[You have practiced swimming. Proficiency +1]
[You have practiced swimming. Proficiency +1]
[You have practiced swimming. Proficiency +1]
---
Ignoring the notifications on the panel, Junichi coated his body with chakra, sticking to the ship's hull like a gecko.
Then, using both hands and feet, he climbed up onto the deck.
78 pirates.
The two strongest auras—one's indoors, one's on the deck.
They must be Cobb and Dustin.
He used Observation Haki to sense them. It was like having X-ray vision, precisely locking onto everyone's aura, location, strength, and more aboard the ship. The sensation was so exhilarating, it felt like cheating.
He marveled at the feeling as he quietly drew his blade, while forming hand seals with the other hand.
With Master-level ninjutsu, he could shorten the seal process and even perform them one-handed. More importantl, since reaching Master-level, he'd discovered that the spiritual component of chakra shared fundamental properties with Haki—both were manifestations of will and spirit.
In theory, it should work.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
The moment he completed the hand seals, he used the spiritual half of his chakra, concentrating it into a wavelength that resonated with the consciousness of others.
Whoosh!
In an instant, his spiritual pressure washed over the ship like an invisible tide. The pirates on night duty froze with terror on their faces, their eyes vacant.
All of them were pulled into deep nightmares.
Puh, it's working.
He leapt onto the deck and struck without hesitation, and smoothly cut the throats of one pirate after another, reaping their lives.
Slash, slash, slash…
In just ten seconds, out of the 60 pirates on deck, 57 were dead.
The once thunderous snoring faded into silence, and the scent of blood filled the air.
Three left here. He thought, glancing at Dustin.
Through Observation Haki, he sensed a sudden surge in this man's aura, he had awakened from his sleep.
Clearly, the abrupt change in sound and scent had triggered his senses.
As expected of a pirate with a 78 million bounty, he's pretty alert, Junichi praised inwardly, though he kept a neutral expression.
He had deliberately excluded Cobb and Dustin from the genjutsu. Because it wouldn't have worked.
A sudden nightmare wouldn't trap pirates of their caliber, it would only wake them up.
Unless Junichi had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Genjutsu from the three-tomoe Sharingan should be powerful enough to trap even those aware they were under illusion.
Slash! Slash!
Two swift strikes took out the last two pirates caught in the genjutsu on deck.
Then, he walked toward Dustin.
A tall, lean man, back turned to Junichi, breathing steady. By his side were a spear and shield—he still seemed asleep.
A tall, lean man lay with his back to Junichi, breathing steadily. A spear and shield rested against the wall beside him—to all appearances, he was sound asleep.
Good act. Junichi nodded approvingly, then suddenly threw a kunai.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, Dustin sprang up, grabbing the shield and raising it in front of him.
Clang!
The kunai struck the shield, sparks flying before it bounced away.
At the same time, he had already gripped the spear and thrust it fiercely at Junichi.
"Die!" He roared, eyes filled with murderous intent.
Before becoming a pirate, he had been the captain of a royal guard, his spear-and-shield technique was unrivaled in the kingdom.
After turning pirate, countless battles had only sharpened his skills. His spear attacks were now brutal and ruthless.
Whoosh!
The spear shot forward, aiming directly at Junichi's heart, seemingly trying to pierce it in one strike.
But through Observation Haki, Junichi read Dustin's killing intent as clearly as reading words in his palm.
"Heh." He sidestepped slightly, and the spear pierced nothing but air. And then his slash came crashing down toward Dustin.
"What!?" Dustin narrowed his eyes, he couldn't believe his spear strike was dodged so easily. But he didn't panic. Calmly raising his shield, a smirk formed on his lips.
His shield was forged from a special alloy. Not only was it incredibly durable, it had a rebound effect. Even cannonballs fired head-on would bounce off.
That kid's sword is definitely going to break against this!
He smirked smugly to himself. And with my shout just now, Cobb must've woken up too.
Indeed, Cobb had woken up, Junichi sensed it through Observation Haki as well. But he didn't care.
Whoosh!
His blade came down, his strength focused into a single, razor-sharp strike.
CLANG!!
The massive force slammed into the shield like a charging elephant, sending Dustin staggering backward.
"What!?" He was shocked, this kid was absurdly strong!
At the same time, he frowned in confusion. Why hadn't the sword broken? He instinctively glanced at his shield, and his pupils contracted sharply.
There it was. A deep gash, several centimeters long, had been carved into the alloy surface, it hadn't been cut clean through.
Junichi paused for a moment, examining the shield and confirming it was made from some kind of special material, far stronger than ordinary steel.
"Cutting steel?"
Dustin stared at Junichi in disbelief. "You… you're a damn swordsman!?"
Only someone who had mastered the art of Cutting Steel could leave a mark on this alloy shield.
But this kid, how old was he? Sixteen, at most?
A swordsman… and with the stealth skills to silently eliminate dozens earlier… Is he a Devil Fruit user too? His heart surged with unease. What kind of bastard is this!?
He immediately started backing away, unwilling to take any more direct hits. He planned to wait for Cobb to arrive and fight together.
Unfortunately for him, every intention was already laid bare to Junichi through Observation Haki.
Whoosh!
Almost at the same moment Dustin stepped back, he lunged forward, his ninja blade slashing down again.
This time, an invisible force wrapped around his blade.
"Hmph!" Dustin, unaware of Haki, had no idea this strike was any different. Calmly, he braced himself, shield at the ready.
Even if his enemy could cut steel, the blade still couldn't cut through this shield. So he had nothing to fear. At worst, he'd get knocked back again.
His expression steadied as he faced the blow without panic.
Shhhk!
The blade, now infused with Armament Haki, surged with destructive power. The strike landed and cleaved right through the shield.
It continued straight through Dustin himself, slicing him clean in half.
A crimson line appeared, starting from his left temple and trailing down diagonally across his torso.
"Ah…?" He felt a chill on his head, then his vision split in two.
And then... nothing.
Blood spurted. His body crumpled to the deck. His face was frozen in utter confusion.
Didn't I block that? Why… couldn't I block the second strike?
"Huff…" Junichi exhaled lightly, wrist trembling slightly.
That strike had taken some effort. But the result was worth it. Armament Haki plus Cutting Steel had cleanly sliced through even a reinforced alloy shield.
His attack power was now firmly beyond human.
I think I should ready to face Itachi now.
Suddenly, a sharp tearing sound ripped through the air from behind.
Whoosh!!
Cobb's figure had appeared out of nowhere, launching a sudden strike at Junichi.
"Fucking brat!!" His face was twisted in fury. In his hand, the famed Oni-me turned into a streak of dark red light, slashing at Junichi's neck like lightning.
Junichi lowered his head just in time. The attack narrowly missed. He had sensed Cobb's approach long before.
"You dodged?"
It clearly wasn't what Cobb expected.