Chapter 63: Observation Haki
Mochizuki Inasaburo looked at the mess on the ground, then glanced at the unscathed Ryuji, and couldn't help but complain, "This Move of yours... no matter how I look at it, it just seems like you're punching wildly, doesn't it? Let's go back. Do you want to stay out in the rain?"
Hearing this, Ryuji rolled his eyes. Indeed, his Moves were very simple and crude.
Fist Bone was just a straight punch, and Fist Bone Impact was just a straight punch with a bit more strength... "Ah..."
Ryuji spread his Observation Haki, searching for the hidden Gyokko.
Mochizuki Inasaburo frowned, and seeing Ryuji's still-solemn expression, he asked with some confusion:
"What's wrong? Hasn't the demon already been dealt with by you?"
Ryuji shook his head, his voice low: "Teacher, that one just now was only a minion."
He told Mochizuki Inasaburo everything about the clues he had just discovered and his own deductions.
"Upper Rank... Five?"
The relaxation on Mochizuki Inasaburo's face vanished instantly, replaced by extreme gravity.
He gripped the hilt at his waist, his voice sounding a bit dry. "Are you sure? That's an Upper Rank!"
"One hundred percent sure..."
Ryuji also explained Gyokko's abilities and the weakness of the fish monsters.
"This Upper Rank Five is called Gyokko. He can appear in any pot. Of course, as long as you can cut off his neck, you can kill him!"
Mochizuki Inasaburo nodded heavily, engraving this vital information into his mind.
"Your information is..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a flash of red light in Ryuji's eyes, and a hint of excitement in his gaze.
"They're coming again, Teacher."
Mochizuki Inasaburo fell silent for a moment, sighed, pulled out his tobacco pipe, looked at the tobacco soaked by the rain, and put it back.
"Can't even have a smoke..."
He tightened his grip on the nichirin blade in his hand.
"Wait until we get back, you can smoke as much as you want. Take the villagers and run toward the mountain!"
Ryuji said softly, "I'll cover the rear. There's an Upper Rank..."
Mochizuki Inasaburo opened his mouth but said nothing more. He simply returned his nichirin blade to his waist and patted Ryuji's shoulder.
"I'll be right back!"
Before his voice could fade, mounds of earth rose up one after another on the sandy beach, and ten or so goldfish monsters with arms and legs crawled out from the sand, wobbling as they surrounded them.
The fishermen had never seen such a scene before and were immediately scared witless!
"Go quickly, Teacher!"
Mochizuki Inasaburo did not hesitate either, leading the people as they ran toward the mountain.
Ryuji ignored these people and charged straight ahead, smashing the pot of one of the fish monsters.
He wanted to see if he could exploit a bug.
[Ding! Detected that the host has killed a Wicked Pirate. Reward: military merit points +100]
It really works!
A flash of joy crossed Ryuji's eyes. He instantly spread his Observation Haki to count how many fish monsters there were.
"I'm rich... Hmm?"
After Ryuji jumped to dodge an attack from a fish monster, he let out a sound of confusion.
What's that?
Among the reefs by the sea, there was a cyan jade pot with a very eerie aura.
He narrowed his eyes. Is it you?
Gyokko!
In the distance, Gyokko, hidden inside a pot, poked out half of his head, his bizarre face filled with delight.
Both mouths split open simultaneously in a silent, cruel grin. He didn't go after those fleeing monkeys.
Because he had seen a much more interesting prey.
That black-haired human... the aura on him was so familiar. Ah, I remember now. It's the fellow who injured Akaza Your Excellency and made Lord Muzan a bit concerned.
If I could turn him into my latest work of art, how beautiful would that be!
The more Gyokko thought about it, the more excited he became. He had even begun to conceive how to integrate Ryuji's flesh and bones into his next masterpiece for the ages.
And at this moment, the "artwork" in his eyes was frantically mowing down the grass.
"Fist Breathing, Fourth Form: Fist Bone Meteor Shower!"
Ryuji rushed into the swarm of fish monsters, his arms turning into an impenetrable black storm, each punch accurately smashing the pots on the backs of those fish monsters.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of shattering was constant.
[Ding! Killed a pirate, obtained military merit points +100!]
[Ding! Killed a pirate, obtained military merit points +100!]
[Ding! Killed a pirate, obtained military merit points +300!]
...Listening to the mechanical voice in his ear, the corners of Ryuji's mouth couldn't help but curl up. Excellent.
Moreover, if Gyokko was also here, then... he deliberately slowed down his movements, his breathing became rapid, and a hint of fatigue appeared on his face at the right time.
"Damn... there are too many... I can't keep up my stamina..."
He panted heavily while struggling to dodge the pounce of a fish monster.
His acting was superb enough to win an Oscar.
Sure enough, Gyokko fell for it.
Seeing Ryuji's lack of strength, the smile on his face became even more distorted. More fish monsters crawled out from under the beach, surging toward Ryuji in an endless stream.
"Yes, that's it, bring on more!"
Ryuji laughed inwardly.
The System's notification sounds were like the most wonderful symphony, constantly ringing in his mind.
Gyokko was quite delighted at first, even mocking Akaza in his heart.
To be injured by this kind of trash? Akaza Your Excellency, you're nothing special after all.
But he was Upper Rank Five, after all, not a fool.
Soon, he noticed something was wrong.
This human, although he looked like he was in constant danger, dodged every attack at the most critical moment, and his movements in destroying the fish monsters were not at all sluggish.
This was not a lack of stamina; he was clearly doing it with ease!
He... is he playing me?
Gyokko didn't get angry; instead, the two small mouths where his eyes should be grinned even wider.
Interesting! So interesting!
This human is completely different from those other monkeys who only know how to use brute force!
He actually knows how to use such an artistic method as "performance" to toy with me!
What wonderful wisdom! What moving acting!
He was born to be a work of art!
"Hehehe... It seems you can't wait to become a part of my collection."
A feminine and slimy voice suddenly rang out behind Ryuji.
Ryuji's heart tightened. He turned around, and a bizarre figure appeared.
Its lower half was a beautiful pot.
Its entire body was connected to the pot, with a gold-engraved pupil on both its forehead and chin, while two green lips grinned where its eyes should have been.
Several pairs of tiny arms were attached to the sides of its head, making it look absolutely freakish.
It was Gyokko's true form.
"Hello, Fist Hashira. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Gyokko."
Gyokko made a bowing gesture, looking Ryuji over with great interest. He admired Ryuji's current composure.
"You've come out so soon?"
Ryuji looked at Gyokko's bizarre appearance and curled his lips in slight disappointment.
I thought I could farm for a bit longer.
"You actually discovered me already... Very good, you have an artistic flair, unlike those monkeys!"
He spread his arms in rapture, the small hands on the sides of his head waving incessantly. "Come, I've finished watching your art. Now, take a look at mine!"
As he spoke, a pot appeared in his hand.
A large amount of black water gushed out from it, and a tall tower appeared before Ryuji's eyes.
It was a tower that emitted a bloody, fishy stench.
It was a bizarre tower made from the stitched-together corpses of villagers and various fish, a sight that would make anyone's Sanity points drop instantly!
Some of those villagers hadn't even taken their last breath yet.
"How beautiful! This is called the Bountiful Sea Vessel! The harvest of people's fishing..."
He introduced it passionately, while Ryuji remained silent with his head lowered.
"This is my work of art. Ah, you really are different from those monkeys who carry swords! Come, become a demon, and let's study art together!!"
Gyokko shouted with great joy as he looked at the silent Ryuji, the bloodshot veins in his eyes spreading!
He had never seen such a swordsman!
He truly was the man who could be favored by Lord Muzan and injure Akaza!
Ryuji lowered his head, resting his right hand on his forehead:
"What is it? Akaza was like this, and you are too..."
System, exchange Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Azure Dragon.
[Ding, 15,000 military merit points consumed. Exchange complete!]
He lifted his head, a burning rage in his eyes. "I refuse. Also, remember to bring a message to Muzan..."
His figure appeared before Gyokko almost instantly, his right hand pulled back to the limit, his eyes flashing with red light:
"What does he... think life is!"
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