Chapter 13: First Real Battle in Oda World

How long had I been with the Kusa Pirates?

About three days had passed.

And in that time, I had been endlessly doted on as the youngest member of the crew.

From the watchtower, Lepe unnie suddenly raised her hand and shouted while peering through the telescope.

(TL NOTES : Unnie is a Korean term used by women to refer to an older sister or close older female friend.)

“Enemy!! Spotted!!! One o’clock!!!”

“It’s about time they showed up.”

“Men again? Seriously, don’t they ever get tired of this?”

“Our baby’s finally about to see her first real battle, huh?”

“Don’t worry! Your unnies will take care of you! Just stay calm and show them what you’ve got!”

Having spotted a pirate crew heading toward Amazon Lily, drawn by tales of its beauty, the Kusa Pirates immediately changed course to intercept them.

Although this region of the Calm Belt had relatively few sea kings, with some luck, a crew could row their way across.

That’s why patrols were essential—to protect Amazon Lily.

It was the very reason the Kusa Pirates existed.

I took a deep breath at the thought of facing real combat for the first time.

I had fought demons before, but those were monsters.

It was easier to swing a sword without hesitation then.

But this time, I would be crossing blades with actual people.

Even if I reminded myself it was all a game, I still needed to steel my heart.

‘I’m ready.’

Just as I reaffirmed my resolve, I saw them.

A pirate ship slowly rowing through the windless zone in the distance.

Even at a glance, it was obvious they were imitating Whitebeard.

Their pirate flag bore a white V-shaped mustache turned upside down.

And at the bow of the ship stood their pig-like captain, with a long white beard, laughing uproariously as he drew his sword.

“Kuahahahaha── So you’re the defenders of Amazon Lily? The Kusa Pirates?!?!”

“If you offer up the beauties of Amazon Lily and pledge yourselves to me, the great Whitebeard!!!”

“Then I shall graciously claim this island as my territory and protect it! Hah! What do you say to that?!?!”

“Ooooooh! Whitebeard!!!! Whitebeard!!!!”

“No way some women can beat us!!!”

“Kekeke! So if you don’t want to get hurt!!! You’d better surrender nice and easy, got it?!”

Whether it was because their voices were unusually loud or my hearing was too sharp, their obnoxious laughter and brainless provocations came through crystal clear.

I turned toward Elia unnie, who was standing beside me, watching over me.

“…Unnie? That guy’s seriously an enemy?”

“He is. If he had any sense, he wouldn’t be attacking this place.”

“After all, we’re inside the Calm Belt, and no sane person would pick a fight with the Kusa Pirates—especially when everyone assumes we have Haki.”

“But every now and then, idiots like that show up.”

“They either underestimate us because we’re women, or they’ve heard the rumours about Amazon Lily’s beauty and come to try and take us as concubines or slaves.”

“…That’s just pathetic.”

“It is, but pathetic or not, they’re still dangerous.”

“They made it to the Grand Line, after all. That means they’re not completely weak.”

“If they land on the island, the younger girls could be in danger.”

“I get it.”

Younger girls who hadn’t awakened Haki yet would be easy targets.

That thought made me grip my sword tighter.

“So make sure you don’t hesitate.”

“If even one of them sets foot on the island, we’ll regret it later.”

“Understood.”

‘…This world is just a game. So even if I kill someone here… it’s not really murder…!’

I kept repeating it to myself, filling my heart with just enough malice.

Then I looked out toward the approaching ships.

“…Kuahahahaha! Looks like you’re ready for your punishment! Boys, let’s catch those wenches, have our fun, and make Amazon Lily ours!!!”

“Kuhuhuhuhu! So many beauties! I’m on it, Captain!!!”

“Kekeke!!!”

Still, we didn’t respond.

As we continued preparing, the enemy ship closed the distance.

Their cannons turned our way.

With a deafening boom, they opened fire.

And that’s when I noticed something…

‘…Come to think of it, do we even have—?’

Cannons?

I looked around.

No matter where I checked, there wasn’t a single cannon on our ship.

Just as that realization hit me, someone leapt forward and brandished a whip.

It was Captain Belusa.

Her black hair streamed behind her as she elegantly swung her whip.

Coated in hardened Armament Haki, the whip cracked through the air, slicing again and again.

It was as if the very space had turned black from the afterimages.

In the blink of an eye, every cannonball exploded midair.

“Fwoooosh!! As expected of our captain’s Black Sand Domain!!!”

“You’re amazing, Captain!!!”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

Even knowing I could probably do it too, I still stood there stunned.

My past life had taught me that people couldn’t stop cannonballs.

But this was Oda’s world.

Where cannonballs were weak.

And humans could transcend human limits.

To a fighter like her, they were no more dangerous than party poppers.

I’d seen scenes like this in manga, but seeing it with my own eyes was something else entirely.

I drew my sword with a crisp clang.

“Let’s gooo!!”

“Charge!!!”

Our ships had drawn close enough.

The moment Captain Belusa soared through the air and gave the order, the crew leapt to the enemy ship.

“Guaaagh?!?”

“N–No way! How can women be this strong?!”

“W–Witches!!!”

“Demons!!! Spare me!!!”

I, too, jumped over and swung my sword without hesitation.

Fwoooosh─

Flower Breathing, Second Form.
Drifting Plum Blossom!!!

CRAAACK!!
Spinning like a storm, I created a swirling blade barrier that sliced through the enemy ranks.

Abdomens slashed, limbs severed—no one could survive it.

I moved with no mercy, never letting my guard down.

Blood sprayed in all directions, but I didn’t waver.

“You little sh*t brattttt!!!”

Thanks to that, I noticed the incoming attack just in time.

It was the self-proclaimed Whitebeard, charging at me with bloodshot eyes and a massive halberd.

“Hancock!!”

“Block it!!!”

The Kusa Pirates shouted in alarm, realizing the attack was aimed at their youngest.

But he was too fast for them to stop.

Clearly, he had decided that if he was going down, he would at least take me with him.

The halberd strike was wild, infused with Haki, and more than enough to split someone in half.

But not me.

I focused my Observation Haki.

The world turned white.

Suddenly, I could feel everything—his movements, his breathing, his nerves, even his organs.

The Transparent World!

(TL NOTE : Transparent World is a heightened perception state from Demon Slayer, adapted here as a fusion with Observation Haki.)

The state I’d reached in Demon Slayer still existed here.

With Observation Haki, I slipped into it once more.

And I dodged.

CRACKKK!!!

His halberd smashed into the deck.

But I had already moved.

And in that brief moment of stillness, I smiled.

Flower Breathing, Fifth Form—
Fleeting Peony.

KRRRAAAKK!!

A flurry of pink petals swept through the air.

As they scattered, the self-proclaimed Whitebeard spewed blood.

His body was torn to shreds.

With a heavy thud, he collapsed.