If the Cursed Blade: Thousand Edge could be further developed—merging its unpredictable transformations with high-frequency vibration—it would become a terrifying weapon capable of turning an ordinary swing into a devastating ultimate strike. At its peak, Ren could unleash a thousand high-frequency slashes in an instant, even after the blade fragmented—each shard still retaining its vibrating edge.
"How terrifying… if you got cut by that, you'd be in real trouble." Urouge gripped the half-broken Pencil Pillar, his usual grin unwavering. "Then let's keep fighting."
He hefted the heavy column like a battering ram and charged forward like a tank in motion. Ren stepped out calmly—blue-violet lightning flickering across his body—before unleashing five lightning-fast slashes in a blur.
The supposedly indestructible pillar shattered into four chunks on contact. The last streak of lightning merely grazed Urouge's arm, yet it tore away a third of the flesh.
"Karma—!" Urouge snarled, eyes reddening with pain and excitement. He seized the opportunity, swinging the remaining half of the column straight down.
"—Retribution!"
The blow struck like a meteor. The ground caved in ten meters deep, and the whole street quaked. Dust rose in a roaring cloud—yet when it cleared, the spot was empty.
"Gone?" Urouge spun around warily, unable to sense anything. Nearby, Ander and Ika held their Fire Rifles, nervous and unsure what to say—until both rifles suddenly snapped cleanly in half.
"Invisible!?" Urouge's pupils shrank, but he still couldn't detect a thing.
A cold sound tore through the air—shuk! Urouge doubled over, clutching at the invisible blade that had pierced his abdomen.
The sensation was indescribable—his hand grasped at something that continuously cut him even as he held it. Flesh shredded layer by layer, and the unseen sword twisted his insides into a mess.
A trapped beast refusing to die, Urouge roared through gritted teeth, "Karma—!"His entire body suddenly swelled—growing from nearly four meters to over six.
From afar, he looked like a giant clutching a toy sword stuck in his gut.
"—Retribution!!"
He slammed his fist down. The earth split open in a twenty-meter fracture, shockwaves blasting Ander and Ika off their feet. But Urouge's expression darkened—he hadn't hit anything.
Without warning, Ren's figure appeared beside the fissure, calm curiosity in his eyes. With a flick of his fingers, the Cursed Blade: Thousand Edge, still caught in Urouge's hand, scattered into countless fragments and reformed in Ren's grip.
"What… is that?"
Urouge's frown softened into a grin, his massive body flexing to halt the bleeding.
"I told you mine, so tell me about your ability?"
Ren tilted his head, intrigued. The original story had never explained Urouge's powers in detail.
"…I call it Karma Retribution," Urouge said slowly. "A Paramecia-type fruit—let's call it the Karma-Karma Fruit. The more I'm oppressed or hurt, the more power I store up like a spring—and when I strike back, I release it all at once."
"Thanks to this fruit, I love fighting. Getting beaten, then releasing that power—it feels incredible. It also means I can take more punishment than most."
He showed his arm—the wound from Ren's earlier slash had already healed.
"See? I regenerate fast. Once, when I fought swordsmen, the wounds would heal mid-fight.Your blade's strong—but that's all."
"I see."
Ren nodded, then added bluntly, "That was invisibility just now. My abilities aren't limited to one. Firing my blade, turning it into shards, recalling it—it's all normal to me."
"That's… unfair," Urouge narrowed his eyes.
"You're alive—that's your compensation." Ren shrugged. "Now, still want to fight? Or talk?"
"I told you," Urouge growled. "My fruit only gets stronger under pressure. You've already attacked me—and I'm a battle maniac!"
His eyes gleamed with wild delight. "You're not stronger than me. Your sword's sharp, but if I hit you once, you'll die!"
"Understood," Ren said softly. "Then kneel—and speak."
BOOM!
The cloud-island ground quaked as Urouge charged like a raging bull.
At the same moment, faint thunder crackled through the air. The Thunder Spear's alternating electric field generated immense charge over hundreds of meters.
Lightning arcs multiplied. Ren drew in the power—his Control Lightning trait activating—as electricity converged around him.
He sheathed his blade. Thin arcs of electricity spilled from the scabbard's edge.
Click.
Then, with a flick of his thumb, the lightning-wrapped violet blade snapped free.
A blinding flash filled Urouge's vision—and the next instant, a crescent of thunder cleaved downward.
BOOM!
The azure arc split him open mercilessly, tearing flesh and breaching the very limits of his "resistance."
"Gwah—!"
Urouge vomited blood. The wound stretched from shoulder to hip, nearly cleaving him in two.Pain and pleasure mixed—then the terror of death smothered it all.
Even his fruit had limits—and those limits were his body. Once surpassed, it meant death—or something close to it.
He couldn't understand. The man before him wasn't even stronger in raw force—so how…?
"Surprised?" Ren said, voice calm. "Power isn't everything. If one can fully harness their strength, even the weak can strike down the mighty. Besides… my strength isn't mine alone. I have the lightning."
He strode forward, eyes glowing crimson as he glanced at the two Skypieans behind Urouge. Murderous intent surged—so dense it manifested behind him as a twisted demonic silhouette.
The killing aura sliced through the air like blades.
Ika fainted instantly; Ander froze in terror.
So this is how far my killing intent has evolved… Ren thought, withdrawing it.
He crouched beside the dying Urouge and took out a Healing Potion from his four-dimensional storage.
"If you want to live, agree to be my dog. I don't know why you sky people hate us 'Blue Sea' men so much—but believe me—to be a Blue Sea man's dog is an honor. Otherwise…"
He didn't finish—just shook the red potion. Urouge hesitated, then nodded painfully.
Five or six potions later—and with a triple-linked explosive collar—Ren finally gained a loyal "guide."
Of course, that also meant dealing with the berserk Anka islanders—a hassle, but manageable.
After assessing the situation, Ren raised his blade skyward. The Thunder Spear fired like a beam into the heavens. Above, dark clouds had already gathered—Nami's doing.
Lightning transformed into a vast field of storming energy, silver serpents writhing through the black sky. Ren's four wings unfurled as he rose into the storm, overlooking the chaotic island below.
Thousands of Anka warriors were still hunting the few Blue Sea pirates, whether guilty or not.
But really, were any pirates innocent?
Ren didn't care to judge. He'd simply clean the board.
This time, he'd use a new trick. As the storm reached its peak, the Thunder Spear returned to his hand in a streak of light.
The four-winged angel looked down coldly—and pointed the spear.
Divine Punishment: Myriad Thunders!
Electric control activated. Tens of thousands of bolts fell like rain, relentless and deafening.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!Thunder rolled endlessly, drowning screams as the battlefield turned into a divine tribunal.
Of course, Ren wasn't a devil—he only half-killed the Anka people, while fully eradicating the pirates.
After all—Ren's crew weren't pirates, and the Anka sought to destroy pirates. So by removing the pirates, everything balanced out.
When lightning finally ceased, the harbor crews knew it was time to act.
Zoro charged first, his Rhino Return slash cutting down twenty-seven foes in one blow.
Nami, having finished her weather setup, slipped away to search for treasure.
Meanwhile, Nojiko donned the Flame Crown, the Dragon Talisman etching dragon patterns into her palms.
The fiery Sunny Doll spun joyfully around the Flame Queen, activating the Sunny Weather trait—turning the field into a burning inferno.
In the next moment, a vortex of fire gathered in her hands. A wrinkled bear doll expanded into a giant Flame Demon Bear.
The Anka warriors—planning to attack both pirates and Ren's group—were unprepared.Before they could react, the demon bear's flaming paw swept aside a dozen at once.
Praise the flames.
Nojiko walked forward, her Flame Armor igniting seas of fire with every step. The heat drove her enemies mad with terror—screaming as they fled. Like an avalanche of fire, she crushed half the port's resistance by herself.
In terms of area coverage and visual dominance, Zoro was far outmatched.
"So strong…" whispered Vivi from the Enlightenment's deck, eyes sparkling. Threads of golden sand circled her palms—the Desert Spada training Crocodile had taught her. But with too little practice, she wasn't yet allowed to fight.
Robin and Karasu guarded the ship, ensuring no harm came to it.
Within three minutes, the port was silent—all enemies down.
Ren returned soon after, leading his three prisoners down streets littered with charred bodies.
"So you're saying—you just wanted the way to Angel Island?"
Urouge, now bandaged from head to toe, had begun serving as Ren's obedient dog. Only now did he realize these "Blue Sea" visitors weren't pirates at all—but envoys with their own mission.
Ander had simply attacked too broadly, sparking the conflict. Now, pale and trembling, he muttered, "You could've said so earlier! We wouldn't have been electrocuted if you'd just said so—those guys…"
He trailed off, glancing at the blackened corpses nearby. Clearly, they'd agree with him—if they could.
Truth be told, Ander felt little remorse. They'd once been sky pirates after all—sinners in another life.
So dying "ironically, yet deservedly" wasn't too bad.
Ren sighed. "Didn't I say we could talk?"
Ander fell silent.Urouge simply shrugged. "I know Angel Island—and how to get there.But that place isn't like Anka. It has a god—an incredibly powerful one.
I don't know if you've met other sky gods on your way here…but trust me, the god of Angel Island is terrifying."
"What's so special about him?" Nami asked curiously.
"He once destroyed a cloud island—Birka."
Urouge's face hardened. "It's said a pillar of lightning erased the entire island—left nothing but a gaping void in the sky."
"Sounds like a fun opponent," Zoro muttered, disappointed by the lack of real challenge at the port.
"And his priests," Urouge added. "They're far stronger than the retired sky pirates here. Ander's bunch don't even meet the lowest priest level."
"I'm aware." Ren cut him off. "I only need a route to Angel Island. As for the enemies there—I'll handle them."
"…Fine. Then let's get ready to leave."
Urouge didn't argue. The explosive collar around his neck discouraged rebellion.He loved battle—but not enough to die needlessly.
"No rush," Ren said, waving a hand. "Let's take a walk."
Like walking a dog, he had Urouge lead him through the fascinating floating land.He'd always wanted to experience the unique world of the sky islands himself.
The surviving Ankans dared not oppose them again—especially not the lightning-and-fire-wielding "pirates." To keep their peace, they paid a hundred million Beli in ransom and reparations—the very limit of what they could afford.
(End of Chapter)