This should be a relatively wealthy Fishing Village.
From the neatly laid Stone-Paved Street, two- to three-story European-style houses, abundant harvests piled at doorways, and fishing gear casually scattered at entrances, you can tell.
Perhaps everyday life was calm, so quiet that the person at the village end who did something today was known by everyone, a bit of gossip fodder after tea.
But at this moment, this tranquility has vanished.
— In the village square, a banner hangs, a black cloth base with a grim skull drawn on it.
Shouts, pleas for mercy, and the snarls that caused them echo everywhere.
Blood pools on the Stone-Paved Street, filling the ground with a strong, fishy stench.
The blood comes from civilians who lie on the ground, their faces twisted in pain or defined by their final fear.
This is a Fishing Village under attack by a Pirate Crew.
What's happening in front of him stunned Arion, who was holding a big bag of snacks, just returned from the Convenience Store, and had just pushed open the door.
Did I open the door wrong?
After a moment of panic, he looked around and instantly understood his situation.
— Was this too much right after I just crossed over?
And just then, not far away, a lean pirate spotted this young man who didn't fit the place.
Although tall and solid, he bore a handsome face that looked like he'd never been bullied.
He was weak.
The pirate's gaunt face split into a malicious grin, sharpening his blade, flicking the blood from the blade, and slowly coming toward him.
Arion slowly retreated. He knew the gravity of the situation; this was deadly.
His back hit the wall, and the pirate came closer and closer; there was nowhere to run.
To accept fate, to GG from the start, or to wait for a miracle at the last moment, or to fight back?
The harpoon in his hand told him the answer.
Rather than waiting for a miracle, better to fight for survival and bet on himself!
Adrenaline surged in an instant, his eyes reddening.
In that moment, the hunter and the prey swapped places!
His hands bulged with veins, gripping the harpoon as he took a step forward!
A weapon's edge matters for an inch of ground; long spears have the advantage against ordinary knives and swords.
Just like a country's sword saint or master of swordsmanship, who uses a longer weapon, fearing close-quarters.
Switching a spear for a harpoon follows the same logic.
Especially in life-or-death combat, when a strong young man with a long weapon faces a lean and scrappy foe with a short, blunt weapon, there's no reason to lose!
He cannot lose!
Or a clash of blades at contact, or a sweep that shatters leg bones, or a full-throttle thrust.
When Arion finally snapped to, the harpoon had pierced the other's throat.
Blood spurts from the pirate's mouth, his eyes wide.
Hanging on the harpoon, the leg-broken man is like a dead fish.
Arion loosened his grip, collapsing to the ground, panting hard.
A person killed is dead.
Having gone all out, he clearly held the physical advantage.
He trained hard for this.
But the problem was, the pirates attacking the fishing village't just one.
They knew their comrade was dead, but their faces showed no anger, only mocking glares at the dead pirate.
Pirates are merely groups forged by common interest; they don't have so-called loyalties.
If a minor dies, it just proves he wasn't capable enough; they'll replace him.
So a pirate captain, seeming to be a leader, offered Arion an olive branch, shouting, "Kid, you wanna join us?"
Some thought that being alive mattered most—that with life there's a future. Rather than fighting for pride, they'd bear insults and wait for a chance to strike the enemy.
Others thought they'd rather die than join these bandits, like the heroes who refused to betray when held by the enemy.
This isn't about right or wrong; it's about choice.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Arion chose the latter.
The pirate who killed civilians disgusted him to the core.
Facing this so-called olive branch, Arion flipped the bird.
"What a pity."
Though that's what he said, the captain still raised his pistol and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Seeing the muzzle flash, this time it's truly over.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment; Arion could clearly see the rough surface of the speeding bullet flying toward him.
"Shipmate Summoning System activated, binding… binding complete, novice task 'Kill an enemy' completed, one Summon opportunity granted, use?"
An inner voice lit a spark of hope, and he replied, "Use it."
"Drawing… Congratulations, you have obtained the character 'Yorha-type Combat Android—2B'."
Assistant: "Lower-level life signs detected among Humans, changing priority to locate Humans as the primary objective."
"Copy that."
The craft begins to pivot; the mission shifts from destroying a large mechanical life form to locating Humans.
Breaking through the enemy lines, the view suddenly opens up; 2B sees the ruined Fishing Village, the fallen bodies, and the marks reading "Humans."
Assistant: "Humans detected, changing priority to protect Humans as the primary objective."
"Copy that."
2B glances at the Humans data on the assistant, then without hesitation leaps from the craft.
"May Humans Forever Shine."
With a whispered motto, time resumes its flow.
A pale silver light streaks across, bullets sliced cleanly, splitting in two and dropping to the ground.
In Arion's view, he only sees a black skirt billowing upward, like night winds scatter the clouds, revealing a pale, round moon glowing softly with moonlight.
The skirt drifts down, the clouds cover the moon again.
All of this in the blink of an eye; even Arion's thoughts linger on the radiant round moon.
It's a perfect homey shape
2B glances back at Arion to check on his safety, then returns her gaze to the pirates, who are stunned.
— This woman, did she just cut the bullet in flight with her sword?
"Warning, substantial hostility detected from 'humanoid beings.'"
This is the auxiliary drone hovering above 2B's head—metallic sheen, a simple rectangular body with two mechanical arms.
"It's obvious," 2B says, then adopts a ready stance, responding with crisp, efficient movements.
With the greatsword "The White Promise" in hand, she becomes a blur, charging at the pirates.
This is harvest time, like a reaper entering a field; one pirate after another falls.
In the face of 2B's rapid moves, they have no time to react, becoming lifeless corpses.
Just as they slaughtered unarmed villagers.
It's a merciless crush.
This is a ruthless battle machine.
Fear spreads among them, breaking down after the squad's leader falls; they start to flee.
They're just pirates, not soldiers—a chaotic mob, cowards among the weak.
But when they see their foe isn't something they can handle, they don't even have the courage to raise their blades.
"Halt!"
A rough roar, and a huge wolf-tooth club sweeps several pirates like chicks, bodies torn apart, blood spraying, looking beyond hope.
Blocking the road, standing before them is a man at least three meters tall, with hard muscles and a scarred, ferocious face.
The captain of Pirate Crew.
"A mere woman scares you into shivering?" He roars, lifting the huge club and charging at 2B, smashing down with a roar!
His strike is heavy and powerful, the edge of his strike cutting through what would be navy captains, earning him a 10-million-Berry bounty.
Yet in this guaranteed-hit strike, he watches as the opponent splits into four shadows and darts to four directions; time seems to slow.
He watches the long blade swing down.
Red threads begin at the top of that enormous head, spreading in a straight line, passing the nose, throat, chest, waist, dropping to the ground in a spread of gore.
With the captain down, the remaining pirates, terrified, have no courage left to run, collapsing to the ground, shivering.
2B glances at Arion, asking if he wishes to continue.
To finish off these humanoid beings who exuded malice just now.
She was born for Humans, obeying Humans' will.