"Who's there?!"
The guard at the gate, Choo, shouted.
As the smoke cleared, a man in a black suit with an Admiral's cloak appeared before everyone.
It was Ezra D. Vale.
His crimson eyes swept over Choo, and the guard shivered violently. Through Ezra's gaze, it was as if he had glimpsed hell itself.
"Y-you… who are you?!"
Choo forced himself to speak.
Ezra tilted his head slightly and snapped his fingers.
"Blazing Flame."
Boom!
As Ezra's words echoed, Choo's body erupted into blue flames.
"Ahhh! No… no!!!"
His screams of agony quickly faded as he turned to ash, vanishing into the air.
"Damn it! Who… who are you?!"
"How could he kill one of our officers?"
"That guy is insanely strong!"
From the shadows, countless fish-men appeared. Some shouted questions at Ezra, while others trembled with fear.
"Useless cannon fodder, stop talking so much."
A slight smirk appeared on Ezra's lips. Waves of endless blue flames swept over the crowd, consuming them all instantly.
He amplified his spiritual pressure just slightly. Before anyone could even scream, they were reduced to nothing.
Finally, only Evil Dragon and Kuroobi remained. Two worthless pests.
"Evil Dragon, former Sun Pirates… Bounty 517 million?" Ezra's expression dripped with disdain as he stared at him.
"Who gave you the nerve to harm my former subordinates?"
Evil Dragon stiffened, his face darkening.
"Admiral Vale! I never harmed your subordinates!"
Ezra scoffed.
"Belmeru… ring any bells?"
Evil Dragon's body trembled.
"That guy… could he really have been your subordinate?!"
Ezra didn't even bother answering. He raised his right hand, and his spiritual pressure surged.
Evil Dragon's eyes flashed with fierce aggression.
"Even if you are an Admiral, don't think you can kill me so easily!"
With that, he lunged at Ezra, baring his sharp teeth.
"Shark Bite!"
Ezra's lips twitched. Such a bizarre attack… he had never seen anything like it.
He casually slapped Evil Dragon. A sickening crunch echoed as the pirate slammed against a wall, spewing blood.
Even Evil Dragon, knowing an Admiral's strength, thought this was excessive.
Ezra flicked his hand dismissively.
"Disgusting."
Then, staring at Evil Dragon, he said,
"Not in the mood for games. Die, Evil Dragon."
In an instant, Ezra appeared before him, his right index finger radiating infinite spiritual pressure.
"Scum of the fish-men, disperse."
"Fourth Art: Self-Destruct Thunder."
Boom!
Purple lightning shredded Evil Dragon into pieces.
Ezra leapt into the air and gazed down at the ruins of Evil Dragon Park.
"This ugly place has no reason to exist."
With a crisp snap of his fingers, the park was engulfed in flames. Ezra vanished from sight.
Moments later, he reappeared at the village square, in front of Belmeru.
"Admiral Vale! You're back!" Belmeru exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. Having served under Ezra, she knew his strength Evil Dragon could not possibly have survived.
Ezra nodded slightly.
"Evil Dragon is taken care of. Now we just have this Marine scum left."
His gaze turned to the frozen Kuroobi. Though encased in ice, Ezra's voice reached him, and fear filled his eyes.
"Kuzan, release them."
At Ezra's command, Kuzan waved his hand. The ice melted instantly, and the captured Marines stumbled out, trembling violently.
But they didn't care about their injuries. They fell to their knees before Ezra.
"Admiral Vale! Spare me!"
"Please! We were forced to do this!"
"It's him! That rat made us do it!"
"Yes! It's him!"
A chorus of voices accused Kuroobi. He paled. Before he could speak, his subordinates had already betrayed him.
Ezra's gaze fixed on Kuroobi.
"Colonel… Kuroobi? Pathetic. Truly a disgrace to your rank."
Kuroobi trembled and crawled on his knees toward Ezra.
"Admiral! Please spare me! I've embarrassed my colonel! Just let me vanish like nothing!"
Ezra's expression remained cold, unmoving. Kuroobi froze, unable to take another step.
Seeing no reaction from Ezra, he scrambled toward Kuzan.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan! Help me! Please!"
Disgust flashed in Kuzan's eyes.
"Having people like you in the Marines is infuriating."
With a swift kick, Kuzan sent Kuroobi sprawling.
"I get it! I get it!"
Kuroobi panicked.
"Money… you want money, right?! I have it! I have lots of it! Take it all! Please, just let me go!"
Ezra's gaze grew colder by the second.
"That's enough, Kuroobi."
Snap!
The sound of fingers snapping echoed. Kuroobi and all his men were consumed by Ezra's blue flames.
Ezra exhaled and glanced at Belmeru.
"Belmeru, it's over."
"Thank you, Admiral Vale!"
Ezra smiled faintly.
"Aren't you going to offer some thanks?"
Belmeru blushed.
"Well… Admiral, our home is completely gone."
Ezra twitched his lips.
"Wait, wait. I saw some orange trees behind your house. Bring me a few oranges?"
Belmeru's face turned red, realizing she had misunderstood Ezra.
"Admiral Vale, why don't you come to my house? I'll have Nochi and Nami pick some for you."
Ezra shrugged.
"Sure. I haven't eaten yet, so I'll join you. Don't mind me raiding a meal. I'll have someone send the food along, of course."
Belmeru's eyes sparkled. The village had already run out of food.
"But… Admiral, won't this interfere with your mission?"
Kuzan chimed in.
"He can only come after completing the task."
Belmeru's cheeks flushed. Kuzan laughed lightly, teasing her.
"Of course, maybe he's just passing by."
Belmeru realized Kuzan was joking. She grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it at him.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan! Die!"
Bang! Direct hit to the head. Nice.