The Correct Use of a Feast
"Feast!"
Facing the battered CP0, Yang Ning tentatively activated the Feast ability he'd already digested.
"Ahh!"
A giant maw tore through the air, clamping down on the CP0's body with savage force. But unlike previous victims, the CP0 didn't vanish when the maw disappeared.
"What kind of trick is that?"
Though he showed no visible wounds, the CP0 writhed in inexplicable agony, his masked eyes darting in panic.
Yang Ning ignored him. He'd just realized something critical: his understanding of Feast had been incomplete.
Until now, he'd treated Feast as a finishing move—mainly for its health regeneration via digestion. He'd overlooked its damage potential, assuming the digestion cooldown would lock it out after every use.
But this time, Feast didn't gray out. No cooldown.
*So… if the target isn't killed, there's no digestion, and no cooldown? That means Feast can be used repeatedly—as a regular damage skill!*
Excitement surged through him.
Feast's damage wasn't flashy, but it was **true damage**—ignoring all defenses. As enemies grew tougher and more armored, his Soul Drain Strike's 1,000+ physical damage was becoming less effective. True damage, however, would always cut deep.
"Hahaha!"
Yang Ning clenched his fists and swung again—each punch now trailing an invisible, gaping maw.
Over 600 true damage. Over 1,000 physical. Nearly 100 magical.
The white-clad CP0 couldn't withstand it.
After two brutal exchanges, he abandoned offense entirely, retreating into pure defense—terrified of another open clash.
But what could block true damage?
Yang Ning grew more exhilarated by the second. He ignored the CP0's hand still lodged in his chest and hammered away like a mad drummer.
"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Even a novice could overwhelm a master with relentless strikes. The CP0, once proud of his decade-honed combat skills and elite techniques, was now reduced to standing still, eating punches like a punching bag.
Worst of all—he, the World Government's "strongest shield," was losing a fistfight.
After two more blows, the CP0 spat out his third knocked-out tooth. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
"Storm Kick – Hand Slash!"
His glowing left hand slashed down—and in a desperate, heroic act, **he severed his own right arm**.
Freed, he vanished instantly with Shave, reappearing on the deck railing moments later—disheveled, bleeding, one arm gone.
"Pirate, I'll remember you, you—"
Before he could finish, Esdeath's greatsword slashed down from above like a silent shark.
He shut up fast, vanishing again—and reappeared at the far end of the deck.
But the moment his feet touched wood, a bloodied fist was already waiting.
The CP0's mind went blank. *How could this pirate keep up with his speed?*
Yang Ning couldn't—not really. But his Observation Haki gave him just enough foresight to predict the landing spot.
"Iron Block & Steel!"
With his Armament Haki exhausted, the CP0 resorted to a desperate naval secret technique, hardening his face like iron.
"Bang!"
Yang Ning's fist cratered into the agent's masked face, shattering the mask and twisting his features. The impact sent the CP0 spinning through the air twice before his head slammed into the deck—cracking the wood in a spiderweb pattern.
Yang Ning wasn't the type to show mercy to a downed enemy. He exchanged a glance with Esdeath.
She tossed Kotetsu through the air. He caught it mid-leap—and slashed without hesitation.
"One-Sword Style: Heaven Opening!"
White-hot energy erupted. The CP0—and the deck beneath him—was split cleanly in two.
With the threat eliminated, Yang Ning surveyed the deck.
All three original CP8 agents were dead. The four who'd arrived with CP0 were also down.
Esdeath was unharmed—fighting two CP8s alone was manageable for her, though she bore a few minor cuts.
Willie, however, was in rough shape. Four or five crisscrossed wounds marked his body. None were deep, but he was clearly exhausted.
Yang Ning was impressed. Willie had taken down two CP8 agents head-on with only light injuries—respectable strength for the early Grand Line.
"Captain… it's my brother."
Ignoring his own wounds, Willie staggered toward Yang Ning, voice thick with grief.
Yang Ning took a slow breath and looked up at the massive ship still bearing down on them.
"Don't worry. No matter who they are—I'll never let anyone hurt my crew and walk away."
He wanted to storm the enemy ship with Esdeath and Willie. But he couldn't fly, and Moonwalk wasn't an option.
Luckily, the enemy ship showed no sign of slowing. Either arrogant or brainless, it kept charging straight toward the *New Windbreaker*.
"Esdeath?"
"Hm."
They exchanged a look—then moved to opposite ends of the deck, facing each other.
Kotetsu and the greatsword hummed in the air.
"One-Sword Style: Parting the Sea!"
"When there is nothing in the world, it is dust. Dust shapes heaven and earth, which is the boundary. There are three thousand worlds in the mortal realm—and one sword cuts through them all."
"Greatsword Style Ultimate Technique: Heavenly Sword World!"
Blazing white and multicolored black sword energies surged forward, intertwining into a radiant X.
At that moment, another figure leapt from the enemy ship's deck—white suit, mask: **another CP0 agent**.
He landed directly on the bow, his body surging with power, skin turning deep black.
"How dare you be so presumptuous, you mere pirates!"
"Iron Block – Armored Super Strong Steel!"
"You've got some nerve, you brat!"
Yang Ning, watching from the deck, couldn't help but raise a thumb.
That willingness to stand against oblivion reminded him of someone—**Kidd**. In sheer guts, this agent could sit at the same table.
But courage doesn't equal strength.
The X-shaped slash met him mid-air.
For 0.25 seconds, the blackened CP0 held firm—teeth gritted, muscles straining—against both sword energies.
Then he was cleaved in two, his halves blasted backward into the ship's bow.
He never begged. Never flinched. Yang Ning gave him a second thumbs-up.
(Though, to be fair, it happened so fast he might not have had time to react.)
The enemy ship didn't last much longer.
A deafening roar echoed across the water—then a deep, X-shaped gash split its bow clean open. Half the front shattered instantly.
The vessel lurched to a halt, drifting to a stop just short of the *New Windbreaker*.