Upon hearing these words, Kembra's face darkened once again.

His heart no longer raced, and his hands steadied. Glaring fiercely at Noir, he spat, "Kid! What did you say?!"

Noir smiled softly, gripping his sword tightly, and declared, "I will defeat you and make my way to the Grand Line."

"Don't push your luck, brat!"

Kembra suddenly lunged, his fist crashing down towards Noir with tremendous force.

Noir, unwilling to take the blow head-on, quickly leapt to the side to dodge.

The powerful punch smashed into the deck, shattering the wooden planks and sending splinters flying towards Noir's face.

Such strength?!

Noir's heart tightened. Despite his outward disdain for this man, he remained vigilant.

Just from this display of brute strength, Kembra's words might not be entirely false. Perhaps he wasn't much weaker than the East Blue overlord, Don Krieg.

At this moment, a pirate underling handed Kembra a pair of gloves, which he swiftly put on.

These were iron gloves, fully protecting his fists.

Taking advantage of Kembra's distraction, Noir launched a quick attack.

Noir leapt up and swung his sword down with immense force, backed by his formidable physique, the blade descending like a meteor.

However, Kembra was unfazed, raising his iron-clad hand to meet the blade.

"Clang!"

A loud clash of metal on metal echoed, sparks flying everywhere.

Kembra remained unharmed while the shock left Noir's hands aching.

Kembra clutched the sword blade tightly, looking at Noir's grim expression, and sneered:

"Kid, you've got some strength! But it's not enough!"

With a sudden flex of his arm muscles, Kembra threw Noir and his sword away in one swift motion.

Noir stabilized himself mid-air and landed on the ship's edge.

This guy's strength is too great; a head-on clash won't work.

A glint of determination flashed in Noir's eyes as he dashed towards Kembra again.

"Didn't learn your lesson?"

Kembra roared in fury, delivering another sweeping punch just as Noir's body twisted back, his sword rotating in his hand.

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With a reversed grip, Noir, in a highly twisted posture, plunged his sword into Kembra's body!

Sliding forward, Noir's blade left a long gash on Kembra.

"Argh!!"

Kembra released a thunderous howl of pain, driving Noir back with another punch. Holding his wound, he glared with bloodshot eyes and bellowed, "Damn it! I'll kill you!!"

Having dodged to the side, Noir rested his sword on his shoulder, taunting, "Kill me? Go ahead and try."

"Argh!!"

Kembra charged at him like a towering mountain, exerting a formidable pressure.

Noir sidestepped again, ducking as the iron fist whooshed past his head, lifting his hair.

Despite the intense pressure, Noir remained calm, slashing at Kembra's knee.

Kembra, wary after the first strike, quickly retracted his leg, but Noir used the momentum to smash the sword hilt into his shin.

With force applied, Kembra's legs split into a painful split, leaving him howling in agony.

"Wow, sounds like a howling dog," Noir chuckled.

Kembra's henchmen helped him up, glaring at Noir; he growled, "You've thoroughly pissed me off, kid! I'll tear you to pieces!"

Suddenly, his body began to swell, his clothes tearing apart, muscles bulging, and coarse hair sprouting, his mouth protruding.

In no time, Kembra transformed into a fierce-looking beastman!

Have I turned into... a bear?

A Devil Fruit user?

The surrounding pirates started clamouring:

"You're dead, kid! This is the power of God!"

"Behold the mighty 'Grizzly' Kembra, who can transform into a powerful bear-man!"

"Die, brat!"

"I see why pirates need underlings now," Noir thought, the noise around him like annoying buzzing mosquitoes.

Beyond annoyance, they set the scene ablaze.

Noir didn't dare underestimate him, quickly using the system to check Kembra's abilities.

"Name: Kembra

Brute Strength: White Talent, Kembra has immense strength but sacrifices intelligence, reflexes, and speed as a trade-off.

Demon Host·Bear: Blue Talent, having consumed the Zoan-type Devil Fruit Bear-Bear Fruit, is endowed with the power of the demon, capable of three-stage transformations into bear form, human form, and bear-human hybrid form.

Sea's Curse: Purple Talent, with the demonic power, comes to a curse that attracts the ocean's ire, rendering him powerless upon contact with seawater, unable to use his abilities actively."

A Devil Fruit power considered a talent?

This was Noir's first encounter with a Devil Fruit user, the talent slots being unique.

So, do those who consume a Devil Fruit get two talents, 'Demon Host' and 'Sea's Curse'?

Wait?

Of these two talents, one is the fruit's ability, and the other is its drawback. I should be able to...

Kembra saw Noir motionless and thought he was paralyzed with fear. He raised a huge paw and struck towards Noir's head.

Noir snapped out of it, raising his sword to block Kembra's paw.

But their strength levels were worlds apart. Noir's sword quickly deformed under the pressure, the bear paw slamming him down to the deck.

Noir's body smashed through several layers of the ship's planks, landing at the bottom.

"Cough!" Noir spat out blood, looking up at Kembra above.

I got careless.

Activated, Kembra's physique showed no weaknesses; his speed, strength, and reflexes had more than doubled.

With his sword nearly broken, Noir decided to discard it.

He then stealthily took out a blue copy card from the system.

He needed to copy Kembra's "Demon Host" ability; it was his only chance at victory!

Kembra leapt down, landing heavily in front of Noir.

In his intimidating bear-man form and his grotesque face, even Noir felt a twinge of nervousness.

Through years of familiarity with the system, Noir knew the copy card required physical contact to copy an opponent's talent.

He had to get close to Kembra once more!