Chương 25: CHAPTER 25

"Take this!"

Page One swung his claws suddenly, generating a strong wind pressure with the sheer momentum of his speed.

Alastor focused his gaze, first analyzing Page One 's defensive power in his human-beast form.

1,500 points—200 more than his beast form from earlier.

After the recent battle, Alastor's defensive power had increased to 1,250 points, leaving him 250 points behind Page One . The gap was neither insignificant nor insurmountable, aligning perfectly with Alastor's expectations.

Despite entering a state of heightened alert, Alastor refrained from drawing the cursed sword. He opted instead to continue fighting hand-to-hand.

When Page One's claws lunged toward him, Alastor raised his arm to block.

"What incredible strength!"

Page One's attacks, amplified by his charging momentum and powerful hybrid form, overwhelmed Alastor. Unable to fully resist, he was sent flying. His body slid over ten meters before colliding with a wall, finally coming to a halt.

[The host receives moderate damage. Defense +15.]

Alastor coughed, blood trickling from his lips. He rotated his shoulders, feeling the pain of two broken ribs.

"As expected, the ancient Zoan form is immensely powerful," he muttered to himself. A few more injuries like this, and my defense should reach 1,500 points.

With that thought, Alastor looked up at Page One. Blood smeared across his mouth, but a smile curled at the corners of his lips.

Page One's pupils trembled.

He's smiling? After taking that kind of hit?

Frustration coursed through Page One .

Does this guy not care about his injuries at all?

Shaking his head, Page One growled.

"If I can't figure it out, I won't bother. I'll just keep attacking until he's torn apart. Let's see if he's still smiling then!"

Page One moved again, circling behind Alastor with remarkable speed, before launching a vicious kick. Alastor activated his Haki, angling his body slightly to protect vital areas, but he was sent flying once more.

[The host receives moderate damage. Defense +15.]

Page One didn't relent. He leaped into the air, slamming his claws downward in a devastating hammer blow.

Unsurprisingly, Alastor took the hit again.

[The host receives moderate damage. Defense +15.]

Page One's relentless assault continued, and Alastor endured each strike. The system's notifications rang without pause. Yet, whenever Page One aimed for a critical blow—Alastor's neck or heart—it always missed its mark.

Despite his accumulating injuries, Alastor remained standing, unbroken. Page One couldn't shake the absurd thought creeping into his mind.

Is he getting stronger with each hit? His body… harder?

When a repeated attack left Alastor less injured than before, Page One's suspicions crystallized.

His defensive power is increasing—and it hasn't stopped.

The realization left Page One stunned.

How is this even possible?

"You—what kind of physique do you have?" he asked, unable to hold back his disbelief.

Alastor's smirk widened. "Oh? You noticed? Sharp as ever, Pay Pay ."

Page One's face twitched at the nickname, but curiosity overrode his irritation.

"What's going on with you?"

Alastor's voice carried a teasing edge. "If you want to know, then beat me. I'll tell you—if you win."

Page One clenched his fists, his frustration mounting.

He's still not taking me seriously?

Gritting his teeth, Page One declared, "I don't care how special your body is. Everything has a limit. I'll break yours with sheer force!"

He gathered his energy, channeling all his strength into a decisive attack.

---

In the stands.

Ulti cheered excitedly. "Pay Pay's getting serious now! He's going to crush that guy!"

Who's-Who sneered. "Don't be so sure. Page One's still too inexperienced. That man, Alastor, isn't simple."

Sasaki nodded in agreement. "A body this tough—resisting ancient Zoan devil fruit attacks with raw physical strength alone—is rare."

Ulti shot back indignantly. "I believe in Pay Pay ! He's the best!"

Page One tried to ignore his sister's overenthusiastic support, his gathered energy barely holding steady.

Sister, please, just stop embarrassing me…

"Are you going all out now?" Alastor's tone grew serious.

In truth, he wasn't underestimating Page One. The young pirate, with a bounty of 290 million Baileys, had great potential. Alastor simply wanted to test how far his body could withstand attacks from an ancient Zoan devil fruit user—and increase his defensive stats in the process.

At his waist, a faint demonic aura stirred. Alastor glanced at Sandai Kitetsu.

Even you can sense the danger now? But it's not your time yet.

Page One, noticing the sword, scowled. "You're a swordsman, and you haven't drawn your blade? How much do you look down on me?"

Anger flared in Page One's chest. His youthful pride couldn't stand being underestimated.

The atmosphere shifted as Page One's aura erupted. His claws lengthened, his teeth sharpened, and his muscles bulged beneath his grey-brown dinosaur skin.

"You'll pay for this!" he roared, vanishing in a burst of speed as the ground beneath him shattered.

"He's so fast. That boy Page One is quite capable," Who's-Who remarked in surprise.

Queen twisted his rotund body comically and grinned. "Even when cornered, a kid like that will still bite back."

King crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on Alastor. "So, what will you do? Will you still rely solely on your physical body to resist?"

He continued, "Your body is undeniably tough, but it has its limits. If you take Page One's strongest blow head-on, you'll suffer at least a serious injury. At that point, you'll lose this challenge."

This was King's judgment.

As a Lunarian, King had survived the harshest conditions and possessed extraordinary defense and vitality, rivaling even Kaido himself. His words carried weight, and everyone present accepted his assessment without question.

Even Jack, who had unshakable confidence in Alastor, began to feel uneasy. He worried that Alastor might stubbornly refuse to draw his sword or use his Armament Haki to defend himself. After all, Jack had personally requested this challenge from Kaido on Alastor 's behalf. If Alastor were to lose, it would damage his own reputation as well.

Kaido, who had been idly drinking, finally turned his attention to the battle.

To him, this fight was no more than a trivial scuffle. Yet Alastor's performance intrigued him. He was especially curious about how Alastor would respond to Page One's most powerful attack.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Alastor stood motionless.

"Good grief," Queen chuckled. "Does that boy really plan to tank it with his body? Is he not afraid of being crippled?"

Jack gritted his teeth. "What's wrong with that kid's head?!"

"Even if he's trying to show off, taking a blow like this will guarantee his loss," King added, shaking his head.

Kaido snorted. "What an odd kid."

Everyone, including Kaido, found themselves surprised by Alastor's choice.

For him to make such a decision, either he was reckless to the point of stupidity, or he had a hidden trump card up his sleeve. And whatever that trump card might be, it had to be extraordinary to justify risking such a serious injury.

The audience's attention sharpened, every eye focused on Alastor.

At the same time, Page One moved. His speed was astonishing as he appeared in front of Alastor in an instant, unleashing a devastating punch to Alastor's chest. The force behind it was terrifying, and its impact reverberated through the air.

Boom!

The earth-shaking sound of the blow sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The energy from the punch exploded out of Alastor's back, demolishing a large swath of buildings behind him.

The clothes on Alastor's upper body were shredded by the impact. His chest and back bent into a grotesque arc, and the sickening sound of bones cracking rang out clearly.

"How about that?" Page One sneered, his face twisted in triumph. "More than a dozen of your bones are broken. Can you still laugh after suffering such a serious injury?"

But then, a calm voice emerged from the battered figure in front of him.

"Yeah?"

Page One's smirk faltered, his expression darkening.

Alastor, blood dripping from his mouth, slowly wiped it away with the back of his hand. His focus shifted inward as the system's familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[The host is seriously injured. Defense +100.]

A satisfied smile spread across Alastor 's face as he glanced at his system panel.

[Host: Alastor ]

[Age: 20]

[Defense Power: 1,500]

Perfect. Just reached 1,500 points, matching Page One 's full beast form. The secondary objective of this fight is complete. Time to finish this.

Alastor reached out and placed a hand on Page One's wrist, stopping his fist in place.

"What?!"

Page One tried to pull his hand back but couldn't. Alastor's grip was like iron, holding him in place with overwhelming force.

How?! Page One's mind reeled. How can he still have this much strength when he's so severely injured?

He didn't notice it immediately, but the others watching did: despite his injuries, Alastor's aura had not weakened. In fact, it had grown stronger. The severe wounds seemed to have no effect on his power.

In the stands, the powerhouses exchanged glances, their faces betraying shock and intrigue.