https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-391-You-Wear-the-Face-of-Death-Today/12933848/
Chapter 392: We Are Strong Enough!
Chapter 392: We Are Strong Enough!
Standing on the tree trunk was a man with deep red hair, his bare upper body adorned with tattoos and bound by chains.
"Just one person?" Ulki cackled, "He seems weak."
Perception Color wasn't necessary; they weren't born with it and had relied on observation to gauge their opponents' strength before they could use Dominance.
"Looks like I'm being underestimated."
The chained man smirked, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'm a Treasure Hunter, not a pirate easily provoked. For treasure, I'll use any means necessary."
"A Treasure Hunter."
Hawkins remained seated, pondering for a moment before speaking, "Mad Torrega?"
"Shalala, my name is known even to 'great figures' like you all." Torrega burst into laughter.
"No, it's just that you're from the East Sea. We happened to mention it last time."
Hawkins drew the longsword from his waist, aiming it upwards, "If it's just you, then I think you can choose a better grave."
Fate might not be absolute, but it was the most likely outcome.
The odds of victory and escape were slim for just one person. The broken chains on the ground were not enough to impress them.
"Shalala, do pirates from the Great Pirate Crew look down on people so easily? Never mind, I'm not alone."
Torrega laughed heartily and snapped his fingers, his chained hand still bound.
"Come out!"
Whoosh!
Amidst the tree-filled sea, a gust of wind stirred, and on each thick tree trunk, small whirlwinds formed, revealing two-meter-tall bizarre creatures as the winds dissipated.
Their backs had wing-like structures, but they seemed to blend into the air, appearing blurry and indistinct, resembling the outline of wings or something forcibly bound and strapped to their spines.
Their skin was pale, like that of a corpse, and their faces looked as if they wore long-nosed masks or had faces naturally contorted into a mask-like expression.
Armed with pitchforks and muscular, they exuded malice and coldness, even without visible facial features.
"Quite a number of them," Ulki observed, scanning the area with a frown. "They're strange, like the dead."
As the head monk, his side job involved guiding the dead, and his monk disciples each had this skill.
Death was inevitable at sea, and with so much territory, Ulki would guide the souls of fallen comrades in battle or accidents and the elderly who passed away, ensuring they found peace.
Thus, he was familiar with the scent of the dead.
These suddenly appearing creatures resembled the deceased.
Moreover, Ulki raised a palm, his smile tinged with confusion, "Their appearance resembles the legendary Skydogs?"
"Skydogs?" Hawkins was even more perplexed.
He had never heard of such a thing.
"Yes, in the legends, within the deep tree-filled forests, those who die with grievances transform into Skydogs, casting Divine Vanishing Power on people, making them disappear forever."
Hawkins was taken aback, "Even the Sky Islanders know this?"
As a North Sea native, he was unfamiliar with such tales, only knowing the stories of the heroic Sora and the evil Germa Legion, of which he was a fervent fan.
"Sky Island legends are numerous, and I happen to know a few. If these are indeed Skydogs..."
Ulki's smile widened, "I'd like to witness their power!"
"Shalala, you know quite a bit. Yes, these are Skydogs! Born from the tree-filled sea!"
Torrega laughed loudly, "Since you want to witness their power, let's see the might of these Skydogs!"
Whoosh!
As Torrega waved his hand, the clinking of chains accompanied the wind, and the surrounding Spirit Skydogs brandished their pitchforks, leaping from the tree trunks and charging at Hawkins and Ulki.
Despite their terrifying appearance, swift movements, and large numbers, they were no match for...
"Hah!"
Ulki grunted, and as the Skydogs approached, he swung the lead column, creating a gust of wind. He struck a wide arc, hitting the Skydogs and turning them into powder with a dull thud.
Hawkins didn't even need to move, merely observing Torrega with his drawn sword, "Is that all?"
"So quickly defeated? But how many can you handle, Shalala?"
As Torrega's laughter echoed, the tree trunks once again stirred with whirlwinds, revealing Skydogs identical to the previous ones.
"Skydogs are manifestations of vengeful spirits, and this land holds many. Pure force is useless against them. How long can you withstand the relentless attacks of these Spirit Skydogs?"
The Skydogs leaped from the tree trunks again, launching their assault.
Ulki swung the lead column once more, striking them down one by one.
Hawkins nodded slightly, "Vengeful spirits? That's an exaggeration. It's probably some sort of ability."
His doppelganger ability had no effect on these so-called Skydogs, indicating they weren't truly human and lacked vitality.
As for whether there are real Spirit Skydogs or not, don't they know that within Moriah's crew, there's one such being?
Everything unknown on the vast sea can be classified as a power.
Even if it's not, there are other means to deal with it; it can't be attributed to some divine or ghostly force.
For example, under Kaido, there's a Calamity who can scatter Ice Calamity, rumored to be able to turn people into ghosts.
But in reality, it's just a technique called 'Ice Ghost' that he mastered.
It's probably something similar.
Anyway, it's not as mystical as they say; even Sage is known as the Storm Lord.
"However, just because they can't use it doesn't mean you can't. This distance is sufficient."
Hawkins glanced at Torrega, and his body extended several straws that quickly weaved into a straw doll. He made an incision on his skin and inserted the straw doll.
How could someone without Dominance withstand his power?
On the vast sea, those without Dominance are extremely weak before power users, no matter how strong their physique or how skilled they are, it's all useless.
Especially for someone like Hawkins, whose power has been developed to a certain extent, the so-called strongest Treasure Hunter, could easily crush them with a single stomp.
He didn't even bother to do it himself.
"Urki, let me handle this."
He stopped Urki's actions, took a step forward, and without moving, waited for the resurrected Skydogs to attack them.
It was at this moment that Torrega, who had witnessed Hawkins inserting the straw doll, revealed a sinister smile, "Exactly, that's how it should be!"
Whoosh!
A whirlwind formed on the tree trunk where he was, and an old man with a wooden staff appeared. He raised two fingers, revealing a sinister smile towards Hawkins, and purple light emanated from his fingers.
"Curse Transfer!"
The purple light entered Torrega's body and also flashed on Hawkins' body.
"Shalala!"
Torrega quickly jumped down from the tree trunk. Upon contact, he clapped his hands on the ground, "Raging Man Chains!"
The broken chains that Urki had knocked down earlier trembled and quickly combined on the ground, forming a web-like structure. In an instant, they bound his body, and a collar formed around his neck.
"This is..."
Urki subconsciously tried to resist, but the tighter he pulled, the tighter the binding chains became. The collar around his neck dug into his flesh, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Powers can be strengthened through continuous development! My chains are not just about hardness; I also have specialized chains for restraining large beasts!"
"The more you struggle, the tighter the chains become, making it harder for you to use your strength. With these chains, I've captured Sea Kings and dinosaurs!"
Torrega sneered, "I told you not to underestimate me!"
The strongest Treasure Hunter, being able to roam the New World, is already extraordinary.
The weaker one is in Dominance, the higher the level of power development they possess.
"Ohahahaha, did it work?"
The old man with the wooden staff emitted a high-pitched laughter, completely contrasting with his aged body. He descended lightly and bowed to them.
"Greetings, I am Fried, invited by Kai Hai."
He raised his head and smiled sinisterly at them, "To deal with you!"
"Shalala, not only do you know my information, but I know yours even better."
Torrega laughed, "Hawkins, the Straw Fruit power user, can release curses from a distance and make others die in your place. Urki, the Cause and Effect Fruit power user, strengthens his body when attacked."
"Do you think it's just a coincidence that we appeared here? No, it's because we can counter you! For each member of the Cataclysm Pirates, we have a way to restrain them!"
He extended his hand, letting the chains flutter on his palm, "My chains can bind those with formidable physiques. Although specialized chains consume a lot of my energy, they are enough for one person, but as for you..."
Torrega looked at Hawkins and then turned to Fried, "He's specialized in countering your power."
"Ohahahaha, I'm a Cursed Man who ate the Curse Curse Fruit, and my power is similar to yours."
Fried laughed, "Although I don't have the power to make others die in my place, my ability allows willing individuals to bear my curses. Torrega willingly accepted my curse."
"I curse the curses within his body to exist forever. He will forever become the surrogate of the cursed, bearing the sufferings of the cursed! But correspondingly, only the one who casts the curse can kill him, and any harm done by others will be transferred back to the curse caster!"
"Hmm?"
Hawkins frowned, wanting to undo the curse on Torrega, but at that moment, he realized his curse seemed to be solidified and couldn't be removed.
Fried spread his arms wide and laughed maniacally, "Finally, I'm finally useful!"
As an ability user, his power had always been useless. Ever since he ate that fruit, he had been shunned in the area, treated as a 'witch' and despised.
This ability was too much of a burden. He needed people to willingly bear his curses, and all of them were negative effects. If others were unwilling, his power couldn't be exerted.
These so-called curses were always a negative price to forcefully achieve a purpose.
For example, if one wanted to cure a heart disease, they would have to curse someone else to lose their heart. Without a heart, how could there be any heart disease?
But who would willingly give up their heart? Even if they survived, they wouldn't live long.
Fried had always been destitute. Even the herbal medicines he made were ignored due to his ability.
Yet, he always had a wild ambition—to use his ability and fulfill its potential!
A year ago, Kai Hai found him and gave him this opportunity.
A chance to take down over a hundred million Great Pirates and annihilate a top-tier pirate crew! His ability seemed tailor-made to counter Hawkins. As long as Fried cast a curse, he could counter-curse.
Once Torrega accepted the curse, and the curse took effect, Torrega would become Hawkins's doppelganger, transforming into a two-way doppelganger.
Torrega would bear Hawkins's injuries, and Hawkins would also bear the injuries inflicted on Torrega.
Only Hawkins could kill Torrega.
Upon hearing that the curse was in effect and couldn't be dispelled, Hawkins's first reaction was to stab himself with his sword. But looking at the two people with sinister smiles, he thought for a moment and slashed his arm with his longsword.
A cut appeared on his forearm, and blood flowed, but Torrega showed no reaction.
"Useless! Suicide is not within the scope of the curse!"
Fried gloated, "You can only defeat Torrega, but in this situation, you can't do it!"
Ulki was tied up and couldn't move, and no one could be his helper.
Even if they retreated, there were still those Spirit Skydogs around. They weren't planning to keep the curse going for long but were ready to strike immediately.
"Those Spirit Skydogs aren't for you!"
Torrega spread his arms and shouted at the Spirit Skydogs, "Come on! Kill me!"
As long as they inflicted harm on him, Hawkins would bear it!
First, take out a division commander, and after the Cataclysm Pirates are completely annihilated, he'll get their treasure!
A treasure hunter must use any means necessary!
The Spirit Skydogs turned and descended towards Torrega, their trident-like weapons ready to pierce his body.
Sizzle!
But at that moment, the sound of a sharp blade slicing through flesh rang out.
Torrega turned to look, and his pupils dilated involuntarily.
Fried's head was decapitated by a longsword, and blood mist rose into the sky.
"When did I ever say that I relied solely on my ability? I have my sword."
Hawkins appeared before Fried, holding a bloodied longsword, and turned to Torrega, saying calmly,
"It's also very sharp."
If the ability user is killed, doesn't the ability become invalid?
"So fast! But useless!"
Torrega laughed, "This is a solidified ability that can't be dispelled even by the ability user's death! I win this fight."
Boom!
Before he could finish his sentence, a lead column smashed straight towards him, turning the ambushing Spirit Skydogs into powder.
The chains binding Ulki suddenly broke free, and his massive body twisted his neck, revealing a mouthful of chilling white teeth.
Torrega couldn't see, but Hawkins witnessed it clearly.
Ulki tore the chains with his hands, covered in thick dominance, and crushed the specialized chains into powder!
The power of internal destruction!
"Does the little monk need help?" Ulki smiled, "A rare chance to send you off."
"No need."
Puff!
Hawkins's arm turned into an afterimage, and with a flash of sword light, he took Torrega's head.
"I told you, your deathly appearance is just an illusion. The divination result is seemingly ominous but actually harmless. Because, apart from divination, our strength is more than enough!"
Aside from his ability, he was also a swordsman, though not on the level of a great swordsman like Lily. But under Sage's training, he could undoubtedly be called a swordsman.
Furthermore, he was a swordsman skilled in both the Six Powers and Dominance. He drew a tarot card, and a giant cursed straw man quickly formed above his head.
"Use your ability to counter abilities."
Hawkins looked at the reappearing Spirit Skydogs, "The power of curses can break them."
And he was a powerful ability user!
(End of Chapter)
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