Chapter Fifty-Nine: One Punch

Listening to Kazte’s voice, thick with fury, all those hidden sentinels with malicious intent, as well as the pirates who had anchored their ships nearby to watch, instantly understood the cause of this gunfight.

Before the Battleaxe Tavern incident, no one had ever heard the name Usopp. To call him unknown would be generous. Yet this ruthless figure, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, not only slapped Eibe in the tavern with utmost contempt but now, single-handedly, rode straight into the face of the Sharp Bull Pirate Crew?

The pirates stationed on surrounding ships were uninvolved, but that didn’t stop them from edging closer to watch.

On the deck of the Sharp Bull Pirate ship, the moment after hearing Kazte’s voice, Maud swiftly unfastened the “Usopp” from his back and, without a word, fired at Kazte.

Bang—

The lead bullet flew straight for Kazte’s chest.

Maud knew that firearms would have little effect on pirates with high bounties. Therefore, he deliberately aimed for the upper body, where the hit rate was higher.

Kazte’s eyes widened with rage, and as he shouted Maud’s name, he had already transformed into his human-beast form. Facing the speeding bullet, he brought down a hoof. Sparks burst forth; he crushed the bullet with brute force.

The shot failed; Maud calmly slung “Usopp” back over his shoulder. Against an opponent of this caliber, firearms were ineffective in direct combat—the bullet’s trajectory could be easily spotted.

Before Kazte could attack, Maud took the opportunity to charge at the Sharp Bull Pirate Crew members. With a swift stab, he killed another.

By now, only a dozen or so minor enemies remained, posing little threat. As for whether there were others inside the cabin, Maud could not know.

After Maud fired a shot and then ignored him, Kazte’s expression grew ever more twisted.

“Get out of my way!”

He roared, then leapt forward. His massive form soared through the air, lunging at Maud.

The Sharp Bull Crew members immediately retreated, while Maud, watching Kazte’s leap, hopped backward, just in time to avoid the landing zone.

Boom!

Kazte’s powerful legs slammed onto the deck. Splinters flew, and the wooden boards warped and shattered under the force.

Steadying himself, Kazte wasted no time. He stomped down, further damaging the deck, and his dense, dark-furred body lunged at Maud once more.

Wind whipped up; Kazte’s charge was like a speeding truck, full of oppressive force.

Maud, unfazed, sidestepped and darted toward the pirate crew, his intentions clear.

“Damn bastard!”

A member who had already withdrawn from the fight cursed loudly.

But Maud paid no mind, moving faster than them. Drawing Kazte after him, he swiftly dispatched another crew member, then slipped away from Kazte’s reach.

Kazte’s momentum was unstoppable, and the wounds on his inner thighs made braking impossible. One unlucky pirate couldn’t dodge in time and was struck by Kazte, sent flying. He didn’t even land before he died mid-air.

Maud glanced at the unfortunate soul’s deeply caved-in chest and shuddered inwardly. If he took such a hit head-on, even if he survived, he’d surely be gravely injured.

“How did Eibe withstand that?” Maud thought, Eibe’s figure flickering in his mind. With that build, to take Kazte’s black hoof head-on and not die on the spot…

He shook his head, turning his gaze to Kazte’s bandaged legs, where blood was slowly seeping through.

Seeing this, a smile flickered in Maud’s eyes. This was the real reason he dared to come tonight.

Kazte’s eyes were bloodshot, ignoring the subordinate he had just killed. Sensing that his wounds had reopened, he had no intention of slowing down, charging at Maud again.

This time, he abandoned the charging tactic, planning to close the distance and finish Maud with his “Black Hoof.”

Yet Maud wouldn’t be foolish enough to give him the chance. With superior speed, he kept circling the deck, never letting Kazte get close.

Several rounds of chase yielded nothing; Kazte was so infuriated he nearly burst a blood vessel.

But he realized Maud’s malicious intent and forced himself to calm down.

If this continued, not only would he fail to hurt Maud, but he’d end up in danger himself. And Gabton’s continued absence likely meant he was being held up elsewhere.

The situation grew dire, and Kazte’s breathing gradually slowed as he considered the risk of defeat.

The Ox Fruit’s human-beast form greatly increased strength and endurance, but also somewhat reduced speed. If it was already so in human-beast form, beast form would be even slower.

If he wanted to kill this bastard before him…

“A spineless coward, is running all you know how to do?”

“Even Eibe, that woman, dared to face me head-on, but you only know how to flee. Seems you’re not even as brave as a woman!”

Kazte, now calm, spat venomous insults at Maud, his words as harsh as possible.

He was convinced Maud favored speed but lacked power. If they fought directly, he was sure he could crush Maud with a single hoof.

Listening to the filthy taunts, Maud’s eyes flickered strangely, surprised Kazte would resort to such tactics.

Without further thought, Maud moved.

Kazte’s eyes flashed with joy—but in the next instant, his expression froze as Maud ran toward his subordinates, his blade rising and falling, taking another life.

After dispatching a nearby crew member, Maud gave Kazte a slight smile.

Kazte’s cheeks twitched violently. “Useless!” he spat.

It was unclear if he meant Maud or his own men.

Not waiting for defeat, Kazte switched to “Plan B.” He grabbed swords and knives from beside the corpses, muscles bulging, and hurled them at Maud.

Yet Maud dodged every one.

After tossing a dozen weapons, Kazte not only failed to injure Maud, but aggravated his own upper body wounds.

Kazte took a deep breath and abandoned the futile effort.

Decisive, he shifted his lower body back to human form—sacrificing defense to improve speed and finally stick to Maud.

“Usopp, I’ll tear you to pieces!!”

Kazte, all-in, charged at Maud. His speed was noticeably improved.

Maud sighed softly; it seemed victory would not come easily.

Kazte saw Maud’s seemingly weak reaction, and his killing intent grew even sharper.

Soon, Kazte managed to close in on Maud.

“Now I can keep up!”

Kazte rejoiced, his pent-up rage pouring out toward Maud.

“Black Hoof!”

Kazte’s arm muscles swelled suddenly, and he struck at Maud’s face with all his might.

Maud retreated and dodged the blow.

Kazte pressed his advantage, blow after blow, forcing Maud back step by step.

“If I can’t win easily, then…”

Maud’s eyes glinted coldly as he dodged again and again.

Though Kazte was strong, his attacks lacked the precision of Eibe’s “Swift Sword.”

After evading a dozen strikes, Maud saw his chance, gathered his strength, and punched Kazte’s bandaged abdomen.

“Huh?!”

Kazte grunted, his feet leaving the ground as he flew backward about a meter, landing and stumbling several steps before stopping.

Stunned, he glared at Maud, then coughed up a mouthful of thick blood. Unable to withstand the powerful blow, he dropped to one knee, supporting himself with his hand.

Outside the battle circle, the remaining Sharp Bull Pirate Crew members watched their captain suppress Maud and felt hope surge.

But just seconds later, their captain was felled by a single punch, unable to stand.

“How can this be?”

Their spirits plummeted from heaven to hell.

Was this still their captain Kazte, whose bounty exceeded thirty million?