Entering the foreboding Garbage Mountain forest, Daru immediately unslung the rifle from his back, his grip tightening around the weapon. His hawk-like eyes meticulously scanned the surroundings, unwilling to let his guard down for even a second.
At the same time, he fully activated his Observation Haki, searching for any signs of danger or enemies. This duel in the rain-drenched woods was a test of both Observation Haki and sniping prowess.
However, a look of surprise suddenly crossed Daru's face. Logically, Andy, who had entered the forest first, should have used the opportunity to find a hiding spot, secure the best vantage point, or lay traps. After all, the rules of this life-or-death duel were simple: the first person to defeat their opponent would be the victor. The one who went in first had a clear advantage.
But Andy didn't use this favorable position to his benefit. He seemed completely unconcerned with strategy, openly exposing himself. This strange behavior instantly put Daru on high alert.
Daru had initially underestimated this young opponent, but now, faced with Andy's unexpected actions, he no longer dared to take him lightly. This seemingly naive young man clearly possessed extraordinary courage and spirit.
Just as Daru was cautiously making his way along a winding forest path, he found Andy standing in the middle of the road, getting soaked by the rain. Andy's 2.36-meter tall body stood like an unmoving mountain.
The rain beat down on his broad shoulders, yet he remained motionless, his hands empty, holding no weapon. Even more astonishingly, Andy's eyes were exceptionally calm, like the still waters of an autumn pond. From a distance, he seemed to have merged perfectly with the surrounding forest, becoming a natural part of the scenery.
"Where's your gun?" Daru's sharp, cold eyes, like a hawk's, bore into Andy. He gritted his teeth, his tone carrying a hint of uncontrollable anger. They were in the middle of a life-or-death gunfight, and Andy was arrogant enough not to even carry a weapon. For Daru, a proud marksman, this was a great insult!
Facing Daru's hostile glare, Andy's expression remained unchanged. He stood quietly, returning Daru's gaze with equally cold eyes. "I want to change the rules. Neither of us can take a step, and we both shoot at the same time," he said calmly. "Daru, are you ready to die?"
Before he had finished speaking, a shocking sight occurred—a pitch-black sniper rifle, radiating a chilling aura, suddenly appeared in Andy's previously empty right hand! Daru's heart skipped a beat as he instantly remembered Andy's wanted poster, which clearly stated that Andy was likely a rare Space-Type Devil Fruit user. Daru didn't hesitate, quickly tightening his grip on his own sniper rifle, his finger resting on the trigger, ready to fire at any moment.
Andy saw Daru's reaction and knew he had accepted the challenge. The two men stood nearly a hundred meters apart, but neither broke the silence. The world seemed to be wrapped in a thick curtain of rain, and the drumming of raindrops became the only sound.
The fine, hair-like rain fell from the gloomy sky, like countless silver threads woven into a huge curtain. The water hammered the ground, splashing up tiny droplets and soaking the earth. Rainwater gathered into streams, winding along the road and forming muddy trails.
Despite the heavy rain, it didn't affect Daru and Andy's keen senses in the slightest. They were like leopards hidden in the darkness, completely focused on locating each other.
Through the hazy rain, they could still clearly feel the strong killing intent radiating from the other, an invisible pressure as heavy as Mount Tai. The thrilling sniper duel had entered its most critical moment. Both knew that a single misstep would lead to death.
They held their cold, deadly rifles, their fingers resting lightly on the triggers, waiting for the perfect moment. Every breath, every subtle movement was cautious, lest they give their opponent an advantage.
Then, at this crucial juncture, the sniper rifles in both their hands trembled slightly, as if touched by some mysterious force. Immediately, two piercing gunshots rang out.
In an instant, the world seemed to fall into an eerie silence, and time itself seemed to stop. But this brief calm lasted only a fleeting moment. The sound was like thunder tearing through the sky, and the bullets, spinning at high speed, ripped through the air with a fierce whistling sound.
They hurtled toward each other with astonishing speed, as if to devour everything in their path. Raindrops scattered by the rapidly advancing bullets bloomed into crystal-clear splashes in the air. Two silver streaks flickered in the rain, like lightning across the night sky, illuminating this death-filled battlefield.
"Pfft!"
Finally, a bullet successfully penetrated flesh, making a chilling sound. But strangely, it only happened once. On the path through the dense forest, Andy and Daru stood still. Andy held his sniper rifle with both hands, his head turned to the left, the muzzle still carrying the scent of gunpowder.
Across from him, Daru also held his sniper rifle, his head was not tilted, but blood slowly seeped from his chest. The bright red liquid mixed with his soaked clothes, quickly turning his chest a bloody red.
"Why...?" Daru gasped.
"Because your habit has always been to aim for the head, while I aim for the heart. An attack on the head is easily detected and dodged with Observation Haki, but dodging one aimed at the heart is much harder."
"So... that's it. You... are indeed calmer. This gun of mine... is yours..." Daru whispered, his voice fading.
[Ding!][Bounty Points + 29,000,000!][Drop: Sniping Skill!]
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