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[Naruto: Monthly Passive]
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On the pockmarked beach, Zyhark stood barehanded, facing Higuma who held a long sword.
Over the year he lived in Windmill Village, Zyhark had learned the basics of hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship skills.
Training in the woods with Aqua against fierce and violent beasts, his Haki had begun to take shape.
Thus, the aura he emitted in his serious state was no longer that of the gentle and refined demeanor of a restaurant owner, but was filled with a strong sense of oppression.
By contrast, Higuma, with cold sweat on his forehead, appeared much more tense.
Even though he couldn't accept that Zyhark, whom he remembered as weak, possessed the strength to fight him, the feeling of his sword hitting Zyhark was all too real.
One thing was certain: Zyhark's physical toughness was astonishing, as hard as stone!
"Higuma, bro, didn't you say you were going to chop off my head?"
"If you're not coming at me, then I won't be polite."
Zyhark diverted his gaze from an out-of-breath Aqua. Ideally, he had wanted Aqua to apply a few enhancement buffs on him for safety.
But the Sacred Create Water spell she had cast, with its surprising power, seemed to have drained a lot of her strength.
To avoid the trouble of Aqua completely collapsing, he dismissed the idea of reinforcement.
Let's consider it...
Using Higuma to train his Armament Haki!
Hum!
A faint sound came from between Zyhark's arms, where a light layer of black and gray could faintly be seen.
His Armament Haki was at its most basic and unstable stage, not yet capable of forming an invisible armor for full coverage.
Even so, with his defense enhanced, he was more than capable of withstanding slashes from a Haki-less character like Higuma!
"Just an insect I can crush at any time, stop being so full of yourself!"
Higuma's face turned extremely sour as he roared and took off the brown coat he was wearing, then with a sudden burst of strength from his legs, he lunged forward, leaving a straight cut in the sand as he rushed at Zyhark. He leaped high, swinging the sword down towards Zyhark's head.
Zyhark, prepared for this, dodged at the last possible moment, avoiding the sharp tip of the blade.
Higuma, rich in combat experience, immediately rotated the handle of his sword, changing his attack from a chop to a sweep aimed at Zyhark's right shoulder.
Zyhark, eyeing the incoming attack, lifted his right arm covered in Armament Haki to block.
Clang!
A clear sound of metal collision rang out as the sharp blade barely penetrated the skin, causing negligible damage.
"HAHAHA! To think you'd fall for the same move twice, truly an amateur!"
Higuma was not surprised; in fact, he hadn't used his full strength with that attack.
Almost simultaneously as his blade was blocked, his clenched fist was already charged, mercilessly aiming for Zyhark's throat.
The throat is one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body, even if arms and chests can withstand heavy punches and slashes, the fragile throat is a different matter!
It must be said, Higuma, with a bounty close to ten million, did have some tricks up his sleeve (though not many), and was sufficiently cunning.
Had Zyhark just finished enhancing his body, he might indeed have suffered under that strike.
But unfortunately for Higuma, he was facing the enhanced version of Zyhark after rigorous training!
Just as Higuma's smirk began to form, thinking he had succeeded.
Suddenly, as if he had seen something horrifying, his pupils dilated.
Zyhark, who raised his hand to block, merely tilted his head slightly, casually dodging the powerful punch!
The punch, brushing past Zyhark's fluttering black hair and hitting the air, for a moment, Higuma seemed to see a flash of red light in Zyhark's calm eyes.
Having never ventured to the sea, he naturally didn't know that was the ability to predict movements through the aura of an opponent...
Observation Haki!
At this moment, Higuma, caught in shock and full of openings, was not going to be let off easily by Zyhark, who wasted no time.
After forcefully repelling the sword strike on his right arm, Zyhark clenched his fists and launched a barrage of rhythmic punches at Higuma's abdomen, chest, and face, a frenzied assault without rhythm!
Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang!
The continuous rapid strikes, like a storm, landed on Higuma.
Losing the initiative, he had no chance to fight back and stood there like a punching bag taking hits.
The intense pain, unfamiliar to Higuma for a long time, made him emit muffled roars, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, continuously expanding.
In the final phase of the assault, Zyhark forcefully stepped on the ground, leaped up, and delivered a stylish flying kick to the bloodied chest of Higuma, sending him flying and crashing into a rock exposed on the beach!
Pfft!
Higuma, impacted in the waist, spat out a mouthful of blood, his hair disheveled and appearance wretched.
Barely standing up, he leaned against the rock, gasping for breath heavily.
'Without Aqua's attribute enhancement, relying purely on my physical strength, it seems difficult to inflict fatal damage...'
Zyhark, observing Higuma still having the strength to stand, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
His current flaw was too obvious.
His body's defense was strong, but his speed and strength were too ordinary, merely above the level of an average villager.
If placed in a team competitive game, he would be the tank absorbing damage, not suited for dealing damage.
This was his own summary and judgment of the battle, but to others, it appeared as a different scene.
"Wow! So, so strong!"
"Zyhark, are you also a pirate? You're really amazing!"
Luffy, pulling his head out of the sand, was dazzled by Zyhark's storm-like rapid and dense attack just now.
Higuma was an existence Luffy found difficult to overcome, yet now, such a figure was completely overwhelmed by Zyhark!
He had to learn that storm-like chaotic attack someday!
Boys have always been helpless against the strong, and after this battle, Zyhark's image in little Luffy's mind suddenly leaped from a skilled cook to a formidable pirate!
As for why a pirate...
Well, who knows.
"Not bad for the leader of this world's Axis Church, barely didn't disappoint this goddess."
On the other hand, Aqua also nodded quite satisfied, affirming Zyhark's performance.
Listening to these two geniuses arbitrarily labeling him with "pirate" and "follower," Zyhark nearly went dark in front of his eyes, almost unable to resist running over to give each of them a big hug.
So it turns out he did the fighting, but they took all the credit!
While Aqua and Luffy were chatting away, unnoticed by everyone present, a figure in a black cloak stood calmly against a house wall facing the sea, quietly watching the battlefield on the beach, his thoughts unknown.
The simple straw hat shielded him from the harsh sunlight but couldn't hide that head of...
Red hair fluttering freely in the sea breeze!
(End of Chapter)