Chapter 51: The Beast Unleashed

At dawn, as the first light broke over the horizon, a small fishing boat docked at Rog Town’s harbor. A man and a golden monkey gazed out at the rolling waves, disturbing no one, and soon vanished beyond the edge of the sea.

For this journey of training, Xuan Ye brought only the monkey. Pakas had wished to come as well, but with two hundred subordinates to oversee, Xuan Ye decided it was best for him to stay behind. Drifting with the currents, Xuan Ye sat aboard the fishing boat, holding two items in his hands: the Eternal Pointer and a Den Den Mushi.

Aside from the necessary drinking water, the boat’s supplies consisted solely of fruit—thanks to Little Gold, bananas made up the bulk of it. Eyeing the vessel beneath him, Xuan Ye frowned, considering a change to a special small boat, preferably something akin to the yachts of his previous life.

“It’s settled. First stop, Water Seven. Little Gold, keep us on course. Let’s be off.” After much deliberation, Xuan Ye made up his mind.

He walked to the stern, his hands glowing gold and crimson, radiating a fierce, fluctuating heat.

“Screech, screech... Ready!” Little Gold swallowed the last bite of banana and stood at the prow.

“Go!”

A pillar of flame erupted, sending the fishing boat spinning, racing across the sea like an arrow.

Xuan Ye could have easily flown straight to Water Seven, given his abilities, but he decided not to, savoring the thrill of adventure along the way.

From a distance, one would see a palm-sized fishing boat, its stern ablaze, darting across the waters like an untamed arrow.

“Report... report... A fishing boat is approaching rapidly—danger, it’s about to collide!” Panic echoed aboard a mid-sized pirate ship as it turned sharply.

“Just look at that ferocious momentum—nothing good comes of crossing paths with them!”

“Hurry... turn! We’re about to be hit!”

“Screech, screech... There’s a pirate ship ahead, we’re going to crash.” At the bow, the golden monkey pointed forward.

“Pirate ship? Destroy it,” Xuan Ye said from the stern, fueling the boat with fire.

“Screech, screech... Understood.” The monkey nodded and instantly appeared onboard the pirate ship.

A beastly roar rang out. Little Gold materialized, raised his fist—a darkness enveloped it—and without a word, unleashed a powerful blow.

A deafening crash erupted. The surrounding seas churned, and the massive pirate ship fractured and splintered, the pirates paralyzed with terror.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Another surge of water, the golden figure landed back on the fishing boat, vanishing like lightning across the horizon.

Broken debris floated amid the waves. Some stronger pirates clung to driftwood, their faces twisted in fear and despair. Out on this boundless ocean, without a passing ship, their fate was all but sealed.

“What was that? What did we encounter?”

Struggling and terrified, the pirate ship disappeared into the endless sea.

Hours later, the fishing boat roared across the water.

“Screech, screech... Another pirate crew spotted.”

“Destroy them.”

Flames shot skyward, ships splintered, and every pirate crew Xuan Ye encountered along the way was sunk beneath the waves.

“Infinite Arrows.”

A storm of fire raged overhead, a sky full of icy-hot weapons suspended like a meteor shower, annihilating all in their path.

Three days later, at Water Seven, the man and his monkey strolled through the city.

“How miraculous. Truly, anything is possible in the world of the Pirate King.” Xuan Ye smiled, taking in the bustling metropolis, suffused with the passage of time.

“Screech, screech... Let’s get something to eat. I’m sick of fruit.” The golden monkey beside him drooled eagerly.

“Agreed. It’s been ages since I’ve had a hot meal.” Nodding, the man and monkey launched into a feeding frenzy.

An hour later.

At Water Seven’s largest shipbuilding dock.

“Excuse me, where can I find Mr. Tom?” Xuan Ye politely inquired of a worker.

“In Shipyard One,” the shipbuilder said, pointing the way.

“Thank you.” Xuan Ye turned and headed for Shipyard One.

Inside, the atmosphere was ablaze with activity; the place was a gigantic port, teeming with merchant ships and pirate ships alike.

By the shore stood a massive new vessel. A corpulent fish-man with bull horns barked orders to the bustling workers.

Approaching, Xuan Ye addressed the unusual figure, “Mr. Tom?”

“And you are?” The bull-horned fish-man turned, regarding Xuan Ye with puzzlement.

“Xuan Ye Tang,” Xuan Ye introduced himself.

“Xuan Ye Tang? That name sounds familiar.” Tom scratched his head, searching his memory.

“Mr. Tom, I’d like you to build a ship for me,” Xuan Ye stated his purpose directly.

“Hm? My services aren’t cheap,” Tom replied.

“Money isn’t an issue.”

“So what kind of ship are you after?” Tom’s interest was piqued.

“Made entirely from Adam wood, powered by flame—not too large, just four or five rooms...” Xuan Ye described his vision, confident that the fish-man who built the Pirate King’s ship could surely handle it.

“Adam wood?” Tom frowned slightly, but the idea of flame propulsion intrigued him.

“Five hundred million Berries! Ready in half a month. Two hundred million deposit first.” Tom declared the price and timeline without pretense.

“Two hundred million deposit up front?” Xuan Ye frowned; he hadn’t brought much money on this trip.

Turning, he glanced at the countless pirate ships along the coastline and smiled.

“Five hundred million Berries is fine, but you only have one week.”

Tom pondered, then grinned. “Deal. When will you pay the deposit? I need to hit the black market for Adam wood.”

“Now.” Xuan Ye didn’t question Tom about the black market; in this business, everyone had their sources, especially for Adam wood, forbidden by the World Government.

“Little Gold, collect all the wealth from the pirate ships.”

Half an hour later, Tom’s face was pale as he stared at the mountain of treasure piled beside him, his expression grim.

“Infinite Arrows.” Waves of heat surged. Swords, spears, and halberds rained from the sky.

Instantly, the entire coastline erupted in fire—pirate ships burned, reduced to cinders in moments.

This sudden spectacle sent Water Seven into an uproar.

Pirates poured from the city, crowding the shore, exuding a savage aura.

“It’s over, it’s over. That’s the Fan Pirates, with an eighty million bounty... Their ship’s been burned...” A shipworker trembled with fear as notorious pirates appeared before his eyes.

“Ninety million bounty—the Cotton Pirates.”

“One hundred million—the Ghost Fox Pirates.”

“...”

All sorts, from low to high, crews with bounties in the millions, tens of millions, even four or five with over a hundred million.

The most terrifying among them was the captain of the Jack Pirates, with a bounty of two hundred and eighty million.

“Kid, you’re dragging Water Seven down with you,” Tom muttered, his face darkening as he watched the endless tide of pirates. He knew then he was doomed.

“Just focus on building the ship. The rest is not your concern. Remember, I want the best. Don’t cut corners, or I won’t hesitate to sink Water Seven beneath the waves.” Xuan Ye eyed Tom, adding a measured threat.

“You... Notify the Navy to collect the pirate corpses. Tell them it’s an order from Rear Admiral Skybird Xuan Ye Tang.” He pointed casually to a pale shipworker.

“Rear Admiral? Skybird Xuan Ye Tang!” Tom’s eyes brightened—he finally recalled why the name was so familiar.

“Who burned my ship? Tired of living?”

“Forcing me to massacre Water Seven!”

Madness, brutality, bloodlust—pirates danced on the edge of violence, rioting in droves.

“A bunch of worthless scum.” Xuan Ye stepped forward, his eyes cold. Perhaps it was the years shackled by the law in his previous life, but upon entering this world of survival of the fittest, he felt like a beast freed from its chains, irrepressibly craving slaughter.

And these pirates, it was clear, had blood on their hands.

...