Noir leapt onto the boat, his gleaming blade slowly sliding back into its sheath.

Behind him, the dismembered Sea King fell into the water, landing in a net the fishermen had prepared.

One strike and done!

The fishermen got busy; such a stunning kill seemed routine to them.

After all, this ten-year-old was the strongest person in Cocoyasi Village.

Noir lay at the boat's bow, cheerfully watching the bustling activity around him.

"Whoosh—"

A piercing howl suddenly echoed across the sea, and Noir's eyes narrowed.

Could it be?

"Boom!"

A violent shockwave erupted next to the fishing boat, sending up a towering spray of water that drenched everyone on board.

Cannon fire?!

Noir steadied himself against the ship's railing and peered into the distance. A massive black boat was slowly approaching.

Smoke still billowed from a cannon on its side.

The black flag flying above was particularly striking.

A stark white skull on a black background—a pirate flag.

"Pirates?" Noir straightened up, gripping his sword, his face darkening with anger.

We are getting hit with a cannon shot for no reason—who wouldn't be furious?

But the good news was, this pirate crew wasn't the Arlong Pirates.

I've always been the one to fire cannons at others; no one has dared fire at me!

Fuming, Noir shouted to the panicked fishermen on board, "Head back to the village!"

"I'm going to show them what cruelty means!"

On the pirate ship, a scar-faced man with a sinister grin turned to the captain and said, "Captain, look at those guys panicking. Seeing the Barbarian Bear Pirate Crew's flag makes them scared out of their wits."

The man addressed as the captain was a burly man with a beer belly, his face full of brutish features.

"I am 'Barbarian Bear' Kembra and everyone must get out of my way."

Captain Kembra laughed arrogantly, pointing a thick finger at the fishing boat and shouting, "Board that ship! Then storm the village and take everything you can!"

"Oh!" The crew of miscreants howled in unison, springing into action.

The burly sailors hurled Several grappling hooks, latching onto the fishing boat and creating a path.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Board the ship, men!" Kembra roared, his yellow teeth bared in a vile grin.

A swarm of pirates, like locusts, surged across the ropes. Noir frowned and said to the fishermen, "I'll cut the ropes. You go back to the village and warn everyone!"

"I'll handle these guys!"

Without waiting for a response, Noir sprang towards the ropes and charged at the pirates!

"Noir!" the fishermen called out, but Noir didn't listen.

He had been craving a real fight for a long time!

The fishermen exchanged anxious glances until one of them finally said, "Let's go back to the village for reinforcements!"

Noir charged at the pirate ship, gripping his sword's sheath with his left hand, slashing with his right, and cutting through the ropes in a flash.

A chorus of screams erupted as pirates fell into the sea, but Noir's advance didn't slow. He sprinted along the remaining rope towards his enemies.

Seeing a kid take down many of his men, Kembra was enraged. "What are you lot doing? Chop him into pieces and toss him overboard!"

Several steel blades swung at Noir, but he remained unfazed.

His sword danced like a snake, deflecting all the attacks.

In the blink of an eye, his blade cut through the pirates, leaving crimson gashes that sprayed blood into the air. The pirates fell into the sea like dumplings, unconscious.

Noir, born amidst death, wasn't fazed by this level of slaughter.

"What?!" Kembra stared in shock at Noir, who stood like a one-man army. The scar-faced man beside him was too terrified to speak.

Seeing his men retreat in fear, Kembra roared, "You useless cowards, get him!"

"I'll give you a hand."

Noir's young voice rang out, sending chills down the pirates' spines.

He leapt over the attacking pirates and landed on their ship like a phantom.

With one hand on the deck and the other gripping his blood-stained sword, Noir looked up at Kembra with a chilling smile. "Hello, the pirate captain."

He stared intently at Kembra, then turned and cut the last rope.

Seeing this, The fishermen's boat turned and returned to the village.

Ignoring the screams of the falling pirates, Noir pointed his sword at the scar-faced man next to Kembra. "Was it you who fired that cannon at me?"

The man's face turned deathly pale, and he frantically shook his head. "No, no... it wasn't intentional! I was just... argh!"

Kembra, his face dark, punched the scar-faced man, sending him crashing into the deck, his fate unknown.

The surrounding pirates fell silent, and Noir raised an eyebrow, mocking, "What? You kill your men?"

Kembra sneered, "Useless trash isn't fit to be my crew!"

"Kid, want to join my pirate crew?"

Noir was taken aback, smiled, and said, "Your pirate crew? Are you famous?"

Kembra laughed wildly without answering, and his crew joined in.

One of them pulled out a yellowed wanted poster from his pants and proudly declared, "Our captain is a super pirate with a bounty of 15 million Berries!"

"Captain of the Barbarian Bear Pirate Crew, known as 'Barbarian Bear' Kembra!"

"Even the East Blue overlord Krieg is no match for our captain!"

With a wave of Kembra's hand, the laughter stopped abruptly. He then extended his invitation to Noir, "Krieg is no match for me. I will become the new overlord of the East Blue, but that's not the end!"

"I will easily defeat everyone, find the One Piece, and become the Pirate King! Kid, join me!"

Noir watched Kembra's performance with a look of disdain.

At first, he thought this guy's bounty was something impressive.

East Blue overlord? Pirate King?

A super pirate with a 15 million Berries bounty?

Ha.

Just a frog in a well who had never seen the world.

Even someone as strong as Zoro had to face Mihawk to realize his limitations.

Luffy, with his protagonist's halo, had to endure crushing defeats and the pain of losing his brother before realizing his powerlessness.

In that light, this ignorant pirate's delusions were almost understandable.

Noir looked up and smiled at Kembra.

Seeing Noir's smile, Kembra thought he had agreed, but then Noir's harsh words shattered his illusion:

"You will not become the overlord of the East Blue, nor will you become the Pirate King."

"Your journey of crime ends here."

"By my hand."