The Eggskull Pirates had no leader. Miller's men crushed them in five minutes.
Miller boarded the ship, his broad shoulders like a mountain. His arm muscles flexed, hard as stone. The crew knelt on the deck, hands on heads.
"Where is Wusi?" he shouted.
The crew shook their heads. Mafei, at the front, trembled. "The captain ran," he mumbled, eyes down.
"Ran away?" Miller's voice burned with rage. He tossed a bounty list to his men. "Check for pirates with bounties."
The men flipped through papers, scanning faces. "Boss, only Wusi had a big bounty. Mafei's is just 10 million Baileys."
Miller's face twisted. His tongue flicked over his lip. "No fun today. You will pay for your captain."
His grin turned cruel. "Tie them with thick ropes. Throw them to the sea. Full speed!"
"Yes!" his men shouted.
The ship surged forward. Pirates watched their friends, bound hands and feet, tossed into the sea. Ropes tied to the stern dragged them through the water. The sea turned red. Screams echoed.
The crew still on deck paled, struggling. Miller's men pinned them down.
"What a sweet sound!" Miller laughed, arms spread, watching bodies break in the waves.
"Stop!" Mafei yelled, eyes bloodshot. "Miller, fight me! I will kill you!"
Miller ignored him, lost in his game.
Nobita, still tied in the net, shook his head. * Pirate life is too dangerous. No more pirate ships. *
A man in a white turban eyed Nobita's ropes. "Do not tie me up," Nobita said, squirming. "I am not with them."
"Quiet!" The man punched Nobita's forehead. A loud crack rang out, like a coconut splitting.
The man screamed, eyes rolling back. He collapsed.
"Tch! That hurts!" Nobita muttered, shaking off the ropes. He stood, rubbing his head.
"Who are you?" Six men in white turbans aimed rifles at him.
"Do not shoot!" Nobita raised his hands.
Miller and the pirates turned to look. "I am not with them," Nobita said, waving. "Keep doing your thing. Ignore me. Do not—"
Bang! Bullets flew from the rifles, hitting Nobita's chest.
The six shooters gasped, spitting blood. They fell, writhing.
Silence gripped the ship. Eyes locked on Nobita. He clutched the deck's rail, face grim. "I said do not shoot! It hurts!" he groaned.
Blood dripped from his chest. Then the wounds closed. Bullets fell to the deck, clinking. His skin healed fast.
Miller stared, eyes cold. "Who are you, kid?"
Nobita wiped blood from his mouth, breathing hard. * I should have played dead, * he thought, annoyed.
"It does not matter who I am," he said, pointing to the fallen men. "Check your guys. They might die."
Miller sneered. He clapped his hands hard. The air twisted, forming a wave. "Sonic Clip Wall!" he roared, sending a sound blast at Nobita.
* Sonic Fruit? * Nobita thought, frowning at the approaching wave.
"Troublesome," he muttered.
Miller grinned, cruel. "Scared stiff, kid? Dodge, or this will be boring."
Nobita stood still. The sound wave hit, booming like crashing gongs. Miller screamed, blood leaking from his ears. He fell to his knees.
* Share the pain, * Nobita thought, smirking. His Devil Fruit made attackers feel his injuries. * I am immortal. You cannot win. *
Blood trickled from Nobita's ears. He grabbed a pirate knife and charged Miller. "Stop him!" the white turbans yelled, firing.
Bullets hit Nobita. The shooters screamed, collapsing. The bullets sank into Nobita like a sponge, slowing him slightly.
Before Miller could stand, Nobita reached him. Six months at sea had sharpened his skills. He drove the knife into Miller's chest. Blood sprayed. The blade pierced through, ending Miller's life.
Silence fell. Then chaos.
"The boss is dead?" The white turbans stared, shocked. They jumped off the ship, fleeing on their boats.
Nobita did not chase. Blood covered him. Bullets slid from his body. He pulled the knife free, standing tall. A tear rolled down his cheek. "It hurts," he whispered.
Over twenty pirates, including Mafei, held their breath, staring.
Nobita glanced at them. "Do not look! I am not crying. The wind is strong today."
"Boss!" the pirates shouted, dropping to their knees before him.
Nobita blinked, confused. "What?"