thing. If you three need to talk about anything I am always ready to listen."
We three nodded.
As we did so Roger walked off.
The moment he was gone I dropped to my knees and took several deep breaths and exhaled.
Working to process what had just happened in my own way.
Since I will get through this.
It's just another road on my journey as a pirate after all.
