For only a moment Leroy bit down on his lip as he kept his eyes on what was unfolding in front of him These privateers...They were gonna be his crews' roadblocks too. And if he they were as strong as Ducasse said...It just meant that they were gonna be another set of opponents that Leroy was gonna have to beat to achieve his goal. But that was something to think about when they actually encountered them...

"Le-Leroy...Maybe I can help...I could go and ge-get my weapon from the palm an-" Jeanne began to speak, only for the captain to suddenly snap, quietly.

"No! Don't you dare interfere. This is his fight." Leroys eyes didn't shift from the man in front. Who finally stopped, and looked at the Swordsmen in front of him.

That was when Kirk finally peaked his head out of the hole in the wall.

As soon as his eyes landed on that single, small boat and that elusive sword, Kirk felt his heart drop. Drop far far down. Nearly underwater trench deep where fish beyond anyone's imagination would lie. He grabbed at his chest in fear, as if trying to still and keep his beating heart from flying out of his chest.

He had heard the rumors and gruesome stories from his travels around East Blue. Hell, he had heard of a lot of big names before, but never in his life would he think he would see one of them. Kirk stumbled back a bit, glancing around the restaurant to figure out what to do... before something came to mind. He looked at the rest of the crew and assured himself they would be fine fighting this man, before turning around and hurrying to the exterior around Rose Arbor, disappearing from the scene.

A Deep voice reverberated through the entire crowd. The man finally speaking.

"Look at you. A pathetic mess of tears, and fear. You'd be better off using that cheap piece of steel you call a weapon to end your own life than take up more space than you already are." His words were as sharp as a sword as his vibrant, crimson gold eyes were locked onto Giesei.

Hannibal then took the larger blade, and swiftly sheathed it onto his back.

"I thought- I thought I got away...How'd you-" He was cut off as a piece of wood was dropped in front of him. Saltwater dripping from its surface.

"Catch you? Did you honestly think that sending your ship off in some random direction would have sent me Awry? Please." He gave a small tilt of his head, gesturing with his hands, giving a look of sarcastic pity.

His eyes then fell upon one Masamune Kále

Immediately, Kále was thrown back to his childhood. Remembering the promise he and his friend made to become the strongest, the journey he went on to find her, the things he'd done to get to her, and... the people he'd met since then. That was their promise and it was simply up to Kále to do something about it now since his friend was no longer a swordsman. Kále... had to do it now. There was no choice.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"You... World's Strongest Swordsman... you've got time to kill right? Fight me, right here, right now." The First Mate spoke, his voice was rushed and hurried, but confident and proud

Kale's grin grew as he finished speaking, knowing that any respectable swordsman would accept any request to duel given to them. This was it, this was where his life had led him. He could finally do his friend justice and complete her goal.

"Masamune..." Giesei began. "Are you a fucking Idiot? Do you want to die?"

But the words fell on deaf ears. And Giesei took that as his chance to get away from the situation. Suddenly standing to his feet and pushing through the crowd! Running to somewhere far from there!

The Apex gave a small tilt of his head, and cocked an eyebrow. The look strangely enough looked like a predator tilting it's head at prey

"Challenging me? Here of all places? How pitiful." Even with the prey he was chasing now making a run for it. He still hadn't moved from. He was unblinking, looking the First Mate up and down.

"Tell me. What is your goal?" He said as he lifted a hand up and pulled something from his sleeve. It looked to be a tooth pick...No it was bone. A shard of bone that had been sharpened to a point. The pale off white color stood in contrast to the dark colors of the mans attire.

This was no mere bone. It was the bone of a Sea King. The first thing that the Man had ever killed.

Kale's grip on his swords tightened as the swordsman's head tilted toward him. The absolute pressure that the man placed on the area around him was indescribable. It was absurd, no wonder Gisei gave in so quickly,

Kale was not Gisei however-

He was better.

"My goal?" He began, lifting a sword up and aiming it toward Hannibal. "To kill you and become the World's Strongest Swordsman."

Kale thought, ' What is that... in his hands.' as he peered at the sharpened bone, he was confused. Was he going to fight with that? Surely he was kidding? The voice of the Strongest snapped him back to attention.

"Hmph. So you're like everyone else in the world that brands themselves as blades. Wandering the World with such false ambitions, cutting down everything in your way in a vain attempt to one day reach me? So be it..." His eyes were hooded. With a look of unamusement on his face.

"Planning something with that? What kind of fight is this going to be?" Kale jerked his head toward the small bone in the swordsman's hand, trying to figure out just what he was planning with that thing.

"Oh this? Who in their right mind would use a hammer to kill a fly? Unfortunately, This is the Smallest blade I have. It's a bone from my first kill. The bone of sea king is said to be nearly as strong as any forged steel. But I don't think that's true..." He lifted the bone in his hand, looking it over. It was only 3 inches long. But in his it was only about 2.

He then lifted the bone into the air and pointed it at Kále. "Come. Perhaps you'll be able to be more amusing then those before you..."