The Most Talented Pirate Hunter - Chapter 18

The sun rose.

Its rays scattered across the land.

Life began to stir.

At the headquarters of the Twin Wheel Pirates, only Kokos remained. He sat on his tiger-skin-draped throne, twin pistols at his waist, drinking as he waited.

He had a feeling that the brat would come for him.

As expected, Hermes, who had been hunting like a ghost, appeared boldly at the entrance, returned to normal size, and walked into the hall.

“You came after all.”

Looking at the slightly casual Hermes, Kokos wasn’t as angry as he expected. There was only a calm before the storm.

In his eyes, Hermes was already dead.

And it would be a gruesome death.

“I was planning to leave, but your men wouldn’t let me, so I had to follow the script.”

Hermes shrugged, looking indifferent.

“Only one of us walks out of here today.”

Kokos’s reply was filled with killing intent, reconciliation was impossible.

Both knew it was a fight to the death.

The atmosphere grew oppressive and wild.

Both were ruthless, ready to attack at any moment, neither letting their guard down.

Bang!!!

A bullet flew out. Hermes didn’t even see Kokos draw his gun. Instinctively, he shrank to five millimeters to dodge it. Another bullet followed immediately, tearing through the air.

Even at five millimeters, Hermes felt the threat.

The opponent’s aim was precise.

Continuously jumping and running, Hermes grabbed a stool and threw it. The sight was both powerful and bizarre.

After all, Hermes was only five millimeters tall, about the size of a grain of mouse droppings.

It was like an ant throwing a stool but with great force.

Bang!!!

A loud crash as Kokos shot the stool. He then swiftly moved towards Hermes, firing two more bullets.

Hermes’s expression grew serious.

He had thought the weakness of a gunman was close combat, but Kokos clearly had close-combat skills.

No wonder his bounty was higher than Captain Joia’s and Captain Chainman’s. He was indeed formidable.

A bullet grazed Hermes, bigger than his body, almost hitting him.

Suddenly, darkness loomed overhead. Kokos’s huge, black shoe sole descended with a whoosh, like the sky falling, aiming to stomp Hermes.

In the nick of time.

Hermes channeled all his strength into his finger, suddenly growing to fifty centimeters and firing a powerful Finger Pistol. Amidst a spray of blood and a scream, Kokos was sent flying, a deep hole in his right foot.

But as a gunman, his counterattack was fierce.

While flying back, Kokos fired two bullets, perfectly timed when Hermes was retracting his attack, and at a tricky angle.

Damn it.

Hermes’s pupils contracted, sensing danger. His hair stood on end.

He could dodge one bullet but couldn’t predict the trajectory of the second. It would hit for sure.

His heart pounded.

Death felt imminent.

But in that split second, Hermes’s senses vanished.

At that moment.

The world stopped.

Instinctively, Hermes sucked in his stomach, stuck out his butt. A bullet tore through his shirt, grazing him and embedding itself in the wall.

He panted heavily.

Sweat trickled down his forehead. Looking at his abdomen, he saw a bleeding scratch. It was just a flesh wound.

He had dodged it.

That chilling sensation and the vague trajectory flashing in his mind—was it…

Suppressing his excitement, Hermes looked greedily at Kokos. An idea formed: putting himself in danger, Kokos was the perfect sparring partner.

The surprise came suddenly; he wasn’t prepared.

“Whoosh!!!!”

Kokos launched a new attack, ignoring the injury on his foot.

“Stay calm, stay calm.”

Facing Kokos’s attack, Hermes took a deep breath, trying to relax and recapture that ethereal feeling.

But~

Blood splattered as Hermes grunted.

Damn, that hurt.

His arm was hit, exposing the bone. The sensation he sought didn’t return. Fortunately, he dodged slightly, or he would’ve been done for.

Bang bang bang.

Kokos kicked. Hermes raised his arm to block, stumbling back a few steps. Before he could react, two bullets shot towards him again.

The opponent’s attacks were relentless.

Gradually.

Hermes was forced on the defensive. He rarely used his shrinking ability, only defending, which infuriated Kokos, who saw it as an insult.

“It’s coming.”

More wounds appeared on Hermes. Though none were fatal, he was losing a lot of blood.

His pale face showed he was nearing his limit, but he felt a strange excitement and fervor.

The world went silent again, and bullets’ trajectories slowed.

No doubt, this was Observation Haki.

“Hahaha~”

“Keep going!”

Hermes laughed wildly, perfectly dodging a volley of shots. He looked maniacal.

This was an unexpected joy.

Hermes had considered many possibilities for awakening Haki, but he never thought it would be this way, so early, so suddenly.

The only downside was the life-threatening trigger. Keeping that feeling was crucial, or it might not trigger again.

Since the opportunity was here, he had to seize it.

“You’ve gone too far.”

Kokos was furious, firing wildly, combining it with his combat skills. Hermes’s passive defense made it harder, increasing the pressure.

More injuries.

Hermes was nearing his breaking point, but the Haki triggers became more frequent.

“Pff!!!”

A bullet pierced his body, his face turning pale. He was dancing on the edge of death.

This shot was severe.

It drained Hermes’s energy.

Time to retreat.

Shrinking to five millimeters, Hermes quickly fled. Continuing would risk his life, not just his mastery of Observation Haki.

Undoubtedly.

Compared to killing Kokos, awakening Observation Haki was the greatest gain. He could always take the head later, but Haki’s awakening wasn’t guaranteed.

“Don’t run if you have the guts.”

Kokos’s mind snapped.

Victory was within reach, but the brat escaped.

With his injured foot, pursuit was impossible. He could only watch Hermes disappear.

“Damn it.”

“Jörmungandr!!!”

His frustrated, furious roar echoed through the camp, eyes blood-red.

“Cough cough cough!”

Meanwhile.

Hermes ran, coughing blood, clutching his bleeding chest, heading quickly to the previous medical clinic.

He might still be saved.

Luckily, his current body was stronger than his past one. With intense training, his defense and recovery were far better than an ordinary person’s.

But compared to the superhumans of the sea, Hermes was still weak.

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