One Piece: Starting With Flame-Flame Fruit

The remaining three members of the Tiger Pirates stood there, faces ashen, unable to believe what they had just heard. Their captain had openly declared such ruthless words.

"This can't be true… Captain Goro…!!"

Tony's expression grew even colder after hearing Goro's words. While he had no sympathy for these pirates, his disgust for their captain was absolute. A man who disregarded the lives of his own crew had no right to lead.

With a sneer, Tony lifted his middle finger in Goro's direction. "You're a top-tier scumbag. Spare me your nonsense. For what you just said, you won't leave here alive today! And your vice-captain won't either."

Tony turned his gaze toward Klen, the man who had earlier taunted him about slicing him to pieces.

"Hah! How bold! You'll pay for those words!" Klen sneered, while Goro's stance grew more aggressive, and the deck beneath him began to crack. His clothes started tearing as his body transformed from human form into a menacing tiger. His brownish-yellow fur bristled, sharp fangs gleaming, and fierce eyes fixed on Tony as he bared a tongue dripping with saliva. His powerful, clawed limbs looked capable of shredding a man in seconds.

Tony narrowed his eyes slightly. "So, you're a Devil Fruit user."

But it only took a moment for his expression to settle back into calm confidence. Tony, as the owner of the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit, the most potent among Devil Fruits, had no fear of Zoan-type users like this so-called "tiger."

"It's the power of Captain Goro's Tiger-Tiger Fruit! You're as good as shredded meat, kid!" a crew member exclaimed.

"No one's ever lasted ten rounds once our captain uses his Devil Fruit power! You're just another target for the tiger to tear apart!" Klen chimed in confidently, already imagining Tony in pieces on the deck.

But Tony wasn't fazed. Goro's 70-million-berry bounty was laughable to him—just another frog in a well. These pirates likely hadn't faced any real opponents on the first half of the Grand Line, so they lacked any true awareness of what lay beyond.

With a smirk, Tony snapped, "You talk too much! , Bakudō #4: Hainawa (Slithering Rope)!"

A yellow energy rope shot from his fingertips, binding Klen in place. His eyes widened in terror as he struggled, but the rope held firm.

"What is this power?! Captain Goro, save me!" Klen shouted in desperation, but Goro hesitated a moment too long.

"You little brat, release Klen! Harm him, and I'll make sure you die a painful death!" Goro shouted.

Ignoring him, Tony yanked Klen closer, causing the man to flail helplessly. The tables had turned—this time, Klen was the one facing torture.

"You… you heard that, right? If you lay a hand on me, our captain won't let you off!" Klen stammered, though he trembled as he spoke, clearly terrified of what Tony might do.

Tony's face remained impassive, but his eyes glinted with a sadistic edge. "Oh? I hear you enjoy torturing people. Do you think I'm going to let you off just because of your captain's threats?"

Looking at Goro with disdain, Tony activated his Flame-Flame Fruit ability, grasping Klen by the head and hoisting him up, half-suspended. Flames sparked to life, crawling from Klen's feet and gradually rising to his waist.

Klen shrieked in agony, writhing helplessly as the flames slowly consumed him. "Ah! It burns! Damn you! I swear I'll kill you!"

But Tony was unmoved by his threats. Klen had cruelly tortured dozens of innocent people to death, and Tony felt it fitting for him to experience the same helplessness and torment.

Watching his vice-captain burn, Goro finally began to break into a cold sweat, his previous arrogance shattered by the realization of Tony's power.

"This kid… could he be… a Logia-type Devil Fruit user?"

As a Devil Fruit user himself, Goro knew well the terrifying might of those who possessed Logia powers.

~----------------------------------------------------------

T/N:

Access 30 chapters in advance on my Patreon: [email protected]/dreamer20 (Replace @ with 'a')