37. The Thousand-Edged Demon Blade: attack only, never defend!

Colonel Mouse waved his hand, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and bravado.

"Rebellion! This is total rebellion! It seems you are all hell-bent on opposing the Navy. If that is the case, then you can all just go to hell!"

The moment the words left his lips, every firearm was leveled at Chu Bawang.

Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!

The muzzles spat crimson tongues of fire, like demons hungering for human flesh. Yet, to everyone's shock, as the bullets neared Chu Bawang and his companions, they could not advance a single inch further. They simply hung suspended in the air, one after another!

"What... what kind of ability is this? Why can’t the bullets pierce the target?"

Hum.

A chilling, purple demonic aura surged from Chu Bawang’s body. At the same time, his hand suddenly gripped a blade that had shattered into thousands of fragments.

The Thousand-Blade Demon Blade: it attacks, but never defends! This was the signature weapon of Seven, the Shadow Assassin ranked number one in the Assassin League. This weapon was part of the same grand prize obtained by sacrificing Luffy’s romantic luck.

As the demonic energy swirled, Chu Bawang’s face took on a wickedly imposing air. He tilted his head slightly and looked at Colonel Mouse with calm eyes.

"Are you... seeking your own deaths?"

The icy, indifferent tone was laden with boundless murderous intent, sending a shiver deep into the bones of Colonel Mouse and his marines. Dozens of navy soldiers, including the Colonel himself, felt a chill rise from their feet, unable to stop themselves from trembling.

"You, I... I am an officer of the World Government! I am a Navy Colonel of the 16th Branch!" the Colonel stammered, his legs shaking like chaff. "How dare you strike me?! The Navy will never let you get away with this!"

Clang, clang, clang...

Chu Bawang stepped forward, his pace steady, paying no heed to the Colonel’s threats. Colonel Mouse felt despair set in. What kind of person was this? He was a human weapon, a demon who had bathed in the blood of hell. That killing intent, that icy coldness—it struck a primal, heart-wrenching terror.

"This almost tangible killing intent... it’s making me so afraid I can’t even move. Just how many people has he killed to forge such a cold, unyielding will?"

Chu Bawang possessed a relatively gentle temperament. Under normal circumstances, he rarely provoked others. But if someone sought to kill him or harm his companions and loved ones, then that was a different matter entirely. Did this mere Navy Colonel really think he could cover the sky with one hand in the East Blue?

"Fire! Are you all just going to stand there waiting to die? Open fire, damn it!"

The Thousand-Blade Demon Blade hovered, shattered. Colonel Mouse suddenly felt the approach of the Grim Reaper. His body hair stood on end, and his fingers trembled so violently he could hardly pull the trigger.

"Too slow..." Chu Bawang sighed, shaking his head.

Even though the marines had launched their counterattack, reloaded, and pulled their triggers, their movements were still far too sluggish. In an instant, thousands of purple shards surged forward like a tidal wave. The demonic energy was peerless and indestructible.

Puchi... Puchi...

Blood sprayed like a fountain, and the marines were mown down like wheat. The fragments of the Thousand-Blade Demon Blade swept through like a plague of locusts. Not a single elite navy soldier remained standing.

"Ba... Bawang, do you really intend to set yourself against Navy Headquarters? Let me tell you..." Colonel Mouse collapsed to the ground, his eyes darting around as he looked at the god-like figure of Chu Bawang in terror.

Puchi!

Unfortunately, Chu Bawang had no interest in listening to the long-winded ramblings of such scum. A tiny shard of the demon blade pierced through the Colonel’s throat. Perhaps, until the very last moment of his life, Colonel Mouse remained lost in confusion. Who exactly was this Bawang? Why was he so arrogant? How dare he wipe out a Navy Colonel in the East Blue? What was that strange, purple demonic blade? Why were his elite soldiers unable to put up any resistance at all?

He felt regret. Why had he helped Arlong extort Nami’s wealth? If he hadn’t been so greedy, perhaps he wouldn’t have run into this murderous god, Chu Bawang.

Thousands of blade fragments swirled once more. Tens of seconds later, the last of the marines fell, their lives extinguished by Chu Bawang. To purge evil, one must be thorough; to uproot grass, one must remove the roots. This was a principle Chu Bawang knew well.

The Straw Hat crew, who had been ready for a major fight, stared in stunned silence at the scene, which now resembled a living hell.

Gulp.

Usopp was the first to swallow hard. Zoro looked at the Thousand-Blade Demon Blade in Chu Bawang’s hand with envy, shocked: "What kind of weapon is this? It’s too incredible! It can disassemble and reassemble—doesn't that mean it will never break?"

Zoro suddenly felt that his Wado Ichimonji wasn't quite as special anymore.

"Luffy, Nami, what are you standing there for? Send Colonel Mouse’s body to Arlong as a welcoming gift!"

Chu Bawang did not allow the villagers of Cocoyasi to get involved in this. After all, they could not bear the responsibility of killing a navy officer.

"Ba... Bawang..." Nami’s eyes welled up with hot tears as she threw herself into Chu Bawang’s arms.

How could she not understand the reason behind his actions? Even if the Colonel’s deeds were unforgivably wicked, he was still an official member of the Navy. Killing him was a crime that could plunge the entire village into an abyss of no return.

Chu Bawang rubbed Nami’s left arm, and the tattoo of the Arlong Pirates suddenly vanished.

"There, Nami. I’ve wiped away that tattoo. I told you, as long as I am here, no one will ever bully you again."

Nami turned her gaze to her left arm. She recalled the nightmare she had endured. She had dreamed countless times of removing that mark, and now, her dream had finally come true. From this day forward, Cocoyasi Village would surely gain its freedom and the right to survive.

The villagers could not suppress their inner excitement. One after another, they knelt before Chu Bawang.

"Benefactor... Mr. Bawang, you are the great benefactor who has saved our village!"
"Benefactor, please accept our thanks, please..."

Chu Bawang gently lifted his hand, and everyone felt as if clouds had appeared beneath their knees, lifting their bodies up. A miracle! A true miracle! To lift hundreds of kneeling villagers with nothing but his will? It was simply too incredible!

Chu Bawang smiled inwardly. It seemed that being a savior felt quite good.

"Everyone, this is only the first step in liberating Cocoyasi Village. The real enemy is still the Arlong Pirates! Now, please witness the moment of freedom with me! Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp—it’s time for you to show what you can do!"