Just then, footsteps echoed across the bloodied floor.
Tap… Tap…
Ain emerged from behind, her blue eyes sharp, her clothes pristine despite the battle. She dragged Fukurokuju across the ground like a bag of garbage, the ninja's elongated earlobes stretched painfully as he groaned in unconsciousness.
Binz followed behind her, dusting his hands. "Tch. That's done."
He kicked aside a fallen Oniwabanshu corpse, his expression calm but disgusted. "Pathetic."
Ain dropped Fukurokuju's limp body with a thud beside Orochi's restrained form. She flicked her wrist dismissively. "Here. The parasite that clung to this worm."
The room was quiet again, save for Orochi's panicked, shuddering breaths.
While the girls had captured their target, the capital was close to unrecognizable.
The once-proud streets had become a slaughterhouse, soaked in blood and fire. Bodies of samurai and ninja littered the ground, twisted in grotesque heaps. Some were burned to ash, others cleaved in half, their weapons lying useless beside their lifeless hands.
The air reeked of charred flesh and iron. Smoke curled into the bright sky, glowing red with embers.
Here and there, the sound of broken men groaning filled the silence, those who had somehow survived but were far too broken to stand again.
Amidst the carnage stood Luffy, his chest rising and falling steadily, as if all this chaos was nothing more than a warm-up. His fists were still crackling faintly with sparks, arcs of lightning crawling across the ground before fading.
Crackle! Boom!
A dying ninja tried to crawl away, only for a stray bolt to erupt from Luffy's hand, scorching him into silence.
Luffy tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze drifting toward the plaza where Zoro still fought.
The clash of swords echoed across the battlefield, and the sparks flew with every strike as Zoro danced around his opponent with lazy dominance.
Kyoshiro, the Yakuza boss of the capital, was bleeding from dozens of cuts, his pristine suit torn and stained. His blade trembled in his hand as he fought tooth and nail, his teeth gritted in desperation.
Meanwhile, Zoro's expression carried an almost mocking grin. Two blades moved like predators circling prey, every strike purposeful yet deliberately pulled back from the killing blow.
"Tch… is this all you got? Pathetic," Zoro growled, twisting his wrist as he parried another desperate slash. The sheer force of the block sent Kyoshiro stumbling backward, coughing blood.
He lunged again, but Zoro tilted his head casually, letting the blade whistle past his cheek.
Swish!
The swordsman retaliated with a shallow slash across Kyoshiro's chest. Blood spattered, painting the ground red.
Kyoshiro's roar turned into a ragged gasp. "You… you're toying with me!?"
Zoro's grin widened, his eye gleaming with amusement.
"You're only alive 'cause my captain told me to keep you that way. If it were up to me, you'd already be headless."
Kyoshiro's face twisted in fury and shame, but another blow from Zoro sent him sprawling to one knee.
Back across the battlefield, Luffy exhaled deeply, sparks fading from his hands. He muttered under his breath, annoyed.
"Hmph… weaklings. Nothing but fodder. Not a single one of them is worth the effort."
His eyes flickered, a cold gleam flashing as a glowing blue panel appeared before him.
Tti-ring!
[System Notification!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have reached Level 80! You've unlocked new abilities!]
Luffy quickly opened his system panel to check his stats.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Status]
Name: Monkey D. Luffy
Age: 15
Level: 80
Title: Vice Admiral
HP: 56750
Physique: Incubus King
[Devil Fruit]
Warp-Warp Fruit - Awakened (Paramecia)
Rumber Rumber Fruit - Awakened (Logia)
Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika (Zoan - Mythical)
More-More Fruit - Awakened (Paramecia)
[Stat]
Strength: 5000 (+5000)
Agility: 3000 (+10000)
Durability: 3540 (+7500)
Perception: 3000 (+10000)
Charm: ∞
(Available points to distribute: 10)
[Skills]
Passive Skills:
– Detoxification (Lvl Max)
– Regeneration (Lvl Max)
– Irresistible Charm (Lvl Max)
– Tenacity (Lvl 99)
Active Skills:
– Conqueror Haki (Lvl 89)
– Armament Haki (Lvl 89)
– Observation Haki (Lvl 99)
– Shooting (Lvl 89)
– Swordplay (Lvl 89)
– Cooking (Lvl 89)
– Killing Intent (Lvl 89)
– Warp (Lvl Max)
– Dash (Lvl 89)
– Rokushiki (Lvl 89)
[Shop]
[Inventory]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luffy's jaw tightened, his lips curling into a frown.
"…Only a single level." He clenched his fists, teeth grinding audibly. Lightning snapped across his arms in frustration, scorching the ground.
Inside, his thoughts churned darkly.
'What's the point of slaughtering trash? I need strong prey… real prey. Only the Beast Pirates can give me that. Kaido is a monster, and he has many strong men. That's where the real experience lies. That's what'll make me stronger.'
He cast another glance at Zoro, still tormenting Kyoshiro, and smirked faintly.
"Heh… at least he's enjoying himself."
A charred samurai, barely alive, coughed blood nearby and whispered hoarsely, "D… demon…"
Luffy turned his gaze on him, those dark, cunning eyes locking onto the dying man. A cruel grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Demon? No… you've got it wrong. I'm the one that even the demons fear."
He raised his hand, lightning gathering in his palm before exploding in a thunderous explosion.
The man's body was reduced to ashes, scattered into the smoky air.
The battlefield fell into silence once more. Only the clash of Zoro's blades echoed, a grim reminder that this day wasn't finished.
"Luffy!"
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
Luffy tilted his head, lips curling into a grin as his eyes fell on the group approaching from the other side of the plaza.
Gion led the way, her blade still resting casually against her shoulder. Beside her walked Kuina and Doll, who dragged the bound body of Orochi, his head still whimpering in muffled protests. Ain walked alongside with that serene smile, effortlessly hauling the unconscious Fukurokuju by his ridiculous ears.
The sight alone made Luffy's grin widen. He planted his hands on his hips and laughed loudly.
"Oi, oi! You actually did it, huh? You caught those two bastards alive! Not bad at all."
He tilted his head mockingly, his tone playful but dripping with amusement. "Though, I gotta say… you really took your sweet time. I was this close to dying of boredom out here."
Bzzt!
A stray spark leapt off his shoulder, scorching the ground as if to emphasize his irritation.
Doll, still dragging Orochi like a sack of garbage, rolled her eyes so hard it was audible.
"Hmph... Look who's talking. Weren't you the one who promised to send a signal? We waited… and waited… and nothing came. We had to make a decision and fight our way through half the castle!"
Her voice carried that sharp bite, enough to make even the surviving enemies flinch in the background.
Luffy blinked innocently, then broke into an embarrassed chuckle. He scratched the side of his face, grin still plastered there like he couldn't care less.
"Ahaha… about that… yeah, I might've forgotten."
Kuina smirked faintly at his expression, her calm eyes glinting with amusement.
"Forgot? Or were you just too busy having fun frying people alive?"
Luffy shot her a cheeky grin, sparks flashing in his teeth. "Heh, guilty."
Orochi, muffled but still struggling, tried to yell through the ropes. "Y-you fools! Release me this instant! Do you know who I am!? Kaido-sama will—"
Wham!
Doll's boot silenced him with a kick to the ribs, the air whooshing out of him in a pathetic squeal. "Shut it, worm. Your whining is more irritating than your face."
Luffy laughed heartily, throwing his head back. His laughter echoed through the blood-soaked plaza, a chilling reminder to the few surviving enemies who still dared to breathe. His eyes, however, sparkled with colder satisfaction.
'Good… very good. With Orochi bound, this land can finally breathe... And as for Kaido... as soon as he returns… that's when the real hunt begins.
He looked back at his crew, his grin widening. "Well then… looks like the main course is about to be served."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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