NOVEL WEB 19. Killing Pirates
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The battle between kingdoms may be more humane, but pirates hold no such principles.
Everywhere they went, they burned, killed, and looted, severely impacting the economy of the Tru Kingdom. No one knew how many people had died at their hands.
Daiki and the remaining members of the Royal Guard's fought back against the pirate invasion, but their forces were ultimately limited to just a few hundred.
According to their reports, about 40 pirate crews, with a total of nearly 7,000 to 8,000 members, had invaded the Tru Kingdom. This invasion had a devastating impact, and they struggled to cope with it.
During the four-day return journey of Anos, troubling news arrived from the royal city every two hours, each message more infuriating than the last.
On the one hand, Daiki had begun organizing an evacuation to the royal city while simultaneously marshalling forces to resist both the pirates and the Roya Kingdom. The hardship involved was unimaginable.
As the Roya Kingdom launched its attack on the Tru Kingdom, it coincided with Anos and his Crew's arrival in Logue Town. Though the return journey took only Four days, much had transpired in that time.
Fortunately, by the time the invaders reached the kingdom's hinterlands, the giant ship, Tempest, had already entered the Tru Kingdom's waters.
When they docked at Nanniwa Port, no one was there to greet Anos. Through a phone call, he learned that at least 30 pirate crews remained within the kingdom, their exact locations unclear. But one thing was certain: their target was the palace.
"purururu..."
Anos picked up the receiver and directly called Daiki. Once connected, he asked seriously, "Where has the Roya Kingdom advanced?"
"It's Your Majesty..."
The sound on the other side was chaotic, not Daiki's voice, but another guard, clearly excited. The Den Den Mushi mirrored their exaggerated expressions.
"Your Majesty, we are currently defending the royal city. Nearly three thousand pirates are outside, preparing to attack. Darian and the captain of the guard are resisting the Roya Kingdom's forces."
Hearing this, Anos felt a suffocating weight. His fears over the past few days had come true.
The pirates had attacked the royal city, meaning most other areas had likely fallen. It had been less than three years since the kingdom was entrusted to them, and this situation was a grievous failure.
Anos' expression hardened. His previous patience was gone. He had been too lenient, hoping to show mercy even when mistakes were made. Now, that leniency had led to disaster.
Disembarking quickly, he headed straight for the royal city without waiting for anyone.
The guards accompanying him hurried to follow.
As for Suzu, she remained aboard the Tempest. After all, the treasure on board now totalled 2 billion beris. If she left, there would be no protection if pirates attacked again.
At Anos's current speed, the royal city was only ten minutes away. His simmering anger was becoming harder to contain.
He had no intention of sparing anyone who dared bring ruin to his kingdom.
As they neared the city walls, they saw the fierce exchange of gunfire between the defenders and the pirates.
The sound of the shots was deafening. Thousands of pirates stood below the walls, all wearing expressions of grim determination.
Among the pirates, Anos noticed several Devil Fruit users. Though they were not particularly strong, they posed a significant threat to his guards.
In just three days of fighting, the kingdom had been brought to its knees. Anos found this hard to accept.
Despite their extensive training, the guards's lack of actual combat experience was painfully evident.
They had power but fought like civilians, not soldiers.
Gazing at the pirates, Anos' expression darkened. The demon sword Muramasa at his waist resonated with his rage, glowing red, ready to unleash a storm of violence.
As Anos entered the battlefield, the guards and citizens atop the city walls roared with excitement. Their king, the symbol of their kingdom, had come to fight.
Standing alone before thousands of pirates, Anos remained undaunted.
"As King of the Tru Kingdom, I, Anos Drexus, sentence you all to death!"
At the mention of the death penalty, the citizens inside the royal city erupted in cheers.
The five-meter-high city walls were manned by guards and volunteers, all staring down, eager to witness their king's power.
Many were worried, but Anos' display of confidence inspired them.
Hundreds of guards readied themselves for battle, but before they could act, Anos shouted, "Stand down! Your priority is to protect the people inside the city. Leave these scum to me!"
His voice was cold, and he stared at the pirates as though they were already dead.
The demon sword Muramasa trembled at his side, its bloodthirsty nature barely contained.
With a hand on the hilt, Anos stood motionless for a moment. Then, with a sudden gust of wind, he vanished.
When he reappeared, the pirates were already collapsing, their bodies torn apart before they could even react.
The gate of the royal city became a bloody battlefield, and fear rippled through the pirate ranks.
The once-confident pirate crews now desperately sought to flee.
But they couldn't escape.
"Men, we outnumber them. Charge forward, and the treasures of Tru kingdom will be ours! We've come this far there's no turning back now!" a pirate captain shouted, rallying his terrified comrades with promises of wealth.
But Anos, his eyes blood-red with rage, was unstoppable. His movements were invisible, leaving rows of bodies in his wake.
This time, he had no intention of sparing anyone. They had brought his kingdom to ruins and only death awaited them.
The guards and citizens on the city walls watched in awe as their king fought alone against thousands.
Though the scene was bloody, it was an inspiring sight a testament to the strength of their king.
Despite their large numbers, internal divisions among the pirate crews prevented them from cooperating effectively.
While many pirates remained, some weaker ones began to retreat, prioritizing their survival over riches.
But Anos did not need to chase them down.
Anos stood among the pirates. There wasn't a trace of blood on him. He looked exactly as he did when he arrived, except for his eyes, which had turned dark red, giving him a strange and terrifying appearance.
The demon sword Muramasa pulsed with a strange, blood-red light, terrifying anyone who saw it.
After absorbing so much blood, the Demon Sword Muramasa had become even more eerie. The blood-red light on the blade, although alluring, filled onlookers with dread.
The pirates were now broken, their numbers dwindling, and they scrambled to flee. Even those with Devil Fruit powers were helpless against the wrath of Anos.
Anos remained motionless, watching as the remaining pirates scattered. Behind him lay a field of mangled bodies.
"Capture the survivors," he ordered his guards calmly. "They will rebuild what they destroyed."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" came the unanimous reply.
With the pirates scattered, the Roya Kingdom would likely retreat soon after hearing of their defeat.
After the guards on the Tempest Ship arrived, they were about to rush forward when they were stopped by other guards. Anos' message was relayed to them exactly as it had been delivered.
In less than five minutes, nearly seven to eight thousand pirates were dead. However, in this short period, the pirates began to devise a better response plan.
Fortunately, they weren't a united pirate group. Their interests hadn't been distributed evenly, and grudges among them prevented perfect cooperation.
Although they still had a large number, some of the weaker pirates were completely terrified and began to slowly retreat.
For these pirates, everything was profit-oriented, but now, faced with heavy losses, their priority shifted to saving their lives.
But having come this far, withdrawal was impossible.
However, for Anos, this was only the beginning. He had never sought to invade other kingdoms until he was strong enough.
Now, after being attacked, he had no choice but to address the kingdom's weaknesses in military and governance.
Currently, about 3,000 soldiers in the Tru Kingdom were training in the Rokushiki, but only 400 to 500 had mastered even one form. Strengthening the kingdom was now his top priority.
Despite the devastation, the pirate invasion had revealed internal flaws, and fixing them would strengthen the kingdom in the long run.
With the pirate threat neutralized and the royal city secure, the people began to leave their homes, cheering for their king and picking up the bodies of the fallen.
Anos marvelled at the change in his people. Just three years ago, they had been indifferent, disillusioned, and devoid of hope. Now, they were full of life and enthusiasm.
As prosperity grew, Anos' support reached unprecedented heights.
"Long live the king!" the people chanted, their voices swelling like a tidal wave.
"Long live Your Majesty…"
"Long live Your Majesty…"
The voices surged like a wave, with women and children joining in, especially the children, whose admiration for Anos was immense.
In the world of pirates, it was almost impossible for women to make a living. But things were different here.
Two massive factories had been established: one for making perfume, which required hard labour and was dominated by men, and another for textiles, which was almost entirely run by women.
At this moment, the Tru Kingdom stood united under their young king, and his reign, though just beginning, promised strength and growth for years to come.
However, As the kingdom continues to flourish, its growing wealth will catch the envious eyes of neighbouring rulers and pirates. Whispers of greed will spread throughout the land, and the threat of invasion will loom ever closer.
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