Sora was puzzled by Cubi Rad's explosive reaction to his "partner of justice" quip. "This guy hates justice so much—did the navy screw him over or something?"
Strobbing his chin, he shouted, "Hey! Hurry up and make a move! Show me your powers already!"
The reek of blood on Cubi told Sora he was no stranger to killing. No wonder he never appeared in the manga—probably executed by the Marines long ago.
"If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!" Cubi snarled.
With a roar, he transformed into a towering bull-man, his human torso sprouting from a bovine head. His crew, emboldened by his shift, cheered. Their captain was a demon-powered beast!
Sora burst into laughter at the sight. "Hahaha! Why no iron ring through your nose? You'd be a dead ringer for the Ox Demon King!"
"Iron ring? Ox Demon King?" Cubi didn't get the reference, but "ring" stung, and Sora's unrestrained mockery ignited his fury.
"Raaah!" he bellowed, steam blasting from his nostrils.
His crew, thrilled by his rage, shouted, "Go, Captain! Rip that cocky brat apart!"
In their minds, an enraged Cubi was unstoppable—even Marines chasing them had fallen easily.
Cubi stopped roaring, locking blood-red eyes on Sora. With a powerful stomp, he charged like a loosed arrow, hooves thundering across the deck.
From the moment Sora boarded, he'd barely glanced at Cubi, his eyes cold and dismissive, dripping with arrogance. Now he mocked him? He's dead.
It had been years since Cubi saw such a look or heard such laughter—not since his slave days. Back then, he'd left that town lifeless. This kid would be no different.
Closing in, Cubi's eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "Look at me, you filth!"
His massive fist, veins bulging, swelled as he drew it back, smashing toward Sora's head. He grinned, imagining blood splattering.
Thud!
His fantasy shattered. His fist didn't crush Sora's skull—it slammed into a steel-like palm. Sora's smaller hand held firm, stopping the blow dead.
"No way!" the crew gasped, their excitement freezing. "He blocked the captain's full-strength punch?"
They'd seen a Marine officer take Cubi's fist, but even he'd spat blood. Sora? He stood unfazed, as if swatting a leaf, his laughter unbroken.
"That's it?" Sora taunted, meeting Cubi's gaze. "This little strength got you so puffed up?"
"Don't get cocky, brat!" Cubi's face darkened. He wasn't stupid—he felt the gap between them. But he'd never bow, never surrender. Since setting sail, he'd sworn never to kneel again.
He yanked back his fist, retreating a few steps, and tore off his shirt, revealing a tapestry of scars.
Sora's eyes narrowed at the marks. Now he understood Cubi's hatred for justice. Those weren't battle scars—they were the kind amassed over years, likely from slavery. Only nobles had the cruelty to scar someone so thoroughly without killing them.
Sora's smile faded, brows knitting. He'd planned to toy with Cubi, but those scars changed his mind. He could mock the current Cubi, but not his past.
Cubi roared, black fur sprouting wildly. In a blink, he became a massive yak, bellowing, "Brat, I'm a Yak Human, user of the Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit, Yak Model! I've got endless strength and horns that pierce anything!"
Lowering his head, he charged, horns aimed at Sora.
Bang!
The same palm, same spot, same effortless block stopped Cubi's unstoppable charge. With a casual slap, Sora sent him flying, crashing onto the deck with a thud.
Cubi lay dazed, head spinning as if struck by a meteor, vision swimming. His crew held their breath, staring in horror.
"What kind of monster is this guy?" they thought. "The captain's like a toy to him!"
Sora hopped off the railing, striding toward Cubi. As he moved, the crew's eyes rolled back, collapsing under his Conqueror's Haki.
"I don't know your past, and I don't care," Sora said. "All I know is the things you've done these past months are enough to damn you."
His spatial domain snapped open, locking Cubi in place, giving him no chance to speak. This game was over.
A bit boring, wasn't it?
The world was full of tragedies, many worse than Cubi's, yet most didn't turn into murderous maniacs.
Sora wouldn't judge someone lashing out after escaping darkness with newfound power—don't preach kindness without knowing another's pain.
But choices had consequences, and Cubi's path demanded reckoning.
His crimes dwarfed even his master's cruelty. He deserved no pity.
Sora drew Zankuu, slashing Cubi's head in one stroke. Sheathing his blade, he returned to the Freedom.
Sensing his mood, Ahua, Alo, and Ata asked no questions. They lit torches, tossed them onto the Mad Bull's ship, and set sail.
Kuina stayed by Sora's side, holding his hand silently, her gentle gaze steady.
When Sora snapped out of it, the Freedom had sailed far, the Mad Bull's ship a blazing pyre behind. He ruffled Kuina's hair, his usual smile returning. "I'm fine, don't worry."
He'd known the world's nobles were vile and had braced himself. But seeing a body so scarred by slavery firsthand still hit hard.
(End of Chapter)