The town of Shellshade had been liberated just yesterday, but freedom, as it turned out, was an illusion that came with the stench of blood still fresh on its cobblestone streets.
Smoke no longer curled from rooftops, and the sky was finally free of ash, yet the atmosphere hung heavy—a kind of quiet that wasn't peace, but aftermath.
Children played in the corners of alleys too narrow to hold sunlight, their laughter muted, uncertain.
The adults stood behind closed windows, watching the world with the eyes of people who had learned that hope comes with a price—and sometimes, a blade.
Kazuha walked these streets with his katana sheathed across his back, his figure like a shadow etched into the morning sun. Every step he took was silent, every glance measured, and every heartbeat felt more distant from the man he once was on Earth.
He wasn't here to be a hero.
"System Sync: 17%."
"New Mission Available – Micro Judgment: Criminal Conspiracy in Sector 4."
"Optional Objective: Engage without fatality. Testing non-lethal takedown skills."
"Reward: Observation Haki – Primary Layer Awakening"
"Great," Kazuha muttered beneath his breath. "Now you want me to hold back?"
"It's not just about killing," Tōsen replied, voice casual as ever, "It's about knowing when not to. Precision. Control. That's what separates a weapon from a warrior."
Kazuha grunted but didn't argue. He knew Tōsen was right. His blade wasn't just for judgment—it was for balance.
But balance, in this world, was a fantasy few could afford.
Shellshade – Sector 4 (The Alley of Shells)
A name born from war, not beauty.
The "Alley of Shells" was once a weapons storage district during the East Blue pirate wars a decade ago. Now it was little more than a graveyard of rusted cannons, broken rifles, and dreams crushed beneath military boots.
Kazuha passed beneath a twisted archway of collapsed iron beams. Ahead, he spotted them—four men in tattered marine uniforms, guarding a crate they clearly had no right to possess. Their posture was loose, cocky. One smoked. Another was urinating on a wall without a care.
Inside the crate, Kazuha could see the unmistakable glint of Sea-Prism Stone weaponry—a rare material in East Blue, dangerous in the wrong hands.
"You see this?" one thug said, tapping a blade against the crate. "Straight from the Grand Line. We sell this to Blacktooth's crew, we're set for life."
"Quiet," the leader snapped. "Someone might be listening."
"I am," Kazuha said, stepping into the light.
The reaction was instant.
Weapons were drawn, curses spat, and one fool actually tried to throw a knife before Kazuha even finished blinking.
It didn't reach him.
With a flicker of motion and a subtle Flash Step, Kazuha appeared behind the group—his blade drawn, yet unstained.
Technique Activated: Precision Flow – Two-Strike Draw
Result: All targets incapacitated with joint-targeted non-lethal slashes. No fatalities.
One by one, the men dropped—not dead, but completely disabled. Knees severed from function, arms sliced at the pressure points just enough to prevent resistance.
The leader was left standing, trembling, a rifle shaking in his hands.
"P-please... we—we're just trying to eat…"
Kazuha didn't respond right away. He sheathed his sword slowly.
"You steal Sea-Prism Stone weapons to sell to pirates. That's not 'trying to eat.' That's feeding wolves."
The man collapsed to his knees.
"I have a daughter!"
Kazuha's expression didn't change.
"Optional Objective Achieved."
Reward Unlocked: Observation Haki – Primary Layer Activated
His senses expanded in an instant—like water poured into every crevice of the alleyway. He could feel it all now—the breath of a rat behind a crate, the fear vibrating in the bones of the man at his feet, the gaze of someone watching him from the rooftops.
"Someone's here," he murmured.
Rooftop Across the Alley
A young woman crouched low, rifle slung across her back, her breath held tight in her throat. She had auburn hair tied messily behind her neck and goggles with cracked lenses strapped over her eyes.
She had watched the whole thing. The speed. The precision. The terrifying silence.
"That's the Black Blade Ghost," she whispered to herself. "The one with no bounty... and no flag."
She adjusted the scope on her rifle.
"...I need to know if he's the real deal."
Elsewhere – Shellshade Pub (Underground Chamber)
News travels fast in the East Blue, faster still when blood is involved.
A man with a sharp beard and a black-toothed grin slammed a bottle against the wall. "That bastard killed Roque and now he's clearing out the alleyways? Who the hell does he think he is?"
A crew of low-level pirates muttered in agreement. The man leaned forward.
"We send a message. No one crosses Blacktooth."
Later That Night – Rooftop Above Sector 4
Kazuha stood beneath the moonlight, cloak swaying in the wind. The ribbon on his sword fluttered like a heartbeat.
"You're being followed," Tōsen noted, tone amused. "That girl on the rooftop earlier? She's tracking you now. Her name's Lysara. Ex-Marine sniper, went rogue after her unit was wiped out in a Celestial Dragon 'cleanup operation.'"
"She watching me for revenge?"
"Maybe. Or maybe she's just looking for someone to believe in. Either way, she's interesting."
Kazuha didn't answer. But he felt it. The presence at his back. Her breathing. The tremble in her stance. Her indecision.
He didn't turn.
"If you're going to shoot me," he called into the darkness, "do it before I move."
A pause.
Then her voice, soft and unsure:
"Who are you?"
Kazuha exhaled.
"Someone who kills monsters. Even if they wear uniforms. Even if they laugh like heroes."
Silence.
Then, slowly, the presence retreated.
She didn't fire.
Final Scene – System Log Update
"System Sync: 21%."
"Observation Haki (Tier 1) Active."
New Passive: Threat Detection Pulse – Automatically identifies malicious intent within a 10-meter radius.
"New Questline Unlocked: Shadow of the Sniper – Lysara."
"Romance Affection Path: 3% (Tentative)"
Kazuha sat at the edge of a crumbling tower, the sea whispering below.
He stared at the moon and spoke not to the system, but to himself.
"I was a student once. I worried about deadlines, coffee brands, and whether I'd be late for class."
His grip tightened on the sword beside him.
"Now I kill strangers in alleys so their children can sleep another night."
And still… the world called him a threat.
Not a pirate. Not a marine.
Just a man too dangerous to label.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!