One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #77

Blake stood in the dappled sunlight of the forest, the quiet serenity interrupted only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. Sif, ever vigilant, prowled beside him, her keen senses attuned to every sound and movement. Suddenly, she paused, her ears perking up and a low growl rumbling from her throat.

"Calm down, Sif," Blake said, his voice soothing but his eyes sharp. "It seems our prey has come to us."

He scanned the surroundings, his gaze penetrating the dense foliage. "Come out," he commanded, his voice carrying an authority that brooked no disobedience.

As if on cue, figures began to emerge from their hiding places among the trees and bushes. Soldiers, pirates, and bounty hunters, over a hundred strong, armed with all manner of weapons, encircled Blake and Sif. Among them was the unmistakable figure of Count Armand, his face twisted in a smug smile.

Blake's eyes sparkled with amusement as he locked onto Armand. "Count Armand," he drawled, "I see pissing your pants from a little growl from Sif wasn't enough to keep you away."

Armand's face reddened with anger, but he maintained his composure. "Your beast won't save you this time, Blake," he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain.

Blake chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to unsettle those around him. "Sif is not here for my protection, Count. She's here because I enjoy her company. I don’t need her to handle the likes of you."

He took a step forward, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the clearing. "Have you forgotten so quickly, Armand? I single-handedly invaded the royal castle and killed the former king with little to no help. Do you really think your ragtag group stands a chance?"

Count Armand's smug smile deepened as he raised a hand, signaling someone to step forward. A man veiled in a cloak, with a deck of cards in his hand, emerged from the shadows. The air around him seemed to thrum with an unsettling energy.

"I understand your strength, Blake," Armand began, his voice dripping with faux admiration. "That's why I didn't come alone."

The cloaked man stepped closer, his presence almost palpable. He drew a card from his deck, a small tendril emerging from his cloak to attach itself to the card, keeping it afloat. His voice was calm, almost detached. "I see the shadow of death in your future, Blake Thorne..." he intoned, drawing another card. "Your chance of survival is less than ten percent."

Blake's eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. "Basil Hawkins," he said, turning his gaze to Count Armand. "How deep do your pockets have to run to hire Drake and now so-called Magician?"

Before Armand could respond, Hawkins spoke, his tone matter-of-fact. "I have no interest in Armand's money. The prospect of claiming a hundred pirate hearts, in addition to the hearts of a notorious bounty hunter and a former rear admiral, however, is a different story."

Blake's eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. "Do you even know what those hearts can be used for?"

Hawkins's eyes glinted beneath his hood. "The hearts can be used to control their owners, literally placing their lives in my hands should I succeed in claiming them."

Blake's gaze flickered to Armand, then back to Hawkins. "Did Armand tell you that?"

Hawkins shook his head slightly. "No. Even if Armand told me something like that, I wouldn't believe him."

Blake chuckled darkly. "Well, you're not wrong about the hearts. But let me tell you something, Hawkins. You're biting on more than you can swallow... those hearts are far more trouble than they're worth."

Hawkins's expression remained unreadable. "We'll see about that."

The tension in the clearing ratcheted up another notch. Sif growled menacingly, her hackles raised, ready to pounce at Blake's command. The soldiers, pirates, and bounty hunters surrounding them shifted nervously, unsure of what would happen next.

Blake's hand moved with lightning speed, his blade slicing through the air. A powerful flying slash surged towards Hawkins, cutting through his cloak and body. But Hawkins remained calm and unphased, a straw effigy emerging from his cloak and falling to the ground, withering as it did.

Simultaneously, one of the pirates present fell to the ground, a huge gaping wound appearing on his chest.

Hawkins blankly composed expression persisted. "I can create these straw men effigies and link them to other people, making them take any damage I receive," he explained. "I have over a hundred effigies hidden in my body, linked to almost anyone here. You will never win."

Blake was stunned for a moment before breaking into laughter. "No wonder you thought my chances of victory were less than ten percent," he said, his voice echoing through the clearing.

Hawkins raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to surrender now that you understand?" he asked, his tone devoid of any real hope for a peaceful resolution.

Blake shook his head, his grin widening. "You only feel confident in your victory because you think you can trick me. Your ability to predict the future with cards is only as accurate as your own knowledge. You were counting on me not knowing the limits of the Straw-Straw Devil Fruit."

Hawkins's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a shift in the tide of battle.

Blake continued, his voice a low growl. "But I know it can only create ten effigies at a time."

Hawkins's calm demeanor faltered for a split second, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. Blake seized the moment, launching himself forward with incredible speed. His sword clashed against Hawkins's cards, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the air.

Blake's attacks were relentless, each strike aimed to break through Hawkins's defenses. Hawkins parried with his cards, the tendrils of straw twisting and turning to intercept Blake's blade. But the pirates, bounty hunters, and soldiers surrounding them were not idle.

They lunged at Blake, weapons drawn, trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.

Sif sprang into action, a whirlwind of fur and fangs, tearing through their ranks with savage efficiency. Her growls and snarls mixed with the clash of steel, creating a symphony of chaos. Blake moved with deadly precision, cutting down his foes one after another.

Cutting a clean path, Blake grinned savagely as he charged straight toward Hawkins. Startled, the Magician still reacted swiftly, retrieving a sword handle with no blade.

Strands of straw grew out of the handle, forming a long malleable blade that Hawkins swung without hesitation, using it as a sharp whip that flew toward Blake with sharp intent and precision.

Unpashed, Blake used Soru to dodge, appearing beside Hawkins and cutting him down yet again with Tidebreaker. Before another effigy had the chance to crawl out of his body, Blake delivered another devastating kick, sending his foe flying back.

Basil's back hit a tree as he flew backward, snapping it in half as he crashed into a second, and a third one that finally killed the momentum of Blake's kick. Two effigies crawled out of his cloak, signifying the loss of two more lives, and yet Blake refused to relent, appearing in front of Hawkins already mid-swing.

The battle continued, Blake's blade gleaming in the dim light, a blur of motion as he cut through Hawkins's defenses. The cards fell apart, and the straw effigies withered into nothingness. Hawkins's eyes widened in alarm as he realized he had only one effigy left.

Panting and bloodied, Blake stood over the fallen bodies of their enemies, his eyes locked onto Hawkins. "It's over, Hawkins. You've got one effigy left..."

Hawkins's lips twisted into a grim smile. "Maybe... but the fight is far from over..." he said, his body transforming into straw, making him look like a monstrous scarecrow.

Blake's grip tightened on his sword, more amused than anything else. "Is that little transformation of yours supposed to scare me or something?" he said, resting his sword on his shoulder.

As composed as ever, Hawkins shook his head blankly. "No. But the fact that the last effigy is linked to you should make you think twice before attacking me. A split moment of hesitation in a critical moment is all I need to turn the tides of this battle..."

Blake chuckled in amusement. "It's a good thing I don't plan on hesitating...."

Hawkins's body split open, revealing the last effigy in his chest. "Are you willing to bet your life on that?" he asked, his tone cold and detached.

Blake shrugged nonchalantly. "I've been betting my life for two lifetimes already. I don't think I can live any other way..." he muttered more to himself than Hawkins. "That said, I don't see any risk to my life here... maybe an arm at most..."