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Aero pressed his ear against the storeroom door, listening intently to the voices outside. His grip tightened on the short blade in his hand.
"Still hiding, huh? What's the matter too scared to face us?" the lieutenant's voice rang out, sharp and mocking. "If there are any survivors from the Daggerfang Pirates in there, here's your only chance drop your weapons, open the door, and surrender. Otherwise… you'll end up fish food, just like your captain and the rest of your crew."
Aero didn't respond.
Moments later, he felt the floor tremble heavy boots moving across the deck above. Seconds after that, he could tell from the thudding vibrations that marines had descended to the lower deck.
"Last chance. Line up!" the lieutenant barked. "Prepare to fire! You've got three seconds to surrender!"
'This is it…' Aero thought grimly as he backed away and dove behind a pile of supply crates. He had no idea if the stacked food would be enough to stop lead musket balls but it was all he had.
"Fire!"
BANG. BANG!
BANG-BANG-BANG!
Gunfire exploded, echoing through the hold. Aero ducked low, hearing the musket rounds whiz overhead. Wooden crates shattered, food burst open, debris flying everywhere.
Gunpowder smoke filled the air. The entire hold was choked with the acrid stench of battle.
But he was still alive.
Those crates actually saved me…
Aero's pulse pounded in his ears as he stared at the bullet-riddled storage room, thoughts racing.
'Good thing this is the second deck' he thought. 'If this had been the first deck, seawater would've poured in through the bullet holes.'
The whole ship could've started flooding splintered boards, pressure collapse… everyone would've been fish bait. Especially with those giant carnivorous sea monsters lurking around this island.
Still, a dark thought crept in.
If I had been on the first floor… I might've taken a bunch of them with me.
"Break down the door!"
The lieutenant ordered one of the bulkier marines to charge the barricade.
He wasn't in perfect condition himself his final slash had drained him. The technique, a true cutting arc, had only recently been taught to him. Less than ten days since he'd learned it.
He could unleash three slashes at peak form but they weren't always reliable. Still, it was part of the reason he'd earned the rank of lieutenant commander.
He had just returned to the East Blue, hoping to visit naval hero Garp maybe even learn a thing or two from the legendary swordsman rumored to accompany him.
But fate had other plans.
Not long after setting sail, he'd intercepted intel about the Daggerfang Pirates specifically their captain, Scar, with a bounty of 3 million Berries.
Last month, a fellow marine had fought Scar and nearly taken him down, managing to gouge out his right eye, but the pirate had escaped with a few loyal crew in a small boat. That marine was demoted after failing to finish the job.
The lieutenant commander had sworn to end what his comrade couldn't.
And he had.
Scar fell right into the trap. Lured in by what looked like a weak target, driven by revenge, he came charging back.
And died for it.
BOOM. BOOM.
The marines outside slammed against the door.
"You know," the lieutenant sneered, "your captain died like a dog. Should've stayed in hiding instead of dragging you fools into the grave with him."
He paced in front of the door, voice dripping with disdain.
"You pirates talk about freedom, about chasing dreams and gold but in the end, all you do is bring chaos. You're just murderers who delude themselves with fancy words. The world's better off without you."
Inside the hold, Aero crouched perfectly still. Every impact against the door made the crates shake. Every word outside dug deeper.
They could've blasted their way in already… but they're drawing this out on purpose. That guy's enjoying this. What a creep.
He grits his teeth.
'Fine then… if I'm going out, I'm dragging a few of you down with me.'
He didn't want to die, but if he had to, he wouldn't go quietly.
Oddly, Aero felt… calm.
Maybe this was what happened before death your body stops fighting, your mind drifts.
His old sarcastic self was peeking through again.
"Still can't break it down?" the lieutenant growled.
Irritated, he shoved a soldier aside and drew his sword. With one clean motion, he slashed the barricade.
SLASH!
The crates exploded in splinters.
CRACK! One final kick and the lieutenant booted the debris aside.
"Well, well," he said with a sadistic grin. "Let's see what kind of rats we've got hiding in here."
He stepped inside, gesturing for his men to follow.
Musket-armed marines poured into the storeroom. They formed ranks, pointing their weapons toward the piles of food and crates.
The lieutenant handed his sword to the soldier who'd failed to breach the door earlier.
"Take a squad. Flush 'em out."
The storeroom wasn't large, but it was cluttered with supplies, barrels, medicine crates, and even casks of rum stacked high in every corner. The dim light gave Aero precious shadows to hide in.
He had buried himself deep beneath a mound of apples, hidden under the fruit with several crates between him and the search party.
Please don't look too closely…
Footsteps approached.
One marine glanced at the apple pile, picked one up, and took a bite.
"Damn pirates… starving me half to death," he muttered.
He chomped down, then tossed the chewed core right into the pile onto Aero's face.
Sticky juice dripped down Aero's cheek. He felt nauseated but didn't flinch.
"Nothing over here, sir!" someone called out.
The lieutenant narrowed his eyes.
No way. There had to be someone. The barricade wasn't built by ghosts.
Something didn't add up.
And Aero knew...
This wasn't over.
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