I Might Look Okay, But Deep Inside...

"Hmm, that was certainly out of my calculations.

You there, boy, you seem to have many tactics and is more than willing to exploit it.

How about you join us? We do easy work and get rewards for it, you are still young yet you possess the skills to be strong and use your brain, unlike many others.

You stay by boss' side and you will learn many of life's pleasure without sweating much." The long-leg man said with a smile almost unfazed about the fact that the Kaido ripoff was taken down easily.

"Ugh, I hate these kinds of people, they always act like nothing fazes them." Alex muttered under his breath.

"No thanks Mr.Longleg, me and my brothers will become pirates and sail out to sea." Alex said almost proudly as the other two nodded.

"Pirates?! Haha please, you won't make it far, the world is bigger than you thi-" The Longleg was interrupted.

"I don't need you telling me anything, and you certainly need to worry about us, how about we get this over with." Alex said.

"Worry?! Haha who said I was worr-"

"Again, I don't need you talking, I'll make it easier for you, just me and you." Alex said walking up.

But a hand stopped him, he looked back to see Viktor.

"You had the other guy!! This one's mine!!" Viktor said.

"I'm sorry bud, but this was the guy that punched and knocked me out, so it's my problem." Alex said.

"YOU SHAMELESS BASTARD, the other guy punched me yet you still took him on!!" Viktor grabbed Alex's collar threatening to punch him.

"It was only right since I won the Rock, Paper, Sword match-"

"Screw that!! I'm taking this guy." Viktor said walking up to the Longleg man.

The Longleg man would gladly take one of them, he wouldn't admit it but these kids were pretty strong, and the one that seemed to be the leader is smart using anything he can to win.

In the end, Alex let Viktor walk up to take this guy on.

"Hmm, Show me whatcha got Mr.Pervert." Viktor said.

The reason he said this was because this man was wearing blue booty shorts showing his full legs where the lower half is hairy.

"Pervert?" The Longleg said with a twitch.

Viktor had his sword in front of him looking at the Lingleg with a smile.

"RAA- ghh!!" Viktor grunted.

He took the first step and tried to take the first strike, but the moment he took his first step the Longleg disappeared and appeared beside him giving him a strong kick to the stomach as Viktor knelt down to catch his breath.

Longleg looked to the other two to see if he should also take them out, but decided against it and thought of doing it one by one, they were fair enough to do that with him and the muscular drunk.

"Ooh, hey Vik, this guy is pretty fast, did you see him? If you can't take him on then I'm more than willing." Alex teased.

*Swoosh*

A sword slashed at Longleg but he disappeared before it can strike him.

"Shut your trap!!" Viktor screamed out.

Viktor rubbed his stomach as he looked at the smiling Longleg, he squinted his eyes thinking it will make him focus more and not lose track of him.

"RAhhh!!" He ran towards Longleg and thrust his sword.

The Longleg disappeared again leaving Viktor's sight, but Viktor was able to catch the blur of the man as he appeared on Viktor's left again aiming a kick on the back of his head.

Viktor quickly ducked and brought his sword back, and he slashed the sword on the leg Longleg used to support his body on.

But nothing hit as the Longleg retreated quick enough to not get struck.

"Tsk! Haah!! Haah!! Haah!!"

Viktor frustrated at the fact that this Longleg was faster than him jumped and slashed many times.

"No, that's... that's too reckless airhead... ah, he's not even listening." Alex said.

For a while now Viktor has been swinging his sword left, right, up, and down but not hitting anything.

But as he would miss the Longleg's leg would come kicking his face and body.

Viktor was already ragged and has rips, holes, and scratches on his body, but now he is bruised up on his face as he expressed deep frustration.

Both Alex and Markus watched as Viktor was getting terribly beat up by this Longleg man.

"Should we help him?" Markus asked.

"Nah, but be sure to standby in case we need to." Alex said.

He didn't care who would win or lose, as long as Viktor learns something of this fight, if he won then that's good, but if he lost then that is also fine.

Alex thought Viktor needs a real fight loss to learn that he can't win everything with just his speed and strength.

Even though Alex would Alex beat Viktor, all Viktor did after that was train and wouldn't take Alex's advice, and so he thought a real loss fight would open his mind up to learning other things.

Right now Viktor was turning left and right from kicks and he doesn't know where to look, if he had [Observation Haki] then this fight would have finished long ago.

The fight finally reached it's climax as the Longleg crouched down and swept his foot as it brought Viktor to his butt.

*Bang*

But before the Longleg could do anything a gunshot was heard and he immediately moved to the side to dodge the shot coming from Markus' pistols.

But when he stepped to the side a sword cut his achilles as Longleg fell down not feeling his feet anymore.

"Aaghhh!" Longleg groaned in pain.

A foot was on top of his chest holding him down, he looked up to see Alex with a swords pointing at his face.

"You might be fast but take away your speed, what does that leave you with?" Alex asked with a smile.

"Ahh, and here I thought you punks are fair and would only fight one by one." Longleg said with pained face.

"We follow fairness and all but not fully until we sailed across every sea and island there is, but for now? We are pirates, and what pirates are fair." Alex said with a smile.

*Bang*

And with that the Longleg was gone, Alex and Markus moved to Viktor and offered him their hands.

Viktor grabbed on as they pulled him up, they saw that he didn't really have that frustrated look anymore.

He might not look mad but Alex and Markus knew he was furious inside, they have fought beast and bandits and the only time he was losing was when he fought Alex, and Viktor accepted that since he was gonna be the captain soon but any other losses he won't accept.

And right now he knew there was no excuse to say about his loss, but that wouldn't stop Alex from some small teasing.

"So you got beat up by a pervert huh?" Alex asked.

Markus let out a little snigger not able to help in this serious moment, it was quiet and tense at first since no one talked and Markus felt it and saw Viktor not talking, but when Alex spoke and teased he let out a laugh that ended up in a snigger.

"Huh?! I had em where I wanted, I would have won by myself if you two idiots didn't butt in!!" Viktor said as he gripped Alex's collar.

"Yeah yeah, come on we still have one more deck to clear, and their boss is up on top and we don't know how strong he is." Alex said.

As the three walked to the steps and started walking up they paused on the door that would lead them to the outside of the ship, they looked at each other and nodded before they ran out ready for what is to come.

But they froze as the sudden bright day attacked their eyes unable to hold it open.

"Huh? Why are you three here? Where are my two best men that I sent?." A voice sounded out.

The three rubbed their eyes before opening them, what they saw was more than 50 guards surrounding them with swords in front and the gunners in the back.

The man that spoke was the leader of this group, the blonde handsome man that stopped that attack on Alex earlier.

The three stepped and had their back against each other positioned back to back against the guards.

The blonde handsome man started talking and asking about where the men he sent to handle them, but the three just ignored him.

Alex looked at Viktor spoke.

"Viktor, do your thing now." Alex whispered.

"My thing? What thing? I have a thing?" Viktor whispered back.

"Yes, the thing where you make everyone fall asleep." Alex said.

"How do ie even do something like that?!" Viktor asked.

"Just get really angry, and think about the things they would do to Addy." Alex said.

"Why would I wanna do-"

"Just do it!!" Alex whisperingly screamed.

"Alright, alright!" Viktor said.

Viktor squinted his eyes and tried getting angry, nothing worked as he even thought about Addilyn getting hurt but nothing.

Alex and Markus looked at each other, Alex nodded at Markus.

"I guess this idiot is so weak he can't even do it." Alex whispered to Markus but Viktor could clearly hear it.

"You think it's because he pathetically lost to that pervert downstairs?" Markus added some gas to the fire.

"Fuck did you say you bastards?!" Viktor looked at them.

They were bickering for a few seconds to minutes but still, Viktor didn't achieve anything and they only looked like three ignorant kids in front of this whole group.

*BANG*

"How dare you ignore me, you fools!!" The blonde screamed as he shot the air getting their attention.

"Oh before we start how about you introduce your great self?" Alex said.

Seeing that Viktor was unable to use [Conquerors Haki] again he decided to buy time by talking it out, if this blondy has any arrogance then it will be easy.

And so he did.

"Hmmph, I guess you lowlives do wanna know who holds power here, but people like me don't just spout our names carelessly, because-" Blondy said but paused seeing the three ignore him again.

"I guess he doesn't want us to know his name." Alex whispered, but everyone can hear them.

"Why do you wanna know this bugger's name anyways?" Markus asked.

"Yeah, he looks like he doesn't do any of the heavy lifting here, he's probably just a weakling." Viktor said.

As they kept on with their schemes, the blonde was having a fuming angry expression looking at the three.

"YOU!!"

"You despicable pumpkins!!"

*BANG*

The blondy shot his pistol aiming for Viktor's head, and the boy didn't even see or realized he was shot at.

But before the shot could get close and pierce his head Alex grabbed the side of Viktor's head and pushed it aside just missing it by a few centimeters.

Viktor's eyes dilated realizing what happened and what could have happened if Alex didn't move his head.

Everyone around was shocked to their cores, some believing it was a fluke and some being ignorant about it, but they were all shocked that nothing happened to the shot that was supposed to hit Viktor's head.

Even the blondy paused a bit making sure he didn't see wrong.

"YOU ARE DEAD YOU FUCKER!!" Viktor screamed at the blondy as he unsheathed his sword.

But he stopped as Alex put a hand in front of him stopping his advance, Viktor looked at Alex to let him be but froze as saw Alex was looking at the blondy with a venomous look.

He was just as angry as Viktor if not more angrier.

"I'll handle this." Alex said and walked forward.

Viktor didn't try to stop him because he saw that the guy was really angered, and if he was honest he was afraid of this Alex when he would get like this.

The first time Alex got angry was when a mountain beast attacked them a few months back.

....

When all four of them got together and were walking to the [Overlook] when a mountain bear knocked them back and Addilyn was knocked onto a tree with her head bleeding.

The others seeing this got angry and were preparing to fight it when Alex didn't even prepare and just walked to the bear with one sword.

They called out to him but Alex didn't even respond and his reddened eyes looked at the bear like it wasn't even a beast.

The two tried to back him up but they realized that Alex didn't even need help, he was in a zone, a calm but angered state of mind.

When the bear got up on its two legs almost 4 times bigger than Alex, it struck its paws at him.

Blood was splattered around them, but it wasn't Alex's, it was the bears.

Before the sharp claws could reach Alex, he sent his sword blade firmly against the coming paws, and the bear did all the work as its own force was the reason the blade went through cleanly.

The bear screamed in anger and pain from the bleeding and missing paws, it got down on its now 3 legs and screamed at the bloody Alex.

But nothing happened Alex wasn't one bit afraid, he disappeared and appeared next to the bear cutting its other paws.

In the end, the bear was crying lying on it's back with no more limbs, but Alex wasn't finished, he wasn't satisfied as he slit the tongue of the crying bear, broke it's jaw and stabbed every part of the bear's body but still making sure it lived.

As the bear was slowly dying Alex crouched near its face and just stared at it as it fell to its death.

After it died Alex got up and walked back to Viktor, Markus, and the unconscious Addilyn, the two were a bit intimidated since his upper body and face were covered in blood.

Alex told them to get Addilyn to the village doctor as he walked to the Lookout and jumped dipping in the sea cleaning the blood off of him.

....

Now Alex has the same look of anger he had months back, now Viktor and Markus had a bit of excitement in them and are anticipating this fight, if there is one.

Alex walked forward looking at the blondy.

"I challenge you to a sword-fight." Alex said as he unsheathed his sword.

"Pfft hahahahahahah, challenge me?! Please, I don't even need a sword to kill you, so it is pointless." The blondy said.

Alex looked back at the two with a raised eyebrow, and knowing whats going on Markus spoke.

"I think he is afraid." Markus shrugged.

"Wha- Afraid?! Tsk stand down men!!" The blondy said as he jumped over his spot and dropped down to the level Alex was in.

"If you are willing to die so much, I will gut you myself, you should be honored." The blondy said, but got more frustrated as the three just scoffed.

He thought about how these three can't see that he is higher than them, a man of power, with the grand Reaper Merchants behind him.

But he figured country pumpkins like these fools are not educated enough to know real power and class.

"I'm alexander..." Alex greeted.

"Hmmph, you wish to know my name do you?" The blondy asked.

"No not really, I couldn't care less, but I just thought I would give my name out whenever I'm in a battle, you don't have to tell me your name but you could die nameless." Alex said emotionally.

To this stoic response, blondy was extremely frustrated and his eye was twitching rapidly.

"Siegfried..." The blondy said his name looking down.

He figured he should stop acting high and just kill these punks since they don't seem to understand their differences.

"That's the last name you will know before dying." Siegfried said.

He unsheathed his sword which is a Rapier, and put his left hand behind him and pointed the Rapier at Alex.

'Wasn't Siegfried a mythological hero? Why do the names of these heroes in tales appear as the names of these idiots.' Alex frowned thinking.

He saw Siegfried's weapon and also got ready, he saw the kind of weapon it is and prepared for quick and precise thrusts as that is what he of Rapiers.

*BANG*

But before they can begin the door behind the three slammed open and rushing out of it was was the villagers with Addilyn up front.

These villagers that were captured had either ropes or chains on their limbs, but now they were gone, what was in their hands now were pistols and rifles.

The moment they came out of the ship they shut their eyes as the sun suddenly blinded their eyes, but soon they were all out and behind the three, and were aiming at the more than 50 guards there.

There were less than 30 villagers but it was still enough to put up a fight against these guards and all.

"Addy?!" x3

The three surprised called her.

"What? Did you think I would just stand by without helping?!" She asked with a smile.

"No one starts shooting, we'll have a duel to decide who should surrender first." Markus said calming the villagers.

"Surrender?! Haha even if we have this duel I still have the manpower here, and those novice probably don't even know how to work a rifle!" Siegfried said.

"Let's get this over with." Alex said as he stood in front of Siegfried.

"LET'SSS!!!"

Siegfried zoomed in almost too quick for the eyes and thrusted his weapon against the forehead of Alex.

Alex widened his eyes fully and his [Observation Haki] was alarming him and activated fully as he moved and tilted his heads to the sides just enough that his hair was the only one the Rapiers point was going through.

By the time he fully dodged another thrust was already on its way, and this time it wasn't aiming for his head but for his stomach, which is more harder to dodge than dodging with his head.

"Whoahaha you can actually keep up?! I'm impressed, now entertain me." Siegfried yelled out with a crazed smile and widened eyes.

With a sweat on his forehead Alex kept a calm look while dodging the best he can, this pretty boy was actually this quick, Alex thought.

Siegfried's attack got more ferocious and more quicker since Alex could actually keep up, they were deadly thrusts since the sword point was aiming to pierce vital spots and organs like the heart, lungs, livers, brains, and thyroid. (Throat)

Alex had to constantly move to avoid this mans attacks, Siegfried was also smart cornering and predicting where Alex would dodge to.

Alex had to randomize his side steps and dodging, in the beginning he dodged left and right repeatedly until he was almost pierced but with his haki and quick reaction it only scratched his sides.

Now Alex was randomly dodging and thinking of ways to interrupt this mans pace.

Alex gave it a chance and send a strike against Siegfried's side but it was a big mistake.

Before he could land a strike Siegfried parried the strike almost too gracefully before he flicked his rapier across Alex's face.

Alex's [Observation Haki] and instinct screamed at him of the incoming attack to his face.

Alex tilted his head to dodge but he was too slow as the most dangerous part of the Rapier -The Point- edged into his skin and cut his skin all the way down to under his jaw.

"Agghh!!"

Alex jumped back holding his cheek as blood dripped down from his hands.

"Gehahahahaha, come on brat, it hasn't even been five minutes and you're backing away." Siegfried said with a mocking smile.

Viktor and Markus who saw this donned an expression of anger.

Markus grabbed onto his pistols and prepared for countermeasures when Viktor gripped onto his arms stopping him.

Markus looked at Viktor with a questioning look.

"Don't." Viktor said.

"He is bleeding, we have to grab a chance to tak-" Markus said but was interrupted.

"If I was him then I wouldn't want anyone to interfere, and I'm willing to bet he wouldn't want that either.

This is an important fight for him to progress as it would be for me." Viktor said.

Markus reluctantly put his guns back in his belt holsters, he decided to let it be for now but when it gets too dangerous then he would definitely interfere no matter what anyone says.

Viktor thought about the days he and Alex would spent sparring and both of them would have a point of seriousness in their bouts.

They would tell others to not bother them in their sword fights or interrupted them in any ways, they talk about their progress and they knew that they were both at the same level, even if one is stronger or faster than the other they were still in the same adept level.

And they thought of the days that they would fight a real swordsman in a real fight, when that time comes they would know about their real progress and confirm if the things they have been training on wasn't a complete waste of time.

And so right now this fight would determine if they are really worthy to be called swordsmen, if Alex lost then it could only mean the both of them still have ways to go, but would learn through their loss.

But if it is a win then they would call themselves swordsmen, and right now it is as if Viktor was in the fight as well learning from it.

What he would have done, what could have worked, which strike was more effective, or what he would think of the techniques.

After more than 5 minutes into their fights Alex already has scratches on most of his sides and his left palm pierced.

The bastard started using skills and that is something Alex had to be careful on.

Skills are something a practitioner would train on, they would learn of a technique and spent years doing the same move millions of time until it feels as if it was just breathing.

If you master or even perfect it then the practitioner could evolve it to something more than just a skill.

A good example would be when Zoro would swing his sword and a projectile slash is sent out to his opponents, truly a feat only those great could achieve.

"[Rapid Thrust]!!" Siegfried yelled out.

He put his left hand behind him up in the air and his right hand holding the Rapier on his chest, his left hand was behind to achieve a certain balance that would make it both comfortable and easy to do some quick thrusts with his Rapier.

And so Siegfried thrust his Rapier 2 times faster than before and Alex was with his best speed dodging the thrusts.

But he wasn't quick enough so he would move his body so that the Rapiers point would only pierce the less vital and no organ parts of his body.

Even after all this time Siegfried wasn't even sweating and was still smiling, Alex on the other hand was running out of energy, losing blood, ragged, panting, exhausted and had holes on his body.

"Tsk! This is going too fa-" Markus raised his guns ready to bang it out but Viktor again held his hands and looked at him.

"We will, but just trust me for now, lets give him a bit more time." Viktor said.

But he didn't have a pleasant expression, he was angry at the fact that Alex was getting messed up, and for the fact that Alex was so weak in front of this Siegfried.

He was fuming because if he was in Alex's situation he probably could have lost long ago since Alex was stronger than him and was still losing out to this Siegfried guy.

"More time?! If we give him any more time then the next thing pierced is his damn head!! I don't care about this swordsmen honor shitt you guys are on, he is gonna di-" Markus screamed at Viktor but before he could finish he heard a laugh.

"Hahahahahahhahh!!" Siegfried laughed out so everyone can hear.

When the others looked his rapier pierced Alex's left shoulder and came out of his back, and Alex was holding the Rapier with his left hand.

Gasps were sounded out from the villagers and the the others.

Addilyn was covering her mouth as tears was flowing down her cheeks.

Markus' eyes were opened wide in shock as his eyes started watering , his teeth gritted and grind on each other hard as his eyes were twitching with anger.

Viktor face was shocked, the most shocked face he ever had in his little life.

'He lost. He actually lost.' Viktor thought.

Thinking if Alex lost this pathetically, then does that mean he himself never stood a chance?

"Thanks you brat, I think I sharpened my skills a bit from this fight... but only just a bit HAHAHAHAHAH!!" Siegfried spoke in high pitched voice and laughed.

"Alex..." Addilyn whispered his name as she dropped onto her knees.

Viktor was still standing there watching the whole thing frozen.

As Siegfried spoke some more mocking and teasing the now hopeless villagers he didn't notice the smile Alex had.

"Huh?! You- you're smiling? Are you crazy?" Siegfried asked a bit taken back.

Everyone was quiet and no noise were made, the villagers having small hope for Alex.

Viktor widened his eyes as he saw Alex again, he didn't know why but he missed it the first time.

Alex was still holding his sword on his right.

"Tell me, what makes a swordsmen a swordsmen?" Alex asked with a maniac smile and half bloody face.

Siegfried didn't say anything and just stared at Alex a bit disturbed of this scene.

"It's the sword, right?" Alex asked quietly that only Siegfried could hear it.

Siegfried's eyes widened and frowned as he pulled his sword to finish off this crazy kid off already.

But.

His sword didn't budge, he couldn't pull it out as he saw Alex's hand gripping it.

His eyes widened as he got what Alex was talking about.

Siegfried dragged his eyes to the sword Alex still had in his hands as an intimidating sunlight reflected off of it.

The best move in this situation was to let go of the sword, but that wasn't what Siegfried did, what he did instead was yell out to his men.

"Sh- shoo- gaghh!!"

Before he can finish of his sentence, Alex swung his sword on the upper left side cutting deep into Siegfried's biceps as he screamed.

But Alex wasn't finish as he finished his two strike swing by dragging the sword across the mans neck cutting it cleanly.

And Siegfried finally let go of the sword and held his slit neck as he slowly and clumsily backed away.

Some of his men called his name and ran to him.

The final boss finally died.

The villagers suddenly raised their hands and weapons in the air cheering with their mightiest.

Markus gave a sigh of relieve, Addilyn cried tears of joy and relieve, while Viktor had the biggest smile.

"Bastard actually did it." Viktor muttered.

He knew this fight was won by luck as if it was the heart that was pierced instead of the shoulder than it would have been a loss.

His respect for Alex grew as he didn't stand a chance one but, but at the end he took a strike and made it work with just two strikes.

*Click* x30

Clicks were suddenly sounding around the four and the villagers.

They looked around to see the guards with guns were aiming at them.

The villagers snapped out of their cheering selfs and got back onto the situation as they are not fully free.

The villagers aimed back and the air got more tense again.

Surprisingly the guards were scared and the villagers didn't, they looked more determined with only a few fears shown.

"That is enough!" A man screamed out.

Everyone looked to the front of the ship to see a middle aged man with black short hair and full beard on.

(Think of King Bradley from FMA)

"Mr.Itchen." The guards yelled out.

"You have won young man, but know that you brought more trouble to yourselves than before, that young man you killed is only one of the pawns of this organization." This man who is Mr.Itchen said.

Alex just stared at the man, he didn't wanna speak because it would hurt like hell.

"Your name, young man." Mr.Itchen asked his name.

"...Alexander Knight..."

"Hmm, mighty name." Mr.Itchen said.

"Borak, Borak Itchen." Borak introduced himself.

(Bora Kitchen)

"If we still live through our punishments then I hope to meet you again, with the way you are now you would be a monster in the coming years." Borak said.

"Listen up!! Get ready to sail, leave these people alone." Borak said to his men before looking at Alex and his villagers.

"Now, get off my damn ship!" Borak said.

The guards reluctantly backed away while others went to their stations and started working.

The villagers screamed cheering as they rushed off the ship, Alex smiled at this Borak guy thanking him in his mind.

Alex felt that this guys was pretty strong, most likely the second strongest on this ship right after that Siegfried guy.

He walked away as both Viktor and Markus helped carrying him down the ship ramps.

As the villagers with their new weapons got down on the grassy island they cried in joy before looking onto the ship.

The guards picked up the ramps before they started moving away from the island and sailing off.

*THUD*

As the ship was slowly disappearing and everyone watched they heard a thud.

They look to the front to see Alex on his knees and arched down.

Everyone became worried as this was basically the guy who saved them from a life of hell.

"Alex!!" Markus, Viktor, and Addilyn called out.

Addilyn got on her knees in front of Alex to help him and asked.

"Alex are you okay?" She asked extremely worried, Viktor and Markus were also looking concerned.

"Addy..." Alex said weakly.

"I may look okay, but, deep inside..." Alex said weakly as he looked at the three who were siblings to him.

The three including the villagers became a little cold hearing Alex as it felt like he was gonna die any moment.

Alex opened his mouth to finish his sentence as everyone was on edge waiting for him to say what he needs to.

"...I'm hungry..." Alex said.

And then what followed after was complete silence.

*GRUMBLE!!*

That was until Alex's stomach started grumbling as it sounded like a loud thunderous rumbling in this silent moment.

"PFFFTTTAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!"

"Ggggggrrraahahhahaahhaahha!!"

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!"

Markus laughed, Viktor laughed, and even the villagers laughed.

But Addilyn who was the true victim just stood there in front of him with a twitching eye looking at Alex in disbelief.

"YOU IDIOT!!" Addilyn screamed out.

*PAH*