"Hey! You pink head!" Morgan roared the moment he arrived, his hulking frame stepping between Valen and Helmeppo. "How dare you hurt my son? He's a piece of shit, but only I get to beat him up!"
Valen smirked, raising his sword again. "So at least you know he's a shit," he said, stepping forward without hesitation.
"Father! Do you hear what he's saying—" Helmeppo began to cry out, but Morgan shut him down instantly.
"You shut up."
That curt response silenced the brat instantly. Morgan didn't even spare his son a glance. His disappointment was palpable.
Then he moved.
A flash of steel and iron. Valen's sword and Morgan's massive axe-hand collided with a deafening clang, sparks flying.
Valen's blade shuddered in his grip. His arms trembled.
Morgan was too strong.
Not just physically — he was a seasoned fighter. A wall of experience and power. Valen had grown stronger, yes, but this wasn't a fight he could win head-on.
"Not as strong as you act, pink head, huh?" Morgan chuckled, pressing down hard.
'Fuck…' Valen gritted his teeth, digging in his heels — when suddenly:
> [A new mission has arrived!]
[Objective: Defeat Axe-Hand Morgan!]
[Rewards: 3000 EXP, new Trait—Sword Prodigy (2★)!]
[Failure: Death (Morgan will kill you)]
"A mission?" Valen's heart skipped a beat. "Then I've got no choice…"
He pushed off and leapt back, then lunged again, sword raised.
Clang.
Parried.
Clang.
Again.
Clang. Again.
Morgan batted away his attacks like swatting flies. Each blow sent shockwaves through Valen's arms. He was being overwhelmed.
On the sidelines, Kuina stood with Rika trembling behind her. Her sharp eyes tracked every move.
"He's too reckless…" she muttered. "Strength alone isn't enough."
Then she called out:
"You!"
Valen deflected another strike and barely turned his head. "What?!"
"Your form is complete shit," she said bluntly.
"Thanks! Just what I needed to hear right now!" Valen snapped, ducking another swing.
"Shut up and listen," she barked back.
Morgan laughed. "Stop dodging like a coward, pink head!"
Valen rolled aside again. "What the hell am I supposed to do?!"
"Close your eyes," Kuina said calmly.
"WHAT?! I'm gonna die! Are you insane?!"
"Then die. Your choice," she said coldly.
Valen hesitated.
Another axe blow crashed into the ground where he'd stood.
"…I just have to close my eyes, right?"
"Yes."
Valen gulped, shut his eyes.
"Now… concentrate."
He inhaled slowly.
The world darkened.
"Feel your sword."
His grip tightened. He felt it. The metal. The weight. The slight imperfections on the hilt. It wasn't just a weapon. It was a part of himself.
"I can feel it…" he muttered.
"Good."
Another strike came. Valen moved on instinct — a sidestep, smoother than any before.
"COME HERE, PINK HEAD!" Morgan bellowed, charging. "You think this is a damn sword lesson?!"
"Now," Kuina's voice cut through the chaos like a whisper. "Slice."
Valen's eyes snapped open. His body moved.
One clean strike.
SHING!
Morgan screamed.
Blood sprayed as his mechanical axe-arm flew off, spinning through the air and thudding against the ground.
"AGHHHHHHH!"
The giant fell to one knee, clutching his shoulder in agony.
[The skill Swordsmanship's rank has been promoted to 2★!]
"I… I did it!" Valen shouted, eyes wide in disbelief.
[Mission Completed!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have obtained the Trait—Sword Prodigy (2★)!]
He stood tall, panting, heart racing. But alive.
Victorious.
Kuina looked at him silently for a moment. Then, she smiled just faintly.
"…Not bad, pink head."
Valen turned to Kuina, his chest rising and falling from the adrenaline, and said with a genuine, radiant smile, "Thank you."
Kuina blinked. Her heart jumped.
'What the hell?' she thought, stunned. 'Why is my heart reacting? To this idiot? This pirate?'
"I-I…" she started, a strange warmth rushing to her cheeks. 'Am I… stuttering?'
She clenched her fists, trying to snap herself out of it. "Don't get cocky."
"Ah? What did I do now?" Valen asked, scratching his head, completely clueless.
Kuina huffed and turned toward the Marine Base without another word. She had one goal in mind: take back her sword.
Valen watched her leave, then shrugged and walked over to Rika, who was still hiding but watching everything with wide eyes.
"Did you see how strong I was?" Valen said with pride, crouching next to her. "I went shing!"—he swung his hand dramatically—"and then Morgan's ugly axe arm flew off. Look—he's still whining on the floor like a baby."
He pointed at the distance, where Morgan was groaning in pain as Helmeppo tried uselessly to stop the bleeding with panicked hands.
"Big brother…" Rika started awkwardly, pressing her fingers together, "not to ruin your enthusiasm, but… without big sis Kuina's tips, you couldn't have done anything…"
Valen froze in place. He turned away like a child who'd been scolded too hard.
"Come on, big brother… don't be sad…" Rika tried to cheer him up, patting his back gently.
Valen muttered to himself, "Put three stat points on each stat…"
And with that, a warm energy surged through his body.
He liked balance. Always had. In every game he played in his past life, he'd build his characters evenly. Seeing all the numbers match brought him satisfaction.
'Status window,' he called out mentally.
[Status Window]
[Name: Valen Rosé]
[Race: Human]
[Titles: N/A]
[Level: 9 (Exp: 190/1140)]
[Stats:
Strength: 12 (14.4)
Endurance: 12 (14.4)
Stamina: 12 (14.4)
Agility: 12 (14.4)
Vitality: 12 (14.4)
Will: 12]
[Stat Points: 0]
[Skills: Swordsmanship (2★), Gentle Hands (1★), Navigation (1★)]
[Traits: Handsome (2★), Beast Strength (2★), Sword Prodigy (2★)]
[Lust Points: 0]
"Good—"
He was about to relax when the sound of shouting broke out nearby.
"Come here, you thieves!"
Valen turned, and his eyes widened as he saw Alvida barreling toward him with a new iron mace, Makino beside her—both being chased by a lot of Marines.
"What the hell is happening now?" Valen asked aloud.
Kuina came out of the base, Wado Ichimonji sheathed at her side. "Who are those two?"
She tilted her head, then frowned as the cloth mask on one of the women fell away.
"…Alvida!?"
She immediately grabbed the hilt of her sword.
"Stop, Kuina," Valen said quickly. "She's one of our crew."
"What? She's part of our crew— Wait! Your crew?! Why are you including me in?!"
"Because…" Valen suddenly unsheathed his sword and pointed it straight at Rika.
"Big brother, what are you doing?" Rika's voice trembled in confusion.
"You!" Kuina shouted, enraged and ready to strike—but then Valen quickly winked at Rika.
"Just play along," he whispered.
Rika blinked. "Ohhh…" she nodded, catching on.
Valen turned dramatically to the Marines. "I, Valen Rosé, captain of the Rosé Pirates, and my crewmate, Kuina Shimotsuki—also known as 'Pirate Hunter'—have taken this little girl hostage!"
"WHAT?! Crewmate?! YOU'RE INSANE!!" Kuina shouted next to him, her voice cracking.
The Marines froze in confusion, unsure of how to proceed. Alvida and Makino reached the group.
Alvida raised an eyebrow as she looked at Kuina. 'So… he really did get her to join…' she thought, impressed.
"Valen, what are you doing?" Makino asked, baffled.
"Just go with it," Valen said again.
He turned back to the stunned Marines. "If you don't want her to die, turn around and look behind you! That's where our demands are written!"
The Marines hesitated… then, cautiously, they all turned around.
"Run," Valen whispered—and just like that, he and the others bolted toward the docks.
He noticed Kuina hadn't moved.
"Come on, Kuina! You're part of the crew now!" he shouted.
"Never—!" she started, only to be swept off her feet as Valen picked her up in his arms.
"LET ME GO!" she cried, flailing slightly. But deep down, she didn't actually resist.
As they ran, Valen gave Rika one last, wide grin.
"Live your life happily, Rika! Life is one and only one!"
'Except for me!' he thought, laughing inside as they escaped.
The Marines turned back too late—Valen and his group were gone.
"That scoundrel! He tricked us!" one shouted.
"Find them! NOW!"
But it was too late.
Rika stood quietly as she smiled.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, in the last chapter, there was an incongruency with Valen's hair color, which I just fixed. If you find any incongruency, please let me now, I'll fix them immediately (I am using AI to enhance the writing, sometimes it starts to decide for himself, and changes things by itself).