Chapter 8: The Annihilation of the Pirates

In an instant, the once tranquil village descended into chaos. The cries of terrified villagers, the anguished shouts of men, and the cruel laughter of pirates mingled together, transforming Boro Village into a living nightmare.

"Master Ryu! Master Ryu! Run, please!"

Just as Ikano D. Ryu was about to step out of his room, he heard Mia's frantic voice calling for him.

"Mia, what's going on?" Ryu asked calmly, though his crimson eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Master Ryu! Pirates have come—they're raiding the village! We need to escape!" Mia urged, her face pale with fear.

"Pirates, you say? I understand. Stay here and hide—I'll be back shortly," Ryu replied, his tone unwavering.

"No, Master Ryu! What do you think you're doing?!" Mia exclaimed, blocking his path. "You're just a child!"

"Move aside, Mia."

"I won't let you go!" she insisted stubbornly.

With a swift motion, Ryu struck the back of Mia's neck, rendering her unconscious. He gently placed her inside a sack to conceal her before moving on.

Moments later, Gray appeared in her nightclothes, having rushed over to warn him.

It was clear she had only just woken up. Despite their differences in status, Ryu had long realized that both Gray and Mia genuinely cared for him.

Seeing their protective actions softened something within him, but Gray met the same fate as Mia.

He couldn't risk them getting hurt. With both women safely tucked away, Ryu sprinted toward the chaos outside.

By now, the pirates had already claimed several lives. A man lay bleeding, his leg severed, surrounded by three pirates who toyed with him sadistically, prolonging his agony.

In another corner, the towering pirate captain—Toda, a grotesque brute standing three meters tall—loomed menacingly over a young girl no older than ten. His intentions were all too obvious.

Similar horrors unfolded across every corner of the village.

"Help me! Someone, please save me!" the girl cried, her voice trembling with despair.

"There's no one coming…" Toda sneered.

Thud.

A massive head rolled onto the ground, its lifeless eyes staring blankly. The girl, whose vision had been shielded at the last moment, opened her eyes to find a boy roughly her age standing before her.

Clutched in his hands was a sword taller than himself—a blade she recognized immediately. This was the son of the late count.

"Run. Don't look back," Ryu instructed softly.

She nodded vigorously and fled without hesitation.

Ryu glanced down at BloodThirst, marveling at the sensation—or lack thereof—he'd felt when decapitating Toda. It was as if he'd sliced through air, yet the result spoke for itself.

"BloodThirst, truly a remarkable blade," he murmured appreciatively.

As if responding to his praise, the sword emitted a faint hum, akin to a loyal dog wagging its tail.

"Enough, we're still in the middle of battle. Stay focused," Ryu chided lightly.

The sword quieted instantly.

With renewed determination, Ryu charged toward his next target. To the pirates, who lacked even bounties on their heads, Ryu's presence was overwhelming.

Each swing of his blade claimed another life. To him, these criminals deserved no mercy.

As the number of pirates dwindled, the villagers began to notice the commotion.

"Look! It's Master Ryu!"

Stunned silence followed as they watched the six-year-old annihilate the entire pirate crew single-handedly.

Once the massacre was complete, Ryu addressed the crowd coolly. "Go bury your loved ones. Leave the pirates' bodies to me."

He then began hauling the corpses away, one by one. The sight of his small figure carrying such grim burdens left the villagers awestruck.

It took Ryu nearly half an hour to dispose of all the bodies. Once finished, he retrieved his portable blood pouches and began extracting their essence.

These were evil men; drinking their blood brought him no guilt. By the end, the unknown pirate crew had contributed a staggering 400 units of high-quality blood, with the captain alone providing 20 units.

After cremating the desiccated remains, Ryu returned home.

Upon reaching the entrance of his villa, he found the villagers gathered there. Both Gray and Mia had awakened and learned of his deeds. They stared at him in disbelief.

"Ah, Gray, Mia—you're awake," Ryu greeted casually.

"Master Ryu… is this true?" one villager asked hesitantly.

"We can never thank you enough, Master Ryu!"

"You truly are the son of our count! Without you, our village would have been destroyed." another chimed in.

Before Ryu could respond, a chorus of gratitude drowned him out.

"That's enough. Everyone should rest now. You've all had a rough night. Go home and recover," Ryu said firmly.

"But Master Ryu, how can we ever repay you?"

"No repayment is necessary. As a member of this village, protecting everyone is my duty. Now, please, let me rest as well."

Moved by his humility, the villagers finally dispersed. Only then did they remember that Ryu was barely six years old.

He had fought tirelessly throughout the night and even handled the gruesome task of disposing of the bodies. How could he not be exhausted?

The following evening, Ryu stumbled groggily downstairs, only to be met with a shocking sight. Piled before him were mountains of food and countless gift boxes.

Mia stood nearby, meticulously counting everything.

"Mia, what is all this?"

"These are gifts from the villagers to express their gratitude," she explained.

"This… send them back. After last night's attack, the villagers must have suffered great losses. I cannot accept anything from them," Ryu ordered.

"Yes, Master Ryu!"

Master Ryu is so kind-hearted. To accomplish such a feat and refuse any reward… Mia is deeply moved.

After a brief pause, Ryu added, "Withdraw some funds from the treasury to help the villagers repair their homes."

"Really?"

"Of course. Money isn't an issue for us right now. Helping the villagers is our top priority."

"Yes, I'll handle it immediately!"

Once his orders were given, Ryu retreated to the training grounds. Taking a deep swig from his blood pouch, the familiar rush of warmth surged through his veins.

Energized by the fresh infusion of high-quality blood, he began practicing his swordsmanship. Each swing felt more powerful than usual, amplifying his progress.

Meanwhile, despite the late hour, the villagers worked tirelessly to rebuild their shattered community. Restoring Boro Village to its former state would take time, but under Ryu's leadership, hope burned brighter than ever.