Liam Ross stared at the woman blocking his path and sighed.
He had just planned to leave the South Blue, only to run into someone notorious even among future legends a woman who would one day become one of Blackbeard's most dangerous subordinates, the Crescent Moon Hunter herself, Catarina Devon.
At this point in time, however, she was far from that fearsome reputation. She was still a new pirate, burning with ambition and reckless dreams of glory, and she had decided that attacking a Marine branch was the quickest way to make her name known.
Liam couldn't help but think that she was out of her mind. Starting trouble with the Marines before even finding her footing? No wonder she'd eventually end up rotting in Impel Down's sixth level. Some people were just born to make all the wrong choices.
"Mu-lu-hu-hu-hu..."
Catarina let out that strange, grating laugh of hers, her long nose twitching as she sneered at him. "Don't play dumb, brat. You move like a Marine. If you're not one of them, you're definitely a dog of the World Government. No ordinary man knows the Six Powers."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Last I checked, the Six Powers weren't exclusive to them. Ever heard of self-study?"
"Don't try to fool me." Her expression darkened as she moved closer, her sharp eyes narrowing. "I've only ever seen their kind use it."
Liam didn't have time for this nonsense. He tried to walk past her, but she flashed forward and blocked him again, her shadow stretching in the smoke and firelight behind her.
"Move," Liam said flatly, his tone carrying a clear warning.
"Where do you think you're going?" she purred.
"None of your damn business."
Her eyes flicked toward the Marine branch under siege, her lips curling into a twisted grin. "Mu-lu-hu-hu... I get it now. You were sent to call for reinforcements, weren't you? How noble."
"Ugly woman," Liam snapped coldly, his voice cutting through the noise of cannonfire. "Leave before I lose my patience."
Catarina froze. Then her grin vanished, replaced by seething rage.
"Ugly?" she shrieked. "You dare call me ugly?!" Her shrill voice echoed across the island, her nails curling into claws. "I'll skin you alive, you smug little Marine, and hang your corpse from my mast!"
Her body began to twist and morph as a crimson aura enveloped her. In seconds, the woman's figure transformed into a fox-like creature with nine long, sinuous tails that lashed the air behind her.
"Die!"
She lunged, slashing at Liam with lightning speed.
Two crimson streaks tore through the air.
Liam didn't flinch. His forearms turned jet-black with Armament Haki, and he met her attack head-on.
Boom!
The claws shattered against his defense, scattering like sparks in the wind.
Liam's cold, blade-like gaze locked onto her. "If you're that eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
"Just try it, mu-lu-hu-hu!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom.
She fully transformed into her Nine-Tailed Fox form, her tails whipping around her like living serpents before lunging toward him.
Liam's observation Haki flared to life. He weaved between the strikes, his counterpunches landing like thunderclaps.
Suddenly, Catarina let out a sharp cry: "Hunter's Fang – Piercing Strike!"
Three of her tails twisted together like a drill and shot toward Liam's back.
He turned too late.
Crack!
The tails speared through his chest. Catarina grinned triumphantly until she realized he wasn't bleeding.
Instead, clumps of soil wriggled and reformed where the wound had been. Within seconds, his chest was whole again.
"You... you're a Devil Fruit user too?" Catarina gasped, disbelief written all over her face.
"Earth Dragon Coil!"
Liam didn't bother answering. He slammed his hands together, and two colossal dragons of living earth erupted from the ground, roaring as they lunged toward her.
"Damn it!" Catarina countered, whipping her tails to block the assault. The shockwaves of their clash sent debris flying in all directions.
The violent battle quickly drew attention from both sides of the siege.
"Is that... one of ours fighting her?" a Marine officer shouted.
"No, sir! Judging by his clothes, he's probably another pirate!"
The officer frowned. "Where's our reinforcements? Headquarters promised to send Vice Admiral Onigumo from the South Blue patrol!"
"They said to hold the line, sir. He's on the way!"
"Fine! Keep firing! Don't let them breach the gate!"
Meanwhile, among the pirates
"Move, you dogs! The captain said anyone who breaks through first gets a fat reward!" bellowed one of Catarina's lieutenants, a shirtless brute wielding a blade and a spear.
A Marine lieutenant tried to ambush him, but the pirate easily blocked and gutted the man with a laugh.
"Hahaha! Pathetic Marines!" he jeered.
Catarina had four of these lieutenants under her, each worth a million berries in bounty. Now, all of them were charging the Marine fortress gate, eager for blood and gold.
The Marines, however, held firm. Their commander's voice thundered over the chaos. "Hold the line! The Navy never yields to pirates!"
Just then, a massive shadow fell from the sky.
Boom!
Something or rather, someone slammed into the gate with devastating force, leaving a gaping hole in the fortress wall.
The fighting stopped instantly. Both pirates and Marines stared in stunned silence as the dust cleared.
Out of the rubble stumbled a battered Catarina Devon, her once-smug face now twisted with fury and humiliation.
"C-Captain?!" one of her men stammered.
"No way... The captain's the strongest in the South Blue! Who could've done this?"
"Was it Marine reinforcements?"
Their panic only made her angrier. Catarina glared at her men, eyes burning. "Idiots! Stop gawking and fight!"
She hadn't expected that strange man who she was sure had been a low-ranking Marine to wield such terrifying power. Devil Fruit ability, two types of Haki, and mastery of the Six Powers? Impossible.
He'd found her opening mid-fight and sent her crashing down in one devastating punch. The humiliation burned deeper than any wound.
Her crimson eyes darted toward the sky. But there was nothing. No trace of Liam Ross.
Gone.
"Damn it!" she snarled. "If I can't find him, I'll take it out on the Marines!"
And with that, she turned her fury on the fortress.
Minutes later, Vice Admiral Onigumo arrived and engaged her in battle, the clash shaking the coastline.
Meanwhile, far away, Liam through his clone was already leaving the battlefield behind. After knocking Catarina out of the sky, he wasted no time and headed straight for the West Blue.
A passing merchant ship bound for the region accepted him aboard for a hefty fare, and he decided to lie low.
Two days later, as the ship crossed into West Blue waters, Liam stepped onto the deck, stretching lazily. Just then, a piece of paper fluttered down from the sky.
He caught it out of habit and froze.
"What the hell...?"
It was a wanted poster.
His wanted poster.
A rough sketch showed him and Catarina Devon mid-fight, their figures silhouetted against flames. The caption beneath read:
WANTED – 20,000,000 Berries
Name: Unknown
Alias: Crescent Hound
Crime: Collaborating with Catarina Devon in the assault on a Marine branch in the South Blue.
Liam's eye twitched.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "How the hell did I end up as her accomplice?"
The sea breeze carried his frustrated sigh away as the "Crescent Hound" quietly disappeared into the horizon utterly unaware that his legend had just begun.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Already captivated by Liam Ross's rise through the seas? Share what thrilled you your words and reviews keep his legend alive! Every 300 Power Stones will unlock a bonus chapter, pushing Liam's journey toward domination even faster!
Liam Ross's adventure has only just begun, and his reign across the seas is far from over. Stay aboard with World Shaker of the New World, and sail beyond the horizon together!
[email protected]/_sey
Change @ to a