Chapter 40: The Tempered Times

"You have the qualifications to enter the Grand Line, yet you're squatting in a barren place like the West Blue, clinging to a meaningless existence. How dare you call yourself a great pirate?" Asa smirked disdainfully, contempt flashing in his eyes.

No one has the right to belittle another's dreams, even if they seem impossible to achieve—because only those who dare to dream are truly great.

Asa felt irritated watching a man who called himself a pirate yet didn't even have the courage to enter the vast sea that pirates dream of. All he knew was how to burn, kill, and loot, and he had the audacity to claim the title of a great pirate.

Facing Asa's scornful gaze, Disco Barum suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

"You little brat! How dare you look at me like that… go to hell!"

He clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand as he swung with all his strength. His power might even surpass that of the "Killer" Gotti, whom Asa had killed a few days ago.

"You don't even have Haki, and you think you can hurt me?" Asa didn't even bother to dodge. He let the attack land on his body.

"Szzzzzzz..."

A crackling sound echoed as lightning surged. Disco Barum's iron fist blasted through Asa's torso with full force, his punch seemingly penetrating Asa's chest and coming out the other side.

But Asa turned his head slowly, grinning—completely unscathed. Meanwhile, Disco Barum trembled violently, his entire arm crackling with electricity, the scent of burning flesh filling the air.

"The one with the Thunder Fruit ability… Hyborai D. Asa?" He instantly realized the situation, his face contorted with horror.

"Zzzzzzt..."

Asa suddenly raised his right hand and flicked his fingers. A small bolt of lightning shot out, striking Disco Barum in the chest. The sheer power of the electricity seared through his body, turning his clothes crimson with blood in an instant.

"Ahhh!" The searing pain overloaded his senses, making him shriek like a dying animal.

"Captain!"

Disco Barum's men cried out in alarm, scrambling to grab their weapons and rush to his aid. But Asa had already sensed their movements. With a mere thought, lightning materialized around him, crackling and surging before raining down upon them.

"Zzzzzzt!"

Accompanied by the deafening roar of thunder, the charging pirates collapsed like puppets with their strings cut.

Disco Barum's eyes widened in horror. No matter how ruthless a pirate captain was, watching his crew slaughtered before his eyes could drive anyone to madness.

"Ahhh!!"

He roared furiously, unsheathing the sword at his waist before swinging it at Asa's neck with all his might. Asa's head flew off like a kite with a snapped string.

However, an eerie sight followed—his severed head, instead of falling lifelessly, slowly levitated back into place. A smirk played on his lips as it reattached to his neck, blue lightning flickering across the connection point. Not a single wound remained.

"Hahaha! Don't you know that Logia users are immune to all physical attacks unless infused with Armament Haki or Sea-Prism Stone? Idiot..." Asa twisted his neck mockingly.

Though Disco Barum held the highest bounty in the West Blue, he had never set foot beyond it. It was no surprise that he lacked the knowledge about Devil Fruits, especially Logia abilities.

"A monster… A monster!"

Disco Barum had never encountered such an ability before, and his voice trembled with fear.

"You lack experience and the mentality to endure real hardship. No wonder you've never dared to enter the Grand Line!" Asa sneered, disgusted by the cowardice in the man's eyes.

Pirates were supposed to be wild, ambitious, and unrestrained by rules. If someone feared death, why even bother being a pirate?

No wonder the Golden Lion had scoffed at the so-called "Great Pirate Era" after escaping from Impel Down. Rather than admiring it, he had sought to teach these pampered, untested pirates an unforgettable lesson—though he ultimately failed.

Now, Asa understood the Golden Lion a little more.

With a swift swing of his iron-sand blade, he decapitated Disco Barum, sending blood spraying into the air.

After eliminating all the pirates aboard, Asa personally tossed their corpses into the sea, leaving only one severed head to exchange for some Beli.

For those who became pirates, the sea was the perfect burial ground.

"Fortunately, I was born in an era of true, violent, and ambitious pirates. The New World is waiting for me!" Asa muttered as he gazed up at the vast blue sky.

Walking to the bow of the ship, he studied the map left behind by the navigator, comparing it to the islands in the distance. Choosing a direction, he adjusted the rudder and set sail toward the Grand Line.

After obliterating Disco Barum's crew, he found himself without a guide. While soaring through the sky with his powers, he realized he had drifted off course. Looking at the map, he estimated that it would take over a month to reach the Grand Line, requiring passage through dozens of islands.

Of course, Asa could simply fly straight to the Grand Line, but that would rob him of the thrill of sailing the open sea. Unless necessary, he still preferred to travel by ship.

Three days later, however, he accidentally broke the rudder with a careless kick, forcing him to enter the waters near an island. Consulting his navigation chart, he confirmed that this island housed one of the few Marine branches in the West Blue. He was on the right track.

The stolen pirate ship drifted closer to the island, its sails still bearing the unremoved emblem of the Disco Barum Pirates.

"A pirate ship is approaching!"

Upon spotting the ship, the island's residents panicked.

"Go inform the Marines!"

At sea, the only force capable of suppressing pirates was the Navy. After decades of World Government propaganda, the belief that all pirates were heinous criminals had taken deep root.

The villagers hurriedly grabbed their Den Den Mushi and called the Marine branch stationed on the island.

"Moshi Moshi! Is this the Marines? A pirate ship is approaching from the open sea! All the villagers are pleading for immediate assistance! The pirates are almost here—please hurry!"

The caller's voice was laced with sheer panic, as though the end of the world was upon them.

"Please provide a more detailed report, including the pirate flag markings," the Marine officer on the other end responded calmly.

His meaning was clear—if the pirate crew was too powerful, the Marines needed to assess the situation before deciding whether to engage.

The villagers hurriedly described the emblem before hastily hanging up.

Marine Branch Headquarters

Inside a conference room, more than a dozen officers sat around a table.

At the head of the table sat Colonel Mozambia, dressed in a gray uniform with the Marine's white "Justice" cloak draped over his shoulders. He was a man who would one day rise to the rank of Vice Admiral in Marine Headquarters.

"Everyone, I'm not here to discuss how to deal with the Disco Barum Pirates. Instead, I have an important announcement—Admiral Zephyr and Vice Admiral Borsalino from Marine Headquarters will be arriving soon. We must handle this pirate situation flawlessly."

Mozambia's voice was solemn.

The moment his words fell, the officers in the room stiffened. All traces of laziness vanished from their expressions.

A Headquarters Admiral and a Vice Admiral?

If they managed to impress them, they might finally escape the backwaters of the West Blue.

With that thought, they steeled themselves, preparing to confront the so-called Disco Barum Pirates.

(End of Chapter)

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