Without the slightest hesitation, Luo Xia chose option one and immediately activated it.
A powerful new force surged through his body—the defensive Armor Dragon Slayer Magic.
As the Armor Dragon Slayer Power integrated, Luo Xia felt his physical resilience increasing exponentially with every passing second.
After an hour, the Armor Dragon Slayer Magic was fully loaded. With a thought, Luo Xia summoned his system panel before his eyes.
[Host: Luo Xia]
[Fire Dragon Slayer Magic Proficiency: 80% (Mastered), Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade acquired, Dragon Force pending development]
[Armor Dragon Slayer Magic Proficiency: 10% (Beginner), Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Immovable Wisdom King 70% proficiency acquired, Dragon Force pending development]
"Bravo~ Excellent~"
Seeing his ability panel expand from one line to two, Luo Xia couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
He clenched his right fist, wreathed in flames, and knocked on his bare chest.
Clang! Clang!
The crisp metallic ring was music to his ears.
Even though the Armor Dragon Slayer Magic had just been acquired and was still at beginner level, it had already granted Luo Xia a significant boost—most notably in his physical hardness, as the magic specialized in defense.
In the Fairy Tail world, this Dragon Slayer Magic belonged to Mader More, an executive of the dragon-eating guild Diabolos. By consuming dragon flesh, he gained the defensive Armor Dragon Slayer Power, becoming the fifth-generation Dragon Slayer Wizard.
During the Hundred-Year Quest arc, Mader More not only nullified Fairy Queen Erza's slashes with his Armor Dragon Slayer Power but also effortlessly blocked Natsu's Crushing Fist in Flame Dragon King Mode, showcasing the formidable defense of this power.
An impulse surged within Luo Xia—he wanted to fight Kaido again to test whether his current physical defense could withstand Kaido's Thunder Bagua.
Just as Luo Xia was reveling in his joy, a sharp whistling sound suddenly erupted behind him, approaching at breakneck speed.
"Thunder Bagua!!!"
A girl's fierce shout rang out as a black spiked club smashed into the back of Luo Xia's head, the tremendous impact sending him flying and embedding him into the mountainside.
Thud! Thud!
Rocks tumbled down.
Luo Xia stepped out of the crater, rubbing the back of his head—it didn't hurt at all.
Had he taken this hit unprepared before acquiring the Armor Dragon Slayer Power, he would've at least felt a headache. Now, it was nothing more than a tickle.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The girl's stern voice drew Luo Xia's attention.
He looked up, his gaze settling on the ambusher not far away.
The attacker wore a Hannya mask, towering in stature with long, gradient blue-white hair and a pair of crimson demon horns atop her head.
She wore a blue-patterned, loose kimono tied with a purple-and-white shimenawa rope at the waist, a red long skirt, and wooden sandals.
In her hands was a black spiked club, similar to Kaido's Hassaikai—the very weapon that had just "kissed" the back of his head.
With just one glance, Luo Xia recognized the ambusher's identity—Yamato, the Oni's Child, daughter of Kaido of the Beasts.
The infamous unfilial daughter of the pirate world, a starstruck fanatic—and one who idolized an intellectual lightweight like Kozuki Oden.
"That's my line. Why did you ambush me?" Luo Xia countered.
Behind her mask, Yamato's expression was grave. Her instincts told her the man before her was dangerous—far more than she could imagine.
It was precisely because she sensed the terrifying aura emanating from Luo Xia outside her home that she had instinctively struck first, attacking him from behind.
Yet even her full-powered strike had barely left a scratch on him.
"Did the Ox-Headed Gorilla send you to capture me?" After a moment of silence, Yamato spoke again.
"Ox-Headed Gorilla?" Luo Xia was momentarily puzzled before realizing she must be referring to their father, Kaido.
Calling her own father an ox-headed gorilla—what a dutiful daughter. Though admittedly, the description was rather fitting. Luo Xia couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?" Yamato's pretty face beneath the mask scowled.
"Sorry, sorry, just remembered something amusing." Luo Xia waved his hand dismissively before clearing his throat. "Yes, Kaido brought me here."
"I knew it. I'll never surrender willingly," Yamato declared resolutely.
With that, she tightened her grip on her spiked club, Ame no Habakiri, and leaped lightly into the air.
"Haah!"
With a fierce cry, the young woman raised her club high and brought it down mercilessly upon Luo Xia, her supposed pursuer.
Facing Yamato's full assault, Luo Xia remained rooted in place, not bothering to dodge.
Before gaining the Armor Dragon Slayer Power, he would have needed to evade attacks. But now that he had it, dodging would mean this power was wasted.
Not to mention Yamato's flawed Thunder Four Trigrams—even if it were his father Kaido's genuine Thunder Bagua coming at him now, Luo Xia would dare to take it head-on.
Boom!
Yamato's descending Thunder Four Trigrams struck Luo Xia squarely on the forehead.
The shockwave of the powerful impact sent snow flying in all directions, shaking the surrounding mountains.
The ground beneath Luo Xia's feet collapsed three layers deep, creating a crater over ten meters wide, its cracks spreading like a spider's web.
"How...?"
Watching as Luo Xia once again took her ultimate technique with his head, Yamato's pupils trembled in utter disbelief.
With her current strength, there were no more than three people on this island who could withstand this attack unscathed.
Even Jack, who had been promoted to one of the Three Disasters by her father months ago, had been knocked flat by her club, left bleeding from his head.
Yet after two full-powered direct hits, Luo Xia didn't even have a scratch—let alone any bleeding.
What in the world was his head made of?
"Is that all you've got?" Luo Xia rubbed his slightly numb forehead. "Did you skip meals?"
Yamato's face flushed red. After a long pause, she nodded. "Yeah... haven't eaten in days."
As if to prove her point, her stomach chose that moment to let out a long, plaintive growl.
"No wonder you hit like a wet noodle. Wait here." With that, Luo Xia strode off toward the coastline.
Beneath her mask, Yamato's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Reason told her she was no match for Luo Xia—she should take this chance to escape and relocate.
But in the end, curiosity overcame reason. Luo Xia was completely different from anyone Kaido had sent after her before. She decided to follow and see what he was up to.
Before long, Luo Xia and Yamato arrived one after another at the rear coast of Oni Island.
Unlike the calm waters near the main gate, this part of the ocean was like it had taken some stimulants - massive whirlpools everywhere.
But compared to the Storm Sea around Sirius Island, this was still child's play, Luo Xia thought as he plunged headfirst into the swirling waters.
Ten minutes later, amid Yamato's startled cries, Luo Xia emerged from the whirlpool's center with several giant salmon in hand.
Returning ashore, Luo Xia casually uprooted a tree, broke it into sections, then spat out a burst of flame to ignite it.
This scene completely stunned the white-haired girl watching nearby.
Being able to dive freely for fish proved Luo Xia wasn't a Devil Fruit user, but since when could normal humans breathe fire?
While Yamato was still processing this, Luo Xia had already prepared one three-meter-long salmon for roasting over the fire. Just as he was skillfully preparing the second fish—
"Wait... matte kudasai... you can't roast them! Salmon must be eaten whole and raw to be authentic! Sashimi is the only proper way to eat salmon!" Yamato urgently protested.