Escalating Murder
Bang!
The planks above the cabin were kicked apart, splinters raining down as pirates shouted with raw brutality.
"You filthy villagers—out! Now!"
Before anyone could react, the terrified villagers were dragged from the hold and shoved onto the deck like livestock. The ship was small; with twenty pirates already on deck, adding an entire village turned the place into a human cage.
Fear spread instantly.
Some villagers trembled.
Some tried to look for an escape that didn't exist.
Some simply collapsed, too hopeless to speak.
Running was impossible—only endless open water surrounded them.
Fighting back? Against a pirate captain worth 18 million Berries?
They were prey.
And the butchers were smiling.
Ajax stood on the upper deck, expression twisted with impatience. He cast a cold glance over the villagers, then turned and gave his subordinate a silent wave.
The slender pirate at his side straightened immediately. He knew exactly what the gesture meant.
"Throw them overboard!"
Cargo—whether people or supplies—was meaningless when the enemy behind you was Don Krieg's fleet.
Anything expendable had to be discarded.
The pirates surged forward.
It wasn't pushing—it was kicking, stabbing, beating.
Screams echoed as villagers were forced toward the railings.
"Plop! Plop! Plop!"
One by one, they hit the ocean like dumplings tossed into boiling water.
Yang Ning, physically weaker than the rest, was squeezed into the middle of the struggling mass.
The pirates hadn't reached him yet, but the deck's edge was growing near. A few more seconds and he would be overboard with the rest.
Is there a transmigrator as unlucky as me? I have a cheat system! I picked my own skill set! I'm supposed to crush Admirals and Yonko one day—why am I about to get tossed like trash!?
His eyes stung from frustration as he shuffled helplessly forward.
But just as his foot stepped onto the very edge—
FWOOOOSH—BOOM!
A deafening whistle split the air.
Two massive iron shells slammed into Ajax's ship with terrifying precision. The deck lurched violently as the explosions tore through the hull.
Villagers were thrown aside like rag dolls.
Yang Ning fell, rolling frantically back toward the center of the deck.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"
The pirates panicked, scattering toward weapon racks and cannons.
"Get these useless villagers below—move!"
The cold-faced pirate began kicking them again, but now the villagers resisted with desperate strength.
They dodged, clung to masts, hid behind debris—anything to avoid the blades and the railings.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
Krieg's fleet unleashed a storm of cannonfire. Dozens of shells crashed into the water and deck, the air thick with smoke and heat.
Ajax's ship—built for speed, not defense—shuddered violently under the assault. Fire spread across the deck. The mainmast snapped and crashed overboard.
Escape was impossible.
Ajax chopped the railing beside him in fury, glaring toward the oncoming vanguard ship.
And on its prow stood a lean, deadly man with sunken eyes and a bandana—Gin, Krieg's battle commander.
Ajax gritted his teeth.
"Men! Forget the villagers! Prepare for battle!"
The surviving pirates rallied, weapons raised, forming a shaky defensive line.
100 meters.
50 meters.
20 meters.
10 meters—
Before the ships could even touch, Gin launched himself through the air.
He landed on Ajax's deck with a thunderous impact.
"Ghost Man Gin!!"
Ajax roared and drew his blade, dashing forward with a burst of speed—his sword slicing through the air in a clean white arc.
Clang!
Gin blocked the strike with his twin tonfa, black eyes narrowed with killing intent.
"Ajax," he said coldly, "today, you die."
Steel clashed in a sharp rhythm as Gin and Ajax exchanged blows—sword against iron tonfa, sparks flashing with each impact.
Behind them, Krieg's vanguard ship finally closed the distance.
Hundreds of pirates—howling like madmen—swung over on ropes, pouring onto Ajax's burning deck.
In an instant, chaos consumed everything.
Screams.
Blood.
Fire.
None of it mattered to Yang Ning.
He had slipped into the crew's rest cabin, trembling, hunting for any place to hide. He found a shadowed corner and grabbed the first piece of clothing he could reach.
It was filthy, ragged, and smelled awful—but it was better than being naked and helpless.
Outside, the sounds of slaughter grew louder.
Is this… what being a pirate means? Kill or be killed?
A warm wetness spread beneath him. His heart froze.
No way. No way he—
He reached under himself.
Blood.
Not urine.
He exhaled shakily.
Then something else floated in—small green flames, flickering like ghost lights.
He recognized them instantly.
Thresh's souls.
Five of them drifted gently toward him.
---
[Strength: 16 → 21]
[Armor: 19 → 24]
Passive Skill — Hellfire Curse (21):
Collecting souls grants +1 Armor and +1 Ability Power per soul.
---
Yang Ning clenched a fist.
His skin felt harder—his whole body sturdier.
He struck the floor with the back of his hand.
Thud!
The deck cracked.
His hand didn't.
His grin widened.
Twenty-four points of armor… If I'd had this back on Earth, I'd be a world champion.
Adrenaline surged.
Fear gave way to determination.
He couldn't hide anymore.
He needed levels.
He needed skills.
He needed revenge.
But the instant he stepped out—
A machete slashed at his head.
Yang Ning dropped into a roll, the blade missing by inches. He scrambled to his feet just in time to see a burly pirate grinning at him.
Before the pirate could swing again—
PUFF!
A sword pierced through the man's chest from behind.
The pirate staggered, choking on blood, then collapsed to his knees in front of Yang Ning.
His machete clattered onto the deck.
Yang Ning stared.
Then reached down, grabbed the dropped blade, and with both hands—
SPLAT—!
The pirate's skull split open.
A warm, powerful rush surged through his body.
He leveled up.
---
Name: Yang Ning
Level: 1 → 2
Health: 130 / 140
Attack Power: 11
Strength: 23 → 24
Armor: 26
Magic Resistance: 3
Passive: Hellfire Curse (21)
Skill Slots Unlocked:
• Soul Drain Strike
• Soul Forge
• Starfire Rune Blade
• Feast
---
For the first time since entering this world—
Yang Ning felt alive.