One Piece; Full Counter!

Chapter 30: A Bounty of 1.9 Billion Berries

The moon hung high over Jaya, casting its cold, silver light onto the island's chaotic streets. The air was thick with tension, a stifling blend of fear and greed as pirates of all shapes and sizes gathered under the star-filled sky. Shadows danced eerily in the glow of the lanterns scattered around the town square. All eyes burned with desire, fixed on the same figure: a young man with unruly golden hair, piercing green eyes, and an air of unsettling calm. The staggering bounty of 1.9 billion berries on his head had turned him into a prize too tempting to ignore.

This was Meliodas, standing amidst a crowd of cutthroats. His stance was casual, hands loose at his sides, his blade—Lostvayne—still sheathed on his back. Beside him stood Elizabeth, her delicate figure trembling slightly in her pale blue dress. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, contrasting starkly with the white bag slung over her shoulder. Her deep blue eyes darted nervously between the armed men.

"Meliodas," she whispered, clutching her chest. "There are so many of them..."

The young man gave her a reassuring smile, his expression as calm as the sea beneath a cloudless night sky. "Relax, Elizabeth," he said softly. "This won't take long."

Suddenly, one of the pirates, a hulking man wielding a spiked war hammer that glowed a fiery orange, stepped forward. The weapon hissed, releasing steam as it heated the cool night air around it. His voice boomed with arrogance.

"You're not even unsheathing your sword?" he sneered. "How cocky can you be, kid?"

Meliodas tilted his head, his green eyes steady, unfazed.

The pirate roared and swung his molten hammer downward, the weapon sizzling as it cut through the air. The heat radiating from it caused the nearest spectators to recoil, shielding their faces. But just before the hammer could connect, Meliodas's fist shot upward like lightning, meeting the weapon mid-swing.

CRACK!

The hammer buckled under the force, its spiked head warping grotesquely as if it were made of clay. The pirate's triumphant smirk froze, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief.

Meliodas's punch continued through the shattered weapon, slamming directly into the pirate's face. Teeth flew, blood sprayed, and the man's massive body was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the ground with a deafening thud. He rolled like a discarded ragdoll, finally coming to a stop near Bellamy, another defeated pirate who lay unconscious nearby.

A stunned silence fell over the square. The remaining pirates hesitated, their weapons faltering in their hands.

Meliodas's voice broke the silence, calm but with an edge that sent shivers down their spines. "None of you are leaving," he said, his green eyes narrowing. "Not until I'm done."

Fear turned to chaos as the pirates surged forward, desperate to take him down. But Meliodas moved like a shadow through their ranks, his fists and feet striking with precision and devastating force.

A swordsman lunged, only for his blade to shatter against Meliodas's forearm. Another pirate swung an axe, but Meliodas dodged effortlessly, countering with a spinning kick that sent the man flying into a group of his comrades. One after another, the assailants fell, their cries of pain and panic filling the night.

At the edge of the chaos, Zoro rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, a grin tugging at his lips. "Hey, Luffy," he said, nodding toward the fight. "If we take him out, that bounty could make us rich."

Nami, standing nearby, shot him a horrified look. "Are you crazy? Look at him! He's taking down all those pirates with his bare hands!"

Zoro shrugged, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Still, it's your call, Captain."

But Luffy, watching the battle with an uncharacteristic calm, shook his head. "We've got more important things to do. Let's find those clues to Sky Island."

Nami exhaled in relief as Zoro released his sword and followed Luffy.

Amid the chaos, the laughter of Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, cut through the air. "Zeha-ha-ha! What fools!" he bellowed, standing with his small crew—a mismatched group that included a pale mime-like man riding a white donkey, a sharpshooter, and his burly first mate.

Blackbeard's dark eyes gleamed as he pointed at Meliodas. "You're all wasting your time. That kid? You couldn't beat him even if he was nine years old! Alright, boys, take him down!"

The mime on the donkey charged first, swinging his cane silently. To his right, the sharpshooter raised his rifle, while the first mate cracked his knuckles, preparing to strike.

Before any of them could reach him, Meliodas moved. In a flash, he was in front of the mime. The pale man's painted face twisted in shock as Meliodas's fist connected with his jaw.

BOOM!

The ground shook from the impact, sending up a cloud of dust. The mime was thrown from his donkey, which collapsed alongside him. The sharpshooter and first mate were caught in the shockwave, both crumpling to the ground.

As the dust settled, Meliodas stood alone, his posture unyielding, his golden hair glowing faintly under the starlight. His piercing gaze shifted to Blackbeard, whose smug grin faltered.

"You survived," Meliodas said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "Don't worry. You won't after the next one."

Blackbeard's first mate turned to him, his voice trembling. "Captain... you said we could handle this. What now?"

Blackbeard chuckled nervously, sweat beading on his forehead. "Zeha-ha... no point in testing my Devil Fruit on him now. I'll admit, he's stronger than I expected. Let's retreat."

But before he could finish his sentence, Meliodas vanished and reappeared in front of him, his fist drawn back.

BAM!

Blackbeard was sent flying, crashing through a wooden building. Pirates gasped, their faces pale with fear.

Meliodas stood tall, his voice steady as he looked toward the wreckage. "Don't waste my time, Blackbeard. Show me what you've got."

From the rubble, Blackbeard laughed weakly, darkness beginning to swirl around him. "You should've taken my offer... Now, you'll see the power of the Yami Yami no Mi!"

.

[ A/N ]

.

~ More Chapters ;

patr eon. com/Sakana0

.

.

❗Next three chapters❗

- Chapter 31: The Looming Shadow.

- Chapter 32: A Starry Voyage.

- Chapter 33: The Breaking Dawn