"What are they doing?"
Sanji leaned against his small boat, took a deep drag from his cigarette, and blew out a smoke ring.
After leaving the Baratie, he had been searching everywhere for strong animals. Finally, he heard that there might be a Sea King nearby.
Because Marine Headquarters paid so much attention to the East Blue, there were very few pirates, let alone Sea Kings. Otherwise, Sanji wouldn't have had such trouble finding nutritious food.
So, after hearing about a Sea King nearby, he rushed over. He heard that the Marines were already preparing to capture it, and he'd probably miss it if he was too late.
However, after arriving in the area, he hadn't seen the Sea King yet. Instead, he saw a monster.
Although it was swimming in the sea, it wasn't a fish, just a giant tentacle.
It sounded strange, but from Sanji's perspective as a chef, it should have been a squid's tentacle, of course...
It only looked like it.
After all, a squid's tentacle wouldn't split off from its body and move so quickly, nor would it have a pair of golden eyes in the center of the tentacle.
There were even characters carved into these eyes. The left one said 'Upper Rank,' and the right one said 'Two.'
And this strange tentacle-like monster was a whopping three to four hundred meters long. This was likely only a part of it, making one wonder what kind of monster it had detached from.
Sanji skillfully dodged the entanglement of innumerable smaller tentacles extending from the main tentacle. He rubbed his chin and said, "I suddenly remember, when I was a kid, I read stories about the Kraken, the monster of the Northern Sea. Legend says that one of its tentacles was thousands of meters long. Could you have split off from it?"
As if to verify Sanji's guess, the tentacle went wild when he mentioned the Kraken, and it spoke with an unknown organ, words that seemed to freeze the air.
"Damn human, the Kraken will devour you all!"
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "It really is related to the Kraken..."
The Kraken was a terrifying monster that appeared in the New World decades ago, and one of the most widespread legends. It was said that a mere slap of its tentacle could sink an island. Back then, two Admirals were dispatched from Marine Headquarters to subdue it.
As a member of the Vinsmoke family, Sanji knew more of the inside story. Back then, it wasn't just two Admirals who dealt with the Kraken. The legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki, who was at his peak power, the current Seven Warlord Toguro, and the strongest pirate in history, Roger, were the ones who defeated this monster.
Though...
There were internal conflicts among them.
But the fact that such a stellar lineup was mobilized was enough to show how terrifying that monster was.
Furthermore, the Kraken wasn't actually dead. Although its body was shattered, a core part of it drifted to the North Sea and, somehow, gradually recovered.
It wasn't as huge as before, but the resurrected Kraken was still a behemoth, considered a colossal monster even among Sea Kings.
Later, people who frequently saw the Kraken in the North Sea gradually created the legend of the monster of the North Sea.
In the North Sea, there were two very famous comic series. One was 'Sky Warrior Sora,' and the other was 'Monster of the North Sea.' The former told the adventure and fighting story of a sky warrior opposing the evil Germa 66, while the latter told the tragic tale of warrior after warrior challenging the Kraken and never returning.
In the North Sea, these were basically two household legends.
This was why Sanji could discern in the dark that the Upper Rank Two before him might be related to the Kraken.
Sanji thought, "What a coincidence. The two great legends of the North Sea, one from Germa 66, and the one before me from the monster of the North Sea. It's more coincidental than a story."
"A Kraken's tentacle..." Sanji kicked the Kraken's tentacle but caused no damage. He felt its power, his eyes glowing slightly.
"A powerful creature like you must be incredibly nutritious!"
"I've decided! You're my dinner tonight!"
Sanji was wrapped by the tentacle's suckers and pulled into the sea, but his legs acted like scissors, cutting through the tentacle. However, the moment it was cut, it grew back.
And the blood sprayed when it was cut... was blue?!
Caught off guard, Sanji was enveloped by the mist of blood. Before he could struggle free, the surroundings turned into ice crystals, and his body was frozen solid.
Upper Rank Two · Kraken's Tentacle. This was a demon created by Kibutsuji Muzan using a tentacle separated from the Kraken. It was enormous, and its Blood Demon Art allowed it to emit intense cold from its body. Its breath and blood could turn into a sub-zero temperature of -100 degrees Celsius, capable of freezing a person instantly.
The Kraken indeed hadn't died. After being defeated by Roger and the others, although its body was in several pieces, it managed to retain some life because of the influence of the Shikon Jewel fragments within it.
A part of its body drifted to the North Sea, where Genichi kept it with Little Demon Dragon and Sakaki. Even though it was just a single tentacle, after being reanimated by Kibutsuji Muzan's blood, it possessed immense power.
At this moment, it received Muzan's summon. After freezing Sanji, it didn't kill him immediately. Instead, it wrapped him in its tentacles and dragged him all the way to the village of West Rob.
Meanwhile, at the edge of this village, Usopp was also facing a demon.
Upper Rank Three · Arlong!
"Don't go any further!"
Usopp shot out a multitude of arrows, but Arlong's body manifested countless scales. These scales were extremely hard, and Usopp's Spirit-Guided Arrows, which could pierce steel, couldn't penetrate them.
Arlong tilted his head. "You're that human brat who's been messing with my master's affairs. Just as I thought, you're useless."
"Before I deal with those two ignorant humans for my master, I'll take care of you first."
Arlong flexed his arms, and the seawater behind him surged violently, instantly transforming into a colossal 'spear.'
"My arrows are much stronger than yours."
Arlong's Blood Demon Art was the manipulation and compression of seawater. He could even transform some substances into water. Combined with Fish-Man Karate, he was practically unstoppable.
However, the water he transformed wasn't seawater, so it had no effect on Devil Fruit users. Otherwise, he would be even more powerful.
Usopp was shocked. Seeing the spear flying towards him, he quickly performed a "Falling Crane Kick" to dodge. The moment his figure disappeared from his spot, the spear shot past.
The spear, compressed from seawater, was incredibly powerful. It was like a missile. After passing through where Usopp had been, it slammed into a distant house.
The house didn't last even a second before a massive hole was pierced through it by the spear, and then it collapsed with a roar.
Usopp stared, dumbfounded by the spear's immense power. He was more shocked not just by its power, but by...
that the fishman could so easily create so many powerful spears like that?!
Arlong let out a ferocious grin. He pointed one hand at Usopp, and behind him were not just the previous spear, but more than ten, even more than twenty!
This is bad, I can't fight him by the sea!
Usopp knew Arlong's ability meant he absolutely couldn't fight him at the source of his power. He could control seawater, and with the ocean at his back, he practically had inexhaustible strength.
So...
"Run!"
Usopp ran towards the depths of the town, but he tried to choose paths with fewer houses. After all, these houses were everyone's property. Although they had been scared away by Usopp's words, they would eventually return.
"You're quite smart, but do humans think they can outrun me?" Arlong charged forward with a roar, followed by those twenty-odd spears. He casually picked one up, aimed at the sprinting Usopp, and threw it with all his might.
Usopp acted as if he had eyes on his back. The moment the water spear was about to pierce him, he stomped on the spirit energy again and used his Falling Crane Kick to escape. The water spear plunged deeply into the ground, sending a chill down Usopp's spine.
No! I can't outrun this guy!
Usopp watched as the distance between them narrowed. He knew that unless he continuously used moves like the Falling Crane Kick, he would be caught by the fishman soon.
But continuously using the Falling Crane Kick was also very exhausting. Usopp had fought many times over the years, but his battles weren't frequent, so his body wasn't particularly strong.
"Rain of Light!"
He suddenly turned around, and the next moment, a torrent of spirit energy arrows poured down like rain!
"Did you think your movements could escape me?!"
The instant he turned, Arlong threw another spear. The water spear, highly compressed and condensed from seawater, shot through the dense curtain of spirit energy arrows, creating a hole. Although it lost some power from the spirit energy arrows, the spear still had the power to pierce Usopp!
The water spear pierced Usopp's right shoulder, and its immense power dragged Usopp's body, sending him flying afar.
"It seems precision is still lacking. I was aiming for the head," Arlong sneered, watching the scene. Even before becoming a demon, killing a human was nothing, let alone now that he was a demon.
However, with his shoulder pierced by his own spear, even if he doesn't die, he probably wouldn't be able to move for a while.
I'll complete my master's orders first before confirming his demise.
Arlong took a step towards the town.
........
"As a human, you are commendable."
Meanwhile, at the destination of the other two Upper Ranks, the most powerful Upper Rank One commented on his opponent. "At such a young age, you were able to injure me."
A sword mark appeared on his shoulder, still bleeding.
Kokushibo looked at the swordsman before him and calmly commented.
There was a wound on his shoulder, but his opponent was in a more miserable state.
Zoro's body was now covered in tiny wounds, each bleeding. He breathed heavily. "I don't think injuring you is something to be proud of."
"Yes, injuring me is not something to be proud of," Kokushibo said coldly. The next moment, the wound on his right shoulder healed. "See? This is the body of a demon. No matter the injury, I can recover."
"You injuring me is not something to be proud of, because you have no possibility of even injuring me."
"My immortality means I don't need to worry about anything when I swing my sword, while human swordsmen still have to think about defense while attacking. That's the difference between us. You can never win against me."
"Such chatter..." Zoro gripped his two swords and slashed forward again. "A swordsman without scars cannot be called strong!"
Even his master, Himura Kenshin, had two sword scars on his face!
Kokushibo swung his sword horizontally. He had been fighting Zoro for some time now and had fully understood his swordsmanship. "I told you, if you don't draw your third sword, you will die!"
A layer of dark power was attached to Zoro's black blade. This power was indeed strong, but it couldn't harm Kokushibo's body. The previous time he had damaged Kokushibo's right shoulder, he had used an ordinary sword.
The third sword...
Zoro subconsciously glanced at the third sword at his waist. It was also a sword gifted to him by his master, but he had never understood why his master gave him such a sword.
Although he frequently practiced his Three-Sword Style, he had never used that third sword in actual combat.
Because he knew that sword was not a sword for killing.
The third sword was a sword that could not kill, a "Reverse Blade Sword." How could such a sword be used in a life-or-death battle?
However, at this moment, facing Kokushibo, he truly felt the threat of death! He was no match for this guy!
Because this person was an unkillable monster!
He could cut steel, but he couldn't cut demons!
How could wielding the peerless sword "Dark Moon" not be enough to deal with Kokushibo? How could he possibly change the tide of battle with a reverse blade sword?
"Fierce Transformation - New Moon of Tenman!"
Kokushibo grunted again. His "Myriad Moon - Evening Shrine" slashed forward, instantly transforming into a stack of Uzumaki. A large number of crescent moon-shaped Uzumaki!
Gaps! Gaps!
Zoro predicted Kokushibo's attack by reading his moves. He knew that even within the crescent moon Uzumaki that almost covered the entire space, there must be gaps!
Find the gap, and then...
He looked at the crescent moon Uzumaki flowing like water and suddenly remembered something Kenshin had once said!
----
You can read 30 chapters ahead on patre on
patr eon.com/JYouyi