Forcing Entry

"Not at all. Other ordinary contracts don't require this. As long as my strength exceeds the opponent's and I make physical contact, I can force a Substitute Contract. But this Symbiotic Contract is different; since it requires mutual sacrifice, both parties must consent, which is why this ritual is necessary!"

"Is that so? That really is amazing!"

Hearing Lin's explanation, Chen Qiang found her Devil Fruit ability even more miraculous.

"By the way, feel it—have you gained any of my abilities?" After his exclamation, Chen Qiang immediately thought of how his own powers were a gift from his transmigration, and he wondered if she could possess them through this contract.

"Okay!"

Upon hearing Chen Qiang's words, Lin didn't hesitate. She closed her eyes and began to sense the abilities Chen Qiang had channeled into her.

"So strong! But why can't I feel that 'Super-Speed Regeneration' you mentioned? Are you trying to trick me?"

Lin had first sensed the power she gained from Chen Qiang's body. Although she hadn't received everything, she had obtained about a third. Yet, even this third was enough to make her feel that her previously weak body had suddenly strengthened more than tenfold, which left her quite astonished.

However, after the initial shock, she continued to probe, but she couldn't find any trace of the Super-Speed Regeneration Chen Qiang had described, turning her surprise into suspicion.

"Why would I lie to you? I wouldn't joke about my own life. Perhaps my ability is just too unique for your fruit to replicate! If you don't believe me, watch this!"

To prove he was telling the truth, Chen Qiang viciously tore off one of his own fingers and tossed it aside. Just as the finger hit the ground, the hand he had just mutilated rapidly sprouted a new one.

"So strong!"

Lin had been about to shout "Pervert!" at the sight of Chen Qiang ripping off his own finger without a second thought, but when she saw the finger regrow, her surprise deepened, and the word on her lips shifted instantly to "So strong!"

"So, you can rest easy now. If you get hurt later, just transfer the injuries to me. I absolutely won't have any issues!"

Seeing Lin's astonishment, Chen Qiang merely smiled and cautioned her once more.

"Mm-hmm!"

Lin was now full of confidence that Chen Qiang could help her rescue her fellow villagers. After all, his powerful regenerative ability had been demonstrated right before her eyes. With such strength combined with an even more powerful recovery, he would surely be able to save them.

"Let's go!"

Seeing Lin's joy, Chen Qiang didn't tell her about the powerful individual lurking inside the palace. He knew his own weaknesses, and since the captain of the Defu Slave Group knew them too, it meant the Navy must have included details in his bounty poster. This implied that anyone who knew of him likely knew his weakness and would surely exploit it to deal with him.

Of course, these were just Chen Qiang's guesses, not necessarily the truth. Regardless, since they were already here, they had to see it through.

Without hesitation, he gave Lin one last reminder and led her out of the alleyway.

"Clatter!"

Returning to the entrance, Chen Qiang didn't say a word. He shook off the chains on his body, lunged at one of the guards standing watch, grabbed him, and snapped his neck before the man could react. He then snatched the sword from the guard's waist.

"Who goes there? How dare you cause trouble here!"

Chen Qiang's movements were swift; he had already secured the sword from the fallen guard before the others could even process what was happening.

By the time the remaining guards reacted, Chen Qiang had already drawn the long blade. Blood-red energy surged to cover his entire body, and he slashed down toward the palace gates.

"Tiger Roar!"

"ROAR!"

A massive, blood-red tiger head manifested before Chen Qiang, letting out a deafening roar toward the gate. As the sound hit them, countless blood-red wind blades erupted from the phantom's maw, engulfing all the guards in a flurry of slashes.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

The wind blades tore through their bodies, leaving countless wounds. Blood sprayed from their veins, and the guards could only let out a single, shrill scream before collapsing to the ground.

"As expected, an ambush!"

After clearing the guards with a single strike, Chen Qiang didn't rush into the palace. Instead, he quickly searched the body of the first guard he had killed. He soon pulled out a gas mask, confirming his suspicion that the palace held an ambush specifically prepared for him.

"Put this on!"

Lin was clearly unaccustomed to Chen Qiang's "fight first, talk later" style and was still in a daze. When he handed her the gas mask, she didn't even react, simply taking it and obediently strapping it to her face.

"Are you saying this place is a trap to capture us?"

After putting on the mask, her vision was slightly restricted, which finally snapped Lin back to reality. She asked Chen Qiang with a hint of confusion.

"Yes! When I arrived earlier, I sensed a powerful presence here. I suspect the person who led us here was part of their plan all along—to lure us in and capture us!"

"The only way to catch me is to use poison. Finding these gas masks on the guards confirms my theory was correct!"

Listening to Lin's question, Chen Qiang explained while continuing to search the other guards.

"So, are we going in now?" Seeing that Chen Qiang had also found a gas mask on a guard and put it on, Lin asked again.

"No. Since I know there's a trap inside, why would I be foolish enough to walk right in?"

"Then why did we put these on? And if we don't go in, how will we find the villagers?"

"Just as a precaution. As for finding your villagers, once I start fighting them and disrupt their setup, you can go in then to find the people you're looking for."

"What do we do next, then?"

"Just watch!"

During their brief exchange, Chen Qiang had returned to his original position. He settled into a horse stance, holding his long blade horizontally before him.