Fierce Battle

"Such terrifying force..."

Ronan's brow furrowed, his chest heaving violently.

This brutal strength was far greater than he had anticipated.

An ordinary pirate leader possessed such immense power?

If he hadn't used Collapsing Force to dissipate most of the impact just now, his arm would likely be broken by now.

But—

Ronan also saw it clearly.

Though this Pirate Captain's strength was formidable, his techniques were pure to the point of crudeness.

No skill whatsoever.

Entirely reliant on raw physicality to fight.

In contrast, his own Force Guidance and Force Dissipation Counterattack were both at their peak.

After probing the situation, Ronan's mind instead grew calm.

His strength couldn't match the opponent's? No matter.

Technique, speed, Movement Technique—this was where Ronan's true killing edge lay.

His breathing gradually steadied, his mind once again settling into focus.

He no longer planned to clash head-on, but would use his Movement Technique and force to utterly tear apart this beast of pure brute strength.

Just then—

"Ding!"

[System Notification: Host has entered Deathmatch State]

[Cultivation Multiplier ×5]

In an instant.

Ronan felt as if his body had been set ablaze.

Strength, speed, reflexes, perception—

All skyrocketed, as if pushed to their peak by some invisible storm!

Blood turned to magma surging through his veins.

Every sound around him became crystal clear in that moment.

Ronan lifted his head.

Deep within his eyes, a sharp gleam flashed.

Wind howled, killing intent surged like a tide.

Ronan leaned forward slightly, his entire form like an arrow about to Shoot Out—

The fivefold Cultivation Multiplier boost poured like a torrent into Ronan's Limbs and Bones.

Qi and blood rampaged wildly through his body, tendons and bones crackling without cease.

Wave after wave of heat-like impact rolled through his meridians, forcing him to exhale a long, utterly satisfying breath.

Just then—

The attribute panel appeared on its own.

[Strength: 10 → 11]

[Physique: 10 → 11]

Ronan's eye twitched slightly.

This was the first time he had so clearly felt the reality of "growing stronger" from battle.

Yet, before he could dwell on it—

That massive figure—

Had already lunged again!

"Brat! If this is all you've got, then die!!"

The Tattered Sails Captain roared, his arms swelling, his great cleaver tearing through the air with a howling gale as it slashed down once more.

This time, faster, fiercer, and more absolute than before.

But Ronan's feet lightly stepped, his waist and hips twisting, his form drifting like smoke—

The great cleaver grazed past his shoulder shadow, sending sparks of shattered stone flying.

He dodged it.

So easily it was almost despairing.

Ronan's mind was not the least bit flustered; instead, he calmly analyzed within:

—Strength and physique have increased, but speed and spirit remain unchanged.

—In other words, whatever is used in battle, whatever is trained, the system strengthens.

A martial artist's intuition lit up in his heart.

Fighting is cultivation itself.

"I see."

Ronan thought to himself, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

So, he began to deliberately steer the rhythm of the fight.

The Pirate Captain roared and swung his blade, charging like a heavy-armored beast in a violent rush;

But Ronan's form flickered, weaving between the blade winds with grace and lightness, as if dancing in a storm.

Every dodge was clean and crisp;

Every sidestep landed perfectly in place;

Like—

Walking a dog.

The Pirate Captain finally realized something was wrong, fury rushing to his head:

"Damn brat! Are you just going to run?!"

Ronan didn't answer. He didn't even spare him a glance.

He was focused on feeling—

The rhythm of his breath, the flow of his muscles, the burst of his joints, the shift of his center of gravity...

Those martial sensations, once hidden deep, were now catalyzed by the fivefold multiplier into stark clarity.

Suddenly, the system flashed again—

[Speed: 10 → 11]

A glint of light flickered in Ronan's eyes:

"...Just as I thought."

In only a short moment, his strength, physique, and speed had all increased by one point.

And this—

Was only the beginning of the Deathmatch multiplier kicking in.

The wind howled as the Pirate Captain, torn apart by rage, grew nearly frenzied;

But Ronan's form, amidst the blade light, grew lighter and faster—

Ronan once again nimbly dodged that heavy, crushing slash.

The blade edge whistled past his ear, the wind it stirred even lifting his hair strands slightly.

Behind him, the Pirate Captain's furious curses came with heaving chest:

"You bastard! Stand—still!!"

But Ronan only gave him a faint glance.

There was even a hint of... relief in that look?

Because he suddenly felt that this fool, who only knew how to swing a blade, looked a lot more agreeable now.

As the first sparring partner sent his way after crossing over, being this strong was truly rare.

Ronan even felt a trace of gratitude in his heart:

You'd better hold out a while longer, let me train more.

With that thought, he no longer evaded—instead, he struck back.

The Pirate Captain had just landed his blade, his center of gravity slightly tilted; that instant of opening appeared huge and clear in Ronan's eyes.

Ronan pushed off the ground, his form sliding diagonally like a wisp of smoke, dodging the furious descending broadsword.

The next moment, the wooden staff trembled slightly, force concentrated within, Spear Intent surging like a dragon.

Thrust, stab, shatter!

The wooden staff, like a Flood Dragon breaking the sea, stabbed instantly into the Pirate Captain's chest!

"Urgh—!!"

The Pirate Captain grunted, skin pierced, blood droplets splattering, but it did not penetrate through bone and flesh as Ronan had expected.

The staff tip stopped under the chest muscles, thick as iron plates, as if hitting a wall of flesh.

His defense was absurdly strong.

Ronan frowned.

So this is the physique of people in this world?

If a martial artist from his past life had been stabbed by his staff like that, they'd probably be dead on the spot.

But this guy in front of him only roared in pain—just an external injury.

The Pirate Captain roared and counterattacked, his broadsword sweeping horizontally with a bone-chilling whistle through the air.

Ronan lowered his stance again, sliding like a fox slipping into the forest, dodging with ease.

Backhand—

The wooden staff swung up, carrying a Collapsing Force, and smashed viciously toward the Pirate Captain's head!

"Boom!!"

In the dull sound of impact, the captain's head tilted to the side, a bloody gash instantly splitting open on his forehead.

And the wooden staff in Ronan's hand... was shorter again.

The tip shattered, splinters scattering everywhere.

Ronan's heart sank slightly:

The physical bodies of people in this world are way too monstrous.

At the same time—

The battle between Ronan and the Pirate Captain shook the entire town, the cries of combat unceasing, the clash of their fierce fight like two wild beasts colliding.

Just then—

From the shadows outside the town, several figures hurried over.

Leading them was the old man who had escaped earlier, followed by his grandson, along with two other men and a woman—

Among them was a black-haired youth wearing a straw hat.

"Don't worry, old man."

"We'll drive those pirates out of here!"

At his side stood a young man with short hair like green algae.

Under his white T-shirt, the lines of his muscles were distinct, and the three swords at his waist, along with his green bellyband, were quite eye-catching.

He glanced sideways at the battlefield in the town, his tone calm but sharp:

"It's the Tattered Sails Pirates.

The captain's bounty is three million two hundred thousand Belly."

He sounded like he was just stating facts, but the natural aura he exuded carried a suppressed intensity.

An orange-haired young woman followed closely behind, her slender waist as agile as a cat's, a hint of gravity in her brows:

"Three million Belly is already pretty dangerous in the East Blue.

I heard the Tattered Sails Pirates once massacred a branch Marine outpost, which is why their bounty got raised."