NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 17: CHAPTER 17
A strong wind blew from behind.
Alastor calmly raised his arms to shield himself.
The sharp "Finger Gun" strike left a puncture wound in his arm.
"Finger Gun Ten-Strike Combo!"
Guleta skillfully maneuvered, continuously changing direction with his razor-sharp strikes, aiming his fingers one after another in a rapid, ten-hit sequence.
Such a fast and continuous assault made it challenging to dodge, even with advanced observation abilities.
But Alastor had no intention of dodging.
"The Ten-Strike Finger Gun… as long as it doesn't hit the throat or other vital areas, the damage is manageable."
When Alastor fought, he didn't endure injuries recklessly.
He made sure to control the extent of his wounds, maintaining the ability to counterattack his opponent.
Otherwise, getting seriously injured each time would weaken him significantly, possibly leading to death—a risk that would be foolish to take.
Alastor adjusted his body subtly, ensuring that Guleta's finger strikes landed only in non-critical areas.
[Host receives minor damage; Defense +5]
[Host receives moderate damage; Defense +12]
[Host receives minor damage; Defense +3]
...
Guleta's Ten-Strike Finger Gun assault ended swiftly. Although he had inflicted several injuries on his opponent, something felt off.
Alastor seemed to dodge slightly but not entirely.
Was he unable to avoid the strikes?
Guleta's brow furrowed. His seasoned instincts suggested otherwise—perhaps this odd character in front of him was deliberately choosing not to evade.
"Is he underestimating me?"
Guleta's anger surged. The deliberate choice to endure his attacks felt like an insult, a mockery.
"You'll soon regret your arrogance!"
Now fully enraged, Guleta held nothing back. He took a deep breath, his muscles tensed, every fiber of his being prepared for the next move. His eyes blazed with fury as he focused.
"Life Return: Paper Arts Martial Form!"
A powerful aura radiated from him, thickening the air with an oppressive energy.
In an instant, Guleta's bulky frame appeared to slim down, his whole body contracting as he took on a new form.
Alastor's eyes widened in astonishment, carefully observing the transformation.
"This is... Life Return?"
Life Return was an advanced combat technique that infused the user's consciousness into every part of the body, allowing them to reach a state of peak performance.
Combined with the Navy's Six Powers techniques, it provided a dramatic boost in strength.
And Alastor immediately recognized that Life Return would suit him well.
Due to his unique abilities, Alastor's defense improved with each injury—but he needed to control the severity of those injuries carefully, as explained before, to avoid crippling himself.
Generally, in the absence of reinforcements or absolute safety, Alastor would not allow himself to be seriously injured—at most, only moderately injured.
But after learning the "Return of Life," things would be different. Alastor could use the technique to restore himself to peak condition after being seriously injured, allowing him to defeat his opponent in a short time.
Of course, the premise of using this ability is that Alastor must be fully confident in his ability to kill the opponent quickly. After all, even the "Return of Life" has a time limit.
Nonetheless, no matter what, the "Return of Life" was of great significance to Alastor; he had to learn this combat skill.
It was as though he had seen a peerless beauty. He closely observed Guleta's every move, trying to understand the essence of the "Return of Life."
Guleta, however, was terrified by Alastor's stare.
What's wrong with this guy?
Now that he had figured out the technique Alastor used, it would have been fine if Alastor wasn't afraid, but to stare at him like that— it was truly unbearable!
Guleta couldn't help but shout angrily, "Boy, you're too arrogant. Die!"
He attacked again.
The force of this attack was significantly stronger than before.
To better understand the "Return of Life," Alastor put away his cursed sword and chose to fight Guleta hand-to-hand.
They exchanged punches, blows landing with force.
The more Guleta fought, the more frightened he became. The opponent's defense was abnormal, and he still hadn't fallen despite taking so many hits.
"Damn it, I don't believe this won't kill you!" Guleta gritted his teeth, unleashing his full strength. His body spun on the ground like a top.
"Land Feet!"
With the inertia of his rotation, he launched a massive slashing wave.
All the surrounding trees were cut in half.
"I'm afraid you'll be seriously injured if you take this blow head-on, so I'll need to use Haki to enhance my defense."
After quickly calculating, Alastor didn't choose to take the hit directly.
He coated his arms with armed domineering and crossed them in front of his chest.
Clang!
The piercing sound of metal colliding rang out, sparks flying from the impact.
Alastor was immediately sent flying.
[The host receives moderate damage, defense +15]
"Ahem!" Alastor coughed a few times, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up slowly, and muttered to himself:
"Infusing consciousness into the body, combining the strength of the spirit with the strength of the body. I think I understand it a little now."
Guleta, who had just used his big move, was panting heavily. Hearing Alastor's words, his expression suddenly changed. He looked at Alastor as if he were staring at a monster.
What did this guy just say? The combination of consciousness and body?
Could it be... could it be that this guy is learning semei Kikan while fighting me?!
Guleta's face showed disbelief.
To comprehend his unique skill during battle—what kind of monster is this?
He stared, shocked, at the tall young man not far away. Alastor didn't seem to care about his injuries. Instead, he closed his eyes and began adjusting his breathing rhythm.
Alastor's chest rose and fell, his aura gradually changing and rising.
Guleta's face darkened, his mind uncertain.
He could now be 100% sure that Alastor was indeed learning his "Return of Life" and seemed to have mastered it to some extent.
"Such a genius is rare, even in the New World. What is this person's origin?"
Guleta was puzzled by Alastor's background, but now was not the time for doubts.
The other party is learning the semei Kikan technique. If he truly waits for the other person to fully master it, the result will undoubtedly be disastrous.
"I must kill him before he learns it. This is my last chance!"
Guleta's fear of Alastor had reached its peak; he could not allow Alastor to truly master the powerful life return skill.
"Moon Steps!"
Guleta moved, using the Moon Steps to step on the air, soaring into the sky before diving down toward Alastor.
With the aid of the dive's inertia, his speed became incredibly fast, and his body resembled a sharp spear, radiating an overwhelming aura.
"Life return· Paper-painted Martial Body · Gun!"
Guleta, transformed into a spear, aimed directly at Alastor's head and descended with full force.
If this move succeeded, even a head made of steel would be shattered into pieces.
Although Alastor kept his eyes closed, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) alerted him to a powerful threat approaching.
After a quick calculation, Alastor determined that, while the attack might not kill him, he would not be able to escape if seriously injured.
Should he avoid it?
No. It wasn't necessary, nor was it his style.
But there was no need to foolishly take the hit.
It was time to try a newly learned technique. Though he hadn't fully mastered it yet, he felt confident it would suffice.
Alastor spread his consciousness, integrating it into every cell and strand of hair in his body.
Mental strength fused with physical prowess.
Alastor felt his body become more flexible than ever before—every part of his body could respond immediately to his thoughts.
This sensation was extraordinary.
Just as Guleta's attack was about to land on his head, Alastor finally opened his eyes.
A flash of light sparkled in his gaze, and his jet-black Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) instantly enveloped his hands. With a strange arc, he pushed upward, precisely intercepting the tip of Guleta's spear.
"What?!"
Guleta was shocked.
What horrified him further was that a pitch-black fist, also covered in Busoshoku Haki, suddenly appeared in his abdomen.
The pain was indescribable.
Guleta's face contorted in agony, and his body was flung back uncontrollably, crashing into the ground dozens of meters away.
This sight stunned the sailors who had arrived to support them.
"Vice Admiral Guleta…"
The sailors couldn't believe their eyes. Vice Admiral Guleta, the formidable officer of the G5 branch, second only to Virgo, had been defeated by this strange young man.
How could this be?
The sailors exchanged nervous glances, swallowing their fear.
The navy commander, who was the first to sense the danger, had already quietly retreated to the back. He hastily pulled out a Den Den Mushi (transponder snail) and dialed frantically.
"Porp porp~"
After several rings, the call connected.
A cold, male voice came through the speaker:
"I'm Virgo. What's the matter?"
"Sir, something's wrong at the base! Someone has invaded, and vice admiral Guleta is no match for him!"
"Oh?"
Virgo's voice held an air of surprise, but he quickly composed himself and responded:
"Understood. I'll head there immediately."
As one of the top cadres of the Don Quixote family, Virgo was a decisive and efficient individual. His undercover role as the base commander of the G5 branch was a testament to his abilities.
Hanging up the phone, he swiftly boarded a warship and set off for the location.