Settsetse! The Pirate Nemesis

But now, with no strength left in his body, Sett felt a mix of relief and regret.

The exhilarating part was that both of them had exchanged blows with all their might. The regrettable part was that he was unable to pursue them due to exhaustion…

After exhaling, Sett squatted on the ground for about ten seconds. With his monstrous physical abilities, Sett regained the physical strength of an adult male—of course, only that was enough for an adult male. This level of physical strength was only sufficient to allow Sett to get up and walk normally.

It was at this moment that the sea ice from the surrounding naval branches arrived belatedly. Gazing at Sett standing in the center of the ruins, his eyes were filled with shock.

"Mr. Sett, what is this?"

Hawkeye glanced at the naval lieutenant and Sett in the distance, and shook his head with a touch of emotion.

If it were any other bounty hunter, causing such significant damage and leaving Sett alone on the island, they would likely be taken back for questioning. However, it's undeniable that having connections has its advantages. Like now, even though Sett is the only one left on the destroyed island, the Marines show no intention of using force. Clearly, they all consider Sett one of their own…

Other naval branches might not know this. But as the naval branch closest to Marine Headquarters, the Sabaody Archipelago Naval Branch has veterans stationed there with exceptionally good information. Moreover, just recently, Garp passed through the naval passage from Sabaody Archipelago into the New World.

During the exchange of supplies, news of Garp teaching Sett during his vacation had already spread throughout the upper echelons of the Navy branch.

Furthermore, given that Sett was trained by Admiral Zeff, it's almost common knowledge that the Navy considers Sett one of their own. Not only did he learn from the Admiral and Navy heroes, but he also helped hunt down vicious pirates along the way.

There's even a conspiracy theory circulating within the Navy that the higher-ups at Navy Headquarters hope to change the overall atmosphere of the Navy through Sett, an outsider.

Although the news came without any basis, many people believed it… even though some knew it was illogical. After all, Sett would have a much greater positive impact if he were in the Navy. But even so, they all chose to support him. After all, they all supported changing the overall atmosphere of the Navy.

“A pirate… Shanks.” Sett took the water handed to him by the Navy lieutenant and drank it all in one gulp, then said, “Hawkeye has the video… Damn, as expected of the Pirate King’s crew, that slash was really ruthless.”

As he spoke, Sett glanced at his right arm, which was now a mangled mess of bone—Shanks's strike had been incredibly brutal. Although his attack had ultimately sent Shanks flying, the miraculous slash had shattered the shockwave of the intended punch—the white health shield in the game.

Anyone who's played the game knows how thick Sett's fully charged Charged Blast shield is. It's practically capable of withstanding a full combo from five opponents while at low health. But even so, Shanks's miraculous dodge still shattered the shield and damaged Sett's body, disrupting the balance between his body and the Charged Blast's load—normally, the Charged Blast would at most shatter some bones and surface skin.

After being cleaved through flesh and blood, shattering the balance, the chain reaction unfolded like dominoes. The person was completely drained of strength, and their right arm, weakened by the impact, became like a mushy mess, with some muscle fibers dissolving into a crimson-tinged, dark brown liquid…

Hearing Sett's mutterings, the Navy lieutenant's gaze was filled with nothing but awe—Red-Haired Shanks was already a well-known pirate supernova, having defeated countless powerful pirates and pursuing Marines along the way. And now, he was even a member of the Pirate King's crew… This very identity proved just how difficult Sett's battles had been. Even the current scene, resembling a natural disaster, seemed more palpable.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine after a rest. You guys go check on the other ordinary people. I bet quite a few have ear injuries." Waving his hand, Sett said, "And the property damage on the streets... Damn it, I don't even know if fifty million will be enough to pay it off."

Upon hearing this, the naval lieutenant could only manage a wry smile. Forget the streets; the enormous mangrove tree that had been sunk and submerged was worth far more than ordinary money…

195·King's Fist

Beckman and his crew took Shanks with them—their large ship couldn't evacuate because the coating wasn't finished, so to shake off the Navy, they simply took Sett's assault boat. When they arrived at the port, it was empty except for a rope. Pulling the rope, accompanied by Hawkeye's bewildered expression, all they found was an IOU left by the Red-Haired Pirates.

"The navy's here. Our ship isn't finished being coated yet, so we're borrowing it for a bit. We'll return it once the coating is done... That's what they said." Hawkeye, his face calm, watched Sett lying on the bed enjoying a delicious meal, a glass of red wine in his hand—it's just that this world doesn't have live-streaming platforms. Otherwise, given the appetites of the strong in this world, the food-streaming industry would definitely be incredibly thriving.

Just like Sett right now, the way he keeps devouring food makes even someone who has just finished eating want to eat two more bowls of rice.

"Tch, this dog is worse than Red Hair." Hearing Hawkeye's words, Sett curled his lip in disdain. Then, as if remembering something, he swallowed the meat in his mouth in a few gulps. He smacked his lips and said, "I bet the cat is somewhere recovering from its injuries right now... Speaking of which, that 'God's Evasion' slash was incredibly sharp. If I hadn't deliberately used that punch to wear down my body, I probably would have been cut in half!"

A classic reflection on strengths.

While it might sound a bit boastful, Sett was genuinely amazed. During the fight, Shanks used two techniques that left a deep impression on Sett: "Divine Void" and "Divine Evasion." The first strike directly broke Sett's defenses, exposing his abdominal organs to the air and causing them to spurt blood. The second strike, Divine Evasion, was even more spectacular. If it weren't for the protective energy from the deliberate punch, which was practically an extra life, even with Sett's resilient body, he would have been cut at least 60%!

Even with such protective energy, Sett's balance between his body and the excessive, deliberate punches was still disrupted. His current injuries all stem from the overload and erosion his body suffered from the deliberate punches. After the fight, Sett's right arm had shrunk considerably; approximately 20% of its muscle fibers had melted into a dark brown liquid during the process.

In other words, it was Sett who suffered this injury. For anyone else, such an injury would have severely damaged the very foundation of their body. Ischemia, weakened immunity, and metabolic disorders would have been commonplace… Fortunately, his internal organs, constantly strengthened by the Undying Grip, were resilient enough to withstand the recoil from the deliberate punch, allowing Sett to still eat normally…

The only problem is the bones... The bone fracture technique is okay for a short time, but using it for a lifetime is a bit too much. It's like a person's training.

A person weighing 400 kilograms can quickly lose weight simply by eating a reasonable diet and exercising more. However, in the later stages of the exercise, the effectiveness will slow down. Similar to bodybuilding, the growth rate of the fracture technique will also decrease over time. Especially against someone with Sett's terrifying recovery ability, the strengthening effect of the fracture technique will diminish over time.

"I'll try my luck with the lottery when I have time," Sett thought to himself—he'd completed a bunch of missions since arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago. However, considering the current low drop rate, Sett refrained from immediately trying his luck. He'd wait for the next system update to see if there were any useful items.

The system update will be complete in two days. I'll try my luck with the lottery then... It would be great if I could get the Overgrowth ability to boost bone strength. If not, other minor talents and skills that can relieve bone stress would be just what I need.

Speaking of which, Sett was a little disappointed last time when he used the Lifeform Disintegration Ray... Because if Sett were a scholar, the structure of objects disintegrated by the Lifeform Disintegration Ray could be directly transformed into basic knowledge and integrated into Sett's brain. It's a crazy skill that can instantly turn a mediocre student into a genius... After all, in the lore, Vel'Koz, the Eye of the Void, is different from other Void creatures.

Other Void creatures either clamor for food or for evolution. Vel'Koz, however, silently observes the material world, feeding on knowledge and shaking the very foundations of the world—a truly aloof and sophisticated approach… Unfortunately, Sett and Vel'Koz aren't very compatible. Otherwise, Sett could have easily used the Void's wisdom to find alternative ways to strengthen his skeletal structure regarding these issues.

However, Sett didn't regret it for long. After all, if Sett had to choose for himself, he would still choose the path he was on now—he didn't like being stuck researching strength and timidly studying some inexplicable things.

"You've certainly become famous lately." The knife and fork sliced ​​through the tough sea monster steak. Cooked by the chef, the once-tough sea monster steak was now juicy and tender. It didn't even require a black knife; a few cuts were enough to separate it… and it was put into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Wiping the sauce from his mouth, Hawkeye said, "That Morgans guy leaked the video from Mangrove Island 46… those guys who were questioning your 'Sinking Kingdom' title are all shut up now."

"That jerk is really everywhere." He curled his lip—Sett's comment about asking Morgans for the video was just a casual remark. It was more about shutting up the lieutenant and getting some peace and quiet to recover his strength.

Even Sett was on high alert during the fight with Shanks—not for any other reason than to prevent his mind from being shaken by Shanks' Conqueror's Haki. After all, the reason Shanks managed to escape last time was because Sett had underestimated the presence of Conqueror's Haki, which caused his mind to be shaken and his deliberate punch to miss.

Therefore, before this battle, Sett focused all his attention on Shanks. Morgans, who usually stayed high in the air, tracking Shanks, was fine on ordinary days, but in the heat of battle like Shanks's, he had no time to pay attention to Shanks.

As they spoke, Hawkeye handed over a stack of newspapers. There were many different kinds, including not only Morgans's World Economic News, but also the Navy Daily, the World Government Open News, the Bounty Hunter's Bounty News, the Grand Line Shipping Daily, the Fun Festival Entertainment Daily, and even the Pirate Daily, among many others.

Leaving aside newspapers like the Navy Daily and the World Government Open News, which have special characteristics, other evaluations of Sett have changed from initial playful teasing to serious assessments.

Among these, one interesting word caught Sett's attention.

"What is this move called the King's Fist?"

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I've studied the subsequent exciting moments and plot today, and there shouldn't be any major problems with this chapter (2k).

196. Kizaru Arrives

Although Sett gained a general understanding of the new world through intensive study, it's undeniable that short-term cramming can never compare to someone who has lived in this world for decades.

Just like now, upon hearing the name "King's Fist," Sett's first reaction was complete bewilderment... Sett's current knowledge was limited to the World Government, the Navy, the Revolutionary Army, and the Great Pirates. King's Fist? It sounded more like a title or a technique.

But regardless of which one it is, one thing is certain: it greatly displeases Sett—as everyone knows, one Overlord is enough. And the title "Fist of the King," no matter how Sett sees it, feels like a provocation.

He glanced at Sett, knowing better than anyone the confidence Sett had in his fists. According to Hawkeye's speculation… no, it wasn't even speculation; a little thought was enough to guess. This guy in front of him definitely felt that the title was a bit of an infringement…

Hawkeye shook his head indifferently and then said, "The so-called King's Fist is not a name, but a move... It is the signature move of King Elizabello II of the Kingdom of Prodens in the New World. One punch can completely shatter an enemy's entire fortress. According to him, even those sea kings who take such a solid hit will die, so it is called the King's Fist."

"Tch, what did I say back then?" Sett's face was full of disdain upon hearing this—skills with prerequisites are all trash. That's what Sett said.

Like the previous Deliberate Thrust Punch—indeed, the Deliberate Thrust Punch is extremely powerful. Combined with maxed-out Power, it can deal massive damage both in the game and in real life. But what's the point?

A little recollection reveals one thing: Sett focused on "flexibility" throughout the development of the Deliberate Blast – in other words, the Deliberate Blast was too clumsy.

During his previous fight with Shanks, Sett was unable to move, and even locking onto targets with his aura couldn't guarantee a hit. As a result, Sett had to push his body beyond its limits, unleashing a barrage of charged punches while moving at high speed. The price he paid was that any injury sustained during this process, even a minor scratch, could instantly throw Sett off balance, rendering him completely unable to fight.

A solid hit... isn't that ridiculous? You can't expect someone to just stand there and get beaten up. No matter how you look at it, it's impossible.

"By the way, it seems that you need to warm up for an hour before using that King's Fist."

"You believe I could twist him into a pretzel in an hour?"

"..." Hearing this, he fell silent. In the end, Hawkeye simply nodded calmly—Sett had already demonstrated extraordinary combat prowess before. Especially during his conversation with Issho, Hawkeye had heard that Sett possessed a very special state that could only be activated when he was on the verge of death. It was said that in that state, Sett's attack power and speed would both rise to a new level.

Before fighting Shanks, Hawkeye already had a clear understanding of Sett's destructive power. Now, he has a completely new understanding of Sett's strength. Hawkeye has no doubt that if Sett were allowed to attack freely for an hour, even a monster like Whitebeard would be overwhelmed…

“A mere showpiece, what a disappointment.” Shaking his head, Sett said, “By the way, where are you planning to go next?”

Upon hearing this, Hawkeye pondered for a moment and then asked, "Do you still want to use the assault boat?"

“No need,” Seti said. “After this battle, I’m going back to my hometown to get married… oops, I mean, to Antuo Island to rest for a while.”

"Then how will you get back?"

“That’s none of your concern,” Sett said. “The impact boats are too slow. I have other ideas.”

This statement would be met with ridicule if spoken outside—a speed of 60 knots is arguably the fastest speed achievable by any warship in the world. If that's considered slow, then naval warships wouldn't even be considered crawling—but one thing is true: Sett does possess methods for rapid movement.

Indeed, impact craft are quite valuable. However, with trade with Skypiea and technological support from Water Seven, West Blue's Big Shot Shipyard can mass-produce impact craft at any time. Strict material requirements? No problem, just reduce the energy output of the impact shells. As long as a speed of over thirty knots is maintained, that's enough.

With the presence of a merciful being who can guide souls, Sett can reach any location where the Casino's people are. In contrast, traveling by impact boat along the same route would likely take two months to reach Reverse Mountain.

Having some understanding of Sett's personality, Hawkeye didn't say much. He simply nodded and said, "Then I'll wait until Shanks returns to change ships, and then see if I can use connections to enter the New World directly through the Marine branch gate. If that doesn't work, I'll enter through Fish-Man Island."

In the past, Hawkeye would have prioritized entering the New World through Fish-Man Island before even considering entering through the Marine branch's gates. After all, he no longer possessed the special status of a Shichibukai. The bounty hunter title was too vague; among the many pirates and slave traders in the Sabaody Archipelago, there wasn't a single bounty hunter—except for Sett and Hawkeye. However, Sett's relationship with the Marines was exceptionally close, leading the Marines to consider Hawkeye "one of their own."

Hawkeye doesn't have any naval fastidiousness. If it's beneficial for him to challenge more strong opponents, why not?

Not surprised by Hawkeye's words, Sett nodded and said, "Then it's nothing serious. With such a commotion, Tiger will probably be here soon. I'll see what he's up to. He's so secretive, and he won't tell me anything, like he's afraid I'll leak the news... If it's interesting, I'll join in. If not, I'll just go home and celebrate the New Year with Tina and the others."

Although people in the Sabaody Archipelago are still wearing short sleeves, it's already snowing heavily in the Western Blue—the Grand Line has a very changeable climate; some places are shrouded in fog all year round, some are in the height of summer, and some experience heavy rain and hail year-round… The Sabaody Archipelago is one of the few places with a spring-like climate year-round. Its beautiful scenery has led to a thriving tourism industry.

As Sett was thinking, an old acquaintance arrived—not Tiger, that red-skinned fishman, but the fastest man in the sea, Kizaru Borsalino, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

"How terrifying, how terrifying~" Kizaru pushed open the door and walked in, looking utterly dejected. "I saw a tree suddenly smashed to pieces from afar, and when I came over, sure enough, it was you who did it~"

It was quite a coincidence that Kizaru was patrolling the surrounding waters today. He thought nothing of it and had even figured out an excuse to slack off—the Sabaody Archipelago was indeed very important, but there were too many interests involved, so Kizaru often stayed on his luxurious ship to fish—but then he happened to witness Sett's powerful punch.

"Because of what happened to you, the Warring States General... no, I should say the Marshal, gave me another severe scolding. You'd better take responsibility for this!"

Although it is casual, it conveys a great deal of information.

While Sett was resting, the former Fleet Admiral, or rather, the former Fleet Admiral Kong, had officially stepped down. Sengoku had formally assumed the position of Fleet Admiral, commanding the three armed forces. However, this hadn't been officially announced yet, as the matter involved many complexities. The Navy planned to announce the next three Admirals at the same time Sengoku took over as Fleet Admiral, ensuring a seamless transition and demonstrating its determination to reform the navy.

The departure of Zephyr, in particular, signifies the complete exit of the absolute doves from the stage. Even if doves still exist in the new era, they will no longer treat pirates with the same leniency and hope for their reformation. Instead, they will be used to counterbalance the hawks, preventing them from overreaching and causing trouble—but this is merely a check, acting as a brake. Further progress is unlikely. After all, even a blind man can see that the Great Pirate Era cannot be reformed through mere persuasion.

"What's it to me?" Sett didn't care about Kizaru's resentment at all, and simply said, "You have time to come here, why don't you take this opportunity to capture that red-haired guy? That guy is a member of the Pirate King's crew, and you've seen his strength. Capturing him would probably bring in as much as killing a king of the sea!"

"Still a bit short of being the King of the Seas, after all, I haven't even entered the New World yet." Hearing Sett's teasing, Kizaru sat down in his chair with an indifferent expression—although his contact with Sett was limited to Flevance. But how to put it? Flevance was enough. At least, it was enough for Kizaru to see a person's true character and essence.

Regardless of Sett's motives, the outcome at least saved Flevans... well, although Kizaru was also held accountable by the World Government because of this.

But Kizaru and Akainu are different—Akainu, in order to uphold absolute justice, will not tolerate any stain on his own reputation, nor will he allow it to affect his career and prevent him from exercising absolute justice. Kuzan is the same, except that Kuzan's goal is not to uphold his own justice, but to climb to the position of admiral before searching for what his justice truly is.

And Kizaru—what? You're demoting me? That's great! I'll go prepare my vacation—no, my reflection ticket right now!!

Ultimately, this sea places too much emphasis on strength. Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit and the terrifying power he's developed are undeniable facts. Even if he's demoted, he can climb back up in no time. In fact, because of the fear of those pirates poaching his talent, the World Government is even hesitant to hold him accountable…

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This chapter is 3k words, I need to get used to it first. There will be another chapter tonight. If I feel good about it, I'll update three times a day (9k words each) from now on.

197·Steel Mixture

He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth—Kizaru rarely smoked, especially after becoming a candidate for Admiral, Sengoku ordered him to quit.

The reason isn't anything else; as the face of the Navy, the actions and strength of the three admirals are crucial. In terms of appearance alone, Kizaru is undoubtedly the worst of the worst. His thin, frail frame is compounded by his unsightly and weak appearance. But his strength and Devil Fruit ability are undeniably powerful, so Sengoku had no choice but to tolerate it.

Other Marines also smoke, like Smoker who casually smokes two large cigars. But they just look so imposing. Kizaru does smoke, but not cigars; he rolls his own pipe... which would be quite a problem for his image.

Kizaru didn't really care, but Sengoku kept saying it, so he rarely smoked when he was out. However, he would occasionally take a puff to relax in private.

Just like now, she leisurely exhaled a cloud of smoke towards the window, and because the room was very well-ventilated, it didn't bother Sett.

"The intelligence department doesn't seem to value Shanks enough." He looked relaxed, showing little wariness towards Sett and Kizaru. After all, with Zephyr's connection, Sett was practically Kizaru's junior... It's just a pity Sett wasn't a Marine and wouldn't acknowledge that relationship.

Of course, Sett's denial is his business. The Navy's opinion is their business—at least, because of this identity, both Sett and Sett's casino have received considerable preferential treatment in many situations.

On Antuo Island now, apart from the Wanhao Casino, the other casinos are inspected almost every three days... the reason being that they are harboring pirates, and there are indeed quite a few pirates, so there's no way to defend themselves.