Chapter 275 The Power of the Explosive Talisman"Master Chen, you are right. I will definitely follow your instructions. Rest assured!"On the third floor of the shop, a middle-aged man was bowing and nodding beside another man wearing a mask."Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. Now, just do as I've instructed."The middle-aged man lowered his head.The master before him was not someone he could afford to offend. Not only was he the owner of this shop, but he was also a true high-ranking individual in both the Outer Layer and the Middle Layer.He just didn't expect such a person to come here and ask a small fry like him for help.Of course, he wouldn't refuse; after all, serving this master was his honor.And this middle-aged man was the steward of this weapon shop.As the two just walked out of the room, the service staff who had just served Arthur and Bai Mo came forward."Steward Rolkan, two young ladies want to sell weapons..."The service staff hadn't finished speaking when Rolkan raised his hand."Didn't you see I was talking to the lord? Tell them I'm busy right now.""Rolkan, why aren't you doing business when business comes knocking?"Hearing Rolkan's words, Master Chen said with some displeasure."Lord, I'm not..."Master Chen continued, "Since we're open for business, we should naturally welcome customers when business comes. Come on, I'll go with you to see what kind of weapons they're selling."The three then went together to the room where the service staff had asked Arthur to rest earlier."Young ladies, this is Steward Rolkan, and this is..."Actually, he didn't know Master Chen either, only that this person in front of him was much more powerful than their steward.Master Chen waved his hand, signaling the staff member not to mind him."So, young ladies, what weapons do you wish to sell?" Rolkan said unhurriedly.Arthur took an Exploding Tag from his pocket and placed it on the table."This is the weapon I want to sell."Seeing this paper with countless patterns, the three people present fell silent.Isn't this just a piece of paper?Are they taking us for fools?"Miss, are you joking with me? This is just a piece of paper. How can it be a weapon?"Under normal circumstances, Rolkan would have gotten angry by now, but with a big shot beside him, he spoke in a gentle tone."This paper is a weapon. It can produce a violent explosion, an explosion that can severely wound Humanoid-level monsters."Arthur explained in a hoarse voice."Hahahahaha, Miss, what kind of joke are you playing? A piece of paper can explode?"One must know that this country was in the age of cold weapons.There weren't even guns.Arthur just shook his head at their disbelief. After all, few people would believe in such a thing, and he could understand that."As for the effect, we can experiment. If you feel it's good, you can then propose a price. However, the experiment requires a free space, otherwise, the power of this explosion might cause considerable damage."At this moment, Arthur's words sounded like a fantasy to Rolkan, but with Master Chen beside him, he couldn't act out, so he looked at Master Chen.And then Master Chen said, "Since this young lady wants us to see the power of this paper, why don't we take a look?"Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Rolkan immediately nodded. Subsequently, under their guidance, everyone came to the underground area of the Weapon Merchant Guild."Is such a large area acceptable, Miss?" Rolkan asked.This was the Weapon Merchant Guild's warehouse, where a large number of swords, blades, and armor were stored.And it was packed full, which showed that Rolkan still didn't believe his words."It's acceptable, but if the explosion damages your weapons, it won't be blamed on me, right?"Arthur said with a smile."Of course not."Rolkan still didn't believe Arthur's words at this point."In that case, you all stand back a bit. Don't let the blast from the explosion hurt you later."After hearing Arthur's words, the staff, Bai Mo, and Master Chen retreated a few steps, but Rolkan still didn't believe Arthur's words were true. He only symbolically took one step back.However, Arthur didn't care.After all, he had already warned them. Getting hurt would be their own problem.Then Arthur came to a relatively open area. Although there were still swords and blades around, there weren't many.He unhurriedly tore off a corner of the Exploding Tag.This was his setting for the Exploding Tag: as long as the paper of the Exploding Tag was damaged, it would explode five seconds later. Of course, it could also be detonated by a violent impact or by using Chakra.But there weren't many people with Chakra in this world, so he added an extra setting.After throwing down the Exploding Tag, Arthurused the Body Flicker Technique to instantly appear behind everyone.Boom!The next second, a huge flame erupted from the Exploding Tag, creating a violent explosion.The surrounding armor and weapons were all affected and blown away.And among those blown away was Rolkan, who had just disbelieved Arthur."The explosion's power was even stronger than I expected."Arthur's voice sounded from behind Master Chen, Bai Mo, and the staff.The few of them instantly turned around.A trickle of cold sweat ran down Master Chen's forehead.If the other party had wanted to kill him just now, this instant movement ability combined with the violent explosion from the Exploding Tag would have taken half his life.The power of this Exploding Tag, ordinary Humanoid-level monsters probably couldn't withstand it!On the other side, Rolkan slowly stood up, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood.Because the distance wasn't too close, he only suffered the repercussions of the explosion. Coupled with his own Humanoid-level peak combat power, he was only injured, but not to the point of unconsciousness."Such powerful force, how was this achieved?"Rolkan slowly walked in front of everyone, then cupped his fists at Arthur and said, "I apologize, Miss, I was blind. What is the name of your weapon? Our guild will buy it all."Rolkan immediately made his stance clear."Exploding Tag."Exploding Tag, huh?Master Chen on the side also remembered the name."Then, Miss, for how much do you wish to sell the Exploding Tags to us?"Hearing the mention of price, Arthur lowered his head.The price of a Humanoid-level monster's corpse is one gold coin, while a Superhuman-level monster's is 100 gold coins.The Exploding Tag's power could severely injure Humanoid-level monsters. Perhaps the power of one wouldn't be enough to deal with a Superhuman-level monster, but 100 Exploding Tags could definitely blow a Superhuman-levelmonster to death.If calculated this way, the price of the Exploding Tagwould have to be reset."Only I can make Exploding Tags. You've seen their power. This was just the power of one. If ten or twenty were stacked together, even a Superhuman-level monster couldn't withstand it. How much you're willing to pay depends on your sincerity."
Chapter 276 Scientific Research EquipmentAll fear stems from insufficient firepower.Arthur was now absolutely certain of this statement. While those monsters were powerful, they would be nothing to fear if faced with even stronger firepower.After hearing Arthur's words, Roarkon looked at Master Chen. If the price was too high, he couldn't make a decision.After all, with Master Chen here, making decisions shouldn't be her responsibility."You mean the destructive power of these Exploding Tags can be stacked?"Master Chen asked."They can be used simultaneously. If Exploding Tags are used on a single monster at the same time, you can probably guess the effect."Master Chen nodded. He wasn't an ordinary citizen; he had naturally seen powerful monsters before.If such an explosion continued, even Lord-levelmonsters would be blasted to death.These were truly good things!He hadn't expected to encounter something like this here."Beautiful lady, how many of these Exploding Tags do you still have? I'll buy all of them. How about five gold coins per tag?"Five gold coins?Bai Mo's eyes instantly widened.They had 100 Exploding Tags, that would be 500 gold coins!They were rich, truly rich!Arthur smiled. This price had actually exceeded his expectations.Clearly, the person in front of him had a much broader perspective than this steward.However, the person in front of him was wearing a mask, so he couldn't see their face clearly.Seeing Arthur remain silent, Master Chen continued, "If you're not satisfied with this price, I can buy the Exploding Tags from you for ten gold coins each, but I have one condition."Ten gold coins!!!Bai Mo was almost fainting.That was so, so much money!"What's your condition?" Arthur said in a deep voice."My condition is actually very simple. If you have more of these Exploding Tags in the future, you must prioritize selling them to me. Of course, I will still buy them at the same price. If someone offers a higher price than me, I am willing to increase my offer."From Arthur's performance just now, Master Chencould already tell that this woman was definitely not simple. Even he hadn't clearly seen her instantaneous movement ability.This woman's strength was immense. It would be best to befriend her."Alright."The other party had already made concessions, and the price had exceeded his expectations. If he still refused, it would be his fault.Then Arthur took out the remaining 99 Exploding Tags."Because one was just used, there are 99 left here. I only need 800 gold coins; I'd like to exchange the remaining gold coins for some items."Arthur also took out a blank piece of paper with some experimental equipment he needed written on it. Although she didn't know if they had them, she wanted to ask. He could feel that the man in front of him definitely held an extraordinary position.For some reason, Bai Mo felt a pang of heartache when she saw Arthur take out a blank piece of paper.60 gold coins were gone again!Master Chen took the white paper and frowned at the text on it.He had seen these things before, and this country actually had them.Because he had been to the King's residence, he had naturally seen this equipment.Could this person in front of him also be a researcher like the King?If so, it would be a huge gamble.After all, these things were not easy to obtain. The market was not allowed to produce them; they could only be acquired from the innermost circle."What? They don't have these things here?"Arthur asked.After a while, Master Chen sighed."This country has these things, and I can help you get them, but you need to know..."At this point, Master Chen looked at the staff and the steward.The two consciously left.After they left, Master Chen said, "Although I don't know what you want these things for, they can only be obtained from the innermost circle. While I have channels to get them, you must understand that in this country, no one except the King is allowed to conduct research. Those with research talent have already been recruited by the King. So..."Master Chen paused, looking at the two in front of him."If you are just amateur researchers, I advise you not to do these things. This country is not as simple as you imagine."Upon hearing Master Chen's words, Arthur found the matter even more interesting."Amateur researchers, huh?"The next second, Arthur's Chakra erupted, and a powerful aura spread out from her.At this point, words were useless; only by letting the other party witness her strength could she make them understand.The cursed seal began to spread rapidly. With the enhancement of Sage Art Chakra, the surrounding ground even began to tremble.A moment later, Arthur retracted his aura."Do you think someone like me is qualified?"A trace of cold sweat trickled down Master Chen's mask. He had once seen Lord-level monsters, creatures that were rare among all monsters.But the aura emanating from this person was even more terrifying than those Lord-level monsters.Thinking of this, a hint of excitement appeared in Master Chen's eyes. This country had been stable for too long.At this moment, Master Chen made a bold decision."Since you have such courage, then I, Master Chen, will try it with you. I will help you acquire the equipment you need, but my condition is that for the final outcome, you need to let me share in the enjoyment."Arthur was somewhat surprised. Was merely conducting research really so troublesome?Why was Master Chen so excited?Because someone had once proposed this matter to him, but he had refused.And now, that person had climbed to a position he dared not even imagine.This time, he decided to gamble.His influence was already being constantly suppressed by others. If this continued, it might truly be dismantled.Moreover, his goal was far beyond this country; he eagerly anticipated the overseas nations mentioned in historical records.At this moment, the two shook hands, signifying that an agreement had been reached.This town was just a small town within this country; few people would notice it.Much less Arthur's small house?Ultimately, Master Chen promised Arthur that in three days, the equipment would be secretly transported here, and Arthur would also create more Exploding Tags within these three days to give to Master Chen as repayment.These Exploding Tags were still purchased at the same price.Arthur thought this deal was quite suitable, but he himself didn't realize that, unknowingly, he was being drawn into a major event that would change this country.[Chapter 15 is impossible. Chapter 5 is fine. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, I'm celebrating today too.]
Chapter 277 Amazon Lily KingdomOver the next day, Arthur taught Bai Mo how to use the Cursed Seal and the techniques for applying her Monstrous Strength, while also continuously making Exploding Tags.Since the research equipment hadn't arrived yet, he wasn't in a hurry to start the research project.He had already told Master Chen the location of the laboratory, so he no longer needed to do it himself; someone would come and set up the experimental equipment.He also planned to hunt some monsters on the last day to use as experimental materials.The town had no lights at night because monsters might be attracted by light sources and attack, so it was safest in complete darkness.At this moment, in the Amazon Lily Kingdom, a man with a Straw Hat was sitting in the guest seat of the palace, eating food.Many women were observing this man."Is this the legendary man? He's really different from us; he can eat so much!"The women whispered among themselves, constantly discussing the man with the Straw Hat."Monkey D. Luffy, you are Arthur's captain. If you have any requests, feel free to make them. Arthuralso asked me to tell you that he is fine; he just fell into an unknown realm, so he won't be able to return to your Pirate Crew for a short time."Luffy nodded after hearing this.He just so happened to need Hancock's help with something."Can I ask you to take me to Impel Down prison at Marine Headquarters? My brother, Fire Fist Ace, was captured and taken there."Since he had contact with the Kuja Pirates, Luffydidn't stand on ceremony and spoke directly.Hancock stroked her chin.Marine Headquarters had issued a summons to the Shichibukai, but she had no intention of participating in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates.However, the person opposite her was Arthur's captain. Should she leave a good impression?Moreover, the people in the kingdom were very afraid of her losing the protection of her Shichibukaistatus. Logically speaking, she should also attend the Shichibukai summons."You must know that with your current strength, going to Impel Down would be very dangerous. Impel Down is a prison for the world's greatest pirates, and Fire Fist Ace will be executed soon. What follows will be the battle between Marine Headquarters and Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world. Even you would find it difficult to intervene in a battle of that level."Hancock analyzed calmly."Please, I must save my brother no matter what." Luffy stopped his assault on the food on the table, a hint of pleading in his eyes.Hancock's brows furrowed as she considered whether to agree to Luffy's request.But then, she suddenly smiled and pressed her hand on the Cursed Seal on her body.Then, black patterns began to spread. Hancock had now mastered the power of the Cursed Seal.After all, she was the Pirate Empress; if she didn't have talent, how could she become such a famous figure on the sea?Slowly, Chakra began to gather, and Arthur's figure gradually appeared before everyone.The Chakra-formed Arthur began to make hand seals, and a clone appeared beside Hancock."Hancock, is there something you need me for?"Arthur looked at the Pirate Empress, who had black patterns on her body, with some surprise.The black patterns on Hancock's body actually had a peculiar beauty."Arthur!"Before Hancock could answer, Arthur's clone felt his body suddenly being pulled, and then a figure flew directly over.This touch, it was their captain, no doubt about it."Luffy? How did you get here?"Luffy tilted his head when he heard this."I don't know either! I just know that I flew in the sky for three days and three nights, and then I fell here. But everyone here is kind, and they even treated me to food."Arthur nodded."This figure is just my clone; my main body is not here. I can't return to the Pirate Crew right now." Arthur shared his news.Luffy sighed, and his expression also became serious."Arthur, I think we need some time to grow. We are still too weak right now."Arthur also nodded, agreeing that Luffy had a point. After all, they were completely powerless against a Marine Admiral; with such strength, how could they fight in the New World?"Arthur..."At this moment, Hancock, who had already shed the power of the Cursed Seal, cautiously asked."Hmm? What's wrong?"Arthur looked at Hancock, who lowered her head and said, "Your captain wants to go to Impel Downto save his brother. I don't know if I should take him there, as it's too dangerous. So I wanted to ask for your opinion."After hearing Hancock's words, Arthur stroked his chin."Luffy, are you sure you want to go to Impel Down?"Luffy nodded definitively, and Hancock handed a newspaper to Arthur.This was the latest major event on the sea: Fire Fist Ace, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' second division, had been captured."Arthur, given Whitebeard's personality, he will definitely go to save Fire Fist Ace. And the Marines have issued a summons to the Shichibukai for us to participate in the war against the Whitebeard Pirates. I can certainly make a request to send Luffyto Impel Down, but it's really too dangerous there."Arthur nodded, but he understood Luffy's personality; he wouldn't give up on such a matter.Then he turned to Hancock and said, "Then I'll trouble you with this. The method to take Luffy there is actually very simple: just have Luffy enter Little White's stomach, and then you can take him. I'll leave our captain's matter to you, and I'll find a way to compensate you later."At this moment, Arthur felt like a master of promises."Then... of course, no problem!" Hancock smiled and nodded.Little White also poked its head out from Hancock's chest, expressing its longing for its master."You little fellow, it looks like you really like staying here!"Arthur patted Little White's head.Then he looked at Luffy and said, "Luffy, Impel Down is full of dangers. You must be careful. I don't want to be the captain."Luffy showed his signature smile and said, "Don't worry! I'm the only one who can be the captain of the Sunny."Arthur nodded, then looked at Hancock and said, "Although Marine Headquarters is summoning you, they are only trying to boost the Marines' prestige. You don't need to fight the Whitebeard Pirates. When the time comes, just slack off if you can, and try not to get injured.""Okay!"After saying all this, Arthur's clone's Chakra was also exhausted. The next second, he turned into a puff of smoke and disappeared before everyone's eyes.
Chapter 278: Searching for MonstersThe sky gradually brightened, and at a stronghold, three men seated in the main chairs frowned, looking at a white-haired old man in front of them."What? You couldn't defeat her even after taking three burst pills?"The three men asked in surprise at the same time.The person in front of them was the One-Eyed Man, one of the two who had previously attacked Bai Mo's stronghold. Because Arthur didn't kill him in the end, and Arthur attracted all the monsters, he miraculously survived.Was it luck or something else?He safely returned to their stronghold and reported the situation to the three leaders who had assigned him the mission."Yes, and that woman is more than capable of dealing with Superhuman-level monsters."By now, he had already drawn a portrait of Arthur. Even Arthur wouldn't have expected that his failure to 'cut the grass and pull the roots' this time would leave such a big hidden danger for himself."So, according to you, the person we asked you to kill was not killed, but saved by this woman?"The elderly scar-faced man nodded."That's right! And my second brother was killed, and I've become like this, all because of that hateful woman!"The three people sitting in the main chairs looked at each other.After a long period of eye contact, one of the men said, "If there's a powerful individual who can easily kill Superhuman-level monsters protecting them, then our mission becomes difficult. It looks like we'll have to report this matter to the higher-ups."The three men made their decision simultaneously.Although they were undoubtedly a very large team in the Outer Layer, they didn't want to lose powerful individuals for no reason.Just like this operation, the One-Eyed Man and his brother in front of them were also pillars of their team."You've worked hard, but now that you're in this state, you can no longer be in our team. I've already arranged for someone to take you to the Inner Layerto enjoy life. You can go with peace of mind.""Thank you, boss, thank you, boss!"Upon hearing this news, the One-Eyed Manexcitedly kowtowed. Then, someone helped him up and led him away.After the One-Eyed Man was led away, one of them said, "He wouldn't really think that being taken to the Inner Layer means enjoying life, would he? How ridiculous. How could our team keep such a useless person?""Indeed! Besides the King's Guard, no one who enters the Inner Layer has ever come out. How can such a thing be good?""Don't talk nonsense. Some things are not for our level to know. We should focus on reporting this matter to the higher-ups."——————Arthur and Bai Mo, unaware of anything, had already arrived within the monster-infested areas of the Outer Layer. In the Outer Layer, many uninhabited places harbored a large number of monsters.These monsters reproduce very quickly, so they are almost impossible to eliminate. This is also why hunting teams always exist.Because they simply cannot be completely killed.The two arrived in a forest. Arthur had two purposes for coming here: one was to find the corpses of some powerful monsters for research, and the other was to train Bai Mo to have certain combat skills.Theory is, after all, just theory. To become stronger, one still needs constant combat.As soon as they entered the forest, they discovered monsters lurking on the forest's edge.These monsters were bizarre and grotesque; it was impossible to determine what species they truly were, as if they had truly been stitched together."This is..."The two looked over and saw an unseemly sight.A hawk-headed monster, resembling a pegasus, was pairing with a tentacled octopus monster."My goodness, they're not even the same species. If they successfully mate, what kind of new monster would they produce?"Arthur was a bit curious. Had the creatures here broken through the species barrier?Both monsters were four or five meters tall. In front of the monsters, Arthur and Bai Mo truly looked like tiny dots."Are we really going to attack them?"Bai Mo asked, her eyes wide.She had never actually fought a monster before. The last time was her first fight with a monster, and she almost died there. Now, seeing these monsters, overcoming her inner fear was difficult."The strength of these two monsters is roughly Humanoid-level. I can help you kill one, and the other is up to you. I will not intervene. If you can't kill it, you might die."Arthur said coldly. Looking at Bai Mo, whose body was already trembling, he seemed to recall his past self.But people must grow. Arthur could guess that the petite woman in front of him had always been protected by others, but his place was no greenhouse."Can I really do it?"Bai Mo looked up and asked."You have now gained the power I gave you. If you can't even deal with one monster, then you really are useless."Bai Mo lowered her head.Arthur, on the side, also didn't plan to waste any more time with her, because such monsters were not his research subjects at all.Arthur extended his arm, and then his arm transformed into countless small snakes, directly biting at one of the monsters.The monster, which was about to reach its climax, suddenly felt the biting on its body, and then its body trembled rapidly."Ow!"Immediately after, the hawk-headed monster on top was instantly covered by the small snakes. He immediately got off the tentacled octopus monster.The tentacled monster, which had been closing its eyes, preparing to enjoy the climax, opened its resentful eyes.Then it saw that its "man" had been snatched away by a group of white small snakes, and its eyes immediately became furious."Bai Mo, it's your turn."Upon hearing this, Bai Mo's trembling legs unconsciously retreated two steps. Seeing this, Arthur kicked her butt, and Bai Mo was then kicked in front of the tentacled monster.The tentacled monster noticed Bai Mo and immediately became enraged. After all, being interrupted just as it was about to reach its climax would annoy anyone.Arthur smiled, then lightly leaped directly in front of the hawk-headed monster.The hawk-headed monster, covered by the snake tide, was being constantly bitten and was about to lose its life.And this kind of low-level monster was dispensable to him, so Arthur directly took out his kusanagi sword and ended the monster's life.Meanwhile, the tentacled monster on the other side also sensed the disappearance of its mate's life force and immediately became enraged.Bai Mo could only passively dodge continuously, as one tentacle after another relentlessly struck, kicking up clouds of dirt on the ground."Bai Mo, you have power now. If you keep dodging like this, you won't be able to defeat the monster in front of you."
Chapter 279 Bai Mo's Battle"Back then, you said you wanted to kill all the monsters. Your current performance is truly disappointing. Even though you possess power, your heart is still cowardly. You might as well have died earlier."Arthur continuously used his verbal attacks, and Bai Mo, who had been dodging, slowly changed her gaze."Am I really a good-for-nothing?""No!""I don't want to be a good-for-nothing. I want to kill all the monsters!"Bai Mo's eyes slowly became determined. Arthur, seeing the current effect, was quite satisfied.If the opponent completely mastered the immense power of the Cursed Seal, dealing with the monsters in front of them would be effortless, wouldn't it?Although the opponent's body was massive, the prevailing theory in this world was that while a large body provided a higher starting point, it ultimately had a limit and wouldn't necessarily be very strong.Now, Bai Mo, fully utilizing the Cursed Seal, would have absolutely no problem dealing with monsters below the Superhuman-level."Should I install a Kagune for Bai Mo in the future? Letting hunger force her would be much more effective than me wasting my breath like this."Arthur then shook his head. The first thing he needed to solve was the Kagune issue.The first thing he should do was to remove the cannibalistic side effect. To be honest, Kagune was indeed very strong. Using Kagune was equivalent to having six arms, which would greatly increase his strength.However, he truly disliked the side effect of needing to eat people.On the other side, Bai Mo's body was covered in black patterns. She had already activated her Cursed Seal state.Bai Mo no longer retreated. Instead, she grabbed the tentacles of the Tentacle Monster with one hand, then unleashed her monstrous strength and directly flung the Tentacle Monster away.After doing all this, she looked at her hands in shock. Bai Mo had not expected to possess such immense power."Yes, exactly. Use your power to defeat the monsters."Arthur, seeing this, smiled and reminded Bai Mo.Then, Arthur threw the kusanagi sword to Bai Mo."Quickly finish it. We still need to find stronger monsters. This Tentacle Monster in front of us is merely at the bottom tier among Humanoid-levelmonsters."Bai Mo nodded at his words.In her Cursed Seal state, all her physical abilities were comprehensively enhanced. The Tentacle Monster's speed had become slow motion, and its strength became even more negligible.The kusanagi sword in Bai Mo's hand was a sharp divine weapon. Under Bai Mo's continuous swings, the Tentacle Monster's tentacles began to be constantly severed."This guy's growth speed is much faster than mine back then."Arthur revealed a satisfied expression.In fact, if Arthur had been cultivated with such dedication back then, he would have progressed just as quickly. However, at that time, Luffy and others were all very strong, and it was never his turn to act. If Zoro hadn't discovered the problem later, Arthurwouldn't have grown so quickly.Puff!Bai Mo delivered the final strike, ending the Tentacle Monster's life.She then sat on the ground, panting heavily.Arthur slowly walked up to her and extended his right hand. Bai Mo grabbed Arthur's hand and stood up."How do you feel?"Arthur asked with a smile."Having power feels so good. If I continue like this, I might truly kill all the monsters in this country," Bai Mo said.Arthur shook his head."Don't be too arrogant. That monster was just the weakest. If killing one such monster makes your heart swell, then you will surely fail.""Oh."Bai Mo lowered her head, once again displaying her pitiful and adorable expression from before, causing Arthur to unconsciously pat her head."Let's go. I won't intervene with the weaker monsters from now on; you figure out how to deal with them yourself. Our goal is to find those powerful Superhuman-level monsters. I always have a feeling that these monsters aren't naturally formed, but rather created by someone."Arthur did not hold back from Bai Mo. After all, he was training her to be his assistant."Created by someone?"Upon hearing Arthur's words, Bai Mo showed an incredulous expression.Although they had only known each other for a few days, she now trusted Arthur implicitly.Arthur nodded."I'm still a bit unsure, but these creatures already defy common sense. Those two monsters earlier were hybridizing, which already goes against the world's common knowledge, because they are not even the same species. It's like humans; would you choose a pig as a partner?"A scene formed in Bai Mo's mind, and she quickly shook her head."Big Brother, that's impossible! That's too disgusting!"However, at this moment, she thought of the scene with the two monsters earlier, and Arthur's words indeed made a lot of sense."Alright, let's head deeper into the forest first! If you want to kill all the monsters, relying on individual strength alone isn't enough. We need to thoroughly understand the monsters first."Bai Mo nodded, and then the two walked deeper into the forest.This dark and damp forest was indeed the monsters' favorite place.After entering the forest, the number of monsters clearly increased. And during this time, Arthurindeed kept his promise and did not intervene.Because this was the outer edge of the forest, there were no overly strong monsters, and Bai Mo's current strength could easily handle them.This was also training for her combat skills."Have you ever seen a Lord-level monster?"Arthur asked just as Bai Mo finished off a Humanoid-level monster."No, those monsters rarely appear within the walls. According to intelligence, most of those monsters exist outside the enclosure. Their power is beyond imagination, and even the powerful Royal Armywould not easily provoke them. It is said that the original purpose of establishing the walls was to fend them off."Arthur shook his head.If these Superhuman-level monsters and Humanoid-level monsters could reach here, how could those Lord-level monsters not reach here?Although he hadn't seen those walls yet, he believed that those monsters could absolutely not be stopped by a mere wall."Do you think the walls can stop them?" Arthurposed his question.Bai Mo lowered her head and thought for a while."Actually, I'm not entirely sure. Of course, King Samael told the populace that. It is said that the outermost walls have the King's elite troops, who are specifically responsible for dealing with those Lord-level monsters."Arthur nodded. This was merely the common knowledge of the people of this country, but not his common knowledge.If Lord-level monsters truly corresponded to S-rank powerhouses, then even if such massive walls were built, they could not truly stop them.S-rank powerhouses, indeed. People of that strength are no longer individuals that ordinary people can deal with through sheer numbers.
Chapter 280 Is there a personality called Saint Mary?On the outskirts of the forest, there were many hunting teams, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, the two put on the masks Master Chen had given them.Arthur wore a death god's ghost mask, while Bai Mo wore a cute little bunny mask.The two formed a stark contrast.Arthur also witnessed the current state of ordinary people in this country; although these monsters were merely interesting little test subjects to him, to the common people at the bottom, monsters had completely become their nightmare.It's imaginable how difficult it would be for an ordinary person to defeat a four to five-meter-tall monster using cold weapons.A team of about four or five people would continuously cooperate, using swords and knives to slowly kill a monster, much like scraping skin.These monsters were, after all, carbon-based life forms; severe injuries would also lead to their death.However, human life is more fragile compared to monsters, and deaths in such battles were a normal occurrence.At this moment, one of the teams the two encountered was engaged in a bitter struggle; this team only had three people, two of whom were already severely injured, with only one fighting desperately, seemingly unable to hold on much longer.The monster they were fighting was a giant creature resembling a crab."Big Brother, should we help them?" Bai Mowhispered from the side."Suit yourself."There's a personality type called a'saint'.Of course, the current Arthur didn't care about these things because he already possessed sufficiently powerful strength.These people couldn't harm him.Bai Mo nodded at his words, then charged directly at the crab monster with her kusanagi sword in hand.With one slash, the kusanagi sword easily cut through the crab monster's shell.However, this monster was clearly much stronger than the ones Bai Mo had encountered before; the monster reacted instantly, using its pincer to send Bai Mo flying.The three people nearby showed a hint of surprise upon seeing the masked woman suddenly appear.The crab monster was now completely fixated on Bai Mo; the three injured individuals exchanged glances, and then the uninjured person directly picked up his two companions and chose to leave the area.Now that someone was drawing the monster's attention for them, when else would be a better time to escape?Arthur watched all this indifferently, merely shaking his head.The three people were saved by Bai Mo, yet they didn't even leave a word of thanks, choosing to depart immediately.Was it the coldness of human hearts?This was merely common sense in this world.Bai Mo, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned by this, focusing on dealing with the crab monster; although the kusanagi sword could easily bypass the crab monster's defense, it couldn't cause too much substantial damage to it.This time, Bai Mo had met a formidable opponent.However, Arthur just watched quietly from the side, wanting to see how Bai Mo would cope with such an enemy.The strength of this monster clearly placed it among the top Humanoid-level creatures."Damn it! This monster's strength is so great; that last blow made me feel like my internal organs were trembling," Bai Mo muttered to herself, spitting out a mouthful of blood after being sent flying.But this crab monster must have been battle-hardened as well, immediately launching an attack upon seeing its opponent fall.Strike while the iron is hot.Bai Mo had entered a cursed seal state; her body continuously rolled on the ground, dodging the crab monster's relentless attacks."This won't do; I can't keep being so passive!"Thinking this, Bai Mo immediately got up and propped her sword in front of her.Bang!Clearly, this crab monster's strength was considerably greater than Bai Mo's.This time, the clash of their strengths was won by the crab monster; Bai Mo was once again sent flying, crashing hard into a tree.Pfft.Another mouthful of fresh blood flowed out; after the continuous battles, Bai Mo's stamina was already heavily depleted, and facing such a monster all at once, she was somewhat exhausted.Arthur could also sense that Bai Mo was nearing her limit; she was no longer able to deal with this monster in her exhausted state.That last blow had left Bai Mo dizzy, and her focus slowly faded; at this moment, Bai Mo cast a pleading look at Arthur.The crab monster had already reached her; just as its pincer was about to strike Bai Mo, Arthurappeared in front of Bai Mo and grabbed the crab monster's pincer with one hand."Bai Mo, you should have known you were exhausted just now, so why did you still choose to save them? Did you feel emboldened because I was here? But you need to know, if I weren't here, you might have died here today. And those people you saved wouldn't thank you; they would only think some fool died for them, 'that guy was really stupid.'"Arthur didn't rush to kill the crab monster but instead lectured Bai Mo."Cough, cough."Bai Mo coughed twice, blood continuously flowing out."Aren't we all human? At times like this, humans should help each other... Isn't our common enemy the monsters...?"After hearing Bai Mo's words, Arthur shook his head.Forget it, this kind of thing needs to be experienced; he couldn't explain it properly.Thinking this, the Chakra within Arthur's body began to surge.The crab monster's originally hard armor slowly began to show cracks.Bang!The crab monster's armor was completely crushed by Arthur, and then he ended the crab monster with a single punch."Let's go! Such monsters are not our target yet. Can you still stand up?"After Arthur dealt with the crab monster, he didn't pay attention to its corpse but instead spoke to Bai Mo, who was nearby."I can do it."Bai Mo struggled to stand up, but her physical condition was very poor; as soon as she stood, she involuntarily fell back down.Arthur sighed, then picked Bai Mo up on his back."Dealing with a Little Girl like you is really troublesome. You're clearly weak, yet you insist on being strong, only to end up causing trouble for others."Although Bai Mo was so severely injured, Arthur did not choose to turn back but continued deeper into the forest."You rest well for a while. I taught you before that Chakra can be used to heal wounds; try to see if you can heal your own wounds."Bai Mo nodded from Arthur's back, her small body pressed tightly against his back.She was too fond of relying on others now; leaning against Arthur's back gave her a very solid sense of security.The closer they got to the interior of the forest, the fewer hunting teams there were, and those hunting teams were all focused on dealing with monsters, having no mind to pay attention to Arthur and Bai Mo.
Chapter 281 AntsAfter Arthur and Bai Mo left, the team that had just departed returned to the area.They were shocked to see the corpse of the crab monster on the ground."Was that crab monster killed by the Little Girl with the mask?" a man in the team asked."Look at the bloodstains on the ground; the Little Girl must have been seriously injured. And the sword in her hand could cut through the crab monster's armor so easily—that's a good item. If we got it, our combat power would definitely increase significantly."Another man in the team, whose wound had been bandaged, said."Don't joke around. That masked Little Girl isn't an ordinary person. The three of us are in bad shape right now, so it's better not to look for trouble.""Didn't you see the bloodstains on the ground? If I'm not mistaken, that Little Girl is alone. If that's the case, she definitely won't be able to get out of this forest. We might have a chance to claim that sword for ourselves. After all, a sword is useless to a dead person."No sooner had the man finished speaking than they sensed danger, and at that moment, another crab monster appeared."Oh no, everyone run!"However, it was too late for them to retreat. The crab monster saw its companion killed and had identified the culprits."Ah!"------Middle Layer of the forest.Since entering here, both of them had been continuously attacked by monsters, and these monsters were all of the same type.Ants that were slightly larger than adult humans.These ants weren't very strong; their individual combat power was only at the lower end of the Humanoid-level.But what was terrifying was their sheer number. It was possible they were influenced by the scent of blood from Bai Mo, who was on Arthur's back.Ants continuously attacked them—one, two, three... Arthur didn't know how many ants he had killed along the way, but as they delved deeper, the number of these ants only increased.He was currently surrounded by dozens of ants."These ant monsters seem endless, appearing one after another. If this continues, even I will expend a lot of stamina.""Ants are social animals. The presence of so many ants here means there must be an ant nest nearby. If these ants are just ordinary ants, then the ants within the nest will definitely be even stronger. There might even be Superhuman-level monsters."Thinking of this, Arthur leaped up, directly onto a tree branch, and began to move continuously between branches using the power of Chakra.He now wanted to see what kind of monsters existed within this ant nest.Ants are capable of lifting things hundreds of times their own weight. These enormous ants clearly possessed the characteristics of ants, and their strength was so great that even Arthur was somewhat shocked.However, because he had a burden with him, he didn't dare to linger in battle, but he still wanted to observe the current state of this ant nest.As Arthur continued to go deeper, he found that the further inward he went, the larger the ants became. Moreover, the ants here all had sharp teeth and were covered in powerful armor.At this moment, Arthur was also shocked, because these ants were completely different from the ants on the periphery. He could feel the power of these ants; he had once eliminated Superhuman-levelmonsters, and these ants all possessed Superhuman-level strength.What was even more terrifying was their unimaginable numbers.So many Superhuman-level monsters—even he, in his current state, had to consider the risks.And this was only the outer perimeter of the forest. What was going on with this swarm of ants?Arthur continued deeper, then he discovered a huge cave. He then formed hand seals; this time, he used the Advanced Three Body Technique's Invisibility Jutsu.This invisibility was not complete invisibility, but rather enveloping his body with Chakra, then isolating all scents from himself and merging with the natural environment to achieve an invisibility effect.After using the Invisibility Jutsu, Arthur slowly began to move into the cave.Outside the cave, there were two ants even sturdier than the group he had just discovered.These two ants should possess considerable strength even among Superhuman-level monsters.What a terrifying ant colony.Arthur showed a hint of an excited smile; he wanted to see how this group achieved this.And according to Bai Mo, there were no Lord-levelmonsters within the enclosure. So, this ant colony within the enclosure should be an invincible existence, right?So many powerful Superhuman-level monsters; even a Lord-level entity would have to weigh its losses.After entering the cave, the first thing that caught his eye was a massive ant. This should be the queen of this ant colony.And next to the queen, there was another ant whose strength was even greater than the two ants at the entrance."If I'm not mistaken, these are the Ant King and Ant Queen."The Ant King was currently continuously feeding on the food in the cave. The cave had all kinds of food, all of which were the flesh of other monsters, while the Ant Queen only ate the food left by the Ant King.After finishing their meal, the two ants entered "spring mode."The scene was extremely fierce and brutal.And after "spring mode," the Ant Queen actually began laying eggs."This speed is too fast?"Arthur was somewhat amazed by the ants' reproductive speed.At this moment, Arthur noticed an ant egg nearby starting to shake.Crack.The ant egg broke, and a small ant appeared in Arthur's field of vision. And this small ant was different from the ants on the periphery, because this ant actually had tentacles."?""Could it be that the Ant King can absorb the genes of other monsters after feeding, and then mate with the Ant Queen to produce ants that possess the power of other monsters?"If this were true, then after some time, this ant colony would evolve to a terrifying degree.Thinking of this, Arthur felt a strange sense of excitement.Moreover, according to ant behavior, the next Ant King would definitely retain the most fundamental genetic power absorbed by these ants, becoming the strongest ant in this colony.Arthur even had some anticipation: what level of strength would the next Ant King achieve?The current Ant King's strength should be considered an outstanding existence even among Superhuman-level monsters.Then wouldn't the next generation's Ant King be Lord-level?And if they continued to evolve like this, what level could they reach?"Forget it. I've noted this ant nest. I'll return here after some time. I wonder what kind of surprises these little ants will give me."
Chapter 282 Leaving the ForestAfter Arthur left the ant nest, a tall figure arrived."As expected of the new experimental subject, in just two and a half years, it's already on the verge of evolving into a Lord-level monster."The tall figure had a human face, but he had an ox horn on his head that didn't belong to a human. He was also holding a pen and a notebook, constantly recording something.He appeared openly in the ant nest. The two ants guarding the entrance of the cave had already discovered his presence and quickly attacked him."Hey, hey, hey, you foolish guys, it's better not to make me angry, after all, I don't want to destroy our hard work."The man showed no fear when he saw the monsters attacking. He simply dodged lightly, avoiding the attacks of the two ants."It's better to fight outside. If I accidentally disturb your King and Queen, it will have a great impact on you, and I don't want to waste another two and a half years."After saying that, the man instantly flashed out of the ant nest, and the two ants followed him."Disassemble!"The man had no intention of prolonging the fight. He took off one of his gloves, then placed a hand over the ant's head. The ant's hard armor instantly loosened and quickly fell to the ground.The ant's body, stripped of its armor, became extremely fragile, but the man had no intention of killing it. He then flashed away from the spot again."I'll come back to see you in a while. You are just one of our theories, and I look forward to you achieving the results we desire, my adorable little ants."— — — — — — — — — —Arthur, having left the ant nest, continued to advance inward."Indeed, these wall-like monsters aren't truly powerful; it's these ants that are truly strong."After entering the deepest layer of the forest, there weren't too many Superhuman-level monsters, but the monsters here were all exceptional among their kind. In the Inner Layer of the forest, the monsters' enemies were no longer humans, but other monsters.Monsters constantly fought and intermingled, and more powerful monsters continuously emerged.Arthur felt that it was normal for monsters produced in such an environment to be stronger than humans.At this moment, Bai Mo, who was behind him, had completely fainted. He was quite helpless about this situation."It seems I still need to quickly retrieve some important items and then leave this place."Thinking this, Arthur searched for a few monsters he deemed suitable, then summoned Orochimaru to swallow the monsters whole.The monsters he sought were all Superhuman-level. Since he was just beginning his research, he didn't have many leads, and these monsters were enough for him to explore for a while."If these monsters were truly researched by people, then those researchers have been working on this project for decades. I'm just starting now. Without their core data, it's impossible to catch up to their research achievements in a short time."Arthur sighed. He possessed Orochimaru's complete research knowledge, but this research knowledge and the research knowledge of this country were not in the same research direction.Moreover, the research theories of this world would definitely not be inferior to his own theories."If I were to work on both simultaneously, I'd feel exhausted. So, for now, I can start researching with the theories in my mind, then find a way to obtain the theoretical knowledge of this country's researchers. That way, I'll avoid many detours."Experiments were not as simple as he imagined; he had already realized this when he planted the cursed seal on the Empress last time.Although he had complete theories, he still accidentally split his soul too much, resulting in soul damage.However, with experience, he wouldn't be so rash next time."I should first solve the problem with my own body, starting by removing this cannibalistic trait."At this point, Arthur had roughly explored the Inner Layer of this forest. Besides discovering the ant colony in the Middle Layer, he didn't find many interesting things in the Inner Layer.After circling around, the sky was about to darken, and Arthur decided to leave this forest and return to his residence."The equipment needed for research should arrive tomorrow, but I'm a bit hungry now. I should find a way to fill my stomach first."Arthur found the scent of blood on Bai Mo rather tempting.Because combat required a lot of physical exertion, his stomach had been empty throughout the journey.Although Arthur was carrying Bai Mo, his movements were very fast, and he quickly left the Middle Layer of the forest, reaching the outskirts."Something seems off here. I think I'm a bit lost. I clearly remember there was a small outpost after leaving the forest, and then I could reach the town. Why isn't there an outpost ahead now?""Am I possessed by Zoro?"Arthur fell into contemplation, looking at the large outpost ahead.He suddenly remembered that he had deliberately bypassed the ant tribe on his way back, so the direction might be a bit off.Moreover, the trees here were all leafless and looked similar, so getting lost should be quite normal.Arthur comforted himself."However, it's late now, and there's an outpost ahead, which would be a good place to rest first. While I don't need much, Bai Mo on my back still needs a good rest."Thinking this, Arthur walked towards the brightly lit outpost."Logically speaking, it's already night, so the outpost shouldn't have lights. Why is it so brightly lit ahead? Don't they fear monsters?"Arthur shook his head. Living in an outpost was much better than in this damp forest. This outpost looked so massive, there must be strong individuals inside, which is why they weren't afraid of monsters."Who are you? State your purpose for coming to our outpost!"As soon as Arthur entered the outpost, someone pointed a weapon at him."We just came out of the forest, and now it's too late to go to town, so I'd like to trouble you and stay here for a night."Arthur's hoarse voice made the people at the outpost even more vigilant.The few humans at the outpost looked at each other, unable to make up their minds for the moment.The two people in front of them were both wearing masks, making their faces completely indistinguishable, but judging by their attire, they appeared to be two young women.Especially the woman with the hoarse voice, wearing such a short skirt, her fair and long legs made these men, who hadn't had any female company in years, almost drool.
Chapter 283 Yellow Hunting TeamFinally, at Arthur's stronghold.For some reason, Arthur always felt that this stronghold was a bit strange; not only was it brightly lit at night, but everyone there wore yellow clothes.And now, they were on their way to the residence of the The Lord in Yellow, as described by these yellow-clad hunters.Speaking of the The Lord in Yellow, the burly man in front of him began to babble incessantly about his admiration for the The Lord in Yellow."The Lord in Yellow is the greatest; it granted us unparalleled strength. Without it, we would have no way to survive in this monster-filled world. Thank the great The Lord in Yellow."Arthur looked at the man whose eyes gleamed with fervor and inexplicably wanted to laugh.Could this be some kind of evil cult?This guy was too thoroughly brainwashed, wasn't he?However, Arthur did not speak. After all, they were currently living under someone else's roof, and he understood people with faith. Touching their beliefs was worse than killing them.Moreover, in such chaotic environments, the faith in their minds was a beacon of light in their hearts.Soon, the two of them were led by the burly man into what he called the residence of the The Lord in Yellow.Upon entering the room, what greeted them was not a human, but a statue. This statue seemed to have no specific form, merely draped in a layer of yellow cloth."This is the The Lord in Yellow?"Arthur circled the statue twice, realizing it was just a statue and nothing strange about it.If there was anything strange, it was only that the statue was very large, but it didn't contain many stones; it was just covered in a layer of yellow cloth.Just as Arthur was lost in thought, a female voice suddenly came from the side."Mortals cannot see through the The Lord in Yellow. The The Lord in Yellow is an unspeakable, formless, shapeless, endless being. It possesses unparalleled power."Hearing the voice, Arthur turned his head.He saw a woman with a graceful figure, completely covered in white bandages, even her face wearing a Gomu Gomu-like mask without any facial features."Are you the The Lord in Yellow?"Arthur tilted his head and asked curiously.The Yellow Robe Woman mask shook her head."How could I be the The Lord in Yellow? I am merely the earthly spokesperson for the The Lord in Yellow, as well as the leader of the Yellow-Clothes cult, the head of this stronghold, the captain of the Yellow-Clothes hunting squad, Diji. I am just a loyal servant of the The Lord in Yellow, the most loyal dog of the The Lord in Yellow.""..."It was the first time he had seen someone compare herself to a dog and be so proud of it.However, since it was the other party's belief, Arthur had no right to interfere."How about it? Would you like to join me in believing in the The Lord in Yellow? It will grant you endless power. Even in this world teeming with monsters, you won't need to be afraid at all.""...No, thank you. I think I'm doing quite well as I am."After hearing Arthur's words, Diji seemed a little disappointed and lowered her head."Never mind, you simply don't understand the greatness of the The Lord in Yellow. You came to us intending to stay, right?"Arthur nodded."Because it's already night, and while traveling isn't a problem for me, the little one behind me is injured, so I'll trouble you," Arthur said.After hearing Arthur's words, Diji sincerely knelt before the stone statue.A moment later."The The Lord in Yellow has agreed to your stay. It said it likes you very much.""...Heh heh... really? Then please thank it for me."Then Diji slowly got up, led Arthur out of the room, and arrived in front of an empty room."This is the room I've arranged for you. Rest well here tonight. Today is our Yellow-Clothes Church party, so it might be a bit noisy tonight. Please don't mind.""Party?"Diji nodded."Yes, tonight our Yellow-Clothes cult is going to have a carnival with those hateful monsters. That's why we have our lights on at night. Today is our hunting time. Under the great leadership of the The Lord in Yellow, we are going to kill all the monsters in this area."Arthur nodded.This was truly a crazy organization. If those monsters really came attracted by the light, then the number of monsters here wouldn't be just a few dozen.It was very likely that this organization might be wiped out tonight."Hey, why do you look so disbelieving? The Lord in Yellow is very strong. Under its leadership, even a Lord-level monster, we are confident we can defeat.""?"Arthur scrutinized the woman in front of him.Lord-level monster?What a joke?"You mean, you've killed Lord-level monsters before?"Diji shook her head."No, but I believe that under the leadership of The Lord in Yellow, we can definitely defeat Lord-level monsters."Arthur could feel that the people in this stronghold were stronger than ordinary people, but compared to monsters, they were still far behind.He couldn't fully gauge the strength of the woman in front of him, but she was probably not weak. Otherwise, she would be a lunatic, as only a lunatic would do such a thing."Then I wish your party success."After speaking, Arthur, carrying the unconscious Bai Mo, entered the room.After entering the room, Arthur checked Bai Mo's body. Arthur actually knew some simple medical Ninjutsu, but they were all theoretical knowledge and had never been practiced.Even the original Orochimaru, with powerful Ninjutsu like the Snake Replacement Jutsu, what use would he have for medical personnel?But at this time, it was best to treat a dead horse as if it were alive!Arthur covered his arm with Chakra and then stroked Bai Mo's wound.Based on his theory, he began to heal Bai Mo's wounds."Heh heh, to have such a figure at such a young age, it really is..."It seemed that women in this world all had pretty good figures. At least, the familiar women he had seen, like Empress Hancock, Nami, and Robin, all had excellent figures, didn't they?Under the enhancement of his powerful Chakra, this medical treatment was very smooth. Bai Mo's wounds had completely stopped bleeding and healed. Now, he just needed to wait for her to wake up on her own.However, Bai Mo had suffered severe internal injuries, which left Arthur helpless.He could only say,'seek your own blessings.'Moreover, Arthur had just asked; everyone in this camp was a follower of the so-called The Lord in Yellow, and there were no doctors among them at all.In the words of that Yellow Robe Woman:"Those who believe in the The Lord in Yellow will not be injured."Utterly speechless.
Chapter 284 Night PartyArthur did not know that the The Lord in Yellow cult was very popular in the outer circles of this country.And it wasn't their first party; fortunately, each time they had a great harvest.In the outer layer, these guys were like lunatics in the eyes of ordinary people, but thankfully, they only dealt with monsters.Night fell, and the Yellow-Clothed Cultists' revelry party began as scheduled. Arthur, inside his room, could hear the sounds of human celebration and monster roars from outside."It really is a party. These lunatics are quite interesting."What Arthur found strange was that there were no human screams outside, only loud human laughter."Are those monsters so weak? Or do these people hide some kind of power?"Arthur was curious, so he sat up from his bed, opened his room door, and walked out.At this time, the outpost was brightly lit outside, with bundles of branches burning fiercely.Monsters, like moths to a flame, continuously arrived here, but the Yellow-Clothed Cultists showed no fear upon seeing them. They charged at the monsters, fighting them as if they were prey.Monster after monster fell to the ground, then were transported by specialized personnel to the area around the huge The Lord in Yellow statue in the center of the outpost.Arthur lightly leaped onto the roof of one of the peripheral houses.Because this place, strictly speaking, was still the outermost edge of the forest, countless Humanoid-level monsters were still rushing towards them from a distance. If this continued, the number of monsters would only increase."The scent of these monster corpses also serves as a way for other monsters to pinpoint direction, so the surrounding monsters are truly being attracted. These guys are really bold."At the very front of the battlefield, Arthur saw that the Yellow Robe Woman's face still wore her mask, but countless tentacles emerged from beneath her yellow robes, continuously attacking the monsters."Is this person a Devil Fruit user?"An octopus?An octopus is a fish!So if she's a Devil Fruit user, can she swim?Arthur was a little curious.However, that woman was incredibly powerful; countless monsters fell under her attacks.Her tentacles, like sharp blades, directly pierced into the monsters' bodies, her methods extremely cruel.And the Yellow Robe Woman seemed to revel in it, continuously enjoying the pleasure that killing brought."I will offer all of you to The Lord in Yellow, hahahaha!"The Yellow Robe Woman's voice also stimulated the nearby Yellow-Clothed Cultists. Those cultists, as if injected with a stimulant, continuously fought against these monsters."Wow, if this continues, these people will truly gain the upper hand. That Yellow Robe Woman's strength should be among the top tier of Superhuman-level existences. Her strength is already completely comparable to Luffy and his crew when they first set sail. If no Lord-levelmonsters come, they really won't be defeated."However, Arthur had never seen a Lord-levelmonster either, so he wasn't sure what kind of strength a Lord-level monster possessed.Arthur sat cross-legged on the rooftop, carefully watching these people put on a true slaughter party for him.Of course, the monsters weren't to be trifled with; some Yellow-Clothed Cultists who couldn't hold on were also killed, and Arthur, using his little snake, took the opportunity to fill his own belly.Anyway, these guys would have been eaten by monsters.Watching such a scene, Arthur had completely lost all sleepiness. He was also engrossed in this feast of slaughter.The number of these monsters seemed endless, and the stamina of these Yellow-Clothed Cultists also seemed to have no end.Darkness gave way to dawn. Until a ray of sunlight in the sky shone upon the earth, the number of monsters drastically decreased. Perhaps without the attraction of the firelight, these monsters could no longer discern the direction they were supposed to attack.At this time, the plaza with the The Lord in Yellowstatue was already piled high with monster corpses, and among these corpses, Superhuman-levelmonsters were not a minority.The gold coins that could be obtained from this feast of slaughter were already enough to support this team's expenses for a year.However, the Yellow-Clothed Cultists also suffered heavy losses. Arthur roughly counted them. There were about 5000 Yellow-Clothed Cultists, but after this battle, their number had decreased to 3000.Yet these people didn't care, because they were originally rootless, bottom-tier people living in such an environment. They had no family, relatives, or friends. Dying, to them, was merely returning to the embrace of The Lord in Yellow.To them, it was happiness.The spokeswoman for the The Lord in Yellow was now kneeling on the ground, panting. She had completely reverted to her human form."The Lord in Yellow should be very satisfied with our banquet this time, right? We've captured quite a few prey this time."The Yellow Robe Woman murmured to the sky.The The Lord in Yellow was her most loyal belief, because during her darkest period, it was the person in yellow who saved her from danger.Therefore, she was the The Lord in Yellow' most loyal believer."Clap, clap, clap!"Just as the Yellow-Clothed Cultists were cleaning up the battlefield, a tall, thin man appeared in the center of the battlefield.Upon seeing the man's arrival, Arthur, on the roof of the house, also perked up."You truly showed me a wonderful feast of slaughter. It's really you, Diji, Experiment Subject 003!"The man was about three meters tall. He had non-human horns on his head, a rugged appearance, and he held a thick notebook in his hand."It's you? What are you doing here?"The Yellow Robe Woman seemed to be an old acquaintance of this man. Upon seeing him, her tone became somewhat angry."Experiment Subject 003, you have been on the run for four years. I didn't expect that you have now infiltrated humanity and even organized this ridiculous Yellow-Clothed Cult. Have you forgotten that you are also a member of the monsters?"The man's words were a fatal blow to everyone present.All the Yellow-Clothed Cultists looked at the Yellow Robe Woman."How is that possible? Have we always been worshipping a monster?""No way?""Didn't you hear what that man said? And our captain has always had non-human abilities. Is she really a monster?"The Yellow Robe Woman had never faced the crowd with her true appearance. Compared to the so-called The Lord in Yellow, these people were actually dependent on the woman before them.At this moment, they had begun to doubt their faith."Pedro, what are you saying? I am a loyal believer of the The Lord in Yellow. How could I be a monster?"Pedro laughed loudly at her words."Forget it, I'm not interested in your faith, and I don't want to sow discord between you and your followers. I came here this time to take you back. I advise you not to resist. After such a long battle, with your current combat strength, do you think you still have room to resist?"
Chapter 285 PedroPedro didn't give the Yellow Robe Woman any room for negotiation; his sole purpose was to bring the woman before him back to the laboratory.After all, the woman before him was one of the few successful test subjects from their experiments."I can only return to the embrace of The Lord in Yellow! How could I possibly go back to such an evil and hideous place as your laboratory?"The Yellow Robe Woman, Diji, stood up from the ground. Although she was utterly exhausted, she would not submit to the man before her."Is that so?"Pedro paid no mind to the Yellow Robe Woman's defiance, for he had absolute confidence in his own strength."If that's the case, then I'll just have to use some special methods to bring you back."With that thought, the man was already prepared for battle."Hahaha, this is The Lord in Yellow' party! I will absolutely not let you ruin it."After saying this, the Yellow Robe Woman charged forward. Her body began to transform, growing countless tentacles that attacked Pedro.However, Pedro was no ordinary individual; he easily dodged all of the Yellow Robe Woman's attacks."You don't have much stamina left, yet you still want to fight me. How troublesome. You know, I'm not very good at fighting."After Pedro finished speaking, his fist was covered with a strange energy, and then he punched towards the Yellow Robe Woman.Bang!"Is this Armament Haki?"Arthur, watching the battle from above, exclaimed in surprise, that Haki actually existed in this country.With that punch, the Yellow Robe Woman was sent flying directly. The immense power made her slide a long distance across the ground before crashing into a wall.Boom!The wall also collapsed, unable to withstand the powerful impact."So strong! He actually sent our leader flying with one punch," a Yellow-Clothed Cultists nearby muttered, swallowing hard.The fallen Yellow Robe Woman slowly stood up, but her body was trembling, and then she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.That punch just now had been too much for her to bear, leaving her severely wounded."As expected of experiment subject 003. After an entire night of fighting, and then being hit by my punch, she still hasn't fallen," Pedro said with a smile."But this is the end. The next punch will finish you."After saying that, Pedro rushed towards the Yellow Robe Woman. Just as he was about to throw another punch, countless tentacles emerged from the Yellow Robe Woman's body, directly binding Pedro and then flinging him away forcefully.Bang!After a cloud of smoke, there was smoke but no injury.Pedro slowly stood up, dusting himself off."Are you still going to stubbornly resist?"The Yellow-Clothed Cultists nearby saw their leader fighting but dared not intervene."Fine, since you insist, then let your cultists see your true appearance.""Shave!"Pedro instantly flashed in front of the Yellow Robe Woman."I am a Disassembly Devil Fruit user. Although you probably don't know what a Devil Fruit is, my ability can disassemble and break down anything except living beings.""Disassemble!"Pedro's hand slapped the Yellow Robe Woman's body.The Yellow Robe Woman was instantly pushed back several steps, and then her clothes began to disintegrate. Her original yellow robe and the mask on her face slowly fell away.The surrounding Yellow-Clothed Cultists all widened their eyes at the sight before them.Because beneath the yellow clothes was not a human form at all, but a monster with a beautiful human face.Her entire body was covered in octopus-like tentacles, and on top of the tentacles were countless sharp blades."This..."All the Yellow-Clothed Cultists took two steps back.At this moment, their faith began to crumble. It turned out that what they had been worshipping all along was a monster."Hahahahaha, don't you see? Your so-called The Lord in Yellow cult is nothing to us. You are destined to be nothing more than an experiment subject.""Damn it!"Diji's beautiful face showed an expression of anger, but her tentacles at this moment were helplessly limp on the ground.At this point, she no longer had the strength to fight."Given the situation, you should just come with me obediently. The human world is not suitable for you at all."Saying this, Pedro slowly advanced towards Diji.And just as his hand was about to touch Diji's tentacles, an arrow shot over."Hmm?"Pedro's arm directly caught the arrow, then he looked towards the person who shot it.It was a burly man, also dressed in yellow.The burly man was glared at fiercely by Pedro, but he said to everyone nonchalantly: "What monster or not monster? I have no one to rely on in this world. It was our leader who saved us, protected us many times, led us to hunt monsters, gave us such a big family, and also let me experience unparalleled happiness. What I believe in is not some The Lord in Yellow at all, but this monster, whom you call an experiment subject, is my faith.""I will absolutely not allow you to take away my faith. If you want to take her away, then step over my corpse first."The burly man in yellow slowly walked in front of Diji.And the man's words simultaneously awakened all the Yellow-Clothed Cultists.These people had been members of the Yellow-Clothed Cult for quite some time, and their frenzied actions over the past few years had made them completely fall in love with this cult."Yes, we will absolutely not allow you to capture our leader!"At this, more and more Yellow-Clothed Cultistswalked to Diji's front, with looks of defiance on their faces.Arthur, seeing this scene from the rooftop, was also a little incredulous.He had originally believed that human nature was inherently evil.These Yellow-Clothed Cultists, after learning that the woman who led them to worship the The Lord in Yellow was a monster, should have been trying to escape, not protect a monster."How interesting!""Perhaps in this environment, people's faith is infinitely magnified, and the people in this outer circle are already tired of this life. Now that they have faith, they certainly won't give it up."Arthur's gaze then fell upon a Yellow-Clothed Cultists who had already died.Pedro also hadn't expected that these people, who were originally rootless and had lost hope in the country, would actually attack him for a monster?"Hahahahaha, I never thought it would be like this? You, as humans, actually worship a monster?""The Lord in Yellow is an unnamable being (I don't know what that means either), it's not a monster at all!" the Yellow-Clothed Cultists and the woman who had become a tentacle monster shouted simultaneously."Well then, in that case, I will make your Yellow-Clothed Cult completely disappear from this country!"
Chapter 287 Battle against PedroArthur's guess was correct; Pedro himself was a modified human, combining the advantages of various creatures to reach his current level of strength.He was originally just an ordinary researcher, but after the modifications, his current strength is genuinely Lord-level, even surpassing some ordinary Lords. His physical talent allowed him to learn things he couldn't before.This was one of the sources of his confidence.In this kingdom, there weren't many people who could reach his level, so he had no fear."Heh heh, if this is all you've got, then I'll be taking you with me today. I'm quite curious to see what secrets are hidden within your body."Pedro clenched his fists, then placed his notebook to the side.He was now ready for an all-out battle.His three-meter-tall figure bent slightly, then shot towards Arthur like lightning.His speed was so great that the Yellow-Clothed Cultists present couldn't even see him clearly.Armament Haki covered his arm, and then he threw a punch towards Arthur's abdomen."Tekkai!"Seeing that he no longer had time to dodge, Arthurimmediately used a move from the Six Powers to block the attack.His Six Powers had now been upgraded to max level, and the max-level Tekkai was even stronger than before.But he miscalculated one thing: Arthur had not learned to use Haki at all. The punch landed directly on him, sending him flying.Bang!Arthur spat out a mouthful of blood, returning to the battlefield."Six Powers?"Pedro, of course, knew the Six Powers by heart; he used to work for the World Government."Are you from the seas outside?"Pedro frowned, asking Arthur."Oh? It seems you don't originally belong to this country," Arthur didn't answer his question, but instead countered.Although Arthur didn't answer, Pedro already had the answer in his heart."Heh heh, since you're from the outside, then I absolutely cannot let you live today."Pedro let out a non-human roar, then appeared before Arthur in the blink of an eye."Finger Pistol!"Bang!Unlike last time, Pedro's attack missed this time. The Arthur in front of him turned into a puff of smoke, disappearing from his sight.The next second, the ground suddenly shook, and a giant python rose from the earth, then swallowed Pedro whole."This guy is really troublesome. His current strength should be no weaker than those Vice Admirals," Arthur muttered to himself.Then he saw the great snake's body begin to swell continuously, after which the great snake turned into smoke and disappeared, and Pedro reappeared in Arthur's sight."Your abilities are very peculiar. In the battle just now, you used many non-human abilities. Are you a Devil Fruit user?"Pedro asked."What if I am? What if I'm not?"No sooner had Arthur spoken than black patterns began to spread across his body, activating the first state of the Cursed Seal.He knew that if he didn't show some real skill, the guy in front of him wouldn't be so easy to defeat.Arthur's confidence, of course, also had its backing.A yellow cloak covered Arthur's body, so everyone couldn't see the appearance of the Cursed Seal."Soru!"Arthur used Soru to instantly appear before Pedro."Mystical Palm, Destruction!"Pedro had no time to react to the speed of this punch, and the power of this punch also exceeded his imagination.Boom!The ground collapsed and shattered, and the surrounding air seemed to tremble.Arthur held nothing back with this punch; it was his full power.After the punch, Arthur lightly leaped to where Pedro had just put down his notebook, then summoned a small snake to swallow the notebook.As the smoke from the trembling earth settled, Pedro slowly stood up, spitting out a mouthful of blood."Damn it! This is truly the strength of a monster. Even my perfect body was almost defeated by this punch. However, the recovery ability of this body is beyond human imagination."In the blink of an eye, the wounds on Pedro's body had already begun to heal."Hahaha, I'm simply impossible to defeat! My powerful recovery ability is something you can't even imagine!" Pedro laughed as he spoke to Arthur."Is that so?"Arthur was unimpressed."What if my next punch doesn't hit your chest, but your head?"As long as it's a living creature, the brain is its primary weakness. If the brain is smashed to bits, even a monster like this should die, right?The next second, the Chakra in Arthur's body began to surge, and a powerful aura rushed towards Pedro. At this moment, he had already activated the second stage of the Cursed Seal.Pedro felt the dangerous aura emanating from Arthur and unconsciously took a few steps back.The more powerful a creature, the stronger its vigilance becomes.Clearly, Pedro was afraid."How is this possible? Who exactly are you?"Pedro asked in disbelief.His current strength meant that even ordinary Vice Admirals were no match for him. Could the other party be an elite Vice Admiral whose reputation had recently soared outside?But this place was so secret, how did the other party find it?Had the World Government already discovered this hidden country?"No, I must report this quickly. Our final experimental product hasn't been successfully developed yet. If the World Government attacks now, we won't have any power to resist."Pedro had already decided to retreat.The power of the World Government was already etched in his mind.Just as Arthur was about to make a move, Pedro, ignoring everything, immediately launched into a full-speed sprint towards the distance.His speed was so great that even Arthur didn't react in time."I thought he was going to fight with all his might, but he chose to flee at full speed? What a cunning fellow!"Arthur sighed, watching Pedro's retreating figure.Now, even chasing him would be too late."Forget it, he got lucky this time."Arthur then exited Cursed Seal mode and took off his yellow trench coat."Is everyone alright?"Arthur turned his head to look at the Yellow-Clothed Cultists. These guys had just gone through a night of fighting, and then the recent battle, so they probably needed some time to recuperate.The Yellow-Clothed Cultists were somewhat shocked by Arthur's voice because they all knew that two women had sought shelter in their territory, and they hadn't expected to ultimately be saved by one of them.And just then, Diji stumbled to Arthur's side. She had now returned to human form."The Lord in Yellow, I truly love The Lord in Yellowthe most!""!!?"