Lin Ye had never subscribed to the idea that the strong should not attack the weak.
As long as it could make him stronger, he could do anything without violating his fundamental bottom line.
After all, in a world where the strong were revered and death could come at any moment, strength was his most fundamental reliance.
If the weak died, no one would pity them.
Holding such thoughts and convictions, Lin Ye's sword strikes were decisive.
His swordsmanship had inherited that very principle.
Simple and efficient, it existed solely to kill.
The slaughter continued across several reefs. Thriller Bark sailed directly into Wano Country's waters, then accelerated upstream against the current.
Holding his blood-dripping sword, Lin Ye turned to look at the sailing ship ascending alongside the enormous waterfall.
He could clearly see Moria standing at the bow, still holding his blade forward with an incomparably arrogant expression.
Lin Ye withdrew his gaze and looked behind him.
On this reef, the trembling pirates huddled together, staring at Lin Ye in terror.
When Lin Ye's gaze fell upon them, some pirates' legs gave out, and they were on the verge of collapsing to their knees.
A black Flying Slash swept past. The clustered pirates stiffened before spraying blood and crumpling to the ground.
With his sword in hand, Lin Ye headed for the next reef.
A moment later.
[Blank Trait: 158]
Lin Ye examined his gains and was quite satisfied.
It seemed the Beast Pirates had rather good quality.
Their drop rate was higher than that of the pirates aboard the ships he had encountered before.
They looked like fodder too, but they had a higher chance of dropping traits.
Moreover, quite a few Two-Color Haki traits had dropped among them.
Based on his current analysis, traits like Two-Color Haki, Three-Color Haki, and certain Devil Fruit abilities were of higher quality.
At the very least, they could be dismantled into three Blank Traits.
It looked like his plan this time could be accomplished.
That was, raising one trait to level 10 here.
What Lin Ye wanted to raise now was Divine Departure, his highest-level trait.
As long as he could raise it to the maximum level, he should have the power to resist even Kaido. Even if he could not defeat Kaido, he would still be able to retreat safely.
Of course, if he could raise some of his other traits while achieving that goal, that would be even better.
Kaido was entrenched in Wano Country, so he certainly had plenty of subordinates.
At that thought, anticipation appeared in Lin Ye's eyes. He looked toward the waterfalls rushing down from the ring of massive reefs surrounding Wano Country, bent his legs slightly, then shot into the sky.
The air exploded beneath his feet, and Lin Ye's body streaked toward the waterfall at tremendous speed.
But after crossing over the waterfall, Lin Ye's expression tightened.
A whirlpool even larger than Thriller Bark had appeared in the waters within Wano Country's inner ring.
The whirlpool was fierce.
Lin Ye clearly saw the enormous ship, like a small island, circle within the whirlpool several times before being swallowed whole and vanishing.
He also saw figures flung from the ship as the whirlpool spun.
But compared to the whirlpool and the giant ship, human figures were simply too inconspicuous.
"Did they fall into a whirlpool as soon as they made it upstream?"
As he watched the whirlpool that had swallowed an enormous ship gradually fade, Lin Ye searched through his memories.
Wano Country was closed off because of its environment and the actions of those in power within it.
This should have been a natural disaster outside Wano Country, not something controlled by people.
Thriller Bark had been unlucky this time.
But had Moria encountered something like this in the original timeline?
Lin Ye frowned as he thought.
If this whirlpool caused them enormous losses, it would not be good news for him.
His plan would probably run into trouble then.
However, looking at the whirlpool that had already faded away, Lin Ye had no intention of diving into the sea to search.
Who knew where the undercurrents below led?
Even though he had not eaten a Devil Fruit and did not have the weakness of fearing seawater, it would still be difficult to guarantee his safety if he remained underwater for too long.
Still, Moria and his crew were not weak, and Thriller Bark was extremely sturdy.
They probably would not be completely wiped out.
With that in mind, Lin Ye simply headed toward the enormous island on the other side of the sea ahead.
Then he would wait. If Moria was all right, his great battle with Kaido would definitely continue.
It would not be too late to rush over then.
Even if it did not, he could not have come here for nothing.
That was the judgment Lin Ye made.
After all, opportunities to harvest traits freely were rare. He could not just let one slip away.
To Lin Ye, Wano Country was now a massive dungeon with abundant rewards.
But if he acted alone...
Lin Ye's heart stirred.
[Raise Strong Physique to level 7. Consumes 64 Blank Traits. Proceed?]
"Yes!"
[Strong Physique raised to level 7]
The effect was immediate. Lin Ye instantly felt his muscle fibers become tougher and his heart beat more powerfully.
And that was not all.
[Cat-Cat Leap raised to level 5] [Mighty Arms raised to level 6] [Blank Trait: 14]
Since he was going to act alone, he could not hold back for now. A brief boost would do.
Strong Physique improved his body's overall strength.
Cat-Cat Leap and Mighty Arms separately improved the strength of his legs and arms.
One enhanced his mobility, while the other increased his strength in direct combat.
If he truly encountered a crisis, every trait other than Strong Physique could be destroyed.
"That should be enough for now!"
After raising the three abilities once more, Lin Ye looked toward the enormous island drawing ever closer.
Next, he would avoid Kaido and any powerful opponents who might delay him, then begin the slaughter.
Lin Ye's figure became a black shadow and landed directly along Wano Country's coast.
After landing, he fully spread out his Observation Haki.
Without pausing, he vanished in an instant.
Several hundred meters away, Beast Pirates members were using telescopes to watch the place where Thriller Bark had just sunk into the whirlpool.
"Report to the captain immediately! Moria's group fell into the great whirlpool. We don't know where they'll emerge!"
The pirate who lowered his telescope immediately shouted, only to hear several heavy bodies hit the ground.
His heart tightened, and he abruptly turned around.
A sword-wielding man stood behind him, while several companions who had been beside him moments earlier had already been decapitated.
Only then did the stench of blood spread.
Lin Ye considered that shout the pirate had still managed to make.
It seemed falling into the great whirlpool most likely would not destroy the ship and kill everyone aboard.
Not knowing where they would emerge meant the undercurrents connected to the whirlpool could lead anywhere.
"Where is this place?"
At that thought, Lin Ye's expression softened, and his voice became gentler.
But the pirate whose telescope had fallen to the ground did not believe that this youthful-looking fellow was someone easy to talk to.
"Ah!"
The pirate yanked the long blade from his waist and slashed straight at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye raised his hand. Armament Haki gathered in his palm as he caught the descending blade.
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