c8: A Sniper in the Dark Night, the Magical Effect of the Heart Net
"Second master!"
"Boss dead!"
A terrified cry ripped through the bandit compound echoing off the wooden walls and sending a wave of panic through the remaining outlaws. Normally, the Bandit King's might kept them grounded but now, even he had been silently killed. What else could they do but tremble in fear?
The crowd quickly erupted chaotic voices rising in panic, confusion, and desperation.
Just then, a towering figure stepped forward from the inner hall. His face was twisted and feral a deep scar ran diagonally across his countenance, nearly splitting it in two. His expression was that of someone used to bloodshed wild, unshaven, and radiating killing intent.
His battle-worn coat was flung open, exposing his broad chest crisscrossed by two thick, jagged scars that told of survival through brutal wars.
He gripped a heavy iron mace in one hand its studs stained with old rust and blood and his eyes gleamed with the wild frenzy of someone who had seen too much death to care.
"Shut up, all of you!"
His bloodthirsty voice cracked through the din like a cannon blast. The younger bandits around him immediately shut their mouths, cowed by his killing aura. This man was the "second master" and while the Bandit King relied on his gun, this man relied on brute strength and survival instinct. A true killer among killers.
"Speak, damn it! Who knows what happened?! Explain to me now!"
Unfortunately for him these underlings had been dragged out of bed, their minds sluggish, their thoughts disordered. All they saw were corpses littering the ground and the suffocating stench of blood thick in the air.
Seeing no response and no further signs of the enemy, the second master narrowed his eyes his gaze scanning the shadows.
To be honest, this wasn't that surprising. They were bandits after all pillaging, burning, and killing at will across the East Blue. Someone coming for revenge wasn't unexpected. Someone upholding "justice" in this weak sea? It could happen.
But what unsettled him was that even now, no one had seen the assailant and most of their force had been wiped out without a single alarm raised.
More importantly the Bandit King had been armed. His rifle was enough to put him on equal footing with this scarred man. Yet he'd been killed instantly, silently without even firing a shot. That meant something chilling.
Whoever did this could probably kill him too.
The air remained heavy quiet enough to hear insects chirping in the woods. The tension was unbearable. Then, with a growl, the second master slammed the head of his iron mace into the stone path with a sharp crack.
"You hiding rat come out here and face me! You think you're a god, huh? Come out and fight!"
…
Meanwhile what about Dongze?
After executing the Bandit King and thinning out the forces, he discovered something astonishing. The proficiency of the sword drawing technique he had unlocked had begun rising rapidly.
From the initial 1/10000, it had jumped all the way to 501/10000. And with that rise, Dongze could tangibly feel his mastery over the blade increasing his precision, speed, and lethality expanding in real time.
It was that sudden surge of sword intent that allowed him to decapitate the Bandit King even when the latter was surrounded by nine lieutenants in the main hall.
Right now Dongze was crouched inside one of the rooms overlooking the courtyard. He wasn't in a rush to rejoin the chaos. Instead, his attention was on the weapon he held in his hand the gun he had just taken from the Bandit King.
But this wasn't just a simple flintlock or rifle this was a precision sniper rifle, custom-modified and rare in the East Blue. The fact that the Bandit King had used this to control over a hundred brutal, blood-hardened men made perfect sense now. It wasn't just the fear of bullets it was accurate death from a distance.
Had he been using a regular gun he'd have been overrun long ago. But this weapon gave him deterrence. He was no sniper but the Bandit King likely was.
Dongze's eyes glinted coldly. He picked up the rifle adjusted the iron sight and calmly took aim at the bandits regrouping in the courtyard.
"Boom!"
A thunderous gunshot shattered the silence like a hammer on glass echoing throughout the compound.
The head of a trembling underling exploded mid-sentence blown apart in front of the others, red mist spraying across the stones.
Panic surged again. The bandits screamed and ducked. The formation scattered some tripped over corpses, others dropped their weapons in sheer terror.
The courtyard once briefly quiet erupted into chaos once again.
And above, unseen in the shadows Dongze readied his next shot.
The surroundings were still quiet, and the pitch-black night was like a giant beast devouring people to them.
Unknown threats deadly killing intent as time went by, the pressure on them grew heavier and heavier, and finally, some of the bandits couldn't withstand it and began to break down mentally.
"Ah~~~"
"I'll be killed!"
"Help!"
"Run!!"
…
"Shut up for me!"
There was another violent shout, this time from the Second Master, Erdangjia but unfortunately, it had no effect. The nerves of the bandits had already collapsed from the terror of an invisible sniper, much like how fodder marines panic when faced with a Logia user like Enel or Kizaru an enemy they can't even touch.
"Who the hell?! Get out of here, you scum!!"
"Boom!"
He was answered by yet another crack of gunfire. Another bandit dropped to the ground, his chest exploded in a spray of blood dead before he hit the floor.
The shot struck Erdangjia's pride like a slap to the face humiliating and enraging him beyond reason.
"Ahhh~~~!"
"Boy! I don't care who you are I'll kill you with my own hands today!"
Then his voice turned sharp and malicious, barking at the terrified men around him: "You lot! Go drag those filthy hostages out here NOW!"
The sight of the red-eyed Erdangjia made the already pale young bandits feel like ice water had been poured down their spines. The sheer force of his fury snapped them out of their fear-induced stupor.
Several of them swallowed nervously, shivering. "Y-Yes!"
Erdangjia's roar was so loud and resonant that even Dongze, hidden in the shadows at a distance, heard every word.
Dongze's eyes flashed coldly. He quickly pieced together the Second Master's plan he was out of options, so he wanted to use the captured villagers as human shields to flush him out.
"A good idea but do you really think that'll work?"
"Bang! Bang! Bang…!"
A burst of gunshots roared across the night sky. The young men who had just begun moving toward the hostages were all dropped to the ground precisely executed before they could take another step.
Dongze's calm breath, steady trigger control, and Kenbunshoku Haki the "Heart Net" allowed him to sense every movement and intent within range. Now fully awakened to this Observation Haki, he was able to anticipate even the smallest flicker of action—like Usopp on Dressrosa during his long-distance "sniper king" shot to save Rebecca.
The sound of the rifle was no longer just noise it was the music of death. Each shot flew straight and true impossible to dodge.
And Dongze did not stop. His finger pulled the trigger again and again, unleashing a merciless barrage.
Within minutes, the entire courtyard was littered with corpses. None remained standing except for Erdangjia.
Dongze raised the barrel aimed straight at the towering figure and pulled the trigger once more.
Click.
The bullet struck but Erdangjia didn't even flinch.
Instead his body began to change. Muscles bulged grotesquely, bones twisted and cracked, and dark fur erupted across his body. The remnants of his clothes shredded under the expanding frame.
In the next moment a black-furred gorilla with massive fists stood in place of the Second Master.
"Zoan-type Devil Fruit!" Dongze's eyes narrowed.
The brute moved with shocking agility, defying his bulk. With a sudden burst, he leapt into the air hurtling toward the second-story room where Dongze had been firing.
"A Devil Fruit user…!"
Immediately, Dongze's face darkened. He had been cautious from the start, but he hadn't expected to face a Zoan user here in the East Blue. Even in this weak sea, Devil Fruits were exceedingly rare. Meeting one in a bandit den was pure misfortune.
Devil Fruits the secret treasures of the sea grant supernatural powers to those who eat them. There are three major types: Logia, like the Pika Pika no Mi (Light Fruit), which allow users to transform into elements; Paramecia, like the Gura Gura no Mi (Quake Fruit), which grant physical or conceptual abilities; and Zoan, like the Ushi Ushi no Mi: Model Bison or Model Giraffe, which enhance the body with animal traits.
Though the Zoan class is considered the most common users are known for their heightened recovery, brute strength, and animal instincts. Now, standing before Dongze, was a Zoan-user gorilla, overflowing with primal ferocity.
"Boy! I found you!"
The words came from the transformed beast, deep and filled with raw murderous intent. The mace, now seemingly weightless in his hands, slammed downward at Dongze's previous sniping location with a thunderous crash.
Dongze's eyes flashed. He let go of the rifle now useless and with a light push off the floor, his body rocketed out of the collapsing room.
He landed three paces forward, drawing his long katana from its sheath in a smooth motion. His eyes met the enemy measuring the threat carefully.
Sensing movement, Erdangjia turned and leapt down from the ruined second floor.
"What! Bastard! Stop hiding and fight me head-on!"
Though it came from behind, Dongze could feel the sheer anger radiating from the voice pure, feral fury.
But he wasn't intimidated. In fact, he was grateful he hadn't rushed in blindly. If he'd let his emotions take over earlier he might have been caught off guard and overwhelmed by this surprise. A Devil Fruit user here? That was rare, but not impossible.
When the second master landed and finally got a good look at Dongze, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"It's just a brat?!"
"Little devil! Who are you?! State your name!"
---