One Piece: Rise of the harem king

The tavern's dim lantern light barely illuminated the faces of the bounty hunters now encircling Xander. Their expressions were cold and predatory, every one of them radiating bloodlust. The night had grown unnervingly quiet, the cheerful facade of Whiskey Peak crumbling into the lethal trap Xander had anticipated.

He sat at the table with Nami and Nojiko nearby, their eyes closed but their breathing controlled and deliberate. They were playing their roles perfectly, pretending to be asleep while Xander prepared for what was coming.

As the so-called mayor, (Igram), gave a subtle nod, the bounty hunters drew their weapons. A cacophony of steel unsheathing filled the room, and the glint of swords, daggers, and axes shone in the flickering light.

"You've got quite the bounty on your head, pirate," one of the hunters sneered, stepping forward.

Xander lifted his crimson gaze slowly, the room freezing under the weight of his piercing stare. He didn't say a word, but the cold indifference in his eyes was enough to send a shiver down the spines of the weaker hunters.

"You fools," Xander finally said, standing and reaching for the katana strapped to his side. "You think numbers will make a difference?"

---

The first attacker lunged, his blade aimed at Xander's throat. In a blur of motion, Xander sidestepped, drawing his sword in a single, fluid motion. The attacker froze mid-strike, a deep crimson line forming across his chest before he collapsed, lifeless.

The other bounty hunters hesitated, their confidence shaken.

Xander stepped into their midst, his movements a dance of death. His katana gleamed in the lantern light, each slash precise and deadly. He moved with calculated efficiency, his strikes aiming for vital points. Throats were cut, chests pierced, and limbs severed as the tavern became a battlefield.

---

One particularly bold hunter swung a massive axe at Xander's head. Xander ducked under the arc of the weapon, his blade cutting cleanly through the man's midsection. The hunter's body crumpled to the floor, his blood pooling beneath him.

"Too slow," Xander muttered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle.

Another group of hunters tried to overwhelm him from behind. Without turning, Xander spun his katana in a sweeping arc, the blade slicing through the attackers before they could even scream.

---

Ms. Monday stepped forward next, her towering frame and powerful fists a stark contrast to the fallen hunters around her.

"You're not leaving here alive!" she roared, charging at him.

Xander's eyes narrowed as he braced himself. She swung her fist with immense force, but he sidestepped at the last moment, his blade slashing across her side.

Ms. Monday howled in pain but didn't stop. She turned, her massive arm swinging in a wide arc. Xander ducked under the blow and countered with a precise upward slash, the katana cutting through her chest. She staggered, her strength failing her as she collapsed.

"You relied too much on brute force," Xander said coldly, stepping over her body.

---

Mr. 9 was the next to face him, his steel bats spinning in his hands as he approached cautiously.

"You're not invincible!" Mr. 9 shouted, charging forward.

Xander parried the first strike effortlessly, his katana meeting the steel bat with a sharp clang. Mr. 9 swung again and again, each strike faster than the last, but Xander blocked each one with ease.

"You're wasting my time," Xander said, his voice devoid of emotion.

With a quick sidestep, Xander disarmed Mr. 9, sending the bats clattering to the floor. Before the bounty hunter could react, Xander's blade pierced his chest, ending his life in a single, clean motion.

---

The remaining bounty hunters hesitated, fear overtaking their greed. They glanced at Igram, who stood frozen in place, his hands clenched at his sides.

"You cowards!" Igram shouted. "He's just one man! Kill him!"

But his words fell on deaf ears. The bounty hunters knew they stood no chance against Xander's skill. One by one, they dropped their weapons and tried to flee.

Xander wasn't about to let them escape. He moved with deadly precision, cutting down each fleeing hunter before they could reach the door. His katana sang through the air, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

---

As the last of the hunters fell, the tavern fell silent once more. The only sounds were the heavy breathing of Nami and Nojiko, who had watched the carnage unfold from their positions.

Xander turned to face the last two standing: Igram and Vivi.

The princess's face was pale, her hands trembling as she clutched a dagger she didn't know how to use. Igram stood protectively in front of her, his sword drawn but his grip unsteady.

"I know who you are," Xander said, his voice calm but chilling.

Vivi's eyes widened in shock. "W—What do you mean?"

"Princess Vivi of Alabasta," Xander continued, ignoring her question. "And Igram, the captain of the Royal Guard."

Igram's jaw tightened. "If you know who we are, then you should know we're not your enemies."

Xander tilted his head, his crimson eyes studying them. "Not my enemies? You led this ambush. You worked with them."

"We had no choice!" Vivi blurted out, stepping forward despite Igram's protests. "We had to infiltrate Baroque Works to save our kingdom!"

Xander sheathed his katana but didn't relax. "Your reasons don't concern me," he said. "But know this: if you cross me again, I won't spare you."

He turned his back on them, his cold demeanor a stark contrast to the carnage around him.

"Clean up your mess," he said over his shoulder. "And think carefully about who you align yourselves with in the future."

With Xander walking out of the blood-soaked tavern, his crimson eyes glowing in the moonligight as Vivi and igram exchange uncertain glances.

To be continued.....