Chapter 8: I'm Here to Kill You
"Makino, girl, while the little bandits watching you are... sick, you have to run! Run far away and don't come back!" The Mayor's face was etched with deep anxiety. "This time, it's Bloodblade himself—the Third Commander of the bandits. He's making his move. Listen to me, save yourself!"
"The bandits are sick?" Kaizen Reiya listened, a strange smile playing on his lips. The Star-Siphoning Art has drained those bandits so thoroughly even the Mayor thinks they've fallen ill.
He didn't speak up, though. He just stood to the side, watching with an odd expression.
"Third Commander Bloodblade? If I remember correctly, his next move should be to use the lives of the entire village to force Makino to submit, ultimately killing this gentle, kind-hearted woman."
Heh. But in this life, I, Kaizen Reiya, am here. Such a tragedy will never repeat. Any 'Bloodblade' will have to get through me first. I've defied the heavens to change my fate.
He would never forget his previous life. He had been away from the starter village on a mission to kill a Bloodfang Wolf. When he returned, the entire village was bathed in blood, and Makino had died tragically in his arms.
"Escape? Escape to where? The King of the Near Shore rules the sea, and bandits dominate the land." A sorrowful expression crossed Makino's bright face. "Besides, if I run now, Bloodblade will immediately slaughter everyone in the village. Uncle Mayor, they're here for me. There's no hiding. We'll have to face them sooner or later. Where is Bloodblade? Take me to him."
Bloodblade was notorious in this region. He was a Level 11 bandit. Luffy, the only Devil Fruit user in the village, was injured. Left alone, Bloodblade could slaughter every person here.
Makino knew exactly how terrifying a Level 11 bandit was.
"If sacrificing just me can save the lives of the entire village, then my life, Makino's life, will have been worth it."
Once she made her decision, her face grew calm.
Both the Mayor and Kaizen were deeply moved.
The difference was, the Mayor had tears streaming down his face, his voice choked with emotion. "You poor child."
Kaizen shook his head. "Silly girl. Even if you sacrifice yourself, Bloodblade won't spare the village. Your death would be pointless."
He knew Bloodblade all too well. The man was a monster, saved and raised by his master, only to later murder his own benefactor.
"You don't need to go, Miss Makino. I'll go." Kaizen suddenly stood up. "Mayor, I, Kaizen Reiya, have nothing but contempt for scum who bully women. Where is this Bloodblade? I'll go."
"You're going?" the Mayor and Makino said in unison.
The Mayor continued, "Young man, judging by your appearance, you're from out of town. You might not know how fearsome Bloodblade is. He's a Level 11 bandit, capable of killing a thousand men single-handedly. He's the infamous 'Thousand-Man Slayer' of these parts. You can't negotiate with him alone; it's far too dangerous."
"Level 11?" The strangeness on Kaizen's face intensified. My Star-Siphoning Art can't drain someone more than ten levels higher than me. This Bloodblade is only nine levels higher... perfect.
Seeing Kaizen fall silent, the Mayor thought he was scared, shrinking back. He shook his head and sighed, touching the bruised muscles on his face and wincing in pain.
But then, Kaizen's expression turned icy. "Who said I'm going to negotiate with Bloodblade? I'm going to kill him."
"Kill him? Are you out of your mind? He's a Level 11 bandit, a thousand-man slayer! You're a good young man, don't get involved. Don't throw your life away."
Both the Mayor and Makino shook their heads, unable to believe Kaizen could possibly contend with Bloodblade.
"He's in the village meeting hall. If you're truly set on going, I can take you there. But don't blame me for what happens next." The Mayor, however, thought about it. This was the only lifeline before them. Perhaps this outsider could at least buy some time for a fight.
"Mayor..." Makino wanted to object, but the Mayor was already leading the way to the meeting hall.
Makino hurriedly followed.
In the village meeting hall, chairs were arranged around a long table. A young man in a fiery red shirt sat there, his long hair loose, eyes radiating a fierce light like a lion's.
Even more terrifying was the blood-red longsword on his back, gleaming with a scarlet luster. A brutal aura emanated from it, evoking images of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Opposite him sat six village elders, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, wounds covering their bodies. They hung their heads, but their eyes flashed with unwillingness and rage.
"Heh. The six of you, listen well. Boss Higuma has declared this village is now under my command. If Makino isn't here in another hour, I'll start killing you, one every half hour. If I don't see her by dawn, the entire village dies."
Bloodblade's cold voice made the six elders pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"Oh? In such a hurry? Why not settle this right now?"
A calm voice suddenly rang out, followed by the door slamming open.
Everyone in the meeting hall was stunned to see Kaizen Reiya, the Mayor, and Makino walk in.
As soon as he entered, Kaizen's eyes fell on Bloodblade. He rested his chin on his hand, a strange look on his face.
Huh? This kid... why is he looking at me like I'm some kind of delicacy? Bloodblade felt uncomfortable, a chill running down his spine.
"Who are you? How dare you speak to me, Bloodblade, like that?"
Bloodblade glared at Kaizen and roared.
"Who am I?"
"The one who's here to kill you."
Kaizen looked at Bloodblade as if he were looking at prey, almost drooling.
It's over. We're done for this time, the Mayor thought, his face a mask of despair. He had only wanted to find someone to help negotiate with Bloodblade, to add some bargaining power. Kaizen's talk of killing him was a joke.
Who knew this reckless youth would actually dare to go through with it? It was too late to stop him now.
Bloodblade was stunned for a moment, then he laughed.
"Haha! I said you, Mayor, must have been beaten silly by my men, to go find such a fool to embarrass yourselves with."
The bandits had learned that Windmill Village had sent for Marine help, only for their boats to be sunk by the King of the Near Shore, with heavy casualties. Upon receiving the news, Bloodblade had rushed to the village immediately.
Originally, Bloodblade had been somewhat wary of the Marines. But seeing the village's reinforcements fail, he had decided to strike directly.
"I'd like to see just how you plan to kill me today." Bloodblade burst into wild laughter.
The six elders and the Mayor shook their heads helplessly. Bloodblade was a Level 11 bandit; he could slaughter the entire village alone. For an outsider like Kaizen to claim he would kill him was suicide.
They had seen people with a death wish, but never one quite like this.
"Sir..." Makino also looked at Kaizen, her expression uneasy.
But just as everyone thought Kaizen was about to be chopped into mincemeat by Bloodblade...
Swish!
Before anyone could blink, they saw Kaizen had somehow already grabbed Bloodblade's wrist.