The Combat Instinct skill is quite interesting. Its effect is that if the user loses consciousness (including fainting, becoming mentally incapacitated, etc.), they will automatically counterattack when encountering danger. However, Renji didn't find this skill very practical.
He already has a system, yet he still gets knocked out by others? He might as well just quit.
He raised his hand and slashed at Urouge's neck.
Dismantle!
The incomparably sharp slash severed the neck of the unresisting Urouge.
"Hold on, sir!" Hawkins' voice sounded from afar, but it was already too late.
Looking at Urouge's rolling head, Hawkins' eyes were filled with deep confusion.
"This shouldn't be. I looked at Urouge's fortune today, and there was no sign of death."
Renji's gaze fell on Hawkins. His Heavenly Six Eyes sensed the strong, eerie aura emanating from the other party. At this moment, he suddenly understood where that familiar feeling came from.
If he remembered correctly, Hawkins should have eaten the Paramecia-type Straw-Straw Fruit. However, although the straw man he creates can take damage for the main body, it is, after all, just a substitution technique.
Moreover, this substitution technique is not invincible. Once all the straw men are destroyed, the main body will suffer a fatal blow.
It seems that the weakness of this devil fruit is still very obvious. One only needs to crush it. Thinking this, Renji smiled confidently.
Hawkins' expression at this moment had become incredibly solemn. Since he debuted, his divination had never been wrong.
But why today?!
"Allow me a moment."
Dropping this sentence, Hawkins ignored Renji and directly began divining on the spot, "The chance of escaping is 36%... The chance of losing the battle is 87%..."
Hawkins' pirate crew, however, were clearly not as calm as he was.
"Who is that Marine? He actually cut off the head of that 'Mad Monk' Urouge! Is he an Admiral?!"
"Are you an idiot?! Didn't you see that guy's shoulder insignia? He's clearly just a Petty Officer!"
"How is that possible! A mere Petty Officer can kill Urouge?!"
...
Miguel had just recovered from the shock when he saw who it was and immediately tensed up again.
"This guy is also one of The Worst Generation Supernovas! Basil Hawkins! His bounty is 249 million Berries. There's very little information about him."
"Ho?" Renji's eyes lit up at the words.
Such a high bounty?
Miguel's expression was grim as he assumed a fighting stance. "Why is our luck so bad today? We've already run into three Supernovas."
Bad luck? No!
This was clearly mind-boggling levels of luck.
Looking at Hawkins, who was still divining, Renji couldn't help but sigh.
He truly lives up to his reputation as someone who can calmly divine even in front of an Admiral. How composed he is.
Since he likes divination so much...
Renji raised his palm and began to form hand signs.
"Phase, Paramita, Pillar of Light!"
Buzz... Buzz...
The constantly condensing Cursed Energy even made the ground tremble. Miguel, who was nearby, was so frightened by this converging power that his hair stood on end.
"Why does it feel like boss's move is even more terrifying than the last one?"
The red light from Renji's Cursed Energy was like a second sun, illuminating the entire plaza.
Hawkins' subordinates were already in a panic, anxiously urging Hawkins to flee quickly.
"Boss, aren't you going to run? You'll die!"
However, Hawkins seemed not to hear them, because he had already calculated that he had no sign of death today. Although there had been a slight error just now, he was still extremely confident in the results of his divination.
Hawkins calmly said, "It's fine, I won't die."
After speaking, he looked at Renji. Although his cold, black pupils were now filled with a red glow, he still smiled slightly and said, "The power this Marine uses has a strange familiarity to mine."
Buzz!
The full power of Cursed Technique Reversal: Red had already formed. Against an ability user like Hawkins, the best solution was to destroy all his substitutes in one blow.
Renji wore a smile as he unleashed the attack.
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!
Boom!
With a flash of red light, the building where Hawkins was located was instantly engulfed.
If Renji hadn't shielded him, Miguel would probably have been blown away by the strong winds from the explosion.
"Whoa... Boss, the power of this move of yours is too astonishing. It could probably destroy a warship."
Looking at the explosion caused by Renji, Miguel's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He widened his eyes, his face full of shock.
The glass of the buildings around the plaza shattered, and that tall building, along with the buildings behind it, was destroyed, raising a cloud of dust.
The once bustling and lively street was now a ruin, a complete mess.
And the group of pirates was even more gruesome. Their bodies were blown to pieces, blood staining the ground, like a terrible nightmare.
Renji did not speak, his figure disappearing from the spot.
The next moment, in the ruins, his figure appeared silently.
Looking at the unharmed Hawkins in front of him, Renji's expression was playful. "Your ability is very interesting."
At this moment, Hawkins was no longer as composed as before. The sweat constantly seeping from his forehead already indicated this, but he still feigned calmness.
He said, "Your ability and mine have a strange sense of familiarity. I originally thought we would become very good partners."
Renji smiled. "Heh heh, why would you be my partner? Do you even qualify?"
Hawkins: "..."
Renji asked, "All the subordinates you brought are dead. I'm very curious, how many lives do you have left now?"
Looking at the smile on Renji's face, Hawkins' heart couldn't help but pound.
Renji's earlier dishonorable attack had instantly annihilated all his substitutes. Now, he had no substitutes left. In other words, if Renji killed him just one more time, he would truly die.
No, calm down!
I shouldn't have any sign of death today.
After a moment of silence, Hawkins' face suddenly became incomparably ferocious.
Devil Conquering Phase!
Since the substitutes had blocked the damage, Hawkins was now at full strength. Renji had just unleashed the full Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, and although it wasn't maximum output, he couldn't use it again in a short time.
Is this the oppressive feeling of a pirate with a 249 million Berries bounty?
Looking at the rapidly growing straw man in front of him, Renji's face showed a hint of excitement.
He gently flipped his palm, and a dark-patterned blade, shimmering with mysterious light, appeared in his hand.
The blade was entirely black, its body covered with mysterious dark patterns like hellfire, seemingly containing endless power and secrets. The blade was incomparably sharp, glinting with a cold light that sent shivers down one's spine.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for using a Supreme Grade weapon for the first time!
Reward: One-Sword Style Crimson Flash (Lv. 1)]