Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Pirate King (2)
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Even if the speedboat was destroyed, it wouldn't vanish completely, but Rokan hadn't come to Pirate Island, willing to shoulder the hefty repair bill, just for practice alone.
He had come searching for the location of the Lion King's armament, guided by the item and hint he'd obtained from the murloc shipwreck long ago.
The Wrath King's chain axe was impressive enough, but just how incredible would the Lion King's armament be?
With that strange sense of anticipation, he began the battle. He hurled his axe straight at one of the rowdy pirates.
"Throwing!"
Thwack!
It wasn't even a bombardment, yet the pirate's head exploded like a burst melon. The destructive power packed into it was terrifying.
Clink!
When Rokan pulled with all his strength, the axe that had shattered the pirate's head flew back to him. Now he had a way to easily retrieve his main weapon even after throwing it.
This was the simplest application of the chain axe.
"Watch out! That thrown weapon is powerful!"
'Not bad.'
The key to such attacks was the time between throw and retrieval, and this seemed plenty usable.
However, if that was all it could do, it would be problematic. Knowing this, Rokan started experimenting with various techniques.
Whoosh!
This time, he tossed the axe high into the sky.
There were no enemies in the air, yet the pirates stared in bewilderment at the axe sailing upward.
"Hup."
Boom!
In that instant, Rokan's right arm swelled as if it might burst. Then, with all his might, he slammed it down toward the ground.
Boom!
A powerful strike augmented by potential energy crashed down. It made bombardments look like a joke. The hand axe unleashed devastating destructive power beyond imagination.
"Ugh..."
Not even a groan escaped as every pirate in the straight line perished. They were utterly annihilated.
It required a wind-up, but the power was undeniable. If someone could buy time, it seemed perfect for delivering a crushing blow.
"This is fun."
There was real satisfaction in spontaneously putting ideas into practice.
Since they were only levels 250 to 280 anyway, he could afford to take a few hits, allowing him to experiment with various uses and practice freely.
And in the process, he could quickly correct any openings that appeared.
"Hya!"
Thud. Clink.
The chain axe's utility wasn't limited to extending it long.
Using Snap, it whipped around like a serpent, lashing the surroundings. After the axe flew out, it could be used like a whip.
"Gah."
"Bl-block it!"
"The shield's shattered...!"
But it was far too powerful to dismiss as just a connecting chain. The iron chain itself was legendary grade, boasting attack power equal to the axe.
"Subdue!"
Rokan even replicated a pre-fusion skill. He willed the extended iron chain to wrap around one enemy.
"Leap Attack."
Its movements were so fluid it was like a living creature; the pirate couldn't react in time and got ensnared. Seizing the moment, Rokan leaped up and gripped the axe handle.
Thwack!
Then he split the subdued pirate's skull.
It seemed attacks weren't recognized when controlled by will alone, but irregular tactics like this were fully viable.
"It's the enemy!"
"Surround him! Don't let him escape alive!"
As he was enjoying himself, even more pirates swarmed in. Like the entire island's worth pouring out, there were at least a hundred.
Rokan grinned again at the sight. It was the perfect chance to try the technique he was most looking forward to.
"Leap Attack."
Whoosh. Thud!
Rokan leaped high and landed right in the middle of the pirates, taking position as intended.
Then he began to spin.
"Wheel Wind!"
Clink clink clink!
The iron chain extended following his rotation. It smashed everything in its path, growing longer and longer.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
It didn't have a blade like the axe, so it registered as a blunt weapon, but that was more than enough. No one could withstand Rokan's overwhelming destructive power. And critical hits didn't strictly require a blade anyway.
'Move!'
He added one more function: making the chain writhe during the Wheel Wind.
It still landed hits, so it seemed damage judgment occurred even while controlling it.
'Ugh, this is no joke.'
The power was insane, but the strain on Rokan was no small matter either. His palms ached from gripping the chain as it thrashed up and down.
Only someone like Rokan could endure it; anyone else would have had their palms torn and dropped the chain long ago.
On top of that, the mana consumed by the Wheel Wind and chain movement was substantial. Extending it to max length for prolonged use might be a bit taxing.
"This thing is ridiculous."
Of course, he wondered if he'd ever need to use it that long anyway.
Stopping the spin and looking around, all the pirates that had appeared were dead.
Even those who tried to duck low or hug the ground got smacked by the moving chain and perished. Gazing contentedly at the inventory piled high with loot, he began recovering his spent mana.
"Alright, shall I circle the coastline once?"
Even if they were relatively low-level monsters, this kind of mob farming could net some decent leveling.
He skipped the central stronghold for now, sweeping the outskirts to farm exp and items.
"Hmm, inventory management is a pain too."
After raiding several outposts over three straight days there, Rokan scratched his head at the overflowing inventory.
He could store them in his rune book and come back, but unfortunately, rune book storage didn't work in this place.
He had to either discard or keep them.
"This is junk, this too. This one's decent."
So he dumped them. There weren't many with better item discernment than Rokan anyway, so he tossed anything superior or below, and even among magic grade and up, only the worthwhile ones. Soon a pile of items formed beside him. Left like that, they'd vanish after a set time.
If he was confident in his trading, selling just these would be a fortune, but even selling everything including his inventory wouldn't cover a single speedboat, so no point clinging to them.
What Rokan kept was barely enough for speedboat repairs anyway.
"Time to head inward."
Having adapted somewhat to the new weapon, Rokan moved toward the island's interior.
The interior wasn't much different. Just a few strongholds where level 290 pirate sub-bosses spawned.
They were named monsters with boss judgment, but who was Rokan? A powerhouse who'd already crushed several masters.
Unless it was the Pirate King himself, sub-bosses were no match. He could overwhelm them easily without even using the chain.
Clink!
Yet Rokan actively utilized the chain. It wasn't something he'd use just once or twice, so better to get fully accustomed.
"Nice."
Slice slice.
He slashed and smashed over a thousand foes, restoring the damaged durability while devising a simple strategy.
"Kai!"
Screech!
At Rokan's call, Kai appeared in his enlarged form. Thanks to the subspace skill bought in Taimura, Kai could emerge anytime now.
"Let's go!"
But he didn't fly high.
Low-altitude flight.
Skimming just above the ground, he flew swiftly.
"Catch him!"
"Shoot him down!"
"Damn it, too low! We'll hit ourselves!"
It was for herding them.
Rokan had never farmed here in his previous life, but his vast experience told him roughly where the boundary was. Cross it, and the 'boss' would appear.
So he cleverly circled without crossing it.
Thrown weapons occasionally flew at him, but he didn't need to lift a finger.
Ting.
The iron chain moved on its own to protect him.
Having grown familiar through combat, now even a bit of will was enough to control it.
It greatly bolstered Rokan's defense.
'This is fun.'
The process was endlessly amusing to Rokan.
It was a completely different combat style from before, so the subtle delays in reaction were fun too. Plenty of room for improvement, and that precarious thrill was exhilarating.
"Kai, up."
After blocking several thrown attacks, Rokan lightly cleaved the obstructing pirates and hopped off Kai's back.
Enough pirates had gathered.
"Wheel Wind!"
The chain axe once more cleaved the air—and everything within it.
"Hey, this is too easy."
Swipe.
After sweeping away the assembled pirates, he took one more step. Crossing the boundary.
"How dare you cause a ruckus here!"
The AI was advanced with high freedom, but a game was still a game. The moment he crossed that line, the Pirate King rose from the inner quarters. The sub-bosses with him.
"Finally, some worthy opponents."
Rokan's expression brightened further.
Now he had a chance to properly test the new weapon. It was too good to waste on mere slaughter.
"What are you waiting for? Come on!"
It started, as always, with a mad war cry. But they didn't faint or weaken noticeably. They were buffed from proximity to their Mountain Bandit King equivalent.
'Good. That's how it should be.'
That thrilled him too. Beating down cowering foes wouldn't sharpen his skills.
Feeling that chilling thrill for the first time in ages, Rokan charged first. Ranged attacks were possible now, but that alone didn't satisfy.
"Destruction Charge!"
Immense power exploded from both legs.
He targeted one of the sub-bosses.
He enjoyed tough fights, but he wasn't dumb enough to ignore adds and solo the boss.
"Multiple Throw!"
Hand axes flew from the sub-boss's hand.
Similar to Rokan's bombardment, but focused on hurling multiples at one point, without magic damage conversion.
'Move!'
He could have used Guard. But he didn't. Keeping the Wrath King's chain axe gripped, he moved only the chain to defend.
Clang clang clang!
The enemy's combo skill was potent, but this was legendary-grade chain. A non-master's attack couldn't even scratch it.
"Urk!"
Panicking at how Rokan took his combo head-on without slowing, the sub-boss hastily raised his weapon, using the flat of his massive axe to block and halt the momentum with brute force.
Boom!
With a truck-collision sound, the hulking sub-boss flew into the sky, unable to offset the impact, and crashed.
"Weak Point Detection! Penetration!"
Seizing the opening, another sub-boss lunged at Rokan.
Small dots invisible to others appeared on Rokan's body.
A combo skill granting guaranteed crits and armor penetration on stabs, combined with Extreme Speed Stab concept, activated simultaneously.
Ting!
But it failed again. Rokan spun around, moving the chain.
He precisely caught the stab between the chain links, then swung; the backlash sent the foe tumbling ass-first.
"Ship Splitter!"
The finale was the Pirate King.
He too pulled out a combo skill right away. Terrifying experience of cleaving enemy ships in one stroke dwelled in his blade, drawing a joyful smile from Rokan.
If he was the lord of the seas, Rokan was the incarnation of madness and battle across land, sea, and air.
He met the advancing fight head-on, clashing axe to blade.