The next day began like any other.
Shamrock and Zoey woke before sunrise, bodies already moving before words were spoken. Training came first—always.
Steel rang against wood as Shamrock swung his sword again and again, his movements clean and economical.
Zoey mirrored him nearby, sweat dampening her black, silky hair, red eyes focused with stubborn determination.
"Your wrist is too stiff," Shamrock said without turning.
Zoey clicked her tongue and adjusted. "Like this?"
"Better."
After training came the hunt.
They disappeared into the forest, returning hours later with beasts slung over their shoulders. By midday, they began their usual run—circling the island's perimeter, feet pounding familiar paths.
Mirano Island was peaceful.
Fishermen repaired nets. Farmers tended crops, this year's yield still waiting to be harvested and sold to the merchants who arrived every week or two. Smoke rose lazily from cooking fires.
Then—
A shout broke the calm.
A fisherman came running from the shore, face pale, breath ragged.
"Kai?" someone called. "What's wrong?"
Kai staggered forward, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Pirates are coming! I saw their ship—black sails! We have to leave the island, now!"
Panic rippled through the village.
"Pirates?"
"How many?"
"Do we have time to escape?!"
Shamrock stopped mid-run his Observation Haki spread naturally, catching the panic, the fear, the hurried footsteps. He and Zoey exchanged a glance and ran toward the village square.
"What happened?" Shamrock asked calmly.
Kai swallowed. "I saw pirate ship their captain—Dreggo Camper he has 6 million berry bounty."
Murmurs spread.
"Six million…"
"That's a real pirate…"
"We can't fight that!"
Shamrock didn't panic he hadn't even seen the pirates yet—but he knew.
A six-million-berry captain wasn't a threat to him.
He took a step forward, voice steady.
"Everyone, listen."
The villagers quieted, surprised by the calm confidence of a seven-year-old.
"They're just pirates. The captain's bounty is six million, his crew together maybe eight million at most," Shamrock said. "If we run, they'll burn the island. If we fight together—we can win."
Silence.
Then an old hunter spoke. "You hunt beasts that tear men apart… and you come back alive every time."
Another villager nodded. "I've seen him fight."
Slowly, fear turned into resolve.
But Lisa rushed forward, gripping Shamrock's shoulders.
"No," she said sharply. "You're still a child. You run. I don't care about this island—you live."
Shamrock looked up at her, eyes calm.
"Grandma," he said softly. "If we run today, we'll be chased forever. This ends here."
She trembled—but she saw it.
Not recklessness.
Certainty.
An old man stepped forward, holding out a sword.
It was a simple katana. Plain. Well-maintained.
"Take it," the village smith said. "It's not special—but it's honest steel."
Shamrock accepted it with a bow.
"Thank you."
He turned to Zoey.
"You're coming with me," he said.
Zoey didn't hesitate she grinned,nodded and soon followed him——
The pirate ship appeared soon after.
Its Jolly Roger bore a skull pierced by two small daggers and a long sword driven straight through the center.
The Sword Pirates.
They laughed as they docked, boots thudding against the pier.
At the front stood Dreggo Camper—broad-shouldered, scarred, confident beside him was his vice-captain, sneering as he cracked his neck.
"Looks like a soft island," the vice laughed. "Easy money."
They advanced—
And stopped.
Befire them villagers stood waiting, weapons shaking in their hands—but eyes filled with resolve.
Shamrock stepped forward with his Observation Haki, he read the field instantly.
The crew is weak.
The captain is the only real threat.
He raised his voice.
"Attack!!!...Kill the pirates!!!"
Chaos exploded.
Shamrock dashed forward.
A pirate rushed him, blade raised.
One step.
One slash.
The man collapsed.
Shamrock felt the weight settle in his chest.
Killing…
He checked himself.
No nausea.
No hesitation.
Only clarity.
Then he dashed towards the Dreggo and soon confronted him as he swung his blade but———
Dreggo blocked his strike—and froze.
"…A kid?"he muttered as he looked at Shamrock, steel trembled as their blades clashed.
The strength behind the boy's swing shocked him.
"…How old are you?" Dreggo asked, eyes narrowing. "Join my crew I'll spare you and this village."
Shamrock smiled.
Not cruelly.
Excitedly.
"Not in a million years."
Dreggo roared and attacked as shamrock dodged effortlessly, parrying the follow-up and countering with a diagonal slash. The blade grazed Dreggo's abdomen, tearing flesh.
Blood spilled.
"You bastard!" Dreggo snarled. "I'll kill you—and everyone here!"
He lunged—
And Shamrock stepped inside the swing.
The katana pierced straight through Dreggo's heart.
The captain froze.
Then fell.
Elsewhere, Zoey moved like a shadow.
Her blade flashed once—
The vice-captain collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.
The rest of the fight was short.
With the captain dead, the pirates broke.
The villagers didn't hesitate.
When it ended, forty-five pirates lay dead.
Silence.
Then—
Cheers erupted.
"We won!.....we actually won!"
Kai laughed through tears. "Eight million berries… gods, we did it!"
Shamrock wiped his blade clean.
"Send someone to the nearest Marine branch and claim the bounty."
The villagers gathered later.
"We want you to take sixty percent," one said firmly. "Without you, we'd be dead."
Shamrock nodded. "That's fine."
That night, Shamrock and Zoey returned home.
His Grandma had prepared dinner and was waiting for them.
She didn't scold him.
She only placed a hand on his head.
"…You came back," she said quietly.
Shamrock smiled. "Of course."
They ate in silence.
Later, Zoey waved and headed to her hut.
Shamrock lay down in his room.
And slept.
Peacefully.
Mirano Island was quiet once more.
And somewhere, far away—
Fate shifted.
Thanks For Reading....