ALL NOVEL Chapter 11: CHAPTER 11
"Alastor, this is the first time I've heard this name. I remember you now. No wonder you were able to kill Wamon and the others."
"Then I'm truly honored... Okay, let's continue fighting. My sword is almost unbearable!"
Alastor took the initiative to attack, stepping forcefully with both feet as he moved toward Shutenmaru.
The cursed blade, with purple light and blood-red hues, intertwined in the air.
Alastor swung his sword with great force. "Flying Moon Slash!"
This slash, shaped like a crescent moon, was originally colorless. But it seemed that the evil spirit of the cursed blade had tainted it, turning the color to an ink-black, eerie and frightening!
Shutenmaru was shaken by the strike.
"This is... the meito! Are you wielding a cursed sword? You actually..."
As a former retainer of Kozuki Oden, Shutenmaru immediately recognized the famous demon sword in Alastor's hand.
It was rumored that this sword was cursed, and anyone who wielded it would suffer bad luck and eventually die.
Only a person with a strong will like Alastor could likely subdue the evil spirit of the cursed blade and even turn that dark energy into ghostly power for his own use!
The situation unfolded so unexpectedly that Shutenmaru was hit by Alastor's Flying Moon Slash before he could react.
His large, obese body was thrown back several meters, and a deep gash opened from his left shoulder to his chest, gushing blood.
Not only was Speed dumbfounded by the scene, but even Jack was shocked.
Shutenmaru looked down at the wound on his left side. Though it bled heavily, it was a minor injury for a strong man like him.
"You really surprised me," Shutenmaru said in a deep voice. The domineering energy around his katana began to shift, no longer static but fluid and dynamic.
"But no matter what, if you killed Wamon and the others, you must die today!"
Hum!
The powerful aura erupted suddenly, and Shutenmaru's katana became enveloped in flowing purple-black energy. This was Shutenmaru's haki, much stronger than the version Wamon had used.
After the first blow, Shutenmaru had realized that Alastor's defense was abnormal, and he subconsciously considered him to be a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user.
Thus, he resorted to using internal destruction, intending to strike at Alastor's heart and finish him off.
"Go to hell."
Shutenmaru started running.
Alastor closely observed every move Shutenmaru made, and the domineering aura around his katana made him feel an intense sense of danger.
If he were hit by that blow, it would surely result in a serious injury.
If not for Jack's presence, Alastor's best option would have been to turn and run.
Once injured, although his defensive power would increase dramatically, he would lose most of his mobility and be easily slaughtered.
"Let me take this hit. After the fight, Jack can take over. I just need to get back to Bakura Town and eat like crazy!"
Alastor made up his mind, remaining calm and unafraid.
This focus made Shutenmaru take a second look at him, further fueling his murderous intent.
The Beasts Pirates couldn't allow such a genius to exist!
Shutenmaru flickered a few times, then jumped above Alastor's head, slashing downward with his katana.
The purple-black aura from his sword pressed down like a suffocating weight, powerful enough to overwhelm an ordinary person.
Faced with this decisive strike, Alastor summoned all his strength, gathering every ounce of power in his body.
Clang!
The cursed blade collided with Shutenmaru's samurai sword.
Ghostly energy and internal destruction clashed, and the violent shockwaves spread in all directions.
Crack! Crack!
The ground beneath Alastor's feet cracked suddenly, and the area within a fifteen-meter radius shattered like a spider's web.
Alastor was sent crashing to the ground.
"Did you die?" Shutenmaru took a deep breath. This attack had cost him a lot of energy, and he stared at the cracked earth intently.
A few seconds later, the stone atop the surface was pushed aside, and a familiar young figure leaped out from the debris.
"Sure enough, you're not dead." Shutenmaru raised his sword again. "Then I'll cut off your head this time."
But what he didn't expect was that the tough Alastor didn't even look at him this time. Instead, he jumped onto the back of Speed, who was centaur-shaped, behind Drought Jack, and spoke casually:
"Master Jack, my subordinates have tested that guy's strength for you. Compared to Master Jack, he's on a completely different level. It's time to show your heroic side, Master Jack!"
Shutenmaru froze for a moment.
Drought Jack, hearing this, waved his hand and said domineeringly:
"Alastor, you've done a good job. Watch closely now; I'm about to make my move and clear things up!"
Moo!
With a deafening cry, Jack transformed into a massive reddish-brown mammoth in an instant.
The mammoth stood at least tens of meters tall, with thick limbs and two sharp ivory tusks rising high. Its presence exuded an ancient, wild aura that was both daunting and awe-inspiring.
"J... Master Jack has revealed the form of an ancient mammoth!" Speed said in awe.
Alastor, sitting on its back, suddenly sounded weak and urged:
"Don't worry about whether it's a mammoth or not. Hurry up and run, the faster we get back to Bakura Town, the better!"
Speed blinked, remembering Jack's command to "watch carefully."
Alastor grabbed the second-generation ghost and gave Speed a hard smack on the rear.
"Hey!"
Speed screamed and immediately galloped away, quickly putting distance between them and Jack and Shutenmaru.
Alastor sighed in relief and lay back on Speed's back, his body stretched out.
His chest bore deep gashes, especially one near his heart that had almost pierced through. His limbs felt shattered, and he couldn't even count how many bones had been broken.
"The Asura Doji formerly under Kozuki Oden is really strong."
Alastor thought.
In the future, there was a high probability that he would use the Beasts Pirates as a foundation and steadily build his own pirates.
In order to prevent his achievements from being wasted, Alastor knew he had to eliminate the retainers left by Kozuki Oden. He might also have to confront the Straw Hats someday.
"Am I really a villain like this?"
Alastor smiled mockingly.
In this pirate world, where the strong prey on the weak, what is a villain, what is an upright person, and who defines these?
There is no answer, and there's no point.
Amidst the chaotic and disorderly rules, only strength matters.
Alastor would only act according to his own principles.
[It is detected that the host is seriously injured. Defense +85.]
The system's voice sounded. Alastor was indeed seriously injured this time, but the reward was astonishing.
With the additional 85 points of defense, plus the 15 points from the initial sword strike, the duel with Shutenmaru had added a total of 100 points to Alastor's defense in a short time!
Not only that, but Alastor had also awakened the ghostly energy of the cursed blade Sandai Kitetsu during the battle. At the same time, he had gained a deeper understanding of internal destruction.
With all these gains, Alastor felt pleased. He closed his eyes to rest and lay back leisurely, waiting for the moment he would return to Bakura Town and indulge in a hearty meal to recover from his injuries.
As for Jack... Well, how could Alastor forget such a noble figure?
Although he hadn't witnessed Jack's majestic appearance firsthand, Alastor was supporting Jack in spirit.
Speed ran quickly, and not long before reaching Bakura Town, they happened to encounter Sheepshead head-on.
Sheepshead looked at Alastor, lying down and seemingly sleeping, and asked, "Where is Master Jack?"
Alastor propped himself up, coughed deliberately to emphasize his injury, and replied, "I was injured by that damn Shutenmaru. Master Jack is showing his power and seeking revenge for me."
Sheepshead's eyes widened. "Ah? What if Lord Jack gets injured too?"
Alastor's expression turned serious. "How dare you question Master Jack's strength?"
Sheepshead fell silent. He couldn't argue. He didn't doubt Jack's strength, but he had witnessed the battle between Jack and Shutenmaru. He knew their strengths were fairly equal.
In a real duel, the outcome would likely be a lose-lose scenario.
If Jack were seriously injured and returned to the Onigashima to be seen by Kaido, the consequences could be dire.
That was Sheepshead's real concern.
However, he couldn't express these thoughts to Alastor, lest he be accused of doubting Master Jack's strength.
Alastor ignored Sheepshead, patted Speed's rear, and urged her to hurry.
Back in Bakua Town, Alastor ordered his subordinates to bring him plenty of food. He then devoured it, eating and drinking like a man starved for days.
Alastor fell asleep after eating.
The next day, when he woke up to wash, Speed reported to him, "Master Jack is still fighting with Shutenmaru of the Atamayama Thieves Brigade!"
Alastor nodded calmly. Wasn't it normal for a strong man like the Three Disasters to fight for a whole day and night?
In the original story, Fire Fist Ace and Jinbei fought for five days and five nights, while Admiral Akainu and Aokiji battled for ten days and nights to compete for the position of Marshal.
Alastor said, "Send someone to observe the battle from a distance. Let me know when it's over."
Then, Alastor went to the training ground, took out the cursed blade, and began to absorb the gains from his battle with Shutenmaru.
In yesterday's fight, he had awakened the demonic aura of Sandai Kitetsu, changing the color of the Flying Moon Slash to black, which significantly increased its power.
"The so-called demon aura is hakii, which is the unique characteristic of the cursed blade series . If you master haki, you can use Haki on the sword "
Alastor thought of Roronoa Zoro, whose unique technique was the Ashura nine sword style, allowing him to use ghost qi to transform into a three-headed, six-armed posture.
Alastor, however, was not a three-sword swordsman, so there was no need for that. Furthermore, he wielded the Sandai Kitetsu, which was stronger Zoro 's sword.
He planned to forge his own ghost qi sword style.
Alastor stood motionless in the center of the training ground, seemingly one with the cursed blade.
He didn't know how much time passed, but then a breeze swept through.
Suddenly, Alastor's body changed.
Black mist poured out from his clothes.
No, to be precise, it was the cursed blade transferring the black mist to him.
Enveloped by the black mist, Alastor now resembled an Asura from hell.
"Ghost Sword Style Black Bear!"
Alastor moved suddenly, his movements as fast as lightning. He slashed out with a single stroke.
The sword aura and black mist intertwined, and in an instant, they transformed into a bloodthirsty bear, roaring and charging forward.