Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Celestial Frame

In this era of great voyages, perhaps due to the prevalence of firearms or the sheer difficulty of training, the destructive power and presence displayed by gunners often pale in comparison to those wielding swords or specializing in martial arts. As a result, most pirate crews tend to prioritize close-combat specialists when organizing their combat members. Even someone as formidable as Jesus under the banner of the Four Emperors, before reaching his later peak, had to rely on physical prowess and Armament Haki to maintain overall strength and avoid dragging his team down.

And since both physical strength and Armament Haki must be cultivated, wouldn't it make more sense to devote one’s energy to cold weapons or pure martial arts, where the destructive results are more direct? Looking across the sea at all those who rule the waves, which of them doesn’t wield cold steel or specialize in hand-to-hand combat? This is the somewhat awkward position in which snipers find themselves. Yet, in certain situations, a sniper can undoubtedly become the most vexing thorn in the enemy’s side.

Just like now.

The Spiky Bull Pirates, entrenched in their position, had become easy targets for Maud. With just ten shots, he had already taken out eight members of their crew.

This gunfight under the cover of night was witnessed by many onlookers. It was hard to imagine that the numerically superior Spiky Bull Pirates could be suppressed by a single gunman.

Those lurking in the shadows, seeking to profit from the Spiky Bull Pirates’ misfortune, saw opportunity in this firefight. Though unsure which ruthless pirate crew had intervened, driven by greed, they each informed their leaders to prepare for the spoils.

Predatory eyes watched from the darkness.

Perched atop the warehouse, Maud swiftly adjusted his sniping position. The whole process was effortless. In this moment, the advantage of “enemy in the light, myself in the dark” was on full display.

Having shifted to a suitable vantage point, Maud set up his rifle and took aim at Wells and his men, who were still clinging to their suppressive fire strategy.

“The first one.”

The ones he’d killed previously were of no consequence to Maud. His focus remained solely on the three names written in his notebook. His cold gaze locked onto Wells, who remained blissfully unaware of the impending danger. Maud pulled the trigger.

The lead bullet sliced through the night.

As the gun smoked, Maud didn’t even glance at his handiwork. He stowed away “Usopp,” leapt from the warehouse, and landed silently on the ground.

Without Wolf Rat and Tatami guarding his flanks, Maud couldn’t afford to keep firing so brazenly.

Reloading as he moved, Maud quickly made his way toward the Spiky Bull Pirates’ ship docked at the pier.

He had barely gone a few meters when a new star appeared on the cover of his Hunter’s Notebook in his mind’s eye.

The instant feedback from the gain in constitution engulfed him in a sensation reminiscent of soaking in a hot spring. He let out a long, contented breath.

Noticing the difference in this feedback, Maud realized something had changed. With a thought, the Hunter’s Notebook materialized before him. The many silver stars above the black cover transformed into shooting stars, streaking over the darkness like a meteor shower.

Finally, the stars gathered beside the Constitution requirement, gradually forming a hollow star frame: ☆

Seeing the star beside “Constitution,” Maud’s eyes sparkled with delight.

“To have the star frame formed so quickly—if I can kill Kazt tonight, perhaps I’ll fill it in one go. That would mean my first true rebirth!”

Maud was both elated and excited.

But he quickly calmed himself. Joy should wait until after the hunt’s success.

Dismissing the Hunter’s Notebook, Maud gazed at the distant Spiky Bull Pirates’ ship, a glint in his eyes.

He hadn’t expected the star frame to form so soon. He’d thought he’d have to eliminate at least five to eight targets of Evan Watt’s caliber to achieve this.

Now, it seemed that killing the fish-man Samura at the auction had greatly boosted his overall progress.

“Next, as long as I can take down Kazt…”

He slung “Usopp” across his back and, for a fleeting moment, considered a safer plan: reconvene with Wolf Rat and the others, swiftly wipe out the Spiky Bull Pirates’ special assault team, and then launch a full attack on the ship under Turtle’s watch.

But, fearing his prey would be snatched away, Maud preferred to face Kazt alone.

With “Heart Drip Fist Listening” at his disposal, he could always retreat if things went south.

Drawing his dagger, Maud advanced toward the Spiky Bull Pirates’ ship.

...

On the deck of the Spiky Bull Pirates’ ship.

“Captain Wells!”

A gunman stared in horror at Wells, who had been shot through the temple and now lay dead on the deck.

Even their captain had been taken out.

Looking into the night, though the enemy’s gunfire had ceased, a nameless terror gripped them—the fear of being suddenly shot dead at any moment.

This was the invisible pressure a sniper could exert from the depths of the night.

Moreover, the poor performance of their remaining three gunmen only added to the stress of those cowering behind cover.

In such a state, they couldn’t even manage basic vigilance.

With spies from other pirate crews lurking nearby, an unseen weight pressed on their shoulders.

Drip.

Sweat fell to the deck, scattering in tiny droplets.

Every member of the Spiky Bull Pirates was on high alert.

All they could do was hope that Captain Gabdon would take out that sniper.

Under this invisible pressure, a difficult minute dragged by.

The sniper had not fired for an entire minute, which could only mean...

“Did Captain Gabdon succeed?”

At this thought, faint smiles appeared on their faces.

Especially the three remaining gunmen—they felt as if a great burden had lifted.

Since the shooting began, the sniper hadn’t let up even once—this was the first time he’d gone more than a minute without firing.

Even if Captain Gabdon hadn’t killed the sniper, he must have at least driven him off or pinned him down.

There was no other explanation.

Yet, relieved as they were, how could they have foreseen that the terrifying sniper would now draw a dagger and slip toward them?

...

When the unthinkable became reality, all that remained in the gunmen’s minds was a deep, unanswerable confusion.

Maud, dagger in hand and keenly aware of his enemies’ positions, appeared and instantly slit one gunman’s throat.

As the man stared in disbelief, Maud swiftly drove the blade into his heart.

He then pulled a short-barreled flintlock pistol from the dead man’s body and, following the route he’d planned before boarding, closed in on the second gunman, dispatching him just as efficiently with two quick strikes.

By the time Maud had killed two, the other Spiky Bull Pirates finally reacted.

Bang!

Maud shot the last nearby gunman.

Tossing the empty pistol aside, he snatched up a loaded rifled musket and flintlock from another corpse and fired several shots before the others could close in.

At such close range, his marksmanship was deadly—four more bodies hit the deck in moments.

From boarding the ship to now, in barely a dozen seconds, Maud had slain seven members of the Spiky Bull Pirates.

Even so, plenty of pirates remained, faces twisted with murderous intent as they charged at Maud.

But Maud was unafraid.

Being fond of firearms didn’t mean his close combat skills were lacking.

His ability to handle Albay’s “Swift Sword” was proof enough.

Gripping his dagger, his already-evolved physique, Maud surged into the fray.

Blades flashed; blood arced.

In no time, the deck was littered with pirates, cut down by Maud’s dagger.

Had he been wielding a longsword, he might have killed them even faster.

Inside the captain’s cabin, Kazt could finally sit still no longer.

Cursing his men’s incompetence, he flung open the cabin door and strode onto the deck.

What greeted his eyes was a field of corpses.

Kazt’s face twisted with rage as he saw Maud massacring his crew.

When he recognized Maud’s features, veins bulged across his rugged face.

When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred.

“Usopp!”

He called out the name Maud was currently using, each syllable dripping with murderous intent and echoing through the night.

Hearing this name, the spies hidden nearby all startled.

So it was the recently-emerged Usopp...!

...

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