The Forest Vulcans Come for Revenge

Mira cautiously opened her eyes to find three pairs of curious eyes staring at her.

Hughes even pried her claws apart to examine their structure, bringing his eyes so close they nearly touched.

Unfortunately, her claws quietly closed, and Mira drew her arm back, leaving Hughes's curiosity unsatisfied.

Following Hughes's guidance, Mira had been communicating constantly with the voice in her head. Now, apart from its appearance, the demon arm was no different from her own.

It was the first time anyone had touched her arm like that, and the strange sensation made her uncomfortable.

"Aren't you afraid?" Mira asked nervously, her heart in her throat.

"Oh, you mean this thing looks evil and ugly, right? Just judging by its appearance, it does."

Hughes, nicknamed the Honest Young Gentleman, told the truth. Then, after dodging Lisanna's repeated attempts to stamp on his feet, he continued.

"But as soon as I think about how you can use magic to transform into that demon whenever you want, all I feel is fucking envy. You don't understand how appealing an ability like yours is to a man!"

With that, Hughes sighed helplessly as a flame rose in his hand. "We both helped destroy the demon in your church, so how come all I got was fire?"

The Flame-Flame Fruit suffered its daily dose of disdain: +1.

"Your flames are super powerful, Hughes!"

"Elfman, I'm very pleased by your flattery, but I don't like your dishonesty!"

Hughes glanced sidelong at him. The thick-browed, wide-eyed boy's future Beast King forms might not be very powerful, but each would be more handsome than the last, making Hughes envious too.

"Give me your other hand." Hughes held out his other hand, gesturing for Mira to put hers on it.

While examining the demon arm, he had noticed that the burns on it still hadn't healed.

If the demon arm was like that, the human arm had to be worse.

Sure enough, when Mira placed her delicate hand on Hughes's palm, her forearm was still red and wrinkled, a stark contrast to the snowy white skin of her upper arm.

"It's only been a few days. There's no way it could heal that fast!" Mira said quietly.

"Ah, I hope it doesn't leave a mark. Otherwise, I'll have a lot to answer for."

"I don't mind."

Hughes: ...You saying that just makes me feel worse!

"Hughes, Mira, how long are you going to keep holding hands like that... I don't approve!!"

Hughes looked down at Lisanna expressionlessly, and she immediately fell silent, abashed.

"Don't worry. Once you learn Take Over Magic from Makarov, this demon arm will turn back to normal! Try to accept it and communicate with it whenever you can. It'll be good for you."

"As for the burns on your arm, I'll think of something!"

"Mm!"

The white-haired girl, no longer withdrawn, nodded firmly. Now that someone had accepted her, she gradually straightened her back.

"Let's keep moving. Our destination is Magnolia!"

"Ah, Hughes, don't walk so fast. Let me lead the way..."

[Ding! Hidden quest "Avenger of Mount Colubo" triggered and automatically accepted!]

Hughes, who had been concentrating on the road, was startled by the system's sudden announcement. It was another automatically accepted hidden quest, and it was related to Mount Colubo.

He raised an eyebrow, and a transparent panel unfolded before him.

[Avenger of Mount Colubo: Though the King of Mount Colubo has fallen, that is now in the past. Following a selection within the tribe, a new king has been born. The new king is currently leading its subordinates to kill the culprit who killed the old king. Eliminate them!]

[Quest reward: Increased physical attributes (already granted in advance)]

[Quest penalty: Flame-Flame Fruit confiscated]

As the panel faded, Hughes's eyes gradually lit up. A warm current flowed through his body, and he could clearly feel that his strength had increased substantially again.

Before seeing the system's quest description, he had thought the Black Magic Cult behind Mira's village had come after them for revenge. As it turned out, it was that group of Forest Vulcans rushing to their deaths.

The warmth inside him faded, and Hughes grinned. He wished he could get a few more easy-reward quests like this.

Forest Vulcans? Weren't those baby-cup-level opponents?

He clenched his fist and punched the air, raising a rushing gust that made Mira turn back in confusion.

"What's wrong, Hughes?"

"Nothing. Keep an eye on Elfman and Lisanna. That group of Forest Vulcans has come looking for-"

Before Hughes could finish his warning, a commotion erupted in the nearby forest.

"Boom!"

A boulder fell from the sky and crashed down among the four of them. The ground shook, a thick cloud of dust billowed up, and fragments of stone flew everywhere.

Hughes stepped in front of them and swung his fists to smash the flying rocks.

"Watch yourselves! Don't let them catch you off guard. If there's trouble, run over to me!!" Hughes called to the others behind him.

Then he leaped forward, raised his fist, and sent the nearest Forest Vulcan flying.

He twisted around, his right leg whipping toward a Forest Vulcan attacking him from behind.

"Clang..."

It was like striking a solid block of iron. The Forest Vulcan howled in pain and shook its arm furiously.

Hughes was a little taken aback. He had expected to be sent flying.

It wasn't that he doubted Perfect-Level Tekkai's capabilities. The Forest Vulcan was simply too big, and he hadn't thought his small frame could match its strength.

Looks like the system's reward of increased physical attributes might be even more incredible than I thought! Hughes marveled inwardly.

The first time he had fought a Vulcan, even after entering his episode, he had only dared to launch a few sneak attacks with flame-covered fists. He had mainly relied on the Flame-Flame Fruit's power to defeat it.

Now, as long as he guarded against their possession ability, he was confident he could take down these Forest Vulcans without using the Flame-Flame Fruit.

That confidence came from Perfect-Level Tekkai and the physical attributes the system had enhanced twice...

After all, Perfect-Level Tekkai allowed him to move freely while using Tekkai, rather than forcing him to stay rooted to the spot and take attacks head-on.

With that thought, Hughes pushed off the ground, dodged the Vulcan's storm of enormous fists, and slid along the ground between its legs to get behind it. Drawing back his right fist, he struck the tendon behind its ankle.

"Boom!"

The Forest Vulcan fell to the ground, clutching its leg and howling. Hughes took the opportunity to activate Tekkai and stomped repeatedly, aiming each strike at vital points like its throat and the pressure points on its head.

Five left! Hughes counted silently as he watched the Forest Vulcan beneath his feet disappear. He cast a disdainful glance at the increasingly furious Forest Vulcans around him.

At that moment, he desperately wished he had a sword in hand... Only a bloodstained blade could set off his heroic bearing.

Upholding the fine virtues of striking first in a fight and winning half the battle with a sneak attack, Hughes, who had no concept of fairness, made the first move.

He stepped forward, and while the first Forest Vulcan braced itself for his attack, Hughes brushed past it, suddenly accelerated, and kicked the third Forest Vulcan straight in the groin.

Just when you thought he was on the first level, he had already set his sights on the third.

Anyone who had been in a group fight knew that when surrounded by enemies, the best option was always to ignore everything else and kill one first.

With Tekkai activated, Hughes was full of confidence. Fearlessly, he let the many boulder-like fists rain down on him.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"