One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

The azure sky was painted with wisps of scattered cirrus clouds, their delicate patterns only emphasizing the pristine purity of the endless blue, so captivating it could steal one's breath away.

A blazing sun hung high above, its scorching rays beating down as a few white seagulls frolicked in midair. Their playful chase seemed to have left them dizzyunder the relentless sunlight, their flight paths becoming increasingly erratic and wobbly.

Amid the vast, boundless sea, a small sailboat stood out starkly against the sparkling waters.

The boat was tiny, barely large enough to hold two or three people. To call it a sailboat felt generous—it was more like a dinghy with an attached sail.

"Finally, I've escaped that cesspool of deceit and sin…"

Lying flat on the gunwale of the little boat with his hands clasped behind his head, Wright tried his best to clear his mind of the memories of the past few years. After all, stealing a boat and escaping hadn't been easy. Who knew if those fools back there would even miss him?

Not that it mattered. He had made up his mind—he wanted nothing more to do with that place. Nothing at all.

Wright was young, likely no more than ten or so. He wore a finely tailored coat and a gentleman's hat atop his golden hair, which was tied back in a neat ponytail. Though his features were youthful, they already bore a striking handsomeness. His belongings were sparse, amounting to little more than a modest bundle. Beside him, however, lay a long blade over one and a half meters in length, its sheer size making it seem more like cargo than a personal weapon.Positioned under the shade of the sail, with the gentle sea breeze and rhythmic sound of waves providing a tranquil backdrop, it was the perfect weather for a nap.

"…Hmm?" Just as drowsiness began to take hold, Wright twitched his ears. "Is that… commotion? A ship?"

Yawning, he rolled to his feet, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've only been drifting for a few days since escaping from the Goa Kingdom. With no landmarks on this map and dwindling water and food supplies, another ship showing up is practically a miracle!"

No, this has nothing to do with my poor navigation skills. How could someone as brilliant as I, the great Wright, venture to sea without a plan? It's all the fault of this lousy map...

Chuckling to himself, Wright shaded his eyes with one hand and peered toward the approaching ship.

"…Wait a minute… something feels off."

"Is that… a pirate ship? My first time seeing a real pirate ship—and what a wreck it is!"

"Wow, that pirate flag is hideous. How do they have the nerve to fly that thing?"

The approaching pirate ship looked as though it had barely survived a cannon barrage. Its hull was riddled with patches, and some sections bore what seemed to be scars from sword strikes.

Its three masts held only one intact main sail, which itself was patched up with an enormous patch. The two remaining fore-and-aft sails were shredded beyond recognition—beyond even divine intervention.

The pirate flag, meant to be an emblem of terror and dominance, was… peculiar.

A black skull on a white background, surrounded by what looked like tufts of fur?

Disgusting.

While Wright stood there critiquing the ship, arms crossed, the "broken and ugly" pirate ship had already noticed the lone sailboat.

"Hey, hahaha! Guys, look what we've got here! A tiny boat!"

"Huh? Only one person? And he's just a brat!"

"Whoa! Look at that pretty face, and those clothes… Is he some kind of noble kid?!"

"A noble? We're in luck! Snatch this brat, and we can ransom him for cash! Enough to get ourselves a new ship!"

Listening to the pirates growing increasingly excited, Wright couldn't help but smirk. Adjusting the gentleman's hat atop his head, he muttered, "Just as I thought, a bunch of lowly scum. Didn't anyone teach them that there are three types of people you shouldn't mess with while wandering the world?"

"Hmm… But this isn't wuxia. There aren't any rules about monks, women, or children being off-limits. Wait, are there even monks in the pirate world?"

As the pirates prepared to toss grappling hooks, Wright grabbed his bundle and long blade. With a deep crouch and a powerful leap, he landed gracefully on the pirate ship's bow in the blink of an eye.

"!!!"

The pirates were dumbfounded. Their eyes darted to the now-empty sailboat, which rocked back and forth on the waves as if mocking them for their ineptitude.

Standing tall on the bow, Wright placed his bundle at his feet and unsheathed his blade. Holding the massive weapon with both hands, he smiled faintly. During his years as a "noble," he hadn't gained much, but he'd long since lost any fear or discomfort toward taking lives.

"Nobles, pirates, hmph…"

"They're all just… filth."

"Holy Storm!"

A golden whirlwind erupted among the pirates, shimmering light scattering like mist. At the whirlwind's core, Wright spun with his long sword, slashing with lethal precision.The pirates gathered at the bow barely had time to react before the "easy target" began cutting them down. Screams filled the air as they were thrown across the deck, with the unlucky ones tumbling straight into the sea.

"Monster!"

Desperate cries echoed as the pirates scrambled to flee, only to realize with mounting horror that their wounds burned with faint golden-red flames. The fire brought searing pain and couldn't be extinguished, no matter how hard they tried—blowing, rolling, dousing with water, even jumping into the sea.

"Help! He's a Devil Fruit user!"

"Captain! Call the captain!"

In the chaos, Wright sheathed his blade, shrugging. "Pirates? The first thing they think when they see an innocent child is to kidnap him? Truly scum. Compared to them, the Straw Hat Pirates are just adventurers."

"They'd help a lost kid home, even seek revenge for them if needed!"

"Now, which one of you suggested ransoming me?"

"Idiots… I worked so hard to escape. Do you think I wanted to be a noble? If it weren't for that damned—"

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out. Blood blossomed from Wright's abdomen, forcing him to his knees.

"Gahahaha! So what if you're a Devil Fruit user? A bullet still takes you down!"

From the cabin emerged the captain—a grotesque, hairy, pot-bellied man wielding a flintlock pistol. He howled with laughter, his eyes gleaming with cruelty.

The pirates cheered momentarily, only for Wright to smirk through gritted teeth.

"Ah, the harsh lessons of the sea. Timely, as always."

Golden light enveloped Wright's left hand as he pressed it to his wound. In seconds, the injury closed, the bullet pushed out as if by unseen force.

"Judgment!"

In a flash, Wright closed the distance. His sword, blazing with golden light, cleaved through the captain in a single, merciless strike.

"Guh…"

The captain's laughter died as his body split in two, the wound cauterized instantly, leaving no blood.

The remaining pirates stared in stunned silence, their terror freezing them in place. Some fainted outright, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

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