CHAPTER 47
Port Jurisdiction — Kexzaz
The moment the people saw the Pride crew after stepping fully into the port, the people of Kexzaz froze.
Wide eyes followed them. Hands holding muskets and crude blades trembled, then slowly lowered.
Some of the townsfolk couldn't even stay standing—knees buckling as a suffocating pressure washed over the port.
A few collapsed outright, foam bubbling at their lips as the combined wild auras of pirates and government elites crushed their senses.
Even the gore of the scene was enough to make them faint
Then—
"HOOOOOORNNNN—!!"
A deep, metallic horn bellowed from the colossal ship behind them, the sound vibrating through bone and stone alike.
The vessel groaned as it docked, chains rattling while the sea recoiled from its mass.
Silence followed.
"MARCH."
Boots struck the soft soil in perfect unison.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Each step replaced the silence with discipline—cold, mechanical, absolute.
The government agents advanced, instinctively parting the crowd as if the people themselves knew better than to stand in their way.
Then—
TROMP.
The air itself tightened.
A tall, light-skinned man stepped forward, ash-colored locks veiling his eyes as his long coat snapped violently in the wind.
The pressure around him surged, sharp enough to sting the skin.
Behind him followed his squad—each one radiating menace in their own way.
Two women walked side by side.
Identical faces. Crimson hair.
The only difference—a jagged scar running across the face of the elder-looking sister, her presence feral and restrained, like a blade half-drawn.
"Can you see how their eyes are fixed on me, sister?" the scarless one squealed, clutching her cheeks dramatically.
A few pirates grimaced. Some townsfolk looked away in disgust.
But in their squad, no one reacted.
It was clearly routine.
"Who cares, Misa…" Mesa replied coolly, her rigid tone softening only when her gaze flicked toward the ash-locked man.
"As long as the captain looks at me, that's all I need."
"Hahahaha!"
A burly man with an axe slung lazily over his shoulder laughed as he strode behind them. "You girls already started your weird competition?"
"Shut up, Alex!" Misa snapped, stepping forward. "Don't talk to my sister!"
Alex didn't even slow down.
"Misa, don't waste your breath," Mesa said, covering her eyes as she blushed.
"A muscle-brained fool like him wouldn't understand love anyway."
Behind the leader walked a 6'3 man, silent and composed, a long double-edged sword strapped to his waist.
His expression never changed, but the aura he gave off was predatory. As vice-leader, he needed no words.
"Tch… like your delusional sister would ever be noticed by our gracious squad leader," a short boy with glasses muttered, head bowed.
The air cracked.
BANG—!
Mesa stomped forward, the ground shuddering beneath her foot.
"Hey… Bari, or whatever they call you." Her eyes burned.
"If not for the captain stopping me, your mouth would've gotten you fed to the fish."
Bari looked up.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't blink.
On the opposite side, the Pride Pirates and the Destruction crew watched the dramatic display in silence.
Even the people of Kexzaz could feel it—
This wasn't just intimidation.
This was provocation.
"Bleeeeeew~"
A low, almost playful whistle cut through the tension.
The ash-locked man raised one hand.
Instantly, the squad went silent.
Nine figures aligned perfectly, spacing flawless, movements sharp. The soldiers assigned to the port instinctively adjusted their formation without being told.
"Hehehe…"
The man's grin curled beneath his fingers. "So you're Meteorite Ren?"
Ren didn't answer.
His gaze never left the ash-locked man.
"I heard you can fight…" the squad leader continued, waiting.
Nothing.
His smile widened.
He reached up, tying his ash locks back, finally revealing a sharp, pale face—handsome in the way novel protagonists often were… and just as dangerous.
He rolled his shoulders, brought a fist to his chin.
"It'll be my pleasure fighting you.
At least we won't have to deal with Kaido again until we're bored."
His eyes gleamed.
"Give me some adrenaline before you die… hehehe."
The wind vanished.
Then—
SWISH—!
No one's eyes caught it.
Only those with Observation Haki felt it—a sudden displacement, a empty space where Ren had been.
And then—
DOOOOOOM—!!
{A/N : as you can see I haven't started the long awaited battles.
Firstly my tests are close and I am not seeing motivations or reviews (one or two comments on my mistaks will do.
But for now I will have to take a break (人 •͈ᴗ•͈)(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)}