One Piece Shadow Army - Chapter 14

On the wrecked pirate ship, an astonishing scene unfolded before the eyes of both the marines and pirates.

As Curls finished speaking, the shadow of the previously deceased Yulong began to gather, slowly solidifying until it formed a nearly five-meter-tall shadow.

Judging by its appearance and features, everyone could tell this was the Giant Fist Pirates’ captain, Yulong. But Yulong had died, and this was now Shadow Soldier [Yulong]!

Standing over four meters tall, almost like a small giant, the shadowy form of Yulong exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.

“Stand down,” Curls commanded, and [Yulong] retreated into the shadows.

Most of the marines hadn’t known much about Curls’ abilities, but after today’s battle, they could make some educated guesses.

Could he summon shadows to fight for him?

Kahn pondered the implications. If this ability could be further developed, it could become immensely powerful, potentially equating one man to an entire battalion…

After the battle, it was time for cleanup.

The Giant Fist Pirates, known for their strength in this region, had amassed significant loot on their ship. Though most of this loot would be handed over to the authorities, the marines who fought were also entitled to a share. This was one of the reasons why, despite the dangers, many still chose to become Marines.

For the new recruits, this first battle not only restored their confidence but also earned them some spoils of war, significantly lifting their spirits.

Dasquie approached Curls, bowing deeply and loudly expressing her gratitude, “Thank you!”

The sudden loud thank you caught everyone’s attention on the deck.

Curls, who had been collecting weapons, was almost startled by the outburst.

What a fool! Why thank me so loudly?

He mentally grumbled about the eccentricities of this fantastical world of pirates.

“You don’t need to thank me. I just wanted to test my strength, and saving you happened to be a coincidence,” he said, hoping to avoid further interaction with this foolish woman.

But Dasquie bowed again, “Regardless, thank you!”

Feeling exasperated, Curls ended the conversation quickly, “Alright, I get it.”

He resumed his work, ignoring the onlookers who had lost interest and returned to their tasks.

…

After the battlefield was cleaned up, the Marines counted thirty-two captured pirates. With twenty-one days left in the recruit training period, Kahn temporarily held these pirates on the patrol ship, assigning guards to watch over them.

Time passed quickly, and it was soon evening. Curls was scheduled for the midnight watch. After midnight, he went out to take over the watch from other recruits.

As soon as he opened the door, the chilly sea breeze hit him, bringing a slight sense of cold.

Standing on the deck, Curls carefully observed his surroundings. With the enhanced senses from the Shadow Fruit, he could hear conversations from the ship’s stern.

Some other marines on the night watch were chatting to pass the time.

“I wonder what rank we’ll get after the training period ends. I’m really looking forward to it!”

“Marine ranks are awarded based on performance and merit. Curls killed a pirate worth seven million berries and then another worth ten million. These achievements should earn him a warrant officer rank.”

“A warrant officer? That seems a bit much.”

“Don’t forget, he’s different from us. He’s a rare Devil Fruit user. At the end-of-training ceremony, his rank will probably far surpass ours.”

A warrant officer? Listening to the other recruits, Curls couldn’t help but fantasize about what rank he might receive. However, with twenty-one days left in the training period, such thoughts were premature.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Curls resumed his observations. After half an hour, confirming there was no activity, he moved down to the lower deck.

Click!

As Curls opened the door, he found a few veteran marines on guard duty inside, along with thirty-two bound pirates.

After switching places with a marine, Curls sat on a stool, watching over the pirate captives.

Some of the captured pirates had initially planned to cause trouble, but upon seeing Curls, they quickly quieted down. They knew he was the formidable marine who had killed their captain, Yulong.

Creating chaos while Curls was on watch was akin to seeking death.

…

On the twentieth day of the patrol, the recruits had encountered three pirate crews, winning each battle. However, this led to the capture of seventy pirates, posing a significant threat to the marines on board.

On the twenty-first day, Kahn returned to Loguetown to hand over the pirates to the marine base before resuming the patrol.

…

“What are you looking at?” came the voice of Mod from beside him as Curls stood at the bow, enjoying the sea breeze.

Mod looked well-rested. After over ten days of treatment, his injuries from Yulong had healed.

Curls responded briefly, “The sea.”

Mod glanced at the calm ocean, then leaned against the patrol ship’s railing. “Always calm and quiet. Nothing much to see… By the way, how did you get so strong so quickly? Even pirates with bounties of ten million berries can’t beat you.”

Curls thought for a moment before replying, “Maybe it’s because I was lucky to eat a Devil Fruit.”

Mod smirked, “Everyone at the base knows you only sleep three hours a day and train constantly. Luck, huh?”

Curls nodded seriously, “Yes, luck. If not for the Devil Fruit, I wouldn’t be able to train with so little sleep.”

Mod was at a loss for words. “So, after killing Yulong, the government will reward you with his bounty, around seven million berries. How do you plan to spend it?”

Curls replied calmly, “I’m not interested in money.”

Before discovering the treasure left by his ancestor, Count Charlotte, he was interested in money. But now, with that wealth, he did not need for it.

Mod was speechless again. No wonder the other recruits said Curls was cold and aloof; he was a conversation killer!

…

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