NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Ashborn
Hector surveyed the open sea, his love for it boundless. It was a source of life and adventure, something he could never forsake. To him, the sea was a canvas of beauty, brimming with potential, all unfolding on its vast expanse. These were Hector's reflections as he idled, awaiting time's passage.
The skirmish with The Black Cats Pirates was brief, almost laughable. Kaya had single-handedly defeated them, pirates they had encountered before, with some having previously eluded them. Jango attempted his usual hypnotist ploy, to no avail. Kaya had simply disregarded him, her bullets riddling his body with holes.
Legends are forged in such moments, and Hector was intent on etching his name among the sea's renowned pirates. However, his tranquility was shattered when his Observation Haki alerted him to impending danger. Peering through his spyglass, he spotted six Marine warships approaching.
Aware that the era's standard cannons had a range of only 3218 meters, in contrast to his artillery's 22.53-kilometer reach, he commanded Pearl to unleash a barrage from one side. Despite his High Explosive shells striking true, the warships' resilient construction withstood the onslaught better than expected. After the initial volley, he ceased firing at all vessels, opting instead to concentrate his bombardment on one at a time.
His strategy was sound, yet the sheer number of ships was overwhelming. After sinking three, the remaining trio had closed into firing range. Unwilling to risk the Black Pearl, he ordered a swift retreat, leveraging her unmatched speed to ensure their escape.
Summoning his two dozen Shadow Sea Kings, he launched an attack on the three remaining ships. As they neared the warships, he expected them to wreak havoc, but instead, they were swiftly destroyed.
Utilizing Shadow Exchange, he used his shadow as a portal to instantly board the warship. There, wielding Yubashiri infused with his S+ Rank Conqueror's Haki, he cleaved one ship in half and deployed his entire shadow army against the Marines.
His strategy seemed sound, yet within minutes, he was losing more shadow soldiers than anticipated. He couldn't keep track of the number of times he used appraisal. The Marines numbered 3,000, with the weakest at C Rank and the strongest being three A Rank Rear Admirals: Kadar, Yukimura, and Bluff.
Opting to save the strongest for last, he aimed to swiftly reduce their numbers. Hector advanced, his swords an extension of himself as he wielded Yubashiri. With swift strikes, he expertly dispatched any foes in his path, embodying the essence of a relentless warrior.
Two adversaries attempted a coordinated attack, but their practiced maneuver resulted in their demise. Hector dispatched them without a second thought.
In silence, he assumed his stance. Time seemed to decelerate as Hector's focus intensified, the sensation almost tangible beside him, and he executed a precise horizontal energy slash. The release of the slash took many by surprise, cleaving those who attempted to defend against it. The aftermath of the attack left numerous casualties, and Hector felt a profound exhaustion, as if the very essence of his being had fueled the strike.
'I suppose I did.'
Hector mused internally, continuing his onslaught with Yubashiri. A Marine, dazed from blood loss yet alive, rose to his feet. Hector, in a bout of irritation, swiftly ended his resistance, imparting a brutal lesson. With a somber drive, he lunged, Yubashiri slicing through a Marine's throat. The figure collapsed, granting Hector a moment to recuperate from the fierce but brief skirmish.
As additional Marines entered his vicinity, Hector moved with such speed that he was instantly behind them, his blade poised. The seasoned Marines paused momentarily before succumbing to their wounds, their lifeblood painting a grim yet strangely aesthetic tableau.
After thirty minutes, he had decimated nearly all of them, depleting his mana to below 100 points, which he couldn't regenerate as it was sustaining his Shadow Army. At this moment, he made a critical error by lowering his guard, resulting in a harpoon from Yukimura piercing his back.
As he attempted to remove the harpoon and activate his regenerative ability, he was pressed for time by Rear Admirals Kadar and Bluff joining the fray. Facing only one would have been manageable, but being trapped between three Rear Admirals, each with combat stats ranging from B to A Rank, was overwhelming.
The silhouettes of the three adversaries flickered; Hector could only deflect and land a few solid hits using his Observation Haki, which amplified his senses, allowing him to match their speed.
In a confrontation with their 400-300 combat stats, further augmented by Armament Haki, Hector responded with his own Conqueror's Infusion. Periodically, they thrust another harpoon into him, even as he dealt a damaging blow to one of them.
With less than 800 Health Points remaining, his survival hinged solely on his passive ability, Tenacity. This ability ensured that if his health fell below 30% during battle, any subsequent damage would be halved, keeping him alive. Now resembling a porcupine, he understood the purpose behind the relentless harpooning. The harpoons, crafted from sea stone, disrupted his Mana Points, preventing the regeneration of his Shadow Soldiers and their return to his shadow.
"This is the pinnacle of power in this world, kid. There are those who can erase entire nations in a moment or cleave islands in two. This is the reality of combat at our level. You're too young to wield such strength. I'm sorry, but you must die."
These words from Rear Admiral Yukimura marked the continuation of their fierce battle.
The fight persisted until Hector suddenly forced Rear Admiral Bluff into the wreckage of a destroyed ship, while he himself remained stationary on a drifting wooden plank. Bluff, rising from the rubble, lost his left dominant arm. Yet, instead of exhibiting pain or panic, Bluff offered Hector a smile, akin to a cat that had caught the canary.
"Pain Back, Pay!"
Those three words, caused Hector to open wounds all over his body and bleed profusely, losing his remaining 800 Health Points in constant flow. Reaching 50 Health Points he couldn't keep himself up anymore and dropped to the floor. On the floor half dead, he could barely see them put their swords away and hear how they were bantering about how they dealt with him.
"The brat was a monster... a real monster. Thank God we've dealt with him before he grew up more."
Rear Admiral Bluff said fearing what Hector would have become.
Health Points: 45
Health Points: 44
Health Points: 43
Health Points: 42
Health Points: 41
Health Points: 40
Health Points: 39
...
Health Points: 29
Health Points: 28
Health Points: 27
[Host is near Death!]
[Does Host which to survive, by rolling a Curse] [y/n]
"Yes..."
Rolling...
Rolling...
Rolling...
[Curse of lust, gained]
You will crave the Bodies of Females, Power, and Battle.
[Warning! Three high-tier Curses have been detected on Host]
[Host must now routinely feed his Curses]
[If a Curse isn't properly fed, they will take over the body entering a start state and feed themselves]
[The longer a Curse isn't fed, the greater its hunger will become]
[Reward Ultra rare - Violet tier item Monarch Template Ashborn]
Monarch Template Ashborn:
Merge with Ashborn the King of the Dead and the Monarch of Shadows. New Skills Gain.
-Immeasurable Strength:
You possess a tremendous amount of physical strength that is far superior to that of nearly all other beings in existence. + 1,000 Strength
-Immeasurable Speed:
You are unfathomably fast and can move at speeds so great that most opponents are unable to track your movements. + 1,000 Dexterity
-Immeasurable Mana:
You have an abysmal pool of magic that is far superior to that of nearly all other magic beings in existence. + 1,000 Attunement
-Indomitable Will:
You have an extraordinary level of willpower, and would never quit fighting no matter how high the odds were stacked against him. Conquers Haki and all branches have become EX-Rank. +500 to all other Stats.
-Accelerated Development:
You gained a most astonishing ability in your explosive growth rate, a power unlike any other in the world. X20 experience gain. Not only do you grow stronger with every battle, but you also receive a massive boost in strength with each victory that you achieve. +5 to each stat during every level up.
-Combat Mastery:
You are a master of melee-based combat and your fighting skills are so refined that you can hold your own against enemies with far more combat experience than he does with little trouble. X20 Growth rate of all combat skills
"Arise!"
RACE: Human■■■■■■
NAME: Hector Barbossa■■■■■■
Level: 25
Health Points: 25,800
Mana Points: 24,320
Stamina Points: 12,900
Attunement: 1,216
Vitality: 645
Endurance: 645
Strength: 1,145
Dexterity: 1,250
Perception: 645
Skill: 645
Safe Rewards From Daily Quest:
+Stat Points: 20
+Skill Points: 4
Skill Tree:
+Haki:
-Observation Haki: A Rank
-Armament Haki: A Rank
-Conquers Haki: EX Rank
+Rokushiki
-Moon Step: A- Rank
-Iron Body: A Rank
-Tempest Kick: A+ Rank
-Shave: A+ Rank
-Finger Pistol: A Rank
-Kami-e: A- Rank