As Alex activates his Spiritual Arrow ability, his consciousness immediately transfers into his arrow. Despite linking himself to it, Alex can barely comprehend what’s going on—the magic and Aura inside the arrow are so strong that his senses are partially clouded and distorted.

Finally, the arrow flies directly towards Jason, who is still holding Nico Robin hostage, his broken knife close to her throat, Alex making sure to aim for his throat.

As the arrow is about to land, Alex barely manages to perceive Jason smiling, whispering a word—somehow understanding its meaning anyway.

“Reverse Flow.”

No… he can even do it to an arrow?! What kind of bullshit overpowered Hatsu is that?!

Suddenly, Alex’s consciousness flips around, his view no longer on Jason and Robin, but on the building where his body is lying.

His movement comes to a halt—then, a split second later, he sees his arrow flying straight towards his own body, taking the exact reverse course, swiftly flying towards Alex.

Fuck! I need to change course!If I cut the connection, I won’t be able to react in time. There is a small period where I can’t act...! I need to risk it.

Desperate, Alex sees his own body come into view, completely unprotected. He used Ko, and by focusing all of his Aura into offense, he drastically lowered his defenses in return, turning his own attack into a potentially lethal threat to himself.

TURN AROUND!!

By a literal hair’s breadth, the lightning arrow shoots past Alex’s face so close that his hair flutters from the force. It punches through the wall of the building behind him—but due to his intense concentration, Alex manages to retain control, now able to move it again.

He quickly turns the arrow around, forcing it to curve back toward Jason.

“He must be dead,” Alex briefly hears Jason laugh from a distance, still holding Robin hostage as they walk over to Shinji. “System doesn’t show it, because it was his own attack.”

Shortly before the arrow arrives, both of them react. Jason, by pure instinct, shoves Robin forward into the arrow’s course and throws himself down onto the ground.

I can’t hit Robin!

Desperate to avoid striking her, Alex guides the arrow toward the unsuspecting Shinji. Still sitting on his horse, Shinji can’t dodge in time, and the arrow slams into his chest, deeply penetrating his already battered body.

However, thanks to the extremely long flight path and punching through the wall of the building, Alex’s arrow has lost not only speed and impact, but also most of its Aura and magic, drastically lowering its lethality.

You have dealt 68 damage to Player Shinji

You have caused bleeding (Chest)

Despite the heavy impact, Shinji manages to stay on top of his horse, not even falling off.

Alex’s consciousness immediately returns to his body, and he darts forward, rushing toward Robin, who has been thrown onto the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches Shinji—clearly wounded, but still in the game—charging forward, ready to intercept him.

Fucking cheat, Fire Emblem logic. He probably can’t fall down because of his skill.I need to abuse that. His fucking strange abilities must come with downsides. I need to play his game and beat him... so what do I do?!My LUK is high, and if I increase my AGI even further, then… I can dodge him!

With Shinji still on course to intercept him while Jason looks around—shocked and confused—seemingly deciding what to do, Alex activates [Uzin’s Rage].

Release Rage activated

You have lost 100 HP

STR and AGI + 20 for 10 seconds

Alex then sheathes his [Draining Meteor Sword], only wielding Mustrano, which is still conjured on his left hand.

Without a sword… no weapon triangle advantage for you!With that increased AGI and my LUK… I’ll fucking dodge and kill you!

Alex presses onward, sharpening his senses and focusing all of his attention on dodging the incoming spear.

Despite his increased speed, he barely succeeds in dodging it, feeling his cheek getting torn open.

You have received 2 damage

Toxic Breakthrough!

Alex jumps forward, focusing all of his Aura onto Mustrano as he flies toward Shinji, who looks shocked beyond belief by his suddenly increased speed.

As Alex crashes into the helpless cavalier, he feels a real impact.

You have dealt 101 Damage to Player Shinji

You have poisoned Player Shinji

You have caused Bleeding

Despite the effective Attack, he sees Shinji immediately reacting, taking out an item, a small bottle as he’s enveloped in a bright light and rides forward, trying to escape.

No!

Alex uses Pull and hurls a Biotic projectile towards the half-dead cavalier, causing him to stagger back towards him.

“Kill… kill… kill… kill…” Mustrano yells in a crazed voice, his left arm as if guided and empowered by the Snake Demon himself. Tapping into his strange companion’s might, Alex jumps into the air and trusts his instinct, slashing Mustrano forward, somehow managing to cut open his throat in a gory display of brutality.

You have dealt 91 x 3 = 273 damage to Player Shinji

You have killed Player Shinji

Not hesitating despite the bloody display in front of him, and despite the fact that it’s showing some activity, a chest slowly forming itself, Alex rushes towards Robin. She’s wounded, but awake, and she’s desperately trying to run away.

However, an enraged, panicked Jason follows after her, looking exhausted.

Robin suddenly lifts her hands, and a few hands form on Jason’s body, trying to subdue him.

Suddenly, his Aura spikes as he performs Ren, using his boosted STR to break free and resume his chase. However, Alex notes that he immediately stops using Ren, sweat pouring down his face.

What is he thinking?! He wants to kill Robin at any price? Why?!

He glances at the approaching Alex, fear clearly visible in his expression, yet he still chases his target with bloodthirsty eyes.

Your Hatsu… you used it thrice, though the last use looked slightly different. It’s so ridiculously powerful… it must come with a heavy Aura cost. You also used Ren a lot. You seem completely out of juice now. You look like you’re just about to faint. Die!

Smiling, still empowered for a few more seconds, Alex rushes towards his enemy. He uses Ren to further boost his power, draws his [Executioner’s Blade R2], and finally slashes forward in a chaotic, uncontrolled, yet swift and surprising attack.

Jason, seemingly unable to cope with Alex’s extreme speed, jumps backward, defending himself with his arms held up in front of him, desperately using Ren again, a small Aura forming around his body before traveling solely to his arms.

Alex, already a little exhausted, acting without calculation because his boosted stats are about to run out, manages to land the slash, but misses Jason’s body. Even so, he cleanly cuts into Jason’s defensively raised arms.

You have dealt 121 damage to Player Jason

You have crippled Player Jason (Left forearm)

You have crippled Player Jason (Right forearm)

You have caused bleeding

Alex manages to completely cut off Jason’s left arm and deeply cut into his right arm.

“AAArgh… fuck you!” Jason yells, his voice shaking with rage. “I’ll fucking kill you! I will kill you, your entire group, everyone you hold dear! You’ll see!”

Despite his wounded right arm—the only one he can still use—he manages to take out a round object, one that Alex immediately recognizes as yet another Bronze Bomb, the same kind he used at Water 7.

He somehow lights it instantly, seemingly just with a thought, and throws it.

Alex holds his sword in front of him, trying to deflect it, but the bomb lands short before him and Robin and explodes, causing a small blast that hits nobody.

However, the explosion distracts him for a split second and fills the street with smoke.

A second later, he sees a cruel smile on Jason’s face. “You’ll be hunted… wherever you go… you’ll be hunted…!”

Suddenly, Alex spots another card in Jason’s hand as he begins to laugh.

No! I need to use my...

“I’ll have my revenge! Leave On!” he yells, before getting engulfed in a bright, shiny light and suddenly disappearing.

FUCK!

“Leave…” Alex mutters, staring at the fading light, shocked at the unexpected development.

Such a powerful card… not only Accompany, but also Leave. Those two must have been worth a fortune.Leave should cost millions of FC… it’s a lifesaver!He can just abandon and leave a mission?! That takes the risk out of it; it must be insanely expensive... maybe it comes with restrictions and a cost, but why does it matter? It saved his life.I fucked up… I should have used my [Death Duel Voucher]. I was too greedy! I fucked up!

More importantly… I let such a fucking pathetic wannabe villain escape. Damn… I didn’t expect him to have such an item.

Finally, he turns his attention towards Robin, who stares at him in shock.

“You… why did you save me?” she asks, her face completely confused.

“We had a deal, didn’t we?” Alex asks, smiling. “I’ll kill fucking Crocodile… as for my promise. There is a certain tomb to the east of Alubarna—you might know about it. Inside, you’ll find what’s called a Poneglyph. What information it contains, I don’t know… maybe a weapon, maybe something else. Not like I can read it. If I’m right, Crocodile wants to go there. It’s your call now… do you go with me and confront him, or do you escape?”

“I’ll come with you…” she says, looking determined. She slowly stumbles over to the spot where she fell, then picks up her hat and puts it back on her head, covering the bleeding wound on top of it.

Should I…

“Drink this,” Alex says, throwing her a [Wiggenweld Potion V2], which she catches. “If you trust me, you will dr—”

Without letting him finish, she opens the bottle and drinks it, her face shifting as she suppresses a quiet moan, her injuries immediately easing.

Alex turns around, hiding his frustrated expression from her.

Fuck… I let that fucker escape… now the Seekers will know… but will they blame me? Or him? He started it….

Still lost in thought, he walks over to Shinji’s corpse and picks up a [Bloody Chest] sitting on the body. However, as he stares at the man’s lifeless face, he remembers something—namely the bounty list Glimmerwhisk handed to him.

He grabs it from his inventory, and after a quick search, he actually finds Shinji’s face on it.

Huh?! Nice!

Shinji... bounty of... 75,000 FC. Not bad! I guess the Union wants him dead for some reason. Do they have a conflict with the Seekers? Well, not my job to judge them. I will take it regardless.

“Sorry, guy… I can’t let you rest in peace—at least not your head,” Alex mutters, bracing himself before cutting off the head and taking it with him.

“Still thinking about bounties even now?” Robin asks, appearing to be genuinely impressed. “You are far more greedy and frankly dangerous than I anticipated. Your abilities are far beyond what pirates in these parts should be capable of. Your crew seems to be equally talented. Perhaps you can truly take care of Crocodile. You seem to know his weaknesses.”

“I hope so,” Alex says. “We need to hurry up. I am not sure how long Luffy can hold out against him… let’s walk towards the tomb and hope he’s actually there.”

Together with Robin, Alex rushes through the city, smoke and cries surrounding him, the formerly peaceful city now a violent battlefield.