Silence fell over the area. Not a single sound remained.
The pirates who had been laughing just moments ago were now frozen in shock, staring at the blind child who had just coldly killed one of them with a sword.
— He killed one of us! — one pirate shouted. — Kill him!
He pulled out two pistols while his partner raised a rifle. Gunfire erupted.
Kai remained calm, as if none of this concerned him. His mist warned him of the incoming bullets long before they arrived. He knew the shots wouldn't seriously hurt him, but he chose to dodge anyway.
The mist guided his body smoothly, and the bullets passed by harmlessly.
The pirates were terrified. They had never seen a blind person evade gunfire so effortlessly.
When the ammunition ran out, Kai sensed it instantly.
He lunged forward.
His first target was the pirate with the rifle. The man noticed Kai approaching and tried to strike him with the rifle's stock. Kai dodged to the side and, just as Momonga had taught him, drove his sword straight into the pirate's chest.
Warm blood splashed across his face.
"One down. Four left," Kai thought coldly.
His next target was the pirate wielding two pistols. Seeing Kai's speed, the man panicked and tried to flee. He didn't even manage to take a step before Kai appeared right in front of him.
The last thing the pirate saw was a cold face and a white blindfold stained with blood.
The remaining pirates completely lost their composure.
— P-Please don't kill me! — one of them begged. — I have a family at home! I swear I'll quit being a pirate!
Kai listened in silence.
Seeing no response, the pirate's expression twisted with rage. He suddenly pulled out a pistol and screamed:
— Got you, damn Marine! Die!
A gunshot rang out.
Kai shifted instantly and slashed the pirate's arm, cutting it open. The man screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees, staring at Kai in terror.
— I think your family will be happier without you, — Kai said calmly.
With a single swing of his sword, he ended the pirate's life and immediately moved toward the last two. They tried to speak, but Kai didn't listen.
Two swift strikes — both fell, bleeding out.
When it was over, Kai turned to leave. But then he heard the weak voices of the dying pirates:
— Damn it… Are we really going to die like this?..
— We didn't even find Ken…
Hearing the name "Ken," Kai stopped.