Chapter 175: Leave No One Standing

Jim's relentless fists.

Gaya's brutal axe strikes.

Bailey's rocket-like headbutts.

In less than a minute, they swept through the pirates like a gale through falling leaves, leaving a massacre in their wake.

One hundred and fifty pirates—none were spared.

Among the scattered corpses, over half bore gruesome, gaping wounds, their innards laid bare.

These carnages were largely the handiwork of Jim.

In contrast, Gaya, wielding her one-handed axe, seemed almost gentle.

Her every swing carried the impression of cleaving enemies cleanly in two. Yet when her axe sliced through their weapons and landed on their chests, it left behind only a single, fatal wound—large enough to stop a heart, but not excessively gory.

Normally, an axe—being a weapon of raw power—would easily split an opponent in two when an opening was found. But the pirates felled by Gaya's strikes bore nothing more than critical chest wounds, their deaths appearing almost subdued.

The surrounding pirates assumed it was because Gaya lacked strength. Only Maude knew the truth: she was deliberately holding back, ensuring she didn't split her enemies entirely in two and drench herself in their blood.

Sol once remarked that Gaya was better suited to using a gun.

That comment wasn't just meant to irk Gaban; it held some truth.

Gaya's meticulous nature—whether in combat or daily tasks—made her less suited for the raw, unrefined power of an axe.

Yet, despite this mismatch, she hadn't let Gaban's rigorous training go to waste, mastering the axe with remarkable skill.

As for Bailey...

Not much needs to be said.

Bailey: ???

Maude shifted his gaze from Bailey to Jim and Gaya.

This battle—an overwhelming victory against superior numbers—was their first fight since entering the Grand Line.

Amidst the blood-soaked streets and a field of corpses, Jim's bald head and blood-smeared body made him look like a demon emerging from hell itself.

"Demon..."

The surrounding pirates stared at Jim with palpable fear.

Without any coordination or need for words, many of them instinctively associated Jim with the nickname "Demon."

Jim's fierce gaze swept across the remaining pirates.

Each pirate who met his eyes recoiled, retreating in fear.

In that moment, Jim's earlier chilling proclamation echoed in their minds.

Such was the might of Maude's crew.

Whether it was the demon-like man, the woman cutting down enemies with a calm smile, or the seemingly harmless pet weasel—

They were all far stronger than anyone had anticipated.

If the crew was this strong, how formidable must their captain be?

The blood-soaked scent lingered in the town's silent streets.

Those uninvolved in the battle watched Maude's group with hushed awe.

Dada, mouth agape, stared at Jim and Gaya as they calmly returned from the carnage.

So many pirates—yet not even a minute had passed.

"B-Big brother Maude..."

Something clicked in Dada's mind as he leaned in to whisper a question in Maude's ear.

Hearing Dada ask about their crew's name, Moria raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

Without much thought, he revealed the name they'd recently chosen: The Maude Pirates.

Once informed, Dada stepped forward and bellowed at the top of his lungs:

"See this? This is the power of the Maude Pirates!"

His booming voice echoed across the town, carrying an air of dominance.

For the first time in five years of living discreetly on Spring Island, Dada, emboldened by Maude's presence, stood tall before his peers.

"If anyone else thinks they're brave enough, come on! Bring it!"

Though Maude silently approved, Dada kept his speech brief, merely delivering a clear message.

The declaration left the crowd in stunned silence.

This brutal introduction left an indelible impression on the other pirates of the town.

Satisfied with the response, Dada turned back to Maude, his demeanor instantly shifting to one of respect.

"Big Brother Maude, shall we head to the restaurant now?"

Maude nodded.

Amidst the gazes of onlookers, the group made their way toward the town's central district.

From atop a nearby building, a man named Dale observed the carnage with visible excitement.

"The Maude Pirates... The undisputed dark horse..."

His thoughts raced.

The story was shaping up, but it needed more drama.

"You guys better not keep a low profile now. If you don't stir up some real chaos..."

Dale's hand trembled with excitement as he gripped his pen, eager to write.

As they walked through the town's main street, Bailey leapt onto Maude's shoulder, casually sharpening his claws.

"Boss, don't you think we're being a bit too flashy?"

"Afraid?" Maude asked, a sly smile on his face.

"Not a chance!" Bailey puffed out his chest, flexing his stubby arms before shadowboxing the air.

"Then there's no problem."

Maude shook his head slightly, amused.

Before entering the town, he had already learned about the three dominant pirate factions here from Dada.

Of those, only one was worth noting—a pirate named Bloodshadow Pyke with a bounty exceeding 80 million berries.

Aside from him, there was the Gut-Hunter Yatari, with a bounty of 50 million, and Blackhand Hobson, at 48 million.

These formidable pirates, content to idle away on the first island of the Grand Line...

Not one would leave this town alive.

Maude's eyes glinted with cold intent.

He had no intention of leaving empty-handed.

If necessary, he would annihilate every pirate in this town.

This chilling resolve emanated from Maude, his killing intent palpable.

Gaya and the others glanced at him, puzzled by his sudden shift.

"Heh..."

Meeting their curious gazes, Maude simply smiled.

Even Dada and his crew shivered involuntarily.

As the townspeople watched Maude's group disappear into the distance, a lithe figure slipped into an alleyway.

Sunlight streaming down highlighted her striking features.

A beautiful woman with a tanned complexion, she wore a strapless crop top and short shorts, exposing much of her smooth, sun-kissed skin.

Two wave-like, unsheathed blades hung from her shapely waist.

This was none other than one of Maude's targets—Gut-Hunter Yatari.

"Well, what's the plan?"

A raspy male voice emerged from the alley's shadows.

Yatari tilted her head slightly, her gaze cold as she stared at a green-haired figure perched on a crate.

"If you can convince that oaf Blackhand, I might consider teaming up with you, Pyke."

"Heh..."

Pyke chuckled softly.

Yatari narrowed her eyes, her fingers brushing the hilt of her blade. Before she could ask what was so amusing, heavy footsteps echoed behind her.

Blackhand Hobson stood at the other end of the alley, his massive frame towering over them, his gloved hands casually at his sides.

"I'm in."

"Oh?"

Yatari glanced at the calm Pyke before turning back to Hobson.

"Well then... this should be fun."

Her lips curled into a mischievous grin.

Hunting promising rookies like Maude had always been their favorite pastime—one of the reasons they remained on this starting island.

In no time, the three factions occupying Spring Island reached an agreement.

However...

Who were the hunters, and who was the prey?

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