Chapter 81: Monster [Second Update]

The massive serpent swallowed the man in black, its body spasming and twisting uncontrollably as if in a violent seizure, froth foaming at its mouth as it struggled desperately. Dust billowed skyward from the ground.

Luffy stood frozen in shock. What was happening? Had the serpent suffered backlash from devouring its own master?

Sunlight streamed down, golden leaves from the maple tree drifting gently to the earth. Witnessing the serpent’s distress, Luffy dashed into the house, kicking the door so hard it exploded inward with a thunderous crash, slamming against the opposite wall before clattering to the floor.

Inside, Wang Shi was frenetically entangled with a woman, both of them drenched in sweat. The woman’s face was flushed, and she gasped breathlessly, her cries echoing through the room.

“You… you—” Wang Shi had heard the commotion outside, but, preoccupied with his exertions, paid it little heed, never expecting this young man to burst in. He was so startled that his body instantly tensed.

The woman shrieked and, utterly exposed, fled in panic.

Wang Shi glared at Luffy with a dark expression. “I didn’t expect you to break through the well and make it here.”

Luffy smiled coldly. “Heh… I’ve come to claim your life. That man in black was the one from the well, wasn’t he? He’s already been devoured by his own pet serpent. How unlucky—ha!”

Sunlight spilled through the window, the morning breeze stirring Luffy’s clothes as they billowed softly. He was brimming with confidence, strikingly handsome and charismatic. Each step he took carried a rhythmic grace.

Wang Shi’s face drained of color as he backed away in terror, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. “You want to kill me? Do you know what will happen if you do? The Wang family will unleash their vengeance on you. You and your family will die.”

Luffy folded his hands behind his back, responding with calm arrogance, “You’re mistaken. After today, there will be no powerful Wang family left in the safe zone.”

“You’re awfully arrogant. Do you even realize how powerful my family is? Do you know why that man from the well obeyed me? It’s because we have formidable ancestors! Did you think we mere mortals could establish ourselves in the safe zone alone?”

As Wang Shi spoke, his pride swelled. “My family’s founding ancestor possesses legendary strength, able to destroy you in an instant. You’d better let me go.”

Seeing Luffy unmoved, Wang Shi thought the youth had lost his nerve. He sauntered to the side, putting on his clothes and jeered, “If you kneel and beg for mercy, perhaps I’ll persuade the ancestor to spare your life.”

Luffy laughed. “Are you joking? Even if your ancestor were here in person, it wouldn’t save you from death.”

He raised his hand, dragon energy swirling around it, radiant and majestic.

A fist-shaped surge of dragon energy blasted toward Wang Shi. At death’s door and still so arrogant—he was courting death.

With a deafening boom, the dragon energy struck Wang Shi squarely in the chest, crushing his heart inward. He vomited blood and collapsed, his body erupting into searing flames.

He writhed and screamed in agony, the shrieks tearing from his throat like a slaughtered animal, growing weaker and weaker until at last, he was reduced to ashes.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash rang out. A figure burst in from outside, moving as fast as lightning, launching a punch at Luffy so powerful it shattered the very air.

The shockwave rippled through the room as Luffy narrowly dodged the blow. Focusing his gaze, he saw a monster—a creature with two white horns sprouting from its head, skin as pale as a blank wall, eyes a sickly green. Its hands were covered in serpentine scales, fingers tipped with long, black claws. In its grasp was a black, spiked weapon.

The aura it exuded was eerily similar to that of the man in black and the serpent. Had the two fused into one? This was truly a monster—hideous and bizarre. Yet judging by its presence, it was incredibly powerful. A fusion of serpent and man—how grotesque.

“So, you actually get to witness my ultimate form. Today, you will die here,” the monster rasped in a voice that sounded nearly human, eerily reminiscent of the man in black, though now rougher and harsher.

“You’re the man in black’s ultimate form?” Luffy asked, surprised. This was twisted. He’d thought the serpent had devoured its master and was dying, but it turned out they were merging.

He had only planned to kill Wang Shi, not realizing he should have slain the serpent first. This development was wholly unexpected—and others would surely have believed the serpent was dying.

Staring solemnly at the monster, Luffy acknowledged its increased strength. But now, with the power of four hundred and one hundred men, multiplied further by the first and second levels of the Dragon Emperor’s Domination Technique, he wielded the might of eight thousand men—there was no need to fear this creature.

Still, the monster’s precise strength was unreadable; its current state was deeply unnatural.

With a metallic hiss, Luffy unsheathed the Thousand Thunder Sword and slashed at the beast, unleashing a flaming arc of sword energy.

The monster vanished in a blur, evading the strike, which crashed into the wall and carved a massive gouge.

Reappearing at Luffy’s blind spot, the monster thrust its black bone spike at his heart with lightning speed.

But it missed. Luffy dodged to the side just in time, assessing his foe. Its attack patterns were erratic and menacing—a formidable opponent indeed. Yet Luffy had no desire to prolong this contest. Employing his full power—Mist Dream Violet Step combined with the “Movement” Secret—his speed became so great he was nearly invisible.

To challenge him in speed was pure folly.

In a flash, Luffy appeared at the monster’s side before it could react and brought his sword down in a decisive stroke.

But the monster seemed able to sense the coming attack. Instantly, it unleashed countless black bone spikes in all directions.

Luffy had no choice but to dodge aside, for to stand his ground would have meant mutual destruction—if not worse for himself.

His dragon energy erupted, and he swept the Thousand Thunder Sword in a wide arc, deflecting every bone spike.

Within moments, the room was riddled by the barrage, pocked like a honeycomb.

“Divine Sword, Commanding Thunder Technique!”

Luffy didn’t want to waste another moment. If the Wang family’s ancestor arrived and joined forces with the monster, the situation would become exponentially more dangerous. He leapt outside, raising the Thousand Thunder Sword high. The sky darkened as thunderclouds gathered above him, converging over his position.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared, deafening and relentless.

The monster, startled by the terrifying storm, rushed outside.

There, the youth hovered in midair, sword blazing with electricity. From the swirling vortex of clouds, a bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, hitting the sword in Luffy’s hand.

The monster thought for sure the youth would be incinerated.

But instead, the lightning only magnified the youth’s aura, making him seem even more formidable. The electricity crackling along the blade erupted in a brilliant display, leaving the monster wide-eyed in utter shock.

(End of chapter)