CHAPTER 54

While muttering, Ayr's face showed a sly grin, reminiscent of how Orochimaru would toy with his prey.

However, even though Ayr spotted the colossal Sea King and the massive pirate ship chasing it, the pirates on board were too preoccupied with their hunt to notice him. The thick fog cloaked Ayr's presence, and his small boat, now sinking rapidly, went unseen.

With a sharp glance at his crumbling vessel, Ayr made his move. Like a seasoned shinobi using Body Flicker (Shunshin no Jutsu), he propelled himself at an astonishing speed, landing on the pirate ship's deck in a single, graceful motion.

"Tread!!!"

A crisp sound echoed across the deck as Ayr touched down. The pirates turned their heads abruptly, eyes widening at his sudden appearance.

"What… what's going on???"

"I-I just blinked, and he was there!"

"That's impossible! I didn't see any boats nearby—did he use some kind of jutsu?!"

"Could he be a ghost?"

"Idiot! Ghosts don't stand there smirking like that."

The crew erupted in chatter, their unease growing with every second. Finally, one of them worked up the nerve to step forward, his voice filled with forced bravado.

"Hey! Who the hell are you? Did you even look at our flag? This is a pirate ship, you fool!"

Another pirate scoffed, folding his arms. "Tsk, tsk… stepping onto an enemy pirate ship? That's a death sentence. You really have a death wish, don't you? If it were some weakling crew, maybe you'd have a chance… but our captain is Modka, with a bounty of 450 million berries!"

"Heh. Maybe that sounds low in the New World," the pirate continued smugly, "but we're about to become part of the Rocks Pirates. Soon, we'll be untouchable."

At the mention of Rocks, Ayr's expression darkened. In these past few days, it seemed like everywhere he turned, that name was being tossed around.

"A 450-million bounty is enough to get you recruited?" Ayr mused, shaking his head in amusement. "Maybe. But not anymore."

Indeed, Rocks would have accepted such a pirate easily—after all, he never turned down disposable pawns. Even if they weren't mere cannon fodder, those who survived the bloodshed might climb the ranks and become powerful crew members. For Rocks, it was a win-win. He paid nothing, yet gained strength.

"You bastard, what do you mean by that?!"

Ayr remained composed, his voice unwavering. "I mean that you have no chance. I'm rejecting you on Rocks' behalf."

"Hahahaha!!!"

The pirates erupted into laughter at Ayr's statement.

"Who do you think you are?"

But their amusement didn't last.

One of the pirates suddenly froze, his face drained of color as he got a clearer look at Ayr's face through the dim light of the ship's lanterns. His hands trembled as he stammered:

"W-wait a second… this guy looks familiar…"

His breath hitched as realization struck. "Oh my God… he's… he's Ayr from the Rocks Pirates!"

The entire deck fell silent.

"W-what? Rocks Pirates' cadre, Ayr?! The man with a 1.5 billion bounty?!"

Yes. Ayr's bounty had skyrocketed to 1.5 billion berries, making him one of the most feared men in the New World.

And he wasn't the only one whose bounty had increased.

Rocks D. Xebec: 4.8 billion berries

Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate: 3 billion berries

Golden Lion Shiki: 2.8 billion berries

Charlotte Linlin ("Big Mom"): 2.75 billion berries

Ochoku: 1.83 billion berries

Captain John: 1.65 billion berries

Ayr: 1.5 billion berries

Silver Axe: 1.48 billion berries

"It's him. No doubt about it. I've seen his face all over the bounty posters."

As reality sank in, panic spread like wildfire among the pirates. Their captain was worth 450 million. But Ayr? He was in a completely different league.

Modka himself, the self-proclaimed future member of the Rocks Pirates, swallowed hard before stepping forward. His movements were careful, calculated. A single wrong word could be the end of him.

"Ayr… our crew has no quarrel with the Rocks Pirates," he began, forcing a nervous smile. "In fact, we were planning to join you. If we become comrades, wouldn't it be foolish to fight each other?"

Ayr chuckled.

"Comrades?" he scoffed.

The Rocks Pirates didn't do comradeship.

"I told you. You have no chance." Ayr's gaze turned cold. "Your ship is broken. And so is mine. If you want to blame someone… blame your own rotten luck."

Modka felt a chill run down his spine.

"…We sincerely apologize if we indirectly caused damage to your ship. We'll pay you back—tenfold. What do you say?" Modka's grin widened as he attempted to bargain.

Ayr's response was immediate.

"You don't have a choice."

The pirates flinched.

Modka took a deep breath, knowing he had only one card left to play.

"Alright. Take everything we have. Just let us live."

The offer was a significant one. Every last berry, every last treasure—if it meant survival, it was worth it.

But Ayr only smirked.

"Idiot." His hand moved to the hilt of his sword. "If I kill you all, then the ship and the treasure are both mine."

Modka's pupils shrank in horror.

Ayr didn't give him time to respond.

"SHING!!!"

A ferocious arc of sword energy burst forth, slicing through the air with an ear-splitting roar.

Modka had no time to think. He yanked his sword free, cloaking it in Armament Haki in a desperate attempt to block the attack.

But…

The difference in strength was insurmountable.

"BOOM!!!"

The impact sent Modka flying backward dozens of meters, his body crashing through the ship's railing with a sickening crunch.

Splinters of wood scattered in the wind.

"S-so strong!!!"

"That's a 1.5 billion bounty for you… Our captain didn't stand a chance!!!"

"The gap is too massive… This isn't a fight, it's a massacre!!!"

The remaining pirates stumbled backward, their courage shattered.

"D-damn it… We just wanted to capture a Sea King as a gift for the Rocks Pirates…"

As Ayr stepped forward, the sea breeze carried his voice across the deck, sending chills down the spines of every man still standing.

"…And now you'll become the offering instead."

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