Chapter 20: Initiating the Challenge? Vivian vs. Dragon (Part 2)
Clang!
A crisp sound echoed.
Sparks flew from the clash between the blade and the fingers. Anticipating that Dragon would block his strike, Vivian twisted his body mid-air and kicked towards Dragon's head.
With Observation Haki, Dragon raised his other hand, blocking Vivian's kick while stepping back half a step, his surprise growing.
This strength…
What kind of brutal training did this kid go through to reach this level?
Moreover, the speed that seemed to make him disappear wasn't quite like the Navy's Soru. If it was purely achieved through leg strength, just how strong was this guy's physical condition?
Dragon couldn't imagine what level of speed Vivian would reach if he learned Soru.
"Someone like him would be great for the Revolutionary Army," Dragon thought, feeling a bit regretful.
"Is this Armament Haki?" At the same time, seeing the black substance covering Dragon's hands, Vivian couldn't help but feel envious.
Armament Haki… If he could learn it, it would provide an extra layer of protection.
Using inertia to flip backward in the air, Vivian exhaled and pushed his speed to the limit, charging forward with his sword again.
Blades and claws clashed continuously, producing a series of "ding ding" sounds.
Vivian's movements were as fast as a ghost, but no matter how he changed his attacks, he couldn't bypass Dragon's hands to strike his body.
This battle, where all his moves were seen through, gave Vivian an unprecedented sense of frustration. Yet, it also strengthened his resolve to not step out until his strength was maxed out.
Clang—!
Another slash was deflected by Dragon's claws. Glancing at Dragon's calm smile, Vivian leaped back nearly ten meters, sheathing his sword.
"Thunder Breathing…"
"Draw and Slash?"
Seeing this, Dragon squinted, his previously calm expression turning serious.
"First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
In the next second, a golden light flashed, and Vivian's figure zipped past Dragon's side as usual.
The two stood back-to-back, about twenty meters apart.
After a long moment…
Clang!
Vivian's military sword fell to the ground, shattered into several pieces, and his right arm bore three deep cuts.
Blood dripped from his fingertips. Frowning, Vivian pulled out a cigar with his left hand and put it in his mouth without looking.
He had taken it from Smoker's office last time, smoked it twice, and then put it out, keeping it until now.
"Hmm? This thing's casing is waterproof?"
No wonder Smoker could smoke it in the rain.
He took out a lighter and lit the cigar.
"Hiss~~~ Phew!"
Blowing out a smoke ring, Vivian turned his head to look.
Dragon's sleeve was torn.
He had cut it.
But unfortunately, the slash had only left a shallow white mark on Dragon's right hand.
"Sigh."
On one side, Vivian shook his head and sighed.
On the other side, Dragon looked down at his right hand, his shock evident.
He doesn't even know Haki, yet he almost broke through my defense?
How did he achieve such lightning-fast swordsmanship?
"Is it a Logia-type Devil Fruit ability?" he muttered.
But when he hit the opponent earlier, he didn't feel any signs of elemental transformation…
Dragon was filled with confusion.
Meanwhile, not far away, Buggy, lying on the ground, scratched his head with his only remaining left hand.
"What did I just see?"
That marine kid fought the leader of the Revolutionary Army to a standstill?
Even though it seemed Dragon wasn't using his full strength, the back-and-forth was already terrifying enough!
Buggy thought to himself that if it were him, he wouldn't last five seconds before splitting apart.
His fear of Vivian grew even more.
"Kill him, kill him now!"
Since he's the world's most notorious criminal, there's no way he'd let such a talented marine live, right?
As he desperately hoped, Dragon suddenly turned and walked towards Vivian.
A smile appeared on Buggy's face.
…
"Kid, you're strong. Interested in joining the Revolutionary Army?"
Looking up and seeing the Merry already disappearing over the horizon, Dragon walked up to Vivian and said something unexpected.
Vivian: ???
[Option 1: Agree to join the Revolutionary Army. (Reward: Random S-rank jutsu from the Naruto universe)]
[Option 2: Refuse to join the Revolutionary Army and continue challenging Dragon. (Reward: Level 4 superpower—Teleportation from A Certain Magical Index)]
[Option 3: Refuse to join the Revolutionary Army and sit down, surrendering. (Reward: +1 random basic attribute)]
"Hiss!" Vivian took a deep drag on his cigarette.
The rewards are so generous again?
Without hesitation, Vivian sat down, cigarette in mouth, his bloodied right hand limp on the ground, looking utterly dejected. "Sorry, since I've joined the Navy, I will never choose to betray."
"Even if it means facing death?" Dragon took a step forward, his intense Conqueror's Haki making Vivian momentarily dazed.
After a second or two, Vivian regained his composure and said, "For the justice in my heart, I'm willing to give my life. Go ahead and kill me."
With that, he closed his eyes, looking resigned to his fate, as if he had completely given up struggling.
[You chose Option 3, reward: +1 Strength]
"Did you lose the will to fight after realizing the gap in our strength?"
Dragon looked at the seated Vivian, walking slowly towards him, lifting his right leg.
"But I admire your courage to face death."
With that, he kicked.
Bang!
Vivian spat out blood and was sent flying, crashing into the watching Buggy at high speed.
"Ah!!!" A scream echoed in his ears. Vivian instinctively clutched his chest as he fell to the ground, then lost consciousness.