How strong could a brat that young possibly be? I've eaten more salt than he's eaten rice.
The pirate captain muttered to himself as he fired off four more shots in rapid succession. Yet every single bullet was dodged with laughable ease.
Hidan looked bored, his tone edged with annoyance. "Are you done yet? Out of tricks already?"
It was then the captain finally realized his underlings hadn't lied to him. The man dressed like Liu Yun truly could evade his bullets.
Damn it. When did so many terrifying newcomers start appearing?
His face twisted viciously, the pirate captain spat, "Don't think you're safe just because my pistol can't touch you. I'll show you what real bullet speed is!"
He tossed the firearm to the ground and pulled out a strange metallic sphere from his pocket. Tossing it lightly in his palm, the sphere suddenly floated in midair, suspended by some mysterious force.
"Heh… brat, you should be honored. Very few can force me to this point. To die by this move is a privilege!" His mouthful of yellowed teeth made his grin all the more grotesque.
"Bullet Time Impact Burst!"
With a roar, the sphere spun violently, releasing a shrill screech as it ripped through the air. The air around it warped and shimmered, glowing with heat as the temperature soared into the thousands of degrees.
So fast!
Hidan's eyes narrowed, his fingers moving in a blur as he formed hand seals.
"Earth Release Earth Flow Wall!"
The ground in front of him erupted upward, stone and soil surging to form a towering barrier just as the blazing sphere struck.
Boom!
The metallic orb smashed into the wall, detonating in a thunderous blast. The sturdy rock wall was half-destroyed in an instant, rubble scattering across the battlefield.
Smoke and dust billowed thick, cloaking everything. No one could tell how the fight had ended.
But when the haze lifted, Hidan stood unharmed.
The pirate captain's expression faltered. "So you can withstand that… impressive. But let's see how many more you can endure." His lips curled into a ghastly smile.
"I thought I was the one who talked too much," Hidan sneered, tilting his chin upward, arrogance radiating from him. "Turns out you yap even more than me. And do you know what I hate most? People who talk more than I do. I'll sacrifice you to Lord Jashin!"
His eyes gleamed with a frenzied light, a flush rising on his cheeks madness itself, the mark of a true zealot.
"Lord Jashin will be pleased with you." Hidan swung his massive scythe, leaping high. With both hands he carved a sinister arc.
"Scythe Style Reap Life!"
A sickly green blade of light burst forth, streaking toward the pirate captain's throat. Wherever it passed, flowers and trees withered in an instant, leaves turning yellow and lifeless as if centuries of drought had devoured them.
The captain's eyes widened in horror. His once ruddy face went ashen, lips trembling uncontrollably.
But there was no escaping the Reap Life. The spectral blade passed through him like a whispering wind.
"What a joke," the captain laughed nervously, patting his body. "See? Nothing's missing."
"Idiot." Hidan smirked as he slung the scythe back across his shoulders. "Did you really think it would be as simple as decapitation?"
The captain's smugness shattered. He looked down in shock his hands had shriveled into withered claws, skin as dry as an old corpse.
"You… how could you possess such a vile technique?" His voice cracked, trembling in disbelief.
Hidan blurred forward, his hand locking around the captain's throat. He lifted him easily, cold laughter spilling from his lips. "Pathetic. So this is what passes for strength in this world?"
"Spare me! I'm just a small-time pirate! Show mercy, great one!"
Oh? Just a small fry?
Hidan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then tell me who the strongest in this world is, and I'll spare your miserable life."
Terrified, the pirate blurted out, "The Five Elders! The Five Elders are the strongest! I can't even compare to a single toe of theirs!"
He jabbed a trembling finger toward the direction of the Holy Land.
"Heh… in that case, you're worthless to me."
With a twist of his wrist, there was a sickening crack. The pirate captain's head lolled lifelessly.
"The Five Elders, huh? I'll see for myself just how strong they really are." Hidan's gaze pierced the distance, eyes fixed toward the Sacred Land.
Then he vaulted upward, snatching one of the captain's trembling lackeys by the collar.
"Listen, boy. If you want to live, take me to this so-called Holy Land your captain bragged about. Refuse, and your end will be worse than his." His scythe glinted ominously in his free hand.
"Y-yes, sir! I'll take you there!" The pirate underling stammered in terror. With their captain dead, how could he dare defy this monster?
The two disappeared quickly into the distance, leaving the rest of the crew drenched in cold sweat.
"Who the hell was that? Wearing the same clothes as the God Liu Yun?"
"Could he really be the God himself?"
"No… the aura's not right. He looks similar, but he lacks that cold, commanding presence Liu Yun carried."
"Damn it… just what kind of organization are they from? Whoever they are, it's terrifying!"
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