Who Is the Real Monster

That fierce and violent gaze, combined with a massive, sturdy physique, made Noah, who stood right at his feet, feel an immense sense of pressure.

He immediately and decisively threw a detector at his opponent.

[Character: "Giant Bear" Sano]

[Age: 38]

[Strength: 13]

[Agility: 11]

[Stamina: 11]

[Intelligence: 4]

[Charisma: 1]

[Skills: Zoan Transformation Ability, Close Quarters Combat (Intermediate), Armament Haki (Novice)...]

[Estimated Mission Success Point Reward: Ambiguous Relationship/2000 points, Romantic Relationship/5000 points]

"Strength and agility are both lower than mine, and stamina is a significant step behind as well."

Noah ignored the last section, closed the panel, and looked up to meet Sano's bloodshot eyes with a calm stare.

However, the fact that this guy actually knows a bit of Armament Haki, combined with his Devil Fruit ability, means this battle will likely still be very difficult...

Swish!

With that thought, he suddenly activated Soru, his figure flickering as he instantly appeared behind Sano.

He drew his Wind Sword, and together with the Yone's Sword, he slashed crosswise at the back of the opponent's neck from both sides!

Noah did not have the bad habit of announcing his moves before a fight.

In a life-or-death battle like this, one should be unpredictable and strike first!

Puchi!

Blood splattered; without the boost of Armament Haki, the blades only managed to slice a small piece of flesh from the opponent's neck.

"You damn brat!"

Giant Bear Sano, feeling the pain, finally reacted. She roared in anger, swung her right palm, and swiped at Noah as if swatting a mosquito.

"Thick-skinned."

Seeing that his first strike hadn't been effective, Noah decisively gave up on trying to tank the hit. Utilizing the techniques of Intermediate Kami-e, he unleashed his full movement speed and easily dodged the palm.

He then tapped his heels and, using his still-unrefined Geppo, ascended into the air over ten meters high. With both swords falling in unison, he slashed fiercely once more at the giant head below from a rather tricky angle.

Hum!

Before the blades even arrived, two thin streaks of sword energy burst forth from the tips.

He could not yet be considered a true master swordsman, but while maintaining his composure and extreme focus, there was still a chance he could unleash sword energy with astonishing power.

And this time, his luck was clearly not too bad.

Boom!

The sword energy landed on the top of his head, catching Sano off guard and forcing his massive, sturdy body to stumble back several meters.

No wonder that trash Kaku died at this guy's hands; is he really this troublesome?

This was the first thought that rose in Sano's mind. Driven by a sense of crisis, her eyes instantly turned blood-red. No longer holding anything back, she instantly activated her Devil Fruit ability!

Roar!

Accompanied by a deafening roar, Sano, who was already far taller than an average person, saw his figure suddenly and rapidly expand and shift.

In just a few short breaths, he transformed into a terrifying black bear over ten meters tall!

"Originally, I saw that you had a good look and decent strength, and I was thinking of bringing you back to the ship to train you as an officer..."

The black bear's scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Noah, who was treading on Geppo in mid-air. He spoke in human language, his voice as cold as ice:

"But now, I've changed my mind. A brat who dares to hurt me is better off dead!"

The next instant.

The black bear roared, stomped hard on the ground, and amidst the countless spiderweb-like cracks that suddenly burst open, he used the recoil to leap high into the air. With the speed of a cannonball, he swung a bear claw toward Noah!

Chi chi!

The claw was still some distance away, but a gale of wind had already arrived.

Just by looking with the naked eye, one could perceive the astonishing destructive power contained within it. Noah felt a chill in his heart and had no intention of trying to block it head-on with his swords.

"Soru!"

He let out a low shout, left his original position, and switched angles once again. Relying on his absolute advantage in speed, he arrived behind the giant bear and slashed his blades horizontally, aiming straight for the opponent's waist and abdomen!

However.

This time, the giant bear seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and had anticipated the move.

Just as Noah's blades were about to strike, she suddenly displayed a level of agility that didn't match her massive body, turning and swinging her claw with a sudden force that collided head-on with Noah's dual swords!

Clang!

A dull sound like metal striking metal rang out. Amidst the spraying sparks, the sharp claws and the sword blades locked together, grinding against each other with a screech that set one's teeth on edge.

This guy... after transforming into a bear, his strength has increased by at least twofold!

Noah was inwardly shocked. In the mere seconds of this stalemate, a massive pressure, like a flash flood, came crashing down upon him.

He stared fixedly at the giant bear's claws, pouring every ounce of his strength into his arms, yet he still could not stop his sword blades from being pushed back inch by inch.

A few seconds later, this stalemate was finally shattered.

The giant bear let out a low growl and exerted more force, directly knocking Noah's swords aside. At the same time, its other free claw, coated in a faint layer of Armament Haki, slammed fiercely into Noah's chest from the side.

Thud!

With a muffled impact, Noah's body flew backward like a broken puppet, punching through a half-collapsed wall and not stopping until he slammed into a three-story building half a street away with a thunderous crash.

Bricks and stones flew everywhere, and dust billowed into the air.

"That's all you amount to!"

Sano wore a ferocious expression, her footsteps causing the ground to tremble as she walked step by step toward Noah in the dust. "Tell me, kid, how do you want to die, hmm?"

She had once ventured through the treacherous Grand Line and led her subordinates to sweep through the underground forces of the West Blue. Countless victories had given her immense confidence in her own strength.

Based on her past combat experience, anyone who took a direct hit to the chest from her bear claws, enhanced by Armament Haki, would at the very least be severely injured and unable to fight again, if not dead.

This young Marine, who looked to be less than twenty years old, certainly had some skill, but he would be no exception!

Crossing the dust-filled street, the human-shaped crater embedded in the wall became faintly visible.

Sano licked her lips with a sinister grin, preparing to deliver the final blow, when she suddenly saw that figure dart out like lightning, charging straight at her to strike once more!

He was incredibly fast, agile as a leopard, as if he hadn't been affected by her attack in the slightest!

"What?"

Her eyes narrowed, her face filled with shock.

"That hit of yours... it really hurt..."

Noah, who had shot forward using Geppo, looked as energetic as ever, save for his torn shirt revealing a slightly sunken chest. His eyes were bright and sharp as he stared down at the giant bear and grinned, his sword blade slashing downward without hesitation:

"But if you want to take me down, you'll need to hit me with those bear claws at least five hundred... no, one thousand times!"