One Piece: Legend of the Star Sea

Buggy and the cannonball flew into the bar, followed by a deafening explosion. Flames shot skyward.

In the blink of an eye, the once-spacious tavern was reduced to rubble. Several nearby buildings collapsed with a thunderous crash, dust and debris clouding the air.

"I'm a pirate. And you call yourselves pirates too? You had the guts to fire a cannon at me—this is what you get. If anyone else thinks they're tough enough, come at me. I won't run. I won't hide. I'll be right here waiting."

Alex stood firm, his feet leaving bright red, blood-soaked footprints behind him. He swept his gaze over the pirates sprawled out among the ruins, faces scorched and bodies battered by the blast.

"Looks like none of you have the nerve to challenge me again. Fine. Let's leave it at that."

A few pirates staggered to their feet, covered in burns and bleeding wounds. There wasn't a patch of uninjured skin on them. Crawling from the wreckage, they glimpsed Alex's motionless figure through the thick smoke—still standing, like a mountain.

When they felt his gaze sweep across them, they instantly looked away, dropping flat to the ground and pretending to be dead. Their whole bodies trembled with fear. None dared meet his eyes again.

Where the hell had this freak come from? He was terrifying. He'd looked like he was on death's door moments ago, and then turned around and punched Buggy—along with a cannonball—back at them.

Captain Buggy was supposed to be immortal... But now they were starting to wonder if this guy was the real unkillable one.

These pirates, who had lived their lives dancing on the edge of a blade, were truly afraid now. It was as if their very souls were shivering, and their fighting spirit had been completely extinguished.

What they didn't know was that Alex was truly at the end of his rope. If they'd found the courage to attack just one more time, he wouldn't have even had the strength to run.

"You bastard... I'm gonna kill you!!"

Buggy growled, murder in his eyes. His entire body was covered in blackened burns, and his nose throbbed with pain. He had nearly passed out, but the cannonball had jolted him back to his senses. Now, burning with rage, he looked like a lunatic.

Though, to be fair, Buggy was kind of a lunatic.

But something felt off—his vision seemed worse than usual. He couldn't quite see properly, as if something was blocking his view.

He quickly realized what it was: his own nose.

Thanks to Alex's punch, his already enormous red nose had swelled even bigger. It now obstructed his sight. And to make things worse, when Alex's bloodied fist had smashed into his face, it left red stains on the nose—making it appear even redder and rounder.

In a twisted way, Alex had actually delivered on his promise: he'd made Buggy's nose even redder and rounder.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Alex was pale as a ghost. He was losing too much blood and gasping for air. He watched as Buggy's body began splitting in two, heading his way.

"I'm done," Alex rasped to Luffy. "You take it from here. I'm at my limit."

"Got it. You take a break—I'll handle this."

Luffy stomped down on the severed hand carrying throwing knives that was flying toward Alex, crushing it beneath his foot. He flexed his arms and stepped in front of Alex protectively.

Alex let out a faint chuckle and collapsed backward, totally spent. With Luffy in front of him, what was there to be afraid of?

"You really are unbelievably dumb. Was it really worth pushing yourself this far?"

Nami caught him before he hit the ground. Her hands were met with warm, sticky blood. Shock and anger flashed across her face. Her voice trembled between scolding and concern.

"Alex... do you blame me for getting so badly hurt?"

Luffy casually asked as he rolled his sleeves up, preparing to face Buggy.

"You feel guilty about injuring me now?"

Held in Nami's arms, Alex caught the familiar scent of her hair. Mustering the last of his strength, he responded:

"Nope. Not even a little."

Luffy turned his head and grinned as he launched a stretchy punch toward Buggy.

He was telling the truth. Even though Alex was badly injured—largely because of their earlier fight—Luffy didn't feel guilty at all. Not because he was heartless, but because when they had fought, he had done so with a clear conscience. Why should he feel guilt over doing what was right?

When they clashed, Alex hadn't denied mistreating Nami. Luffy had seen Nami cry over it—and decided to teach Alex a lesson. His intentions had been pure, his actions justified.

If Alex had denied everything and Luffy still attacked, then maybe guilt would have crept in. But Alex hadn't. So Luffy could beat him down with no regrets.

As for Alex, he had indeed taken liberties with Nami—twice, in fact. First the grope, then the kiss. So when Nami cried, he didn't have the nerve to pretend he'd done nothing wrong.

So their fight might've seemed ridiculous on the surface—but it was bound to happen sooner or later. Better to get it over with now.

Besides, Alex had been a little curious—he wanted to see how he really stacked up against Luffy. And now, he understood: at full power, he could injure Luffy. But to seriously hurt him? That was another matter.

Though this time he had fought injured—if they met again at full health, the outcome might be different.

Either way, Alex had no intention of blaming Luffy. He'd chosen this. So he chuckled and said:

"Then why the hell did you even ask? Next time you say you're gonna punch me into the sky, I won't go easy on you."

A faint glow—thin red streaks—began to shimmer along Alex's back, blending with the blood, nearly invisible. But they were there.

Luffy laughed like a monkey and said nothing more, turning his focus entirely to Buggy.

"You guys are seriously weird sometimes..."

Nami murmured, wrapping Alex's wounds as she cradled his head in her lap. After a moment of silence, she asked softly:

"You still haven't answered me. Why'd you push yourself this far?"

"You really don't know?"

Alex's throat was dry, but he stared at Nami and said:

"I just wanted to prove it to you. That I'm a pirate. A full-blooded, no-question-about-it pirate. So next time, you won't accuse me of lying."

"I knew it..."

Nami's heart skipped a beat. She had suspected as much—but hearing it directly from him still shook her.

"You idiot. You could've just told me! Why go and get yourself beaten half to death to prove it?! You big dumbass!"

Though furious, Nami couldn't stop a flutter of warmth inside her. It was crazy, dangerous, absurd... but also deeply sincere. She understood now—Alex really had risked everything just to show her he was being honest.

Maybe too honest.

Sometimes, words just aren't enough. He wanted to show her, not just tell her. That not all pirates are the same.

"You've seen the truth with your own eyes, haven't you? Don't cry anymore. I never meant to lie to you. And after today... I think you'll always remember. I'm a pirate."

He paused, breathing heavily, then added:

"And by the way... you're ugly when you cry. I don't like it."

That last line ruined everything.

Nami had just been moved to tears—until that. Her expression darkened. Even though she understood the deeper meaning—that Alex wanted her to stop living in hatred, to stop painting all pirates with the same brush—she still couldn't let that comment slide.

She yanked the bandage a little too tight.

Alex gasped from the pain.

"Oh right. Thanks to you, I almost forgot—I still need to steal Buggy's treasure. Come help me, will ya?"

Nami turned away to hide the tears she quickly wiped from her eyes. Her voice was cheery now, face beaming with sunlight.

"Hey, I'm injured, okay? You go. I'm gonna lie down for a bit..."

Alex groaned, barely hanging on. There was no way he had the energy to haul treasure right now.

"Don't be stupid. If you don't come, who's gonna help me carry it? No slacking off!"

She hauled him to his feet without waiting for an answer. Inside, she muttered to herself: Idiot. I feel safer with you around... You should at least know that much. Complain again, and I'll beat you up.

Alex saw the warning behind her smile and wisely kept his mouth shut.

Once I'm healed up, woman... you better watch your back.

Still, it was better to go with her than get clobbered again. At least he'd gotten a little rest.

As those thoughts ran through his mind, faint orange markings began to form on his back, intertwining with the red ones beneath his blood-soaked skin... slowly spreading across his body...

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