Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Might of the backbone of Second Treasure Navy
As the fierce blade descended, Adrian swiftly moved half a meter to the left. The explosive speed caught everyone present off guard, and even Gion's eyes showed surprise.
Utilizing the burst technique of Shave, Adrian narrowly avoided the blade's edge. Quickly drawing the finely crafted long sword from his waist, he took advantage of Hog's strained, elderly state and swung the blade directly at the opponent's right hand holding the sword!
The blade cut through, but Hog remained calm.
Clang!
The two blades intersected, emitting a dull resonance.
At the same time, the panel displayed information about the enemy.
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[Based on your level and attributes, you have obtained the following information.]
[Nipposai – Captain Hog] (Infamous)
[Level: LV54]
[Attributes: Strength 123, Agility 105, Endurance ?, Intelligence 16, Charm 3, Luck 9]
[Abilities: [Advanced Proficiency with Long Weapons], ?, ?]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
The level gap is quite significant, and many details are marked with question marks. However, his high intelligence attribute reveals a lot to Adrian.
It's very clear from Hog's previous performance that he belongs to the high-attack, high-defense type, similar to most tall and strong pirates.
The three main combat attributes—Strength, Agility, and Endurance—are all significantly higher, making him unbeatable in direct confrontations.
"But... I've already established an unbeatable position!"
Adrian glanced at the danger level marked as "Moderate," feeling relieved.
"Any enemy who hasn't mastered Haki is just a weakling!" — It was the scorn from the fully leveled-up "Ghost Body."
Hog, taking advantage of Adrian's attention on the panel, moved suddenly closer.
"You little brat, feeling the immense power of yours truly, are you too shocked to gather your senses?"
His battle experience is truly too little. Adrian sighed.
Hog wore a fierce expression as he viciously swung his unknown blade towards Adrian, as if intending to cleave him in two!
Adrian quickly drew his sword to block, gripping the hilt with both hands. He successfully blocked Hog's blade.
The next moment, an unstoppable force transmitted through the sword handle.
Faced with an opponent whose strength exceeded his by 50%, Adrian couldn't entirely withstand the assault. Hog's enormous strength caused his arms to tremble violently, and his feet sank slightly into the floor.
But as long as the difference in strength isn't to the point of being overwhelming, there's still a chance!
Adrian gritted his teeth, holding on for dear life against the onslaught.
One of his weaknesses has been his lack of combat experience. Despite undergoing an extensive two-year special agent training, he had rarely faced the brutal, blood-soaked skirmishes that defined encounters with enemies!
Empowered by the invincible passive ability of his ethereal form, Adrian now stood impervious, free from any concerns. With an unexpected opportunity for experience at his doorstep, he wasn't about to let it slip away!
"Kid, with such weak strength, do you plan on giving me a tickle?"
Hog grinned menacingly, his unfamiliar blade slashing through the air with increased speed. While he might not match the might of the Eight Treasures Navy's Chinjao, he was, nonetheless, a stalwart (loyal, reliable, and hard-working) member of the Second Treasure Navy—a formidable force among the top echelons of the Kano Country's strength pyramid!
Adrian, once again, unleashed the explosive prowess of the advanced level o [Shave]. Swiftly maneuvering within inches, he intermittently countered with well-timed sword strikes!
"Insisting on a fighting with me at close quarters—do you want to die fast?"
Hog couldn't guess where Adrian had gathered the audacity to challenge him in a strength duel, but he remained indifferent to adding another lost soul beneath his blade.
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
The blades collided once more, eliciting scattered sparks.
At this moment, Hog keenly noticed a detail: the power transmitted from the blade was gradually decreasing.
"This little guy seems to have learned some inexplicable burst techniques from somewhere, he moves as agile as a monkey. However, the difference in power is too big."
Watching Adrian, sweating on his forehead with trembling arms, Hog's gaze flickered. His combat thinking was much more formidable than it appeared on the surface!
"Now is the moment!"
Without hesitation, Hog exerted force with both arms and unleashed the inherited secret technique he had prepared for a long time.
"Second Rush · Brave Blade!"
A powerful shockwave in the form of a sword surged from Hog's enormous blade, splitting the air at a rather tricky angle, targeting the opponent's vital points!
"Kid! Your life! I'll take it!"
Adrian, with weak and powerless hands, failed to react. He was slashed across the body by the enormous sword energy, cutting through him at the waist.
Hog felt confident, believing that the outcome was already decided, turned around.
"Ah, I knew it. It was still too forced..."
What?!
Hog's pupils suddenly contracted as he quickly turned around.
At the location where his gaze fell, he saw Adrian, who should have been cut in two by a sword, standing unharmed at the original spot, without a trace of injury!
"How is this possible?!"
Hog was greatly surprised. He was confident in the "Second Rush" that had passed down through generations in the Second Treasured Navy. There were many powerful figures in the West Sea had fallen under his blade because of this inherited secret technique. How could it be possible that it had no effect on a mere kid?
"Nothing is impossible. The battle between swordsmen has already ended." Adrian shook his arm, sheathed his sword, "Now, I'm ready to use my new ability."
"You're... a Devil Fruit user?!" Beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Hog's forehead as a speculation flashed through his mind.
"Guessed right, but no rewards."
Adrian's fingertips slowly produced a mini-ghost, and on the pale face of the little ghost, there was a hint of a dangerous smile.
"Are you ready to meet my little cutie?"
Mini Ghost: Ghost Rap!
The cute white ghost rushed towards Hog at high speed, followed by a violent explosion.
The floor of the tavern, now in a mess, was blown up with a spreading shockwave, and smoke filled the air.
After a moment, Hog's face, resembling a fierce ghost, appeared.
"Cough, little ghost, with this level of explosion, there's no way it can harm me!"
Hog swung his long knife, took a step forward, and was about to launch an attack.
"Is that so? What about now?"
Adrian opened his arms, and around him, faint fluorescent lights appeared. In an instant, they turned into dozens of mini-ghosts, and as time passed, the number of ghosts continued to rise.
Hog's mouth slightly opened, and his pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpricks.
Mini Ghost: Star Fire!
The torrential rain of ghosts surged towards Hog, launching a saturation suicide attack. Spectacular consecutive explosions unfolded thunderously, turning the already devastated "Abundant Hostess" tavern into ruins almost instantly.
The booming explosions continued for several minutes before finally subsiding. Adrian swung his arm and halted the assault.
Seconds later, the smoke dispersed.
Hog stood with his sword, looking miserable. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, and his body was covered in burnt marks, indicating he was seriously injured.
"Hahaha, cough cough! I'm not dead yet, surprising, isn't it?" Hog, in a mad state, laughed bitterly. "And thanks to you, little devil, through this battle, I've reached its threshold! Prepare to meet your end! The power of Haki, the natural enemy of Devil Fruit!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Adrian squinted his eyes. He initially thought Hog didn't possess Haki, but unexpectedly, his attacks inadvertently helped him unlock the key to using Armament Haki.
"Now—" Hog roared loudly, about to unleash his newly acquired Armament Haki.
Adrian interrupted, "Let's end this battle here!"
A new type of ghost flew out from Adrian's fingertips. It resembled the White Ghost and Clear Sky Doll, but its beige body flickered like a candle in the wind, ethereal and elusive.
Hog exclaimed madly, "A mere ghost bomb can't hurt me anymore!"
"Don't speak arrogantly!"
The translucent ghost automatically found its target and swiftly flew towards Hog's chest.
Hog swung his sword to block, thinking he could preemptively resist the ghost bomb. However, to his surprise, this new type of ghost completely ignored the physical barrier in front of it, penetrating his unfamiliar sword and entering his chest.
"Farewell, Backbone of Second Treasured Navy of the Happo Army."
Adrian clenched his right fist, and the ghost bomb that had already entered Hog's body exploded, shattering his heart into pieces!
Mini Ghost: Withering Heart Attack!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone