MTLNOVEL Chapter 8: Chapter 8
"Second-in-command!"
"Boss is dead!"
A terrified cry spread throughout the compound, causing the remaining bandits to tremble. Normally, the leader of mountain bandits commanded fear and authority, but now that even the boss had been slain, how could they not be afraid?
The crowd erupted in panic, murmurs turning into chaos.
At this moment, a tall figure emerged from the shadows. He had a twisted, menacing face, a deep scar running down one side, and his expression was filled with fury. His chest was exposed, revealing two massive scars crisscrossing his abdomen.
Gripping a spiked kanabo, his eyes burned with madness.
"Shut up!"
His violent aura swept across the compound, silencing the terrified lackeys.
"Who the hell did this? Speak up!"
Unfortunately, the younger bandits had only just woken up from their slumber. They knew nothing except that bodies littered the ground, the thick scent of blood heavy in the air.
The silence deepened his unease. He scowled, scanning his surroundings.
It wasn't hard to guess what had happened. As bandits, they pillaged and killed without remorse. If someone had come seeking vengeance, it wouldn't be a surprise.
But the fact that he hadn't seen the attacker yet set him on edge.
Whoever it was had taken out the boss in silence. The Bandit King wielded a rifle powerful enough to contend with him—yet he had died without a single gunshot. That meant the enemy was strong… strong enough to kill him too.
The man slammed his kanabo into the ground. "Come out, coward!"
…
Meanwhile, where was Dongze?
After the bloodshed, he noticed his Iaijutsu proficiency had skyrocketed. His skill had reached 501/10,000, and with each increase, his swordsmanship grew exponentially stronger.
That was why he had been able to decapitate the Bandit King with a single strike.
After all, there had been nine people in that room.
Now, he stood in the corner of a building, refining his understanding of sword drawing. He had already observed the scene outside, but instead of rushing in, he examined the rifle in his hands.
This wasn't just any gun—it was a precision sniper rifle. Considering the Bandit King had kept over a hundred men in check with it, he must have been a sniper. Otherwise, these ruthless criminals would have turned on him long ago.
Dongze took aim at the bandits below.
"Bang!"
A gunshot pierced the silence. A bandit's head exploded in a spray of blood.
Panic surged through the bandits once again. The invisible threat was suffocating. The pitch-black night felt like a monstrous abyss, swallowing them whole.
As time passed, their fear escalated until some finally snapped.
"Ahhh!"
"I don't want to die!"
"Help!"
"Run for your lives!!"
"SHUT UP!"
The Second-in-Command bellowed again, but this time, it was useless. The bandits' nerves had shattered, their fear beyond control.
"Who the hell is there?! Come out, bastard!!"
"Bang!"
Another shot rang out. Another bandit fell.
The gunfire was like a slap to the Second-in-Command's face, making him furious.
"Damn you! I'll kill you myself!"
His voice turned sinister. "You lot, grab those hostages and bring them to me!"
The younger bandits hesitated, their breath shaky, but the Second-in-Command's glare made them obey.
Dongze, listening from afar, immediately understood the plan. The enemy was out of options—he was trying to use the hostages to lure him out.
"Not a bad idea, but do you really think that'll work?"
"Bang! Bang! Bang…!"
Gunfire erupted, and every bandit who moved toward the hostages dropped dead.
With Dongze's Observation Haki, each shot was perfectly placed, striking his targets without fail.
Then, he unleashed a barrage of bullets.
In mere minutes, only one figure remained standing in the courtyard: the Second-in-Command.
Dongze aimed at him next and pulled the trigger.
But something unexpected happened—the bullet didn't faze him.
The man's body suddenly swelled. His clothes tore apart, revealing thick, black fur. A massive gorilla stood in his place.
Then, with an agility that defied his size, he dodged to the side and launched himself toward Dongze's location.
"A Zoan user!"
Dongze's expression darkened. He had expected a strong opponent, but he hadn't expected a Devil Fruit user.
Devil Fruits were treasures of the sea, granting users extraordinary powers.
There were three main types:
• Logia, allowing control over natural elements like fire, ice, and lightning.
• Paramecia, offering unique and unpredictable abilities, some as powerful as earthquakes.
• Zoan, granting animal transformations and enhanced physical prowess.
Among them, even the weakest Zoan users possessed endurance and strength surpassing normal humans.
This man had eaten a Gorilla-type Zoan Fruit. His recovery rate alone made him a formidable opponent.
"You bastard! I found you!"
The gorilla roared, eyes burning with rage. He swung his kanabo with terrifying force, shattering the room where Dongze had been hiding.
Seeing this, Dongze discarded the sniper rifle, tapped his foot lightly against the floor, and propelled himself out of the wreckage.
His sword flashed as he drew it, eyes locked onto his opponent.
The gorilla landed on the ground, turned, and sneered upon seeing him.
"What? It's just a damn kid?!"
"Brat! Who the hell are you?! Name yourself!"