One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #66

The noble looked at Blake, his eyes wide in shock as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "You are Blake... the Thorne Family's heir? I did hear you were on the island, but I thought it was merely someone spreading false rumors to create unrest..."

Blake gave him an inquisitive look and nodded. "Yeah, that's me. And you are?"

The noble straightened, trying to compose himself despite his evident shock. "My name is Aldric Hawke. I was a close friend of your father. I was out of the country on business when your parents died, otherwise..."

His voice faltered, and he suddenly lunged forward, wrapping Blake in a tight hug. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have had to suffer as you did."

Blake smiled awkwardly, patting Aldric on the back. "Uh, thanks. Appreciate it."

While they were caught in the unexpected embrace, Kiera emerged from the shadows. Moving with incredible speed, she neutralized the soldiers at the gate with her guns, her movements a blur of efficiency. Within moments, all the guards were disarmed and incapacitated, leaving the area eerily quiet.

Blake gently pried Aldric away from himself, chuckling at the sight of tears streaming down the noble's face. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember you, Aldric. Still, thanks for your concern."

Aldric wiped his eyes, looking both relieved and bewildered. "Why are you here, Blake? What do you plan to do?"

Blake's expression turned steely, his eyes cold. "I'm here to settle a score with the royal family."

Aldric's face paled. "What do you mean?"

Blake turned toward the entrance of the castle, his steps determined. "I intend to slaughter the royal family."

Aldric's eyes widened in horror. "You... you can't be serious! If you do this you'll labeled as a criminal for the rest of your life! Let me handle this! I'll rouse the other nobles against the royals, and I might be even able to get the World government to dismiss your country!"

Blake glanced back at him, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Go home, Aldric. This isn't your fight."

Without waiting for a response, Blake strode toward the entrance, Kiera falling into step beside him. Aldric watched them go, torn between fear and a desperate need to do something. But as Blake and Kiera approached the castle doors, there was no stopping them.

Gritting his teeth, Aldric decided to stop hesitating as he followed behind the two of them.

After walking through the castle's courtyard for some time, Blake and Kiera finally reached the main gate.

Right before Aldric's astonished eyes, Blake surged forward, his hand pitch black and glowing with a starry light. His fist collided with the main gate, and almost like it was made of thin paper rather than wood reinforced by steel, the gates swung wide open, smacking against the castle's walls.

As if waiting for this exact moment, a wave of soldiers emerged from within the keep, armed with all manner of weapons: swords, spears, and even firearms.

The sharpshooters were the first to act, pointing their guns at Blake and Kiera, ready to fire.

Seeing this, Aldric's eyes widened, and he ran to take cover behind one of the courtyard's statues. As gunshots began to echo across the area, he poked his head out anxiously, and the sight before him left him in awe.

With the same nonchalant expression he had earlier, Blake stood rooted in the spot, countless bullets hitting his body only to bounce off in all directions with metallic clangs. Kiera, on the other hand, moved like a specter, only the rapid gunshots and the flash of her guns marking her location as the soldiers fell like flies around her.

Blake glanced over at Kiera, admiring her efficiency. "You know, for someone who couldn't even put a scratch on me, you're pretty good in a fight."

Kiera scoffed, not missing a beat as she took down another soldier. "Just keep standing there like a statue, pretty boy. Be a good distraction, and I'll handle the soldiers."

Blake chuckled, then turned his attention back to the soldiers as he drew Tidebreaker from its sheath. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent a flying slash through the air, knocking several of them off their feet. "I'm not just a pretty face, missy."

Aldric watched in awe and horror as the scene unfolded. The soldiers were clearly outmatched, their weapons ineffective against the duo. He had never seen such a display of power and skill, and it left him both terrified and anxious.

As the last of the soldiers fell, Kiera reloaded her guns, looking at Blake with a raised eyebrow. "So, what's next?"

Blake grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I've considered burning down the castle like they burned my home... that's only fair." He trailed at the end of his sentence, scratching his head. "But then I'd involve the castle's staff, and they're guilty of nothing but working for a living..."

Kiera gave Blake a strange look. "For a ruthless backstabber who caused the death of an entire pirate crew, I didn't take you to be so soft-hearted..." her tone dripped with mockery.

Shrugging at her words, Blake set his gaze on the inner keep's entrance. "What can I say? I'm all rainbows and sunshine on the inside..." he remarked as he began walking toward the gates. "Let's find the king and get this over with..."

Kiera said nothing as she followed behind him, and Aldric wasn't too far behind.

...

The throne room was as extravagantly decorated as the rest of the castle. Atop the throne, King Aruyutayan XI of Lvneel sat, leaning back into his seat. Though he endeavored to put on a calm expression, the subtle shake in his hand betrayed his anxiety, despite the tens of soldiers standing between him and the entrance to the throne room, armed with all manner of weapons.

Soon enough, what he feared most happened: the doors of the throne room swung open, flying off their hinges, destroying two pillars before finally settling on the floor.

Blake walked through the entrance, Kiera following closely behind him. The soldiers immediately reacted, raising their weapons and aiming at the duo. The king struggled to maintain his calm facade as he spoke.

"Blake Thorne... was it? If you're here to take my head, then you've wasted your time..."

Blake said nothing in response, merely looking at the king with a blank expression, memories that weren't his and unpleasant feelings that originated from his body's original owner flashing in his mind. The king grew more anxious at his silence.

"Look around you, boy. These are the elites of Lvneel's army, all equipped with the best weapons money can buy... never mind you, even a battleship would fall before these hand cannons."

Feeling something tug at his mind from the deepest recesses of his sunbocniosunsee, Blake sighed internally before relinquishing control.

His expression turned blank for a moment before reverting to normal. He glanced at the soldiers at the front holding the hand cannons, then shifted his attention back to the king. "I remember you..." Blake remarked, his voice the same as usual, yet the tone was different, as if he were someone else entirely.

"I remember you used to visit our house from time to time... Father said you were his friend, and some friend you turned out to be..." He added through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with hatred.

King Aruyutayan XI's composure cracked further. "It wasn't personal, boy. Your family had to be removed for the greater good. You don't understand the intricacies of politics."

Blake's expression darkened. "The greater good? You mean your petty vengeance! You took everything from me, and now, I'm here to return the favor."

The king's soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, their eyes locked on Blake and Kiera.

The king, seeing the resolve in Blake's eyes, tried to reason one last time. "We can reach an understanding. There's no need for more bloodshed. You're outnumbered and outgunned."

Blake's only response was a cold, mirthless laugh. "Outnumbered, maybe. Outgunned, never."

With a swift motion, Blake moved forward, his fist glowing with the same starry light as before. The soldiers opened fire, but the bullets ricocheted off his skin, harmlessly clattering to the ground.

Kiera, moving like a phantom, darted among the soldiers, her guns flashing as she took them down with precise shots.

The king watched in horror as his elite guards fell one by one. Desperation etched across his face, he yelled, "Stop them! Stop them at all costs!"

Halfway through, Blake was surrounded by soldiers, and yet he continued to stride forward. "Out of my way!" He exclaimed, his voice and will, fueled by rage and hatred.

A shockwave emerged with Blake as the center, causing everyone within twenty meters to collapse on the ground, their eyes rolling to the backs of their heads.