One Piece Devouring Fruit

“Looks like this guy isn’t as reckless as his appearance suggests,” Michion thought, realizing his opponent’s strategy. He understood the adage “never judge a book by its cover” more deeply now.

“But it doesn’t matter; your plan will become the key to your grave!”

With cold eyes, Michion seized an opening in Aston’s defense, attacking swiftly like a falcon striking its prey. Michion’s mighty fists, amplified by the Green Aura, overshadowed the other two auras.

Michion’s speed increased, and Aston soon found he couldn’t see Michion’s figure. The relentless wind of Michion’s punches hit him from all directions, each strike accompanied by intense pain.

The force of the punches shredded Aston’s shirt into pieces, scattering the fragments around. But Aston couldn’t care less about his tattered clothes; Michion’s assault continued unabated. Second punch, third punch, fourth punch—a barrage of blows rained down on Aston.

Gradually, Aston felt increasing pain and realized that his strength was being drained. His legs wobbled as he tried to escape, but it was too late.

Michion grabbed Aston’s shoulder, his right arm drawn back like a bow, and with the power of his entire body and the aura’s boost, his fist shot forward like an arrow.

“Crack!”

The sound of breaking bones echoed around them, and Aston’s massive body collapsed to the ground.

Michion, expressionless, looked at the fallen body, shook the blood from his hand, and directed the surrounding air to form weapons that struck down several nearby pirates.

“Whoosh.”

After helping the nearby soldiers, Michion finally relaxed and exhaled. Repeatedly using “Force Drain” had drained his energy.

It was appealing to use the opponent’s energy to sustain himself, but Michion found that the power he drained didn’t reasonably compensate for the energy he expended.

Nonetheless, “Force Drain” showed great potential despite its current shortcomings. It was particularly effective against physically strong opponents like Aston. Even though Michion’s strength wasn’t enough to break through Aston’s defenses, the continuous use of “Force Drain” slowly sapped Aston’s energy, leading to his eventual downfall.

Satisfied with “Force Drain,” Michion saw it as a powerful technique that, seemingly inconspicuous, could silently wear down an enemy’s stamina in a prolonged confrontation.

“Force Drain” was initially developed as a preliminary technique while experimenting with “Ouroboros.” Michion had hoped to create a skill that would allow him to gain “experience” from his enemies. Inspired by games from his previous life, he conceived an ability to absorb energy through attacks.

With Aston defeated, Michion helped the surrounding soldiers and Royal Guards to eliminate the remaining pirates. Amplified by his aura, he led the gathered soldiers to mop up the surrounding enemies.

Soon, the battle concluded, with the pirates fleeing in panic or being captured. The soldiers’ combined efforts led to a decisive victory.

“Phew, it’s finally over. I’m exhausted,” Tina, covered in dirt, collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.

“There are so many pirates lately. What’s with this Great Pirate Era?” Sean wiped the dried blood from his face, his expression angry.

“These are just recent low-level pirates. The strong ones who can match our ‘Marine Six Powers’ are likely being taken care of by Aokiji. Stay cautious, and these skirmishes can be good practice,” Michion said, comforting his companions. He knew they were still mentally immature and had become complacent after their comfortable days in the kingdom. The sudden battle had affected their morale.

“Once this period of chaos in the North Blue settles down, we can set sail and visit other islands,” Michion suggested.

“Really? That’s great!” With her short black hair and athletic build, Sora jumped up in excitement. Despite her maturing appearance, her tomboyish nature made her more interested in adventure than appearance.

“Such energy,” Tina commented, clearly lacking Sora’s abundant stamina as she sat on the ground.

Around them, the soldiers of the Marines and the Ishtar Kingdom’s Royal Guard, who were cleaning up the battlefield, looked at Michion and his companions with admiration. They were impressed by the prowess of these young fighters.

The Royal Guard soldiers, in particular, felt proud and honored. Michion, their future king, had demonstrated his bravery and skill in battle, saving many of their lives. He had shown he was a leader who would fight for and protect his people, not a ruler who would hide behind his soldiers.

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