One Piece Shadow Army - Chapter 51
The Arlong Pirates have been defeated!
As this news spread among the Marines, the villagers of Cocoyasi Village were initially at a loss.
Could it be true that in such a short time, the powerful Arlong Pirates had been wiped out?
It seemed like a joke!
But as the Marines assured them, a glimmer of hope began to rise in the villagers’ hearts.
Finally.
The entire village gathered at Arlong Park.
Upon witnessing the decimation of the Fishmen of the Arlong Pirates with their own eyes, the villagers, who had been oppressed for five years, couldn’t help but erupt with various emotions.
There were those who were overjoyed, those who were moved to tears, and those who, remembering their loved ones killed by Arlong, now cried out in relief for their avenged deaths.
But regardless of their individual reactions.
Justice had arrived in the form of the Marines today.
The Arlong Pirates had been eliminated, and Cocoyasi Village was finally liberated.
……
Curls climbed to the upper levels of the large building of Arlong Park, where he found a mountain of nautical charts.
These must have been drawn by Nami.
At this time, Nami wasn’t present at Arlong Park, probably out at sea, stealing in an effort to gather the 100 million berries to buy back the village.
Unfortunately, Nami was unaware that even if she managed to collect the agreed amount of money three years later, Arlong and Captain Nezumi would conspire to steal it.
Agreements meant nothing to Arlong.
“But the story doesn’t have to play out the same way!”
A sea breeze blew in through the window, rustling Curls’s black hair as he put down the chart and turned to leave.
The Arlong Pirates had been wiped out by him!
Nami, still out at sea, might not know this yet, but when she returned, she would find a Cocoyasi Village free of tyranny.
……
Although the Arlong Pirates had been defeated, they had occupied twenty villages over the years, making the follow-up work complex.
It wasn’t until the afternoon of the next day that Curls and his team, having completed their tasks, left from Cocoyasi Village’s port.
Amid the enthusiastic farewells of the villagers.
The patrol ship, carrying the captured Fishman pirates and Captain Nezumi, set sail back to Loguetown.
……
On the second day after leaving Cocoyasi Village.
Waves lapped against the ship as the patrol ship smoothly made its way back.
On deck, the Marines diligently carried out their duties.
Faced with the dangers of the sea, these Marines felt no fear.
Why? Because they were led by Ensign Curls, a powerful officer.
From their time as recruits, they had witnessed Curls’s strength and dedication, seeing him defeat one formidable pirate after another.
Giant Fist Euron, with a bounty of 10 million berries!
Redbeard, with a bounty of 24 million berries!
And now, Arlong, with a bounty of 20 million berries!
To these Marines, Ensign Curls was almost invincible in the East Blue.
Even if they encountered a powerful pirate fleet, they believed they would not face significant danger.
With this confidence.
As the patrol ship neared the waters around Loguetown, they encountered a pirate ship!
It was dusk.
Due to the dim light.
The lookouts had difficulty spotting the pirate ship in time.
By the time they noticed it, the pirate ship had already seen them.
“Ensign, we have trouble!”
“It’s the ‘Warlord of the East Blue,’ the Krieg Pirates!”
With this report, the atmosphere on the patrol ship instantly tensed.
Though Krieg’s bounty was only 18 million berries, his title as the ‘Warlord of the East Blue’ was due to his vast fleet.
Curls emerged from the cabin, took the telescope, and began observing the sea.
As far as he could see.
The sea was filled with pirate ships flying various flags.
A rough count.
Revealed thirty-six pirate ships!
Although the Krieg Pirates Fleet had yet to reach its future strength of fifty ships, the thirty-six ships now before them were still formidable.
Recent intel suggested that the Krieg Pirates had over three thousand men.
Such a powerful force could rival a Marine branch.
And at this moment, the patrol ship only had fifty Marines on board.
Three thousand versus fifty!
The disparity in forces was immense!
“Can we retreat?”
Curls asked Daschi beside him.
Daschi’s face darkened, shaking her head. “Ensign Curls, we can’t retreat. Several pirate ships have already spotted us!”
Curls put down the telescope.
“Then we’ll fight!”
“Huh?” Daschi looked shocked as if she hadn’t heard correctly.
Curls, exasperated with this slow-witted “blonde idiot,” repeated.
“We’ll fight!”
Once she understood, Daschi and the surrounding Marines tried to dissuade him.
“There are too many pirates; we can’t possibly win!”
“Yeah! Ensign! There are three thousand of them!”
“Our ship will be sunk easily!”
Whistle!
The shrill sound of a cannonball tearing through the air!
A black cannonball flew from the main cannon of a pirate ship.
Curls drew his new standard-issue sword and slashed.
Boom!
The high-speed cannonball split in two, exploding harmlessly in the water.
“The enemy has already started attacking! Do you think we have any other choice?” Curls stood on the deck, coldly asking.
The sudden cannon attack.
Momentarily stunned the Marines.
As they recovered, they knew there was no retreat, and they could only follow the ensign into battle.
Curls continued deflecting incoming cannonballs while issuing commands.
“Helmsman, turn the rudder, approach the rightmost pirate ship for a boarding action!”
“Yes, sir.”
Though approaching the Krieg Pirates Fleet seemed suicidal, they had to trust in Ensign Curls’s strength.
The patrol ship adjusted its course, accelerating towards the rightmost pirate ship.
The pirate ship’s cannon fire.
Was mostly inaccurate.
Most cannonballs fell into the sea, creating splashes. Curls only had to deflect a few that might damage the ship.
……
On the fringes of the Krieg Pirates Fleet.
Several pirate ships spotted the small Marine patrol ship and began firing for amusement.
But, perhaps due to the drunken state of the pirate gunners, the cannonballs kept missing the patrol ship.
This angered the pirates.
As they fumed, they noticed the patrol ship drawing closer.
What’s going on? Are they suicidal?
Didn’t they see the thirty-six ships of the Krieg Pirates Fleet?
Regardless of their thoughts.
The patrol ship closed in, finally boarding one of the pirate ships.
Curls, wearing his Marine coat, boarded the pirate ship.
Facing the vicious pirates, he attacked without hesitation!
Blades clashed!
In the face of Curls’s overwhelming strength, the pirates were easily slaughtered.
As one pirate after another fell, their screams drew the attention of nearby pirate ships.
More pirate ships closed in.
In no time.
The patrol ship was surrounded by seven or eight pirate ships, leaving no escape route.
As far as the eye could see.
Dozens of pirates emerged on the decks, sneering, their swords glinting menacingly.
Facing hundreds and thousands of enemies.
The Marines only had Ensign Curls and fifty soldiers.
Anyone could see.
The Marines were the underdogs.
But Curls showed no fear, his battle spirit rising.
“Rise!”
With Curls’s command.
Shadow soldiers began to appear around him, quickly filling the pirate ship.
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