One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 61: Whiskey Peak – Gin's New Strength

Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, the two sinister agents of Baroque Works, stood with a calculating gleam in their eyes as they looked down on the bodies of Mr 9 and Miss Monday who lay beaten and battered. They watched Gin, now ready for battle, face them head-on. Gin clenched his tonfas, their heavy iron glinting under the sparse moonlight in the alley. His intense gaze showed a mix of thrill and bloodlust, knowing this was his chance to go all out without reservation.

Miss Valentine grinned as she observed him, taking a lazy step forward. "So, you're going to be the one trying to stop us?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. "A waste of time, really, since we're professionals." Beside her, Mr. 5 simply cracked his knuckles, his silence brimming with a deadly intent as he let her words hang in the air.

Gin didn't bother replying with words. He moved instead—a sudden, almost explosive blur of speed as he dashed forward, striking out at Mr. 5. His tonfas crashed against Mr. 5's arm in a powerful blow, sending the agent staggering back, taken off guard by Gin's surprising strength and precision. Gin spun, barely pausing before launching a swift follow-up attack at Miss Valentine, swinging one tonfa in a tight arc that she dodged only at the last second.

Mr. 5 snarled, his face twisting with irritation. "You're faster than you look." He straightened himself, brushing off his jacket, but Gin was relentless. In a sudden pivot, Gin took advantage of the moment, sending his tonfa toward Mr. 5's midsection, forcing the agent to stumble backward. The sheer ferocity in Gin's attack brought him dangerously close to breaking through their defenses with each strike.

In an attempt to counter, Miss Valentine sprang into the air, her laughter mocking as she called, "Kilo Kilo no Mi: 1,000 Kilo Press!" Her body increased in weight mid-descent, aiming a crushing attack down on Gin. But he was ready, leaping back to avoid her crushing landing, the ground splintering under her impact. With practiced ease, Gin spun to evade, taking advantage of the brief moment when her body was too heavy for quick recovery.

Miss Valentine grunted, realizing she couldn't keep up with his relentless attacks. As she tried to regain balance, Gin swung his tonfas at her with swift precision, managing to graze her shoulder, sending her stumbling back.

Meanwhile, Mr. 5 seemed to have grown tired of underestimating his opponent. With a sinister grin, he activated his own devil fruit power. "You're in for a surprise." He touched his hand to the ground, and suddenly, the alley was filled with a low, ominous hum.

"Bomb bomb no mi…" Gin muttered, recognizing the power and bracing himself. Mr. 5 smirked as his touch exploded in a burst of force, sending debris flying toward Gin.

Despite the shockwave, Gin pressed forward, weaving skillfully around each explosion, pushing through the detonations with sheer grit and agility. He ducked, sidestepped, and blocked, the tonfas allowing him to absorb the shock from each explosion with minimal recoil. Gin's movements were sharp and precise, every dodge bringing him closer to his target. Even with Mr. 5's deadly explosions tearing up the ground around him, Gin managed to advance, a fierce determination in his eyes as he neared his foe.

Miss Valentine, now wary of Gin's strength, took a more strategic approach. She moved back, watching his rhythm carefully before soaring into the air again. "Kilo Kilo no Mi: 10,000 Kilo Press!" she yelled, her body weight magnified exponentially as she descended with the intent of crushing Gin once and for all. The ground shook as she landed, but Gin managed to sidestep just in time, avoiding the devastating impact that cracked the stone floor beneath her feet.

As she recovered, Gin swung his tonfa toward her, catching her off balance and landing a solid blow to her side. The hit forced a gasp from her lips, and she staggered, clearly unprepared for his speed and the relentless force behind each of his strikes.

From behind, Mr. 5 launched another explosive attack, hurling a small projectile toward Gin. With uncanny reflexes, Gin spun around, his tonfas held up to deflect the blast, sending a shockwave reverberating through the alley. The intensity of the encounter left scorch marks on the walls, dust swirling around the combatants as Gin remained firmly on his feet, unyielding.

For the first time, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine exchanged a glance of frustration. Gin was proving to be far more capable than they had anticipated, and they realized they would have to rely on their devil fruit powers more strategically.

"Alright, enough games!" Mr. 5 barked, his eyes narrowing. He charged forward, touching his fists together as a faint glow emanated from them, indicating he was readying another explosive strike. Gin's eyes locked onto him, and with a battle-hardened grin, he stepped forward to meet the attack head-on.

But before Mr. 5 could land his punch, Gin twirled his tonfa and used it as leverage to sweep Mr. 5 off his feet. In one fluid movement, he drove the tonfa down, aiming to strike Mr. 5 while he was vulnerable on the ground. Mr. 5 barely managed to roll out of the way, the impact leaving a crack where Gin's tonfa landed. Still, Gin showed no sign of slowing down, the adrenaline of going all out for the first time in ages fueling his relentless assault.

Miss Valentine, who had been watching in horror, saw an opening as Gin focused on Mr. 5. Taking a leap into the air, she tried once again to come crashing down on him, this time with all the strength she could muster. But Gin's battle instincts kicked in; he sensed her movement, sidestepping at the last second and swinging his tonfa with deadly precision. The impact sent Miss Valentine sprawling, her usually composed face twisted in pain and surprise.

Amidst the intense fighting, Gin felt a spark of realization. This level of power, of speed and control—it was beyond anything he had experienced before. Memories of his time under Don Krieg flashed through his mind, and he knew with certainty that his current strength would allow him to easily surpass his former captain. The training under Goku had brought him to a new level, and as he fought with a smile, he could feel his loyalty to Goku growing even stronger. This was what it meant to push beyond his limits.

He glanced toward the alleyway where Goku stood in the shadows, watching the battle. In that moment, Gin felt a surge of respect and awe for his captain, knowing that Goku's power must be leagues beyond his own. The thought inspired him to fight even harder, his strikes becoming sharper, his movements even more fluid.

Back in the shadowy alley, Goku observed the battle with a calculating gaze. Though outwardly calm, his mind was racing with thoughts on the unfolding events and the mysterious path that seemed to pull him toward greater challenges. He couldn't deny the intrigue surrounding Princess Vivi and the Alabasta Kingdom, nor the unsettling feeling of some unseen force guiding him. As the blue light of the moon began to spill across the street, casting an eerie glow, Goku unfurled his tail from around his waist, watching it sway with newfound intensity.

From the street, Igaram and Vivi—now somewhat recovered and riding atop her faithful duck, Karoo—looked on in shock as Goku's tail appeared, a feature they had never seen on any human. The sight of the tail alone left them stunned, and the growing realization of the power he might wield sent a chill through them both.

Turning to face the full moon, Goku allowed himself a small grin. His Saiyan blood surged with excitement as he took in the luminous orb above. He knew what was coming next. But before stepping out, he turned back to Nami, who was watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Only you can get me under control if things get too wild," he said, carefully placing his straw hat on her head. The weight of the gesture was clear, and Nami nodded, a hint of unease flickering across her face.

Without another word, Goku stepped into the moonlight, tilting his head back to stare directly at the glowing sphere. A strange energy began to emanate from him, the air around him growing dense with an ominous, primal force. His laughter echoed through the night, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down the spines of all who heard it.

Meanwhile, Gin, having followed Goku's earlier command, disengaged from the fight and retreated back to the alley, casting a glance over his shoulder as he moved to join his captain and crewmates. He had sensed a change in the air, and the anticipation in Goku's expression was unmistakable. Standing alongside Zoro and Nami, he waited with a mix of awe and excitement for whatever transformation was about to unfold.

[A/N: Read 15-30 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]