"What did you just say, human?!"
Daruma's eyes bulged as rage exploded across his face.
Calling him a short runt?!
"How? You don't like being called short?"
"Then come on—solo me."
Yunan sneered, curling a finger at Daruma provocatively.
"You filthy bastard! I'll tear you apart! KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!"
In the next instant, Daruma's small, wiry body shot forward like a cannonball, his razor-sharp teeth snapping straight toward Yunan's throat!
"Be careful, Lord Yunan!"
Shirahoshi gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
Yet Yunan remained standing calmly, unmoving—
he didn't even spare Daruma a glance as the Fish-Man came hurtling toward him.
"Die!!"
Seeing Yunan apparently frozen in fear, Daruma let out a vicious, twisted laugh.
His sharp fangs sliced through the air, producing a shrill tearing sound!
CRACK!!!
!!
Amid the crowd's screams, Daruma bit straight down on Yunan's neck.
"Lord Yunan!!"
Shirahoshi, Camie, and the others cried out as their pupils shrank in horror.
"Well done, Lord Daruma!!"
"Let's see if any human dares challenge the New Fish-Man Pirates again! This is what happens!"
The New Fish-Man Pirates erupted into cheers.
Everyone believed Daruma had landed a killing blow
But only Daruma himself knew the truth.
He hadn't bitten Yunan at all.
It was as if an invisible wall of steel surrounded Yunan's body.
Teeth capable of biting clean through stone walls
couldn't penetrate even a fraction.
"What… what is this?!"
Daruma's eyes shook violently.
No matter how desperately he clenched down, his fangs wouldn't advance even an inch.
"Confused?"
Yunan's voice was calm, almost amused.
"Your strength can't even break through my outer chakra barrier."
"With power this pathetic, you think you can hurt me?"
As the words fell, Yunan reached out and grabbed Daruma by the throat
Lifting him high into the air with one hand.
"What—what's going on?! Didn't Lord Daruma land his attack?! Am I seeing things?!"
"That's right! He clearly bit the human's throat! Why is he completely unharmed?!"
"This is bad—Lord Daruma's in trouble!"
...
Shock swept through the New Fish-Man Pirates.
What they were witnessing was completely beyond comprehension.
"Daruma, what the hell are you doing?!"
Hody's expression changed instantly as he roared.
From his perspective, Daruma had bitten Yunan's neck.
How could Yunan still be resisting?!
"I—!"
Daruma was being choked tightly, both hands clawing desperately at Yunan's grip.
His legs kicked wildly in midair.
But no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't pry Yunan's hand loose—even a little.
Yunan's grip was like an iron vice.
"L-let… let go of me…"
Daruma's voice grew hoarse as his face shifted from red to a sickly purple.
"I warned you not to provoke me."
"Otherwise, I'd boil you alive and eat you."
"But judging by how ugly you are, you probably wouldn't even taste good."
"I don't really have the appetite."
"So"
"Die."
Yunan spoke coldly.
His fingers tightened.
CRACK!!
A sharp, crisp sound of bone snapping echoed through the plaza.
Daruma's pupils shrank violently.
His body twitched twice
Then his head slumped to the side, life extinguished.
Clean.
Decisive.
The next moment, Yunan casually flung Daruma's corpse straight toward Hody.
The Fish-Man's lifeless eyes stared blankly
locked onto Hody's face.
"Killing you would only dirty my hands."
Yunan brushed his palms together indifferently.
"No… no way… Lord Daruma… is dead?!"
Gasps of disbelief spread through the New Fish-Man Pirates.
Daruma was an officer
a figure whose status and strength towered over tens of thousands of Fish-Men
Yet he had been killed this easily by a single human.
"You damn human—how dare you kill Daruma right in front of me!"
Hody stared at the corpse at his feet.
His face darkened instantly, murderous intent flooding his gaze as he locked onto Yunan.
Yunan's blatant arrogance had completely enraged him.
"Pretty capable, huh… human. Hic."
Hyouzou swayed slightly, sake gourd in hand, his face flushed with drunkenness
Yet a flash of cold killing intent flickered through his hazy eyes as he looked at Yunan.
"Lord Yunan… that was amazing…"
Shirahoshi covered her mouth, utterly stunned.
"I told you, Princess—Yunan is really strong!"
Camie said excitedly.
"All of you—attack!"
"Bring me that human's head!"
Hody swung his arm down violently, issuing the command.
As his words fell, led by several officers, tens of thousands of Fish-Men raised their weapons and charged toward Yunan.
"That head's mine!"
"Avenge Lord Daruma—kill this stupid human!"
...
The Fish-Men grinned savagely, staring at Yunan as if he were already dead.
A single human daring to challenge tens of thousands
Just one spit from each of them would be enough to drown him.