"I thought I had already killed him. So, he's still alive?"

Kuro had attacked Merry, the butler, the previous night. But he hadn't expected the man to be this tenacious—surviving despite his wounds.

This man definitely wasn't Klahadore!

Hearing Kuro's words, Kaya instantly realized that everything Merry had told her was true. Recalling what she had said and done to Usopp yesterday, guilt overwhelmed her. Her small fists clenched and trembled as she looked at Usopp.

"I'm sorry, Usopp. I know no matter how many times I apologize, you won't forgive me. I just couldn't believe that Klahadore was actually a pirate."

Kaya apologized with deep remorse.

"That doesn't matter right now! Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to run? They'll kill you!"

Usopp struggled to his feet and shouted. But just as the words left his mouth, his head spun—he was kicked hard and slammed to the ground. Blood flowed freely from his scalp.

"Miss Kaya, I told you—there's no need to apologize to the son of some lowly pirate."

Kuro stepped on Usopp's head with disdain. "You? The guy who runs around the village playing pirate games with three little kids—you think you can stop my plan?"

"Stop it, Klahadore! Don't do this!"

Kaya rushed forward, trying to intervene. But Kuro raised his bladed cat-claw gloves from the leather bag at his side and pointed them straight at her face. The icy blade hovered just inches from her nose, freezing her in place.

So that's what was in that bag—his weapon. Alex now understood why Kuro had such an odd habit of pushing his glasses. It was because of those claws.

He hadn't been a pirate for three years, yet he still maintained the habit. That could only mean one thing—he had never truly abandoned his fighting instincts.

As Alex was lost in thought, distracted by Usopp's situation, Sham slashed his arm with his cat claws. Thankfully, it wasn't a deep wound.

Zoro, also briefly distracted, was wounded by the combined assault of Jango and Buchi. Several long gashes marred his chest, quickly soaking his shirt in blood.

But Zoro only grew fiercer. Seeing what was happening to Usopp, he fought back harder. Even while being double-teamed, he began to gain the upper hand—with just one sword.

"You hit me pretty hard yesterday. I still remember that."

Kuro said coldly as he dragged his claws across Usopp's back, leaving five deep, bloody wounds. But Usopp gritted his teeth and stayed silent. Through the pain, he still shouted to Kaya:

"Don't worry about me, Kaya! I'm a brave warrior of the sea! I won't lose to them! Just go home and rest—when you wake up, everything will be back to normal!"

"You really know how to lie, don't you?"

Kuro stomped down hard on Usopp's already bleeding back, causing him to cough up blood.

"Usopp!"

Kaya covered her mouth in horror, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't move. Seeing Usopp bleeding and broken just to protect her and the village—how could she just turn and run?

"That's enough, damn it!"

Nami, still sitting slumped on the side, saw Usopp taking more punishment and couldn't bear it any longer. Fighting through her pain, she grabbed a long staff and swung it at Kuro's back.

But Kuro reacted instantly, spinning around and swiping with his claws, deflecting her strike and sending her flying into the rock wall again.

"Sorry, Usopp… I really can't save you..."

Nami wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. She had hit the rock wall hard—twice—and was clearly suffering internal injuries. Her face had turned pale.

Alex, dodging Sham's attacks, saw Nami's bravery in risking her life to save Usopp. She was always hiding in the back, but in critical moments… she was willing to fight.

"Heh… how touching. You've made some good friends."

Kuro smirked, then slashed Usopp repeatedly with both sets of claws. Dozens of deep cuts crisscrossed Usopp's body. Blood gushed from his wounds, pooling around him.

But Usopp never screamed. Despite being on the brink of death, he kept weakly waving his hand, signaling Kaya to run. He could no longer speak—his injuries were that severe.

Kaya was frozen, terrified by the sight. Her mind went blank. Given her frail health, it was a miracle she hadn't passed out already.

"You idiot! What are you doing?!"

Nami pushed herself up, trying to clear her dazed head. She ran toward Alex, yelling:

"Didn't you all say we just need to take them down? Then what are you waiting for?!"

Her voice trembled as she shouted.

"So noisy. I'll kill you first!"

Sham saw Nami running his way. After forcing Alex back with a swipe, he lunged at her.

But Nami didn't dodge. She looked back at Alex and kept running straight ahead.

"Foolish woman! I'll tear you apart!"

Sham swiped at Nami—but his claws froze mid-air. Alex had caught his wrist from behind and held it tightly.

"Shut it. We're just getting warmed up!"

Red and orange streaks of markings crawled across Alex's face. His pupils transformed—one crimson, one gold. He stared straight into Sham's eyes and growled:

"Get lost. You're not the one I want to beat up right now."

Boom!

With a single punch, Alex sent Sham flying into the cliffside, embedding him deep into the rock.

Nami dashed past him in silence—her target: Zoro's two swords on the ground.

Enraged by Kuro's cruelty, Alex had felt something familiar awaken inside him. Red and orange stripes spread rapidly across his body.

Without Sham blocking her, Nami kicked both swords toward Zoro.

Zoro caught them just as Jango hypnotized Buchi and Sham, preparing for a final attack.

"Die!"

"It's useless! Even with three swords, you're no match for us!"

Buchi and Sham charged at Zoro, who now held one sword in each hand—and one in his mouth.

"You don't get it, do you? Holding three swords and using Three-Sword Style are two different things!"

Blood soaked Zoro's chest, but his fighting spirit blazed even stronger.

"We end this in five minutes. Give it everything you've got!"

Jango shouted to the cat brothers, visibly anxious. Two minutes had already passed, and Alex and Zoro were still standing strong. Alex's sudden power-up and strange markings made him nervous.

"Tora Gari!" (Tiger Hunt!)

Zoro assumed his signature stance, swords in hand and one gripped in his mouth. As the brothers charged, he unleashed his technique in an instant.

"AAAHHH!"

Buchi and Sham screamed in pain—Zoro's attack left tiger-striped gashes across their chests. They collapsed, defeated.

"He took out the Cat Brothers in one move!"

The Black Cat Pirates panicked. Earlier, Alex had nearly crushed Sham with one punch. Now, Zoro had finished off the duo in seconds. Fear gripped their hearts.

"Relax. You won't need five minutes—we'll clean you all up right now."

Zoro pointed his sword at Kuro, who was still standing over Usopp.

"I'll take care of him. That fat one's still breathing."

Alex nodded toward Buchi.

"Saved by his fat, huh?"

Zoro, seeing Buchi being hypnotized again, walked toward him. "Hit him hard!"

"Oh, don't worry—I plan to."

Alex turned to Kuro.

"Kuro, you bastard. You really piss me off. I'm going to beat you to a pulp before I send you flying."

Alex stood below the slope, staring at Kuro, who had nearly killed Usopp. Blood was everywhere. Alex's rage boiled over.

The red and orange stripes on his face began to retreat, sinking into his eyes. His expression returned to normal—but now, both of his pupils were deep crimson, glowing faintly with gold around the edges.

Alex could feel it—this power was different. Especially his eyes. Something inside them had changed. Something unknown was awakening.

"Want to send me flying?"

Kuro adjusted his glasses, his face dark and cold. He stared at Alex and said, word by word:

"Go ahead and try—just don't end up like that liar under my feet, all talk and no bite."

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