https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-255-The-Difference-Between-Combat-and-Destruction/12612526/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-257-Who-Do-You-Think-You-Are-6k-words-/12612528/
Chapter 256: The Steel Melting Fruit
Chapter 256: The Steel Melting Fruit
In another cave...
Lily led the Demon Clan to the third level, and unlike Mary, who had entered the wrong mine, her luck held strong. She found herself in a spacious area where the overhead rocks hung low, restricting the space to just over four meters in height. The ground was littered with iron-ore stones, and it was scattered with discarded steel.
Amidst this steel was a building emitting a white light.
"Is this the place?"
Lily's eyes flashed with red dots, and with her sensory perception, she could sense the presence of people within the structure. Just as she was about to take a step forward, her pupils suddenly contracted.
Swish!
The sword at her waist was drawn instantly, sending forth a black glow as it slashed towards the side.
Sizzle!
A scorching aura rushed towards her, split in two by the domineering sword blade, falling to either side of Lily and turning into two pools of crimson liquid.
Lava?
No, there were also metal remnants.
"It's molten iron!"
Lily's eyes narrowed sharply as she stared at the side, where a burly figure was slowly emerging.
"A fine block, indeed. Ordinary swords can't withstand such high temperatures, and your swordsmanship is impressive. No wonder they call you the 'Sword Princess'."
The figure stood over three meters tall, with an exceptionally robust upper body and surprisingly slender legs—clearly someone who focused on their fists rather than their feet. At the moment, his arms were a scorching red, radiating heat and even reflecting a metallic luster.
"Fall back."
Lily narrowed her eyes slightly, signaling for the Demon Clan members behind her to retreat while also tightening her grip on the sword's hilt.
This guy won't be easy to deal with.
"My name is Kappa," the burly man stated, halting his steps. "I'm the security officer of the Columbus Company. Your retreat is warranted, and so is your fear of me. For my ability... it rivals that of the current Admiral Akainu of the Marines!"
As he spoke, he bent down and picked up a piece of steel. Under the grasp of his scorching hand, the steel became tainted with crimson, gradually turning into a lava-like liquid.
"I have eaten the 'Steel Melting Fruit,' and I am a Melter who can emit high temperatures to melt steel, and my body can also transform into scorching hot steel."
Kappa brought his arm back, making a throwing gesture. "And this molten iron isn't far off from lava in its destructive power!"
Swoosh!
The molten iron was hurled forward with great speed, and Lily was startled. Her body immediately turned into an afterimage as she dodged the attack.
The molten iron struck the ground, causing that section to bulge and crack. The molten iron settled within, emitting extremely high heat.
"Void Slash!"
Lily quickly moved to Kappa's side, her sword blade drawing a beautiful arc as it sliced towards Kappa's neck.
The speed of the sword blade was so fast that Kappa couldn't react at all. By the time he sensed it, the sword glow was already in front of his neck, just a hair's breadth away from cutting off his head. But in that instant, the scorching red on his arms seemed to infect the rest of his body, swiftly spreading across his entire form.
Whoosh!
In that very moment, as Lily was about to slice Kappa's neck, a look of astonishment flashed in her eyes, and she abruptly altered the direction of her sword. With a push off her foot, she used the Moon Step to dodge away, turning in the air and swinging her sword in a graceful arc, resembling a bird in flight.
Boom!
The slash struck Kappa's face, causing his head to jerk back slightly. When he lifted his head again, aside from a wisp of smoke rising from his face, there seemed to be no damage at all.
"Flying Slash! As a Sword Master, your slashes are indeed fierce and relentless. I can tell you are capable of cutting through iron with those moves."
Kappa spoke in a deep voice, "Well done, Sword Master. Your senses are indeed keen, and if you had continued that attack, you might have injured me. However, as soon as your blade came close, I knew it would be melted. Your decision to change direction was the right one!"
"I didn't ask you," Lily replied coldly as she stood her ground.
"But what I say is true," Kappa continued. "In that moment, your keen senses detected the danger, and you wisely chose to divert your blade away from me.
However, your Flying Slash is not yet at the level where it can cut through steel."
"Whether you ask or not, I will tell you anyway. I love to talk, but unlike Garus, who enjoys toying with people's emotions and playing mind games, I talk because I am strong and confident."
"The ability I possess is quite common among those who sail the seas. But what sets me apart is not just the temperature of my Steel Melting, but the fact that my ability is an advanced form of the 'Rust-Rust Fruit'."
"That fruit has the power to rust any metal it touches, including the human body. My fruit, on the other hand, allows me to melt any metal with extreme heat, including the human form."
He pointed at Lily, "A Sword Master without her sword will suffer a significant drop in combat strength. Let me give you a suggestion: surrender."
Lily furrowed her brows.
"I, too, yearn to sail the seas. Isa hired me for ten years to aid him in his research, which is now close to success. With your batch of Demon Clan bodies, his research will surely accelerate."
"Once he succeeds, he will sponsor me with a crew of enhanced individuals who feel no pain, know no fatigue, and require no food or water. They will possess robust physical attributes. With this crew, I can set sail, but they will not be true subordinates. I will still need a Sword Master like you, a navigator, a chef like 'Wet Crow', and a shipwright like 'Blast Hammer'."
"I have my eyes on you, and I believe you would be a great addition to my crew. Following the 'Great Disaster' is boring; why not join me instead? The 'Great Disaster' will be my stepping stone to fame, and once I defeat him, his reputation will be mine!"
Kappa grinned, baring his teeth in a mischievous smile. "The title of Pirate King will be mine!"
"Flying Bird!"
A more powerful Flying Slash than before cleaved through the air, aiming for Kappa's chest. The force of the attack pushed him back two steps.
"I told you it would be useless," Kappa said slowly. "My body can transform into steel itself, and your Flying Slash cannot penetrate my defense."
Lily raised her sword, White Lightning, pointing it directly at Kappa. Her eyes, once cold and sharp, now held a flicker of anger, fueled by insult.
"You dare compare yourself to Saget?"
"Oh? It seems you cannot accept the idea of your former captain being undefeated. Let me show you my strength, then."
Kappa bent down, pressing his palms against the ground. "I will show you what true power is. Did you ever wonder where all this iron liquid on the ground comes from? Some ability users can awaken, and I am one of them!"
The scorching red heat from his arms continuously spread across the ground, causing the air above to distort. The scattered pieces of steel on the ground began to turn crimson, slowly softening and transforming into a liquid state.
"Sea of Molten Iron!!!"
The steel on the ground in front of Kappa liquefied, flooding half the venue with molten iron!
(End of Chapter)
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