One Piece: Starting with Creating the Strongest Character Design

when!when!when!

The dull yet violent clanging of metal exploded like thunder in the ears of the surrounding pirates, causing many to instinctively cover their ears and turn pale.

Every clash of weapons and fists between the two sides created spiderweb-like cracks in the ground, sending shards of stone flying.

However, the more they fought, the more shocked Ryan Hunter became.

He had already activated his Devil Fruit power, entering a completely beast-like berserk state.

With its entire body covered in fur, its strength, speed, resilience, and basic physical attributes have all increased by more than an order of magnitude.

Even so, Ryan Hunter could still clearly feel waves of tingling, numbness, and stinging pain coming from his arms.

The palms gripping the spiked club were violently shaken and cracked, with streaks of blood seeping from between the fingers.

The jet-black spiked club, which seemed incredibly heavy to ordinary people, gradually became heavy and sluggish under his full-force swing, slowing down his swing speed by even a fraction.

Is this guy... really not a Devil Fruit user?

Ryan Hunter stared intently at the young naval officer he was fiercely fighting opposite, his mind churning with a mixture of surprise and an uncontrollable surge of violence.

Despite the intense close combat, the opposing naval officer remained calm, without even a drop of sweat breaking out, and his breathing remained steady, as if this fierce battle was merely a routine warm-up for him.

If this stalemate continues, my physical strength will be constantly depleted, and I will surely be defeated.

"drink!"

It was another head-on clash. Ryan Hunter used the recoil from the collision between his spiked club and his opponent's fist to pull himself away, instantly creating a distance of several meters.

Unlike the previous tentative struggle, his eyes were now fierce, and he had made up his mind to no longer hold back.

Ryan Hunter exhaled thick white steam from his mouth and nose, his body billowing with white smoke. His already exaggeratedly large beast-like body swelled up again, his shoulders and back bulged, his fangs grew longer, and his bestial features became even more distinct and ferocious. The oppressive aura emanating from his body almost solidified into a tangible form.

Entering this deep beast-like state, his stamina will be lost at an alarming rate, but in return, his strength and speed will increase exponentially, and his body's self-healing ability will rise to a terrifying level of near immortality.

It was with this very move that he withstood Kaido's Thunder Bagua attack without dying on the spot, and it was this self-healing ability that earned him the reputation of being "immortal".

Abandoning superfluous rationality and fancy skills, Ryan Hunter's eyes were bloodshot, and the heavy, black spiked club in his hands became as light as a toy again. He wielded it with great force, the sound of it cutting through the air was ear-piercing.

However, the very next second after he gripped the spiked club tightly.

Ryan Hunter's figure vanished from the spot, leaving only a blurry afterimage.

A violent and unparalleled aura, carrying the immense power of the spiked club, hurtled straight towards Kitahara Tsune's face.

He completely disregarded Kitahara Tsuneo's attacks, intending to withstand the damage head-on, trading injury for injury, and risking his life for his own.

In his view, he was practically immortal in this state, and with this fighting style, victory was assured.

Kitahara Tsune was also slightly suppressed for a moment by this sudden and violent attack, and his body paused for half a beat.

But he reacted extremely quickly, and the fist that was originally aimed straight at the opponent's heart instantly changed its move, turning the fist into a palm, and a powerful force suddenly erupted.

With a powerful slap, he struck Ryan Hunter's oncoming body, sending the ferocious beast flying. It crashed into a row of low buildings in the distance and plunged into the billowing dust.

A moment later, Ryan Hunter struggled to his feet from the rubble, a mocking smile barely managing to appear on his beast-like, grotesque face, his voice hoarse and grating:

"What's wrong, kid? Don't you dare take my blow head-on?"

Kitahara Tsune smiled softly, his tone indifferent:

"I've only been wearing this navy uniform for a short time, so I have to take good care of it and not let you get it dirty or torn."

"You insolent brat!"

Ryan Hunter was completely enraged and roared as he charged forward again.

Under this almost reckless and frenzied offensive, his attacks were cunning and ruthless, each move deadly, and his speed was extreme.

Even Kitahara Tsune's paper drawing couldn't completely evade it; the sharp tip of the rod and its claws eventually left several shallow scratches and damage on his naval uniform.

Kitahara's counterattack was equally fierce, with precise punches and kicks landing continuously on Ryan Hunter.

In an instant, deep, bone-revealing, and chilling holes were left on his body, with blood splattering everywhere.

However, those hideous wounds are healing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye; the flesh is wriggling and the wounds are closing.

However, Kitahara Tsune keenly noticed that the speed at which the other party's injuries were recovering was gradually slowing down as his physical strength was depleted.

Ryan Hunt clearly knew he couldn't maintain this momentum, so he swung his spiked club even more wildly and fiercely, his attacks becoming increasingly frenzied.

"My final move! I'll send you to hell!"

Ryan Hunt roared to the sky, his body enveloped in a thick white mist that was almost vaporized, and all his strength frantically gathered in his arms.

"Weide Bagua!"

This is the move he has imitated to the best of his ability.

Back when he served under Kaido, he had the privilege of witnessing the "world's strongest creature" unleash the Great Vajra Thunder Bagua.

That world-destroying power filled him with longing.

After countless imitations and studies, even though he had not yet mastered the domineering aura, he eventually grasped a sliver of its essence and created this imitated killing move.

Faced with this vicious attack that imitated the strongest strike of the Four Emperors, a hint of surprise finally flashed across Kitahara Tsune's eyes, but there was no fear in the slightest. He simply sighed softly and did not dodge or evade, letting the black spiked club smash heavily into his body.

"Thump—!"

The loud noise reverberated throughout the venue, but the expected sound of the iron bar smashing through flesh did not occur. Instead, there was a clear, muffled sound like metal striking stone!

Ryan Hunter felt a terrifying recoil force far exceeding the force of his swing, surging through the spiked club. His arms went numb instantly, and he could barely hold the weapon.

His pupils contracted sharply, and with a quick glance, he saw that a pitch-black object was firmly wrapped around the area where Kitahara Tsune had been hit.

"What a waste of this uniform..."

Kitahara Tsune's voice carried a hint of a sigh, instantly snapping him out of his astonishment.

He was about to step back when his body suddenly froze in place, as if he were tightly bound by invisible ropes and could not move.

Looking down, he saw a deep blue aura that had enveloped his entire body, completely immobilizing him.

"Storm Kick - Entangling Shadow"

His heart pounded wildly, and he strained with all his might to break free. With his physique, he could break free of the restraints in just 0.5 seconds.

"Give up the resistance."

Kitahara Tsutomu's calm voice rang in his ears.

"Six Styles Secret Technique: Six Kings Spear".

An invisible, powerful shockwave erupted from Kitahara Tsuneo's fists, piercing straight through Ryan Hunter's body.

The violent airflow instantly dispersed the dust and smoke, and the buildings on the surrounding muddy roads were all shattered by the aftershocks, with rubble flying everywhere.

As the smoke cleared, Ryan Hunter's eyes rolled back, his body convulsed, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Even so, the wounds on his body that had not yet fully healed were still slowly wriggling, demonstrating his terrifying self-healing power, which was known as "immortality".

"Truly worthy of being called immortal."

Kitahara Tsune stepped forward slowly and spoke softly.

"Cough cough..."

Ryan Hunter, who had collapsed to the ground, coughed up several mouthfuls of blood with difficulty. His bones seemed to be shattered, and every muscle was in excruciating pain. He was unable to move an inch.

Only now did he realize that he hadn't truly withstood Kaido's Thunder Bagua back then; he had merely triggered the Honey Badger Fruit's power to barely survive.

Just like now.