https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-Don-t-Stand-in-Front-of-Me-Again/12608079/
Chapter 25: I've Never Known Fear
Chapter 25: I've Never Known Fear
Thanks to his experience from his past life, Sag has always had a plan for his career.
Unfortunately, bad luck had always prevented him from achieving his goals.
Now, as a pirate, he was finally making some headway.
"The Grand Line?" Lily murmured, having heard tales of its fame even while growing up in the royal palace.
"A graveyard for pirates, also known as 'Paradise'. It's a dangerous place, no doubt. Are we truly ready to venture there? Only you, Sag, could possibly handle it."
His strength was unquestionable.
In the past few days, he had single-handedly dealt with pursuing warships, while they had barely been of any help.
However, they couldn't rely on this situation continuing indefinitely. There would be times, like with Ennio, where Sag would be held back.
"Teach me how to become strong, Sag," Lily said firmly. "I want to be as strong as you."
"I would have taught you even without you asking," Sag replied with a smile. "At our current level, we might not stand a chance against a strong opponent in the East Blue, let alone the Grand Line."
He had originally planned to wait a little longer, giving Lily more time to adjust to the pirate life before bringing up this topic, as well as improving the strength of his crew. But since Lily had brought it up first, he had no reason to refuse.
"I'll teach you the Six Powers, but how much you learn depends on you. These techniques require a certain level of physical ability. However, as a swordswoman, you don't need to master them all—it's better to focus on what suits you best."
The Six Powers were definitely useful, but it wasn't necessary to learn them all.
Sag, due to his understanding of their underlying principles, could pick them up just by glancing at them.
But the same might not hold true for others.
In Sag's opinion, only Lily, Akin, and Palu had the aptitude for the Six Powers.
Lily's speed made her a good candidate for Shave and, subsequently, Moon Walk.
Akin, with his excellent physique, could attempt to master all six techniques and develop into an all-rounder.
And Palu was a natural-born master of Iron Body.
"I understand. I'll study hard!" Lily nodded vigorously and left the captain's room.
Sag picked up a bottle of wine, opened it, and poured some into a gem-encrusted wine glass they had recently acquired. But he didn't drink it right away; instead, he stared at his hand.
"Haki."
Compared to the Six Powers, which could be learned, Haki was far more challenging to cultivate.
If they were to venture into the Grand Line, even just the first half, not knowing Haki would spell disaster.
It was only called 'Paradise' by those who had failed in the New World and retreated to the first half.
Moreover, the Marine Headquarters was located there. Surely a major headquarters like that would have Haki users.
Sag would not venture into the Grand Line without mastering Haki.
But this skill was notoriously difficult.
Sag had undergone targeted training, and the North Dipper Fist also had its techniques for 'Chi'. Yet, he still couldn't cultivate Chi, and without Haki, he couldn't use Chi effectively. The two were interconnected.
They were both manifestations of willpower.
In terms of willpower, Sag was undoubtedly strong.
He had never given up on his dreams, despite his streak of bad luck, and he had persevered through countless failed startups.
His motivation and willpower were unwavering.
However, he had not managed to grasp either Armament Haki or Observation Haki.
As for fear and laziness, those emotions that sapped one's spirit...
He stared at the wine glass, and in the lamplight, the liquid reflected his white hair and, within his pupils, a fleeting glint of scarlet that quickly dissolved into the red wine.
Sag drained the glass of wine, then turned his gaze to the ocean outside the window. His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable confidence.
"I've never known fear."
Even at his birth, he had possessed a strong will. From that moment on, he had never known fear, not even in the face of death.
To him, being poor was far scarier than dying, especially when that poverty was accompanied by a streak of bad luck!
Sag poured himself another glass of wine and said to himself, "Old man, the peaceful life you wanted is also my dream. But what can I do? I've tried everything, legal or not. I can't just let myself starve to death."
In the flickering lamplight, Sag's shadow seemed to stretch endlessly as he poured himself another drink, the sound of his pouring wine mingling with the laughter and merriment outside, as if something was being born in that moment.
"It's time to stir up some trouble."
...
With a map in hand, Sag was no longer sailing blindly. Early the next morning, they set a direct course for Natiya and, after a full day of sailing, spotted the island that night.
The Kingdom of Natiya was an island kingdom surrounded by towering cliffs, except for one shallow area that served as its port.
The entire kingdom was like a massive staircase, with villages and towns ascending to the majestic castle at the very top.
Lily lowered her telescope and remarked, "Sag, this seems like a challenging assault."
Despite the darkness, the port was illuminated by lamps, and several cannon turrets were visible, along with the vigilant soldiers guarding the area.
"We'll have to take it, even if it's difficult. I can't let this insult stand," Sag replied, tossing the telescope back to a pirate behind him as he strode to the bow of the ship. "I'll take out the cannons, and then you can move in!"
Charging in with the pirate ship was out of the question; it would be an easy target for the cannons. He could only afford to lose this one ship, with all the Belly and treasures on board.
"Wait, Sag! It looks like another ship is approaching," Lily suddenly interrupted, just as Sag was about to use Moon Walk to fly over. She raised her telescope and looked to the left. "It's the Black Sail Pirates."
"Hmm?" Sag turned his head to see a black-sailed fast ship cutting through the waves, swiftly approaching their location.
Akin tightened his grip on his cane, while the rest of the pirates drew their blades, guns, and swords, their gazes hostile.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" one of the pirates shouted.
But before they could make a move, a voice rang out from the black-sailed ship.
A pirate stood at the ship's bow, yelling, "How dare you disobey orders and go out to plunder! And you've taken a Navy ship?!
As the black-sailed ship drew closer, the pirate confirmed it was indeed a Navy vessel and exclaimed in shock, "You're audacious to sail boldly toward the port! Retreat immediately and take the hidden passage... Wait, who are you people?!"
With the ships now side by side, the pirate at the bow could clearly see the people on the black-sailed Navy ship, and he didn't recognize a single one of them.
"Enemies!"
"Flying Finger Gun!"
Before the pirate could finish shouting, Sag's index finger snapped forward like a bullet, striking the pirate between the eyes. The man's head snapped back, and he crumpled to the deck.
"Moon Walk!"
Sag's foot pressed against the air, and he ascended as if climbing stairs, effortlessly leaping and landing on the bow of the black-sailed ship. From this higher vantage point, he looked down at the startled pirates, their guard momentarily shaken by the attack on their comrade.
The sea breeze ruffled Sag's hair, and he smiled, baring his white teeth in a menacing grin amidst the darkness.
"I've been looking for you guys for quite some time. Finally found your lair, huh?"
"You are..."
"Shave!"
Before the pirates could react, Sag's figure vanished from the ship's bow, turning into a fleeting shadow as he dashed straight through the group of pirates, reaching the stern in an instant.
Whoosh...
The wind ruffled his 'Sword Mountain Cloak,' creating a rustling sound.
"Don't rush me," Sag said, turning back to face the terrified but immobilized pirates. "I'll ask each of you, one by one."
He struck pressure points, a secret technique known as the 'North Dipper Qi Shed Fist.' Usually, striking the shoulder was enough to paralyze an opponent.
But at Sag's level of mastery, the exact spot he struck was irrelevant. The forehead, shoulders, chest, back, and thighs all had similar pressure points that could induce paralysis.
After all, this was just a secret acupressure technique, not a unique skill like the Hundred Rending Fist, so whether it had a name or not didn't matter much.
The black-sailed ship pulled up alongside the sailboat, and Lily leaped onto the deck, her slim sword drawn as she swept the pirates with a cold gaze. "Should we kill them?"
"Not yet. I need them to guide us," Sag replied.
He strode towards the nearest pirate, a smile playing on his lips. His fingers moved swiftly, pressing against the man's face and chest in two quick taps. The pirate's face contorted, his body stiffening and twitching slightly as sweat broke out on his skin. He was clearly enduring intense pain.
"Remember this feeling," Sag said.
He pressed a few more points, and the pirate collapsed, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with terror.
In that brief moment, the pain had felt like his body was being forcibly twisted and torn apart from within by countless knives, yet he couldn't even scream.
"Not bad," Sag commented, nodding. "Now, tell me how to get to your hidden passage."
He had no intention of playing games with these pirates, threatening them with death. He had a better way.
All he needed to do was inflict pain, and this kind of pain wouldn't kill them; they would just have to endure it.
Ordinary pirates wouldn't be able to withstand this, and even if someone had the willpower to endure it...
Sag glanced at the other pirates, frozen in place.
There were others...
(End of Chapter)
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