am i dead ? or am i the death ?

The blow I received was extremely painful, and for a moment, I thought I was going to faint. Seeing that I wasn't getting up, the captain began to walk away, saying, "Well, I suppose that was enough to kill a kid... Know that I'm disappointed, you could have been a valuable asset to me."

Determined to defeat him despite my injuries, I got up and stared at him intently. I was already more injured than he was, but I remained focused. I had to defeat him to become even stronger.

"You filthy scum, I'll take care of you today!" I grabbed my daggers and ran towards him at full speed, without any restraint. As expected, I had an advantage when he wasn't transformed, and I managed to land several hits, inflicting small cuts. However, I was tiring far too quickly.

"Very well, let's move on to the next stage." He transformed back into his monstrous form and almost disappeared, only to reappear in front of me, striking me violently. I managed to block his attack, but I was pushed back to the back of the ship, most likely with a broken arm.

After ten minutes, the fight was still completely one-sided. I decided to use my only "ability," my bloodlust. I stared at him with a murderous and victorious desire, but it had no effect. In just a few seconds, he was moving again effortlessly, as if nothing had happened. No, not even a few seconds, just one second.

I didn't understand. That's what I thought as I fought. I kept trying to think of how to win, but I couldn't find a solution. I should have fought while the gladiator was still alive, but I thought I could succeed. Or perhaps I could have fled during this fight...

"Calm down, I need to think." I dodged the few blows I could and tried to strike him, but he effortlessly evaded each time.

After ten minutes, I was dead tired, and another blow prevented me from moving. I was without my daggers since they were broken, and I had no strength left. The captain walked slowly towards me, like death telling me it was my time. I saw him smile, happy as if he had been waiting for this moment.

**CAPTAIN'S POV**

"My little child, you're going to die. It's truly a shame."

Although his performance wasn't very effective, his fight was slightly better than the gladiator's. Even though I was less injured since he didn't land any powerful blows, except for that technique that momentarily immobilizes me.

As soon as I stood before him, I saw his pitiful state. Without smiling, he was dark, as if he wasn't afraid of death. But then, he started smiling, almost as if he saw a way out, even though there wasn't one.

"Ah... Arg, captain... You're strong, but I'm astonishing." Hm? Just as I felt something coming from behind me, I couldn't move due to a surprise bloodlust. But this time, before I could react, a spear appeared through my throat, severing my neck. I could see my body upside down and a kid saying, "Goodbye."

**RETURN TO POV**

Ahahahahah, I still can't believe it. I'm not dead!

"AHAHAHAHAH!"

I'm truly happy. I didn't believe it. This power that I just obtained in an instant is unexpected. What a strange power! I don't even know how or when I obtained it, but it's definitely powerful. And if nobody is aware of it, I can surprise them.

Now, I can stand up as if all my fatigue, injuries, and broken bones have disappeared. I was like new, looking at the pirates from the crew whose captain I just killed, staring at me. The second-in-command shouted, "Traitor! I'll personally kill you!" He advanced quickly, I would say he's as strong as I was when I killed my dear captain, but not anymore!

As he faced me, he couldn't move, unable to speak. I simply grabbed a sword from afar using a certain power, and it pierced his heart. He couldn't say anything because he died too quickly. Now, all that's left is to deal with the other surviving pirates. It will be quick thanks to what I call "authority." I can move anything with my thoughts, just by looking at it, be it an object or a living being. Well, I don't know what the weight limit is.

"Die!" I made all the weapons on the ship fly, aiming at the pirates. Like rain, each weapon descended to impale them. I was like a reaper, ahah, a god of death killing without a care. And with each murder, even the weakest ones, I became a little stronger. I'm even confident now that I can rival the captain in terms of strength, even if he uses his Devil Fruit.

To test certain things, I tried lifting a corpse and learned that my current limit is about 100 kg, which is already enormous, I think.

"Ash, are you okay?"

"old man?"

The old man was alive, so I was relieved, but now that everything is over, our paths will diverge. So I simply bid him farewell and took a boat to leave. Without much difficulty. I enjoyed fighting, becoming stronger. This feeling is truly incredible.

"At last, now the real beginning of my adventures."