Kuro didn't give Usopp the slightest chance to fight back. He ruthlessly stomped down on Usopp's right hand—the one clutching his slingshot.

That very hand had been shot yesterday by Merry, and the wound hadn't healed yet. But Kuro clearly aimed for it on purpose, grinding his heel into the bullet injury again and again. "I told you, a scumbag pirate's son who only knows how to lie and deceive can't do anything at all! Go ahead, try crying out in pain and see if it moves me. Maybe I'll show you some mercy and let you live."

Despite the intense pain radiating from the injury under Kuro's relentless foot, Usopp didn't let out a single sound. His face twisted in fury, he glared up at Kuro with unwavering resolve and growled, "I will defeat you! I will protect my hometown! I won't let you hurt Kaya again!"

Usopp's voice grew louder and more resolute with each word, his determination unmistakable, echoing clearly across the battlefield.

"Usopp…" Kaya whispered.

Hearing his words, a spark of warmth broke through the cold despair in her heart. Her once lifeless eyes regained focus, and color returned faintly to her pale cheeks.

Kuro looked down with disdain at Usopp pinned beneath his foot. "So you're still running your mouth? Pathetic. Only an idiot would believe a word you say."

"Hmph, hahaha!"

Kuro burst out laughing wildly. "Since you love talking big, I'll kill her right in front of you! Let's see how you protect her then!"

Usopp's eyes widened in rage, locked onto Kuro with fiery intensity. But surprisingly, Kaya—still held at bladepoint by Kuro's cat-claw—gave Usopp a small smile. The usually gentle girl now bore a fierce determination, showing no fear of death at all.

Seeing Kuro ready to strike Kaya down, Usopp panicked. Somehow, he summoned strength from deep within, and though moments ago he couldn't move, he suddenly managed to grab hold of Kuro's foot pressing down on his chest.

And then—

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!?!?!?!"

Alex suddenly raised his head from the hillside and roared furiously at the mocking Kuro. "A man risking his life to protect what he holds dear—how dare a coward who hides in the shadows and uses dirty tricks laugh at that! Answer me, Kuro!!!"

The pirates below had been ready to mock Usopp, but one glance from Alex's crimson eyes—burning like a blood moon—froze them in place. Cold sweat dripped down their backs as sheer terror silenced every last one of them.

"What did you say?!" Kuro's attention turned toward Alex. He paused, momentarily forgetting about Kaya.

Their eyes locked—and in that instant, Alex's dark red pupils began to swirl, golden streaks around his irises spinning counterclockwise.

Suddenly, images flooded Alex's mind—visions he had never seen before.

He saw a seven-year-old orphan being bullied by other kids. That child had once been the son of a wealthy family, but his hometown was destroyed by pirates. His family was slaughtered, their fortune stolen. The boy, barely alive, had wandered the streets, surviving with a pack of stray cats.

At thirteen, unable to endure the bullying any longer, the boy set a trap and killed every child who had tormented him.

Years later, he trained relentlessly in the art of silent killing.

He eventually went to sea and became a pirate—the founder of the Black Cat Pirates. That boy was none other than the future Kuro of a Hundred Plans.

In less than a second, Alex had seen Kuro's entire past. He understood now why Kuro's pirate flag bore a cat: it was because those strays had been his only companions during childhood.

He also grasped why Kuro didn't simply raid Kaya's mansion like an ordinary pirate—because he had suffered the same trauma. Kuro's elaborate plan had been fueled by a twisted thirst for revenge. He wanted others to suffer just as he had. It wasn't just about wealth—it was psychological.

But Alex didn't care about any of that.

All he knew was—this was the perfect moment to rescue Kaya and Usopp.

While Kuro was distracted talking to Alex, Usopp gathered every ounce of strength he had and yanked Kuro's foot off his chest, throwing him off balance.

Alex seized the opening. In a flash, he darted forward, faster than the eye could follow. He snatched Kaya from Kuro's grip—and before Kuro could react, Alex slammed a thunderous punch into his face, sending him flying through the air.

BOOM!

Kuro's body crashed into the rocky cliffside, stones and rubble tumbling down and burying him.

"How about that? Didn't you say Usopp was just a loudmouth? But thanks to him, Kaya's safe now. You'll never hurt her again. So tell me—how can you still call him a useless liar?!"

Alex helped Kaya over to tend to the heavily wounded Usopp, then slowly approached the pile of rocks where Kuro had fallen.

"No… this can't be happening…"

CRACK!

Kuro emerged from the rubble. His glasses had been shattered by Alex's punch, only the frame remained. His nose had been broken, blood dripping freely—but he didn't even care about that. Staring at Alex in disbelief, he stammered, "That movement you used… could it be… my Silent Step?"

"You guessed it," Alex replied. "The technique you spent four years perfecting—focusing your strength in your heels to move soundlessly before the weight shifts to the soles—I've learned it."

Alex's crimson eyes glinted as a small smile played at his lips. "I'm glad I met you here."

"Thanks to you, I've not only mastered a powerful silent movement technique… I've also figured out a little more about what my Devil Fruit can actually do."

His smile deepened. His blood-red irises gleamed brighter.

"That means I can grow stronger—and beating the hell out of you is going to feel even better."

"So… are you ready to get wrecked, you bastard who's finally pissed me off?"

Cracking his knuckles, Alex launched himself straight at Kuro.

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