'Looks like I'll need to strengthen Nami's combat system soon.'
Ren withdrew his gaze thoughtfully, then reached behind him and pulled out the Dragon's Breath Sprayer from the Four-Dimensional Chrysanthemum.
Everything was ready.Let us praise the flames!
In the next instant, a raging fire dragon rampaged across the battlefield. The soldiers who had barely survived until now experienced the "barbecue treatment."
The combination of Flame Arrows and Infinity turned Ren into a merciless fire-breathing dragon.
Wherever his gun barrel pointed, fire swept across in purging waves — everything was reduced to ash under the blazing inferno.
Only when the Dragon's Breath Sprayer began to overheat did Ren finally retract the weapon back into the Four-Dimensional Chrysanthemum's space.
It was at that moment—From within the pile of corpses, Gin stirred. He threw off several bodies covering him and leapt out in a silent, furious assault!
The iron ball of his flail whistled through the air, crushing down with savage force!
Boom—!
The air shuddered violently as thunder cracked.
Blue lightning burst from Ren's body; Raichi flashed through the air, slicing the iron ball cleanly in half.
With a metallic clang, the two severed halves fell to the ground.
Gin was sent flying, slamming into a wall before vomiting blood in heavy gulps.
"I was wondering why I didn't see you earlier," Ren said slowly as he turned around, crimson eyes locking on the battered man struggling to rise. "So you hid underwater and used your comrades as shields."
"In your condition, you shouldn't waste the effort. Just tell me one thing—"
Blue lightning coiled around Raichi's blade, the tip now pointed at his foe.
"Will you save face yourself… or shall I help you save it?"
The same words—words Gin had once thrown at Ren—not long ago, now came back to him from his enemy's lips.
A twitch ran down Gin's face as he gripped the broken handle of his weapon without replying.
"Well, looks like you've made your choice. Figures—loyal dogs like you never change."
Ren's eyes flicked upward.
The blade slid soundlessly back into its sheath—Click—!
The next instant—
His thumb flicked the guard.
The azure blade sprang free, gleaming like lightning itself.
First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
A crack of thunder split the air. The blue arc blazed like spring thunder awakening the world, slicing through Gin's neck in a fiery flash.
As the sword returned to its sheath, a soft shing marked the fall of Gin's severed head.The headless body staggered two steps before collapsing, both hands landing beside its own head—as if still trying to pick it up and fight again.
Unfortunately, Gin was no Xingtian[1].
'A respectable man… but since he stood against me, pity has no place.'
Ren glanced once, then looked away. He walked through the battlefield casually, searching for any survivors.
None.After enduring fire, lightning, and storm, not a single soldier remained alive.
Nami was nowhere nearby; she was darting through the Shell Company buildings like a nimble cat, searching for hidden treasure.
A business this large couldn't possibly have no money, right?
Soon enough, thanks to her efforts, she found a heavily sealed vault.
Though the lock looked complex, after spending so much time with Ren, Nami had learned to simplify things.
She aimed the Magical Clima-Tact's sky-blue tip at the door.A bubble emerged from the rod's hollow end.
With a flick of her wrist, the bubble burst—releasing a gale that pierced the metal door like countless wind-blades.
Boom—!
The vault door shattered inward, and Nami stepped into the treasure room she sought.
Inside were piles of gold and silver worth about ten million Beli—not much, but decent for a branch office that doubled as an auction site.
And then, she made a major discovery.
A chest full of Beli!The total—one hundred million!
That was far too much for regular business funds.
"These guys must've been waiting for Don Krieg's pirates to wipe us out," Nami mused, eyes glinting. "Then they'd resume their deal and use this money to buy the goods Krieg's men wanted."
She grinned. "Jackpot! Chester, come here."
Having figured out the situation, Nami cheerfully took out Eye Bone from her 'valley,' and Chester—tongue lolling—bounded toward her.
She picked a few of the most valuable jewels from the pile and stuffed them into her 'valley,' then shoved the entire chest of Beli into Chester's mouth before continuing to pack up the rest.
Throughout it all, she didn't see Ren appear—and then she seemed to realize something.
'Forget it. That guy wouldn't actually take everything from me, right?'
After hesitating, Nami sighed and retrieved all the gems, feeding them to Chester as well.
Then—
She led Chester to the reception room, where Ren was calmly sipping hot tea—occasionally gargling and spitting into a bowl.
"What are you doing? Tea is meant to be tasted, not gargled," Nami asked incredulously.
"Rinsing. My mouth still tastes like the sea."
Ren exhaled softly, stood, and walked toward the exit. "Let's go. Time to head back."
Outside, people were already peeking in—and froze at the carnage they saw.
The once-grand commercial building was now riddled with craters and scorch marks.Lightning scars and charred corpses littered the street.
The so-called big shot lay headless before a wall.Don Krieg's officer and his five hundred soldiers—completely annihilated by just two people.
"T-They're demons…" someone whispered.
When they saw Ren and Nami step out, the onlookers screamed and fled in terror.
Ren glanced at them indifferently and kept walking.
As they left the area, more civilians appeared—crowding the houses on both sides of the street, staring at the two figures in awe and fear.
"The Demon Pirates sure made a name for themselves," Nami remarked, eyes glittering as she leaned closer. "What do you think?"
"I think you're wrong," Ren replied.
"Wrong? About what?"
"We're not pirates. Not before, not now, and not ever."
He placed a hand on Nami's head and ruffled her orange hair despite her protest."That 'Demon Pirates' title is just something outsiders made up. Nothing more."
"So what do you want to be, then?" Nami pressed, recalling Zoro's words. "The future of this crew, the thing you're chasing—what's our reason for sailing forward?"
"…I don't really know." Ren's pace quickened, his voice cold. "But everything in this world right now makes me sick. So I'll destroy it. Destroy everything that disgusts me."
"You seriously need therapy," Nami muttered, hurrying to keep up.
Before long, they returned to the Pipi Shrimp—which was just as chaotic as before.
Zoro stood with his swords planted in the ground, a dozen men kneeling before him.Far more corpses lay motionless across the dock.
By the railing, Nojiko stood with her Desert Eagle, eyes sharp and cold as she watched over the carnage.
But all of that quiet broke the moment Ren and Nami returned.
(End of Chapter)
[1] Chinese Mythology character