One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

Screech—!

The blade known as Cat's Claw sliced through the iron gate, aiming straight for Maude's throat.

Maude took two measured steps back, effortlessly avoiding the lethal strike.

The severed gate crashed to the ground with a resounding clang, drawing the attention of everyone inside the mansion.

A middle-aged couple emerged from the mansion, leading a dozen or so servants. They froze in astonishment at the sight of Kuro, armed with deadly weapons, standing at the gate.

What is happening here?

Even without hearing the sound, Kuro could feel the astonished gazes directed at him from behind. He paid no mind to them, his cold eyes fixed on Maude.

"Thanks to you, none of those people back there will live past today."

"Is that so?" Maude responded with a soft chuckle.

His nonchalant demeanor further stoked the killing intent in Kuro's eyes.

Stealth Walk!

Kuro's figure blurred and disappeared without a sound.

"So, you're using it now."

Maude's eyes glimmered with a faint red light. With the aid of Observation Haki, he could clearly track Kuro's movements.

"Behind me, huh…"

Maude suddenly spun around and delivered a sharp kick.

As his foot lashed out, Kuro's form materialized.

Boom—!

The kick struck Kuro square in the abdomen, sending him flying backward. His body curled like a shrimp as he tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop.

"This guy... cough!"

Kuro, shocked by the blow, sat up only to vomit a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

Anticipating a follow-up attack, Kuro forced himself to stand despite the pain.

However, Maude neither drew his blade nor capitalized on his advantage. He didn't even make a move to end the fight.

Otherwise, a single blow enhanced with Armament Haki would have been enough to finish it.

"Go on," Maude said with a smile, watching the disheveled Kuro.

He wanted to observe the Stealth Walk technique a few more times.

Strictly speaking, in terms of subtlety, the technique rivaled the Marine's Shave.

It compressed sound to near silence while delivering impressive bursts of speed.

Its only limitation was that it lacked the sheer explosive force of Shave, as the technique prioritized sound suppression.

On the other hand, Stealth Walk relied more on refined technique than sheer physical strength.

"Are you mocking me?"

Kuro didn't know what Maude was thinking, but the killing intent on his face grew almost tangible.

"Think what you like," Maude replied nonchalantly.

Without further words, Kuro's figure blurred and disappeared again.

This time, faint sounds of air being cut accompanied his movement.

Maude sidestepped, easily evading Kuro's murderous assault.

Around him, slashes appeared on the ground, but Kuro's figure remained elusive, his attacks growing faster and sharper.

"He's speeding up. The offensive pressure has increased significantly, but..."

Maude leaped backward, dodging Kuro's formless attack with ease once more.

"Increasing speed has compromised the sound suppression. The technique has lost some of its edge."

Maude observed attentively, piecing together the mechanics behind Stealth Walk.

"It relies on precise toe movements, like a raindrop rippling across water. That explains the soft, fluid motion..."

"Still, sacrificing sound suppression for speed feels like missing the point."

Moria's gaze sharpened as he continued to analyze the technique.

Stealth Walk, executed with toes for minimal sound, showcased remarkable finesse. But when Kuro used the soles of his feet to boost speed, the technique began resembling Shave more than anything unique.

Having seen enough, Maude decided it was time to end the hunt.

Listening to the faint whooshes of air, his eyes glinted with killing intent.

"That's enough. I'm not sure if I can master this, but thank you for the demonstration, Captain Kuro."

Without warning, Maude extended a hand clad in Armament Haki, seizing Kuro by the throat with pinpoint accuracy.

Kuro's form emerged abruptly, and the chaotic sounds in the air fell silent.

Caught by the neck, Kuro's pupils shrank in fear as he stared at Maude, his face betraying utter shock.

He had heard Maude's earlier words.

In that moment, he understood why Maude hadn't attacked earlier.

It was to learn his Stealth Walk.

Crack!

Maude twisted Kuro's neck with a swift motion.

Kuro's face froze, and the light in his eyes quickly faded.

Maude released his grip, letting Kuro's lifeless body slump to the ground.

"Kl... Klahadore!!!"

A panicked voice echoed from the mansion's courtyard.

A slightly overweight middle-aged man rushed forward, followed by a dozen servants.

This man was Kaya's father—the kind-hearted man who had once taken in Kuro.

"Why did you kill Klahadore?!"

The man glared at Maude in anger, while several armed guards behind him drew their flintlock pistols.

Maude had anticipated this. He pulled out Kuro's wanted poster from inside his coat and held it up.

"The man you knew as Klahadore was actually Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, a notorious criminal. I am Captain Nezumi of the Marines. For your safety, I had no choice but to act."

"What...?!"

The group stared at the wanted poster in shock.

When they realized they had unknowingly lived alongside a dangerous pirate for a year, a chill ran down their spines.

"My apologies for any disturbance. I must take the body back to report this matter. Farewell."

Maude left the wanted poster behind, hoisted Kuro's corpse, and walked away with a deliberate urgency.

"Wait! How can we possibly thank you?!"

Kaya's father called out, his tone suddenly respectful in his haste.

"There's no need for thanks. This is simply my duty as a Marine."

Maude quickened his pace, leaving the group behind.

As they watched his retreating figure, admiration spread across their faces.

"A Marine like him in the East Blue... What a blessing!" Kaya's father exclaimed earnestly.

Maude didn't hear the remark. He passed by a large tree with Kuro's body in tow.

From behind the tree, Usopp emerged, nervously eyeing the corpse.

Maude glanced at Usopp and asked, "What did you think of that fight?"

"Uh, well, I didn't really see it clearly..."

Usopp scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I asked for your thoughts, not whether you saw it."

"Well, uh... That guy disappeared out of nowhere—it scared me half to death! He was like a monster! But you were even more amazing. Heh!"

"That was a movement technique. If you work hard, you might achieve it someday."

Maude looked ahead, already planning his next move.

His decision to hold back and observe Kuro's Stealth Walk wasn't merely curiosity; he intended to master the technique himself.

Before his crew returned, he would train Usopp while refining the technique.

Hearing Maude's encouragement, Usopp's excitement surged. He was eager to begin training immediately, unaware that Maude would only stay for another 20 days.

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