Chapter 18 The Black Cat Pirates
On the calm sea, two ships sailed side by side.
One was a pirate ship, and the other was also a pirate ship.
"Does this guy really not have any masochistic tendencies?!"
The deck of a ship that originally belonged to the Buggy Pirates.
Nami braced her hands on the ship's railing, squeezing her two small breasts together tightly.
Following her gaze, one could see Zoro alone on the ship that was once part of the Alvida Pirates, practicing his swordplay with the Wado Ichimonji.
"One hundred thousand one thousand three hundred and ninety-one, one hundred thousand one thousand three hundred and ninety-two..."
The sun was blazing, and the sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, swept across the deck.
Zoro, shirtless, had sweat pouring down his strong muscles, glistening in the sunlight.
He was breathing rapidly, as if every movement had exhausted all his strength.
Even so, he still had a smile on his face.
It's no wonder Nami would ask such a question.
"After all, it's my first time using a prosthetic body, so it's understandable that I'm a little excited."
Just then, V walked out of the cabin with a smile and handed Nami a glass of freshly squeezed, chilled lemonade.
It's better to say something than to say it.
The Buggy Pirates truly live up to their reputation as a large pirate crew with nearly a hundred members.
The food stored in their cabin was so plentiful that Luffy ate until he was stuffed twice and still had more than half left over.
"Is your prosthetic body really that powerful?"
Nami was skeptical.
Even though she had witnessed the inhuman abilities of V and Luffy, she also saw Buggy being used like a servant by V.
"Of course."
V laughed confidently, "Otherwise, why would Zoro be so excited?"
As if to echo V's words, Zoro on the opposite ship suddenly let out a strange cry:
"They're here! They're here!"
"I can feel it! Power is surging in endlessly!!!"
After finishing another set of weighted sword-swinging exercises, Zoro excitedly looked at his wrists.
At the base of his palm, a metal element resembling a chip was emitting a faint blue light, which spread along the meridians to the depths of his arms.
"What V said was actually true!"
"After installing the prosthetic body he mentioned, I can now clearly feel the effects of my training every time I practice."
"In just half a day, I feel like I've become much stronger."
Before he could finish speaking, Zoro instinctively swung his sword at the distant sea.
call!
A tiny ripple flew out along the blade, but before it could touch the sea, it had already disappeared.
"Still not working?"
Even so, the excitement in Zoro's eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
You should know...
At this time yesterday, he couldn't even muster this slight sword strike.
In the world of One Piece, there are no clear ranks among swordsmen.
However, there are two major dividing lines.
The first is the realm of cutting through iron.
By mastering the laws governing the breathing of all things, even those as hard as steel can be easily cut through.
The second is the flying slash.
By combining strength and swordsmanship, he unleashes a vacuum slash capable of long-range attacks.
The former requires quiet contemplation and insight, a level that Zoro cannot reach in a short period of time.
However, the latter can bypass the barrier of perception and forcibly reach it by using the method of "powerful brick throwing".
Many powerful individuals who wield heavy axes, giant clubs, and other powerful weapons follow this path, using absolute force to forcibly break through the threshold of slashing attacks.
"Hey Zoro, take a break!"
V, standing some distance away, suddenly shouted:
"Don't forget, your prosthetic body needs sufficient nutritional support to function properly."
"Oh~!"
Zoro, who had gradually formed a V shape, responded instantly and obediently stepped onto the rope between the two ships, returning to this side.
A gentle sea breeze blew as the two ships sailed side by side in the calm waters.
Everything was so quiet and peaceful.
However, just as Zoro had finished his meal and was preparing to go to another ship for further training...
Whoosh—Boom!
A shell suddenly landed not far from the two ships, stirring up waves several meters high.
"Um?!"
Zoro's foot, which had just stepped onto the rope, suddenly stopped, and his sharp gaze swept into the distance.
On the distant horizon, a three-masted sailing ship was cutting through the waves. Its prow resembled a black cat with its back arched, and its sails were painted with ferocious cat head patterns.
"What's going on?! What's going on?!"
Luffy's excited voice burst out from the cabin. He swung his rubber arm and launched himself to the bow of the ship, his eyes shining.
"It must be an enemy attack."
V, who had just finished eating, came out yawning, looking listless.
He had absolutely no interest in these petty pirates in the East China Sea.
It takes a full 10,000 experience points for a prosthetic doctor to advance from Tier 2 to Tier 3.
Even if you perform a near-death rescue surgery on someone from the East China Sea who is barely rated as a Tier 1 energy body, you'll only get a few dozen experience points at most.
To upgrade using these little pirates would probably require more than a dozen days and nights of non-stop work, even if the robotic arms in the control room were to be swung around until they were smoking.
It's not like we can't find higher-level energy bodies.
V no longer intends to waste time grinding experience on Little Karami.
Of course, the black market business must still continue.
That won't take much time.
However, when V subconsciously used his prosthetic eye to examine the flag of the pirate ship in the distance, he was suddenly stunned.
"Huh? That's... the Black Cat Pirates!?"
"The Black Cat Pirates?"
Upon hearing the cannon fire, Nami rushed out in a panic, with salad dressing still smeared on her lips.
"Isn't that the pirate crew that was defeated by the Navy three years ago!?"
"I remember the captain back then had a bounty of 16 million!"
Nami, who is exceptionally sensitive to money, immediately revealed information related to the Black Cat Pirates.
V's prosthetic eye glowed with blue light, its focus adjusted, allowing it to take in every detail of the enemy's ship.
On the deck, a group of pirates, seemingly having suppressed their anger for a long time, were sharpening their knives and charging towards them with the ship.
"It seems they're coming for us."
V's tone was calm, and after a moment's thought, he understood what was going on.
At this point in time, the Black Cat Pirates should be hiding in the waters near Syrup Village, awaiting Kuro's orders.
It's likely that their ship just happened to pass by and was spotted by the Black Cat Pirates.
These bastards, who were about to wreak havoc, could no longer suppress their bloodlust and wanted to feast on them.
Thinking of this, a glint of light flashed in V's eyes.
"It's like a pillow being delivered when you're sleepy. I was just thinking of testing the strength of the new prosthetic body when someone delivered it to my door."
Although the Black Cat Pirates no longer have Hundred Plans Kuro, they can still be considered a dominant force in the East Blue.
Both Django, with a bounty of 9 million Berries, and the cat-man brothers, with a bounty of 7 million Berries, are worthy of being called "Great Pirates of the East Blue".
"What should we do? Should we run away!?"
Nami, who lacked a sense of power, immediately made a suggestion that was bound to be rejected.
Luffy and Zoro retorted instantly without a moment's hesitation:
"don't want!!!"
They haven't fought for days, and if this continues, their bodies will start to rust.
This coincides perfectly with V's idea.
It's just a pity...
These two guys' bodies are probably going to continue to rust.
"Hey, Luffy, Zoro!"
V suddenly smiled slyly.
"How about we have a competition to see who among the three of us gets the most kills?"
"How about the loser cleans the toilets for a month?"
"A competition?!"
Upon hearing this, Luffy's eyes flashed, and he instantly became interested.
Zoro smiled slightly and said, "Alright!"
After training all morning, he was planning to test his progress in combat.
"Okay, it's settled then!"
V no longer hid her barely suppressed laughter.
The next second, he waved his hand, and a figure suddenly appeared beside him.
It was none other than Buggy the Clown, the former member of Roger's Pirates whom he had transformed into a battle puppet!
"Go, Bucky!"
"Let Luffy and the others see your power!"
At V's command, Bucky, possessing basic intelligence, immediately and loyally responded:
"Yes, Master."
Then he raised his arms.
Under Luffy and Zoro's astonished gazes, 10 reconnaissance drones and 2 combat drones swarmed out.
They streaked across the sky, hurtling towards the Black Cat Pirates' ship.
End of this chapter...