PIRATE:SEEING MY PROFICIENCY I BECAME A LEGEND

The two stood still, a vast difference in their body sizes. The other party towered at nearly 3.5 meters, reminiscent of the towering presence of Kaido. In contrast, Dongze was as small as a brat before him.

Dongze didn't waver, his sharp gaze fixed, and he spoke coldly: "The one who will kill you."

The second-in-command burst into laughter.

"You? Hah! I've crushed countless little brats like you underfoot! This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard today!"

"Shameless fool!"

"Die, boy!"

The enormous mace in his hand, reminiscent of the kanabo wielded by the likes of Kaido, was swung with terrifying speed. The air howled as it cut through the wind, carrying the force to flatten an army in one strike, bearing down on Dongze.

Yet, Dongze remained unfazed, his confidence stemming from his mastery of Haki.

The Three Colors of Haki—Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki.

• Armament Haki—reinforces attack and defense, even allowing the wielder to strike Logia users.

• Observation Haki—sharpens senses, detects life energy, and even glimpses into the future.

• Conqueror's Haki—the rarest, the "King's Ambition," possessed only by the chosen few who can dominate others with sheer will.

As the mace descended, Dongze's eyes gleamed. He twisted his heels, sliding back precisely 1.2 meters. The mace whooshed past his nose, missing him by a hair's breadth.

"What?"

The second-in-command hadn't expected the brat to dodge such a devastating blow. Unwilling to accept it, he followed up with another strike, this time even faster. A faint sonic boom echoed—only for Dongze to evade again.

Frustration boiled over. His attacks, enhanced by the power of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, grew wilder and more forceful. Just like the Beast Pirates, once transformed, Zoan users not only changed physically but became more aggressive and relied heavily on brute strength.

Dongze didn't counter immediately. Instead, he adapted to the rhythm of the attacks.

"A dragon has regrets, and unrestrained power never lasts."

The second-in-command's assault slowed. The exhaustion of mindless attacks was setting in. Seeing this, Dongze's grip on his sword tightened.

A silver arc slashed through the air like Ittoryu's Shishi Sonson. The second-in-command, who had assumed the boy was all defense, was caught off guard by the sudden and blindingly fast strike.

This was Iaijutsu, the art of the swift draw—meant to kill in one motion. Dongze had been accumulating momentum, and now, this strike was far beyond his previous level.

Yet, something felt off. Dongze sensed strong resistance.

"So tough…"

The second-in-command sneered. "Hahaha! I ate the Chimpanzee Zoan Fruit! This is nothing but a tickle! You can't cut me, brat!"

Dongze's eyes darkened. He despised such twisted minds. In a world of turmoil, it was men like these who embodied savagery.

At that moment, something changed. A light screen flashed before Dongze—his sword-drawing proficiency had risen by 50 points.

His gaze turned predatory.

This man was not just an enemy—he was a training dummy.

"Hah… You sure about that?"

Dongze smirked. He wasn't wielding an ordinary sword. He held one of the 21 O Wazamono, a blade rarer than Devil Fruits themselves.

The second-in-command laughed maniacally.

"You're dead!"

Now fully adapted, Dongze launched his counterattack. The arcs of light grew larger—from a waning crescent to a full moon. His sword strokes became more refined, his technique sharpening mid-battle.

Then, a critical moment.

A crescent-shaped full moon slash carved deep into the second-in-command's chest. Blood splattered.

"Impossible!"

The chimpanzee Zoan user was in shock. The same attack that once barely scratched him now tore through his defenses.

Dongze, however, was unfazed. His proficiency had skyrocketed to 5000/10000.

Animal-type Devil Fruits were notorious for their high endurance and recovery, so Dongze didn't let up. He pressed forward relentlessly.

The second-in-command, sensing trouble, tried a different tactic.

"Wait, brat! You've proven yourself. I take back what I said. You can actually hurt me. But I'm a Zoan! I can last longer than you. Why don't we call it even?"

Dongze didn't reply. Words were a battlefield trap. He knew veteran fighters, much like Doflamingo or Kaido, would exploit dialogue to gain an advantage.

Silence was golden.

He struck again. More wounds opened on the enemy's body.

Realizing Dongze wouldn't respond, panic set in. The second-in-command had hoped to gauge his opponent's condition. If Dongze hesitated, it meant he was reaching his limit. If Dongze replied, he could manipulate him through words.

But Dongze was unreadable.

A full moon arc gleamed in the air again. This time, the enemy trembled. If he couldn't block it, another deep, bone-cutting wound was inevitable.

Then, Dongze noticed something odd—his proficiency had stalled at 8500/10000.

Confused, he made a choice. He threw away his sword.

The second-in-command was stunned—then ecstatic.

The brat was defenseless!

He licked his lips in anticipation—only to freeze.

The speed of the falling sword was unnatural. Faster than his eyes could follow. Even swinging his mace with all his might, he couldn't match the acceleration.

Dongze vanished, reappearing alongside his airborne sword.

A flash of steel.

The enemy's vision blurred. His body wouldn't move.

"Damn… What kind of sword technique is this?"

A chill spread through his throat. Strength drained from his body.

"Impossible…"

It was the second sword move in Dongze's arsenal of Iaijutsu—the Hundred-Step Flying Sword.

A second full moon arc appeared—then a chimpanzee head flew into the sky.

Dongze sheathed his sword.

Even though Hundred-Step Flying Sword was a finishing move, it hadn't increased his proficiency. This forced him to rely on another Iaijutsu technique to end the battle.

Exhaustion hit him. High-intensity swordplay at this level took its toll. He slumped against a boulder, inhaling deeply.

Looking up at the bright moon, he murmured:

"Four years, five months, and six days. My journey of revenge is over."

Then, he checked his proficiency panel.

• Sword Drawing: 8500/10000

• Hundred-Step Flying Sword: 1500/10000

• Tai Chi Sword: 150/10000

"The lottery unlocks today… I'll send you to hell."

Then, suddenly—

Dongze's pupils shrunk.

"…What is this?"

At the base of the mountain, a figure with round glasses let out a long sigh. A smirk twisted across his lips before he disappeared into the shadows.