Eust and Sunny were prepared for battle. However, to their surprise, an internal conflict broke out between the “elite monster” Jack and the “normal monster” Carl. Astonishingly, Carl managed to reverse the situation and kill Jack in one swift move.
“What a bewildering turn of events,” Eust thought.
“Jack, I always knew you weren’t simple… always hiding your strength… that’s why I struck first… surprised you had the same idea… hahaha, no wonder I favored you…” Jack’s last words revealed the situation before he succumbed to his wounds.
Despite the death of the “elite monster” Jack, Carl remained expressionless, kicking Jack’s body aside and advancing toward Eust and Sunny with his blood-stained long sword.
The atmosphere grew tense as the imminent battle loomed.
The first to attack was “Blood Blade” Carl and the one to meet his challenge was “Red Flame” Sunny, while “The Hider” Eust awkwardly dodged the attack.
Blood Blade slashed at The Hider, who barely managed to evade with a clumsy roll, holding nothing more than a kitchen knife. Before Blood Blade could press the attack, his vision went black. Red Flame had completed its transformation, growing ten times in size and blocking his path.
Blood Blade was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. Red Flame’s battle awareness was still developing, and it missed a critical opportunity, leading to a brief standoff.
The transformation of Red Flame was not just a change in size; it had become much more imposing and powerful. Even its four paws turned red, resembling burning flames, seemingly granting it special abilities.
In an instant, Red Flame had transformed from a cute little white kitten into a “White Tiger on Fire,” stunning both Blood Blade and The Hider.
(Eust had never seen Sunny in its transformed state before. Sunny was still unskilled in this form, with a short duration and significant side effects. Eust, caring for Sunny, did not allow it to transform casually, reserving it for emergencies.)
After a brief standoff, both fighters launched simultaneous attacks.
Red Flame executed a set of tiger claw attacks, while Blood Blade used basic sword techniques. Underestimating the latter could be fatal, while the former was equally deadly—one or two hits could mean instant death for an ordinary person.
Both fighters were agile, evading attacks while countering. After exchanging dozens of moves, neither had managed to land a significant blow, resulting in a temporary stalemate.
Meanwhile, The Hider had no opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Blood Blade and was growing increasingly anxious, and worried about Red Flame’s safety. Only now did he deeply feel his bond with Red Flame and his own lack of strength. He regretted not retreating sooner and kept a close eye on the battle, looking for any chance to intervene.
After another intense exchange, Blood Blade and Red Flame returned to their standoff, each eyeing the other warily. The atmosphere grew even more deadly.
Despite its young age, Red Flame’s mastery of its battle form was incomplete. Sensing it couldn’t maintain this form much longer, it decided to use its ultimate move: Super-Tiger Claw Attack. This move sacrificed defense and evasion for pure offense and speed, aiming to take down the opponent at any cost.
Blood Blade, meanwhile, had resolved to end the fight quickly, wanting to silence both the big cat and the boy watching from the sidelines to prevent any information from leaking. The Franklin convoy still had some power to pursue him, and they could seek help from the Navy. He needed to eliminate these two, grab the treasure, and escape.
Blood Blade’s ultimate move wasn’t about mutual destruction; it was just highly draining and couldn’t be used lightly. Now was the perfect time for a decisive strike.
Thus, the battle turned into a showdown of ultimate moves. Neither side knew the other’s plan, and The Hider was equally unaware.
Under The Hider’s watchful gaze, Red Flame and Blood Blade charged at each other, launching their powerful attacks.
Both attacks landed simultaneously. Red Flame’s front paws suffered severe cuts, bleeding profusely, while Blood Blade was struck in the chest, coughing up blood and collapsing.
The Hider, no longer hiding, rushed in with bloodshot eyes. He finished off the fallen Blood Blade with practiced knife skills, ending the battle.
He immediately checked on Sunny, who had reverted to its small white kitten form, still suffering from its injuries.
Eust’s heart ached seeing Sunny hurt. He had always known Sunny could transform but never considered it would get injured protecting him. He had subconsciously treated Sunny as a cute pet, enjoying its company and affection.
Eust quickly had Sunny retrieve bandages and medicines from their stash and began treating its wounds. Despite the pain, Sunny remained alert, urging Eust to clean up the battlefield and leave quickly.
Seeing Sunny’s clarity, Eust felt somewhat reassured and hurriedly cleaned up the battlefield, disposing of the evidence.
Sunny stored the spoils in the task space while Eust buried the bodies nearby. He also discarded the blood-stained kitchen knife and cleared any traces, then carefully carried Sunny back to the inn.
Returning to the inn had been Sunny’s insistence. Eust initially wanted to take Sunny to a hospital, but Sunny refused. Once back in their room and ensuring they were alone, Eust asked about Sunny’s condition.
“Sunny, why didn’t you want to go to the hospital? You need to explain this to me.”
“Meow, Eust, don’t worry. I know my condition. As a strategist cat, my recovery rate is much higher than that of an ordinary human, especially after the task fruit enhanced it. I’ll recover from these wounds in just a few days. Meow!”
“Oh, I see. I worried for nothing.” Eust felt a bit embarrassed.
“Meow, I know you care about me, and I appreciate it. It’s my extraordinary recovery that allows me to use such powerful moves. Maybe I’ve said too much. Meow!”
“Sunny, what do you mean? What’s this ultimate move? Is it harmful to you?”
“Meow, don’t worry, Eust. I won’t use it recklessly. My recovery is remarkable, but I don’t want to get hurt. Meow!” Sunny sipped some milk.
“Alright, Sunny. Thank you for protecting me, but remember not to push yourself too hard.”
“Meow, Eust, don’t underestimate me. I’m very strong. Meow!”
“Yes, Sunny, you’re amazing. How severe are the side effects of your battle form?”
“Meow, don’t worry. It just means I can’t transform for a few weeks. The island we’re on seems safe enough. Next time we encounter danger, we should retreat quickly. I don’t want to get hurt again. Meow!”
“Okay, Sunny. It was my fault for being distracted. Next time, I’ll prioritize safety.”
“Meow, it’s fine, Eust. This was a good test of our strength. My danger sense didn’t indicate a major threat; otherwise, I would have warned you earlier. Meow!”
“That’s right. I forgot about your danger sense. Haha!”
“Meow, Eust, you’re such a dummy. By the way, do you want to see the loot? I haven’t checked it yet. Meow!”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Sunny?”
“Meow, absolutely.”
“Alright, let’s see what Jack the extortionist and Blood Blade Carl were fighting over.”
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