One Piece: Failure’s Road to the Pirate King

Akin.

Many rumors swirl around this man on the Grand Line.

Kaido's son, a Marine Admiral, various calamities at sea—any vaguely known incident usually involves him. Of course, that was before.

Sag had a fairly good impression of Akin: loyal, righteous, and unwavering in carrying out his captain's orders.

Such a man was worth recruiting into his pirate crew.

"Pirate?"

Before Akin could speak, Krieg threw his head back and roared with laughter. After a long bout of laughter, he abruptly lowered his head, the bloodshot veins in his eyes even more pronounced.

"Am I, Krieg, now being mocked by a small-time pirate? You want me to join your crew?"

"No."

Sag smiled faintly. "I have no interest in you, specifically."

Though his memory of the plot was hazy, having lived in the East Blue, he was familiar with the rumors surrounding its active pirates.

'Captain' Krieg, a vile and cruel man. If Akin was truly loyal and righteous, then Krieg represented the opposite—ruthless and deceitful. He'd done it all: disguised himself as a merchant to attack ships, joined the Marines to attack warships.

Even if he were recruiting pirates, he wouldn't take just anyone.

"So, I've been underestimated!"

Krieg's face darkened. "Kill him!"

*Shing!* The instant the words left his lips, a cold gleam flashed from the darkness, forcing the campfire to cower.

The gleam swiftly darted around, and half the pirates screamed, blood spurting from various wounds as they collapsed.

Lily appeared before the fallen pirates, flicking her slender sword, once again unleashing a cold gleam as she lunged at the remaining pirates.

Her swordsmanship was indeed formidable.

With another flash of cold steel, the remaining pirates fell, bleeding profusely. The gleam turned, heading straight for Krieg's back.

*Clang!* A sharp sound echoed as the slender sword struck a shield.

It was a large, round shield, blocking the sword's attack.

Paru, at some point, had donned his equipment. His body was encased in two large, round iron shields, with smaller shields protecting his hands, elbows, and knees. Similar to fluorite stones adorned the shields, his head, and his boots.

Paru addressed Lily, "Using a sword to fight? How shameless!"

"?"

Lily froze, momentarily confused.

This guy was covered head-to-toe in shields, and he was mocking a swordsman for using a sword? "Whatever, I'll still defeat you!" Lily declared.

"Defeat me? Impossible!"

Paru held up a finger. "I'm the Iron Wall Man, undefeated in 62 battles, except for one! And by the way, I've only bled once. This shield armor was only broken by the Captain, but I've repaired it, making it even stronger!"

He casually swept his crescent-shaped bangs aside, revealing a set of white teeth. "I'm the Shield Man, the handsome Shield Man, the absolutely impenetrable Paru! How's that? Pretty slick, right?"

What a dimwit. Lily raised her sword slightly, shifting her body, adopting a fencing stance, and swiftly lunging, her blade transforming into a cold gleam aimed at Paru's face.

*Clang!* Paru reacted swiftly, raising a shield to block the sword strike.

"Give up, this isn't enough power. My shields can withstand even naval cannons!" Paru chuckled.

*Ssh!* But the next instant, a spurt of blood inexplicably appeared on his shoulder.

Lily's expression remained impassive. "Absolute defense?"

Shield defense doesn't cover the entire body; there are gaps. His shoulder was exposed.

"Ouch... blood!"

Paru turned to look at the blood on his shoulder, his previously goofy smile replaced by sheer terror. He frantically struck the fluorite stones on his shields.

"It hurts! My life's in danger! Danger!"

The fluorite stones emitted a bright light, and with a roar, burst into flames, engulfing all the shields, including the helmet on his head.

"Flame Paru!"

Paru spread his limbs, several similar fluorite stones now clutched between his fingers. "Burn, burn it all!"

"Hmm?"

Sag narrowed his eyes from his seat. "Hey, setting the forest on fire? You'll be doing hard time."

Lily's eyebrows furrowed. She suddenly darted to Paru's side, her slender sword flashing like lightning, aiming for a weak point in his side armor, aiming for his neck.

Those fluorite stones could produce fire; if he really set it ablaze... this was a forest!

*Thwack!* As the sword pierced, a foot suddenly kicked the sword high into the air. Simultaneously, a dull thud echoed as Paru's back shield shattered, the immense force causing him to roll his eyes and collapse.

"Captain Akin, it's you again..." he trembled.

Akin retracted his foot, shouldering his iron-ball-tipped cane, glancing at Paru. "Paru, this is a forest, you can't start a fire."

"You rejected my offer?" Sag softly asked.

Akin turned to Sag. "I'm still the battle captain of the Krieg Pirates. You're a small-fry pirate; you can't handle the Captain. Leave now!"

"Oh, but your Captain doesn't intend to let me go."

Sag smiled slightly, his body suddenly vanishing.

*Bang!!*

A massive fist, encased in diamond-studded gauntlets, slammed down, shattering the broken piece of wood and creating a deep crater in the ground. The force of the punch generated a gust of wind, extinguishing the campfire completely.

Sag reappeared to the side, surprised. "Quite the strength."

Krieg, now clad in golden steel armor, stood up straight, his face grim. "Brat, you're fast, but can you outrun bullets?"

*Bang bang bang!* The round shoulder plates and waist armor suddenly opened, revealing several guns that spewed fire, showering Sag with bullets as Krieg lunged forward, leaping high into the air, and bringing his fist down again.

Bullets plus his attack—how could he possibly dodge?

"Paper."

Sag spoke calmly, remaining motionless, but his body subtly twisted, the bullets grazing his moving body without leaving a scratch. Then, he reached out.

*Boom!!*

The ground where Sag stood slightly sank. He looked at the astonished Krieg. "I'm not only fast, my strength isn't inferior to yours."

Krieg's strength was certainly considerable; he could easily lift a ton of weaponry with one arm. An ordinary person would be killed with a single punch.

But this brat... actually blocked it! Did that body contain such immense power?

Krieg gritted his teeth, his shoulder armor opening again to reveal the guns.

"This close, how will you dodge!"

The gun barrels spat fire again, unleashing bullets.

"Iron."

*Clang clang clang!* The round bullets struck Sag's body and fell harmlessly.

Sag smiled. "Seems I don't need to dodge."

Rokushiki, so useful.

Bullets ineffective? Able to withstand his punches, a body impervious to bullets... Krieg's eyes widened. The first thing that came to mind was the Straw Hat who defeated him! Another pirate like that! No!

He wouldn't fail again! Krieg leaped back, jumping far away before shouting, "Akin, take him down, and I'll forgive you."

"Yes, Captain!"

Akin bent his knees, and with a *thud*, propelled himself forward like a cannonball.

*Swish!* But at that moment, a cold gleam flashed from his side, a sword gleaming brightly, aimed at Akin's body.

In his low-flying charge, Akin flipped, dodging Lily's strike. The iron ball on his cane deflected the sword, and the other cane swung out. Lily quickly retreated, evading the cane's attack. She steadied her sword, ready to strike again, but missed.

Akin once again pushed off the ground, ignoring Lily completely, and arrived before Sag, whirling his cane in a circle, the momentum generating a powerful, whooshing sound as he slammed it down.

He was obedient; though he had his suspicions, this wouldn't change. Since he was to deal with this pirate, he wouldn't attack anyone else.

He would complete his orders first.

Sag shifted his body, dodging the falling iron ball. But halfway down, the ball suddenly changed direction, as Akin twisted his wrist, the cane describing a semicircle, striking Sag's ribs with immense force.

*Bang!* Sag swayed slightly, but didn't retaliate, instead exclaiming, "Impressive!"

He openly showed his admiration. "Your combat experience is incredibly rich, far surpassing mine. Join my pirate crew; it'll be far better than following Krieg."

Sag's combat experience wasn't actually that rich.

He hadn't even trained much in boxing; his adoptive father forbade it, wanting him to live a normal life. After his father's death, he spent more time on his business and survival. He'd stumbled his way into mastering these abilities.

As for combat, he'd fought people, but not everyone was strong, especially in the East Blue.

Besides, he was so unlucky; even capturing pirates, he'd only encounter those without bounties. Where could he find someone with combat skills?

Ennio was the first true strong opponent he'd encountered.

And Akin... he could dodge with 'Shave' and 'Paper,' but in a real fight, he couldn't dodge such improvisational techniques.

In his eyes, this guy was stronger than Krieg!

"Sorry, Captain Krieg, I remain your captain!"

Akin said solemnly, "I believe he'll come to his senses. Then, the Krieg Pirates will remain the East Blue's overlords!"

"Whether you're the East Blue's overlords, I don't know, but he probably won't come to his senses."

Sag pointed to the side. "Because he intends to kill you too."

Krieg, having retreated from the fight, now wore a gas mask. The shoulder armor from his arms had been removed and combined into his hands, a circular opening appearing on the surface, aimed at them.