Deep within the secluded mountains, a hooded figure leaned against an ancient pine, observing Sige's bandit party through narrowed eyes. Even in this desolate wilderness, the man maintained his full disguise—thick cloak swallowing his frame, face obscured save for a sliver of pale skin marked by a crimson square tattoo stretching across his left cheek.
Monkey D. Dragon.
The world's most wanted revolutionary, son of Marine Hero Garp and father to Luffy, had personally come to investigate rumors of a mountain bandit meddling with his son's fate. The supposed "legend" now shuffling along the dirt path shattered all expectations.
"An 8-million berry mountain bandit... manipulating Red-Hair and my son?" Dragon's raspy whisper carried equal parts disdain and disappointment. He flexed his tattooed fingers, tracing the bark's grooves. "Our intelligence network requires immediate cleansing of such..."
His train of thought derailed as thirty rough-looking bandits erupted from the crags ahead, surrounding Sige's twenty-man group.
——
"Look who decided to take a stroll!"
The booming voice belonged to a giant of a man standing at the precipice above—Gilman, leader of the neighboring mountain faction. His rusted cutlass gleamed dully under the noon sun as he spread meaty arms in mock welcome.
"The great Eight Million Berry Bandit himself! How fortunate!"
Gilman's men cackled, weapons clattering against stones. Sige's own bandits instinctively formed a defensive circle, hands gripping sword hilts. Yet their leader remained statue-still, face betraying nothing.
"Now here's a familiar dance," Gilman sneered, spit flying as he jabbed his blade toward Sige. "Your head spikes my bounty. My men swarm yours. Math says you lose."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
One of Sige's bald subordinates hissed, "That's the trash from West Ridge! Thought they only robbed travelers!"
Sige raised a palm, silencing his men. His calculating gaze swept over Gilman's superior numbers before settling on the gloating leader. "You want reputation? Take it." His deep baritone cut through the jeers. "Claim you defeated me. I won't contradict it."
Stunned silence blanketed the mountainside.
Gilman's jaw swung slack. His men exchanged confused glances. Even Dragon's eyebrow twitched beneath his hood.
"B-Boss?!" A scarred bandit beside Sige gaped, sword trembling in hand. "You can't be serious! These maggots aren't—"
But Sige was already moving, hands raised in mock surrender as he strode toward the encircling foes. "Spread the tale however you like. Now clear the path."
Laughter erupted from Gilman's ranks. "The king of cowards!"
Sige's own men stood paralyzed, torn between loyalty and bewilderment. The bald bandit's knuckles whitened around his weapon's grip. "He must have a plan... some genius scheme..."
Gilman scratched his tangled beard, suspicion warring with opportunity. Finally, he jerked his chin—grudgingly parting his men to form a narrow corridor.
"Walk, coward," a pockmarked bandit spat as Sige neared. The man's breath stank of rotten mutton. "No one's afraid of your kind!"
Thud.
The first heartbeat made pebbles skitter.
THUD-THUD-THUD
By the third reverberation, the mountain itself seemed to pulse. Gilman's cutlass slipped from trembling fingers as his men clutched their chests in primal terror.
——
Dragon's Observation Haki exploded.
The Revolutionary leader's tattooed hand flew to his chest, feeling the phantom rhythm shake his bones. Through the trees, he watched Sige's unremarkable features twist—jaw squaring, brows slanting into KING's signature predator glare.
"Problem?"
The simple question rolled forth like thunder. Gilman's bandits collapsed like marionettes with cut strings, weapons clattering to dust. Even Dragon's seasoned fighters would've faltered under that pressurized aura.
"Impossible..." Gilman croaked, knees buckling. "That face... those eyes..."
"Cute dream." Sige stepped over the fallen cleaver, KING's essence amplifying each word into a physical blow. "Become a king? Try surviving the week."
His own bandits swaggered through the petrified enemies, boots kicking aside abandoned blades. "Our Boss toys with Yonko! You're ants!"
——
Dragon reapplied his hood with deliberate slowness, blood still roaring from the encounter. "A wolf cloaked as mutt..." His lips curved beneath fabric. "Perhaps this mountain hides deeper secrets than I imagined."