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CHAPTER 59

Kreegan ventured deeper into the colossal castle, where the clinking of boots against metal floors echoed through dimly lit corridors. The air was thick with the acrid scent of machinery and the distant hum of clockwork mechanisms. Amidst the eerie atmosphere, Kreegan realized that this was no ordinary castle; it was a sprawling weapon factory, a fortress of industry.

As he ascended the factory's levels, Kreegan, the Trump pirates' bane, encountered waves of guards. Swiftly, he dispatched them, ensuring that the civilians trapped within this mechanical behemoth could escape to safety. Each fallen foe was a step closer to their liberation.

Upon reaching the zenith of this metallic monstrosity, Kreegan confronted the imposing Bear King. Already, he had meticulously prepared his arsenal of spells, selecting his incantations with precision. Corrosive Touch, a spell designed to pierce through formidable defenses, was primed. He chose Expeditious Retreat for heightened speed, Ray of Enfeeblement to sap his foe's strength, Grease for tactical control, and Cat's Grace to elevate his agility.

In the looming silence, Bear King's voice pierced through, dripping with venom, "Are you the bastard that killed Honey and Boojack?"

Kreegan, unfazed, replied with a calm and resolute demeanor, "What if I am?"

With unexpected swiftness, Bear King lunged at Kreegan, his assault bearing the weight of vengeance. However, Kreegan's preparations proved invaluable. Activating Expeditious Retreat and Cat's Grace, he deftly sidestepped Bear King's crushing punch, the force of which shattered the castle's hard floor.

Kreegan, assessing the situation, understood that he faced an opponent of formidable strength, a gray level 5 adversary. While his buffs granted him superior speed, it was evident that matching Bear King's raw power would be a daunting task. Kreegan knew he couldn't allow his adversary to establish a rhythm in this battle.

With calculated precision, Kreegan unleashed his devastating technique, "Jolt Shishi Sonson." This time, Bear King was caught off guard, lacking the time to evade. Reacting swiftly, he resorted to his devil fruit power, forming a cross-guard to shield his vital areas.

The clash resonated like the collision of steel titans, a resounding "KLANK!" that seemed to shake the very foundations of the castle. Bear King, sporting a smug grin, initially felt only a mild tingling akin to brushing against low-current electricity. However, a sudden, unexpected pain coursed through him as he discovered a shallow cut on his forearm. Ichinami's enchantment had allowed Kreegan to draw first blood.

Bear King, though prideful, realized that these minor cuts alone wouldn't vanquish him. Thousands of such wounds might not suffice. Yet, Kreegan had a hidden strategy, an ace up his sleeve.

With an arrogant laugh, Bear King taunted Kreegan, believing himself invincible, "You don't frighten me with such trifles! Is this all you've got?"

Kreegan remained composed, recognizing that the initial strike had served its purpose – testing Ichinami's enchantment. Now, he understood the time had come for his true gambit.

"Grease," Kreegan intoned, casting the spell that would tip the balance of this battle. In an instant, Bear King found himself sprawled face-first on the ground. Desperation filled him as he struggled futilely to rise, like a creature trapped in an oiled pan. In the treacherous slickness of the Grease spell, standing proved an almost impossible feat.

Without hesitation, Kreegan seized the opportunity. "Ray of Enfeeblement, Nanajuni Pound Ho (72 Pound Phoenix)," he invoked, directing the spiraling sickly green blade energy towards Bear King's prone form. This time, the attack cut deeper into Bear King's weakened defenses, catching him by surprise.

Bear King, still struggling to regain his footing, now felt an unsettling frailty seeping into his being. His strength ebbed away, yet in the chaos of battle, he had little time to dissect this new vulnerability.

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Desperation mounting, Bear King pounded his fist into the ground, shattering it in his attempt to escape the slippery quagmire of Grease. Anchoring himself to the ground with his embedded fist, he found a foothold outside the spell's slippery grasp. He leaped away from the treacherous area.

Kreegan, however, was wary of prematurely deploying his Corrosive Touch spell. A neck strike was the key to victory, and Bear King, despite his weakened state, seemed brimming with untapped energy. Thus, Kreegan resolved to keep inflicting minor cuts, further provoking his foe. His strategy was to wear down Bear King, akin to a relentless rain shower. His Touch of Fatigue cantrip sapped his stamina, and he continued until his speed buff dwindled and his five minutes of buff neared their end.

With every hit, Kreegan ensured to employ Touch of Fatigue alongside his swordplay. This cantrip, boasting a 10% chance of draining stamina, had already been triggered multiple times. The weakening debuff, coupled with Bear King's depleted stamina, rendered his strikes noticeably less potent.

Minutes passed, and Bear King bore the brunt of many superficial cuts. The cantrip continued to work its insidious magic. Impatience began gnawing at the Gray-level 5 pirate, his temper flaring. His fists took on a crimson hue akin to molten iron, and he launched a powerful, sweeping punch. Kreegan managed to evade the deadly strike, but he could feel the searing heat radiating from Bear King's fists as it licked past him.

As Kreegan sidestepped, he noticed an opportunity – Bear King's exposed flank. Swiftly, he moved in for an attack. Yet, Bear King, ever the cunning adversary, had anticipated this move. In a split second, he shifted the trajectory of his punch, directing it towards the ground.

A deafening explosion followed as the floor shattered into a maelstrom of debris. Kreegan's footing faltered amidst the chaos, and his balance crumbled under the onslaught of gravel. Seizing the opening, Bear King struck with a devastating fist.

Kreegan had no choice but to cross his sword, attempting to parry the incoming blow. A resounding "Bang!" filled the chamber as Kreegan was sent hurtling nearly five meters, crashing mercilessly into a stone wall. The impact left him gasping for breath, his world spinning.

Bear King, relentless in his pursuit, advanced upon Kreegan, his intent clear. Yet, Kreegan summoned a final burst of strength, uttering with determination, "Flare, Acid Splash."

A brilliant burst of light engulfed Bear King's vision, though he squinted through the glare, undeterred in his charge. Subsequently, a viridescent liquid spewed forth from Kreegan's hand, aimed directly at his opponent. Bear King, wary of his past encounter with Grease, dodged the assault.

This split-second decision gave Kreegan precious moments to retreat, putting distance between himself and Bear King.

...

In this relentless brawl, Kreegan unleashed a flurry of attacks, leaving Bear King with fifty shallow cuts that barely oozed blood. But the Touch of Fatigue cantrip had triggered nine times, further sapping Bear King's stamina. Meanwhile, Kreegan's own condition was far from pristine. Burns adorned his upper body, a testament to the potency of Bear King's strikes. Though he had only suffered one direct hit, it most likely broke some of his ribs. The scuffle had left him with multiple minor burns as Bear King's mighty blows grazed his form.

As sweat streamed down Bear King's furrowed brow, his labored breathing grew increasingly pronounced with each ferocious punch he threw. The cumulative effect of those incessant, though inconsequential, cuts was a maddening irritation that clouded his judgment.

Kreegan sensed the opportune moment to draw this harrowing contest to a close. Carefully sheathing Yubashiri and adopting a combat stance, he took a partial crouch, drawing his left arm back while extending his right. Ichinami's pommel gripped firmly and rested its blade's tip on his thumb.

Bear King, his exhaustion palpable and fury simmering, no longer wished to pursue Kreegan. Instead, he focused his dwindling strength on one final, all-or-nothing charge. His reserves were nearly depleted, running on fumes in his desperate quest for vengeance.

As Kreegan poised himself for the decisive strike, he acknowledged Bear King with a nod. "Thank you for this fight," he uttered, his voice steady despite the fatigue that coursed through his veins, "but I will be taking your head."

A final breath to steady his nerves, and then Kreegan initiated the attack with unwavering determination. "Perfect Strike, Arcane Accuracy, Corrosive Touch, GATOTSU!"

With the swiftness of lightning, Kreegan lunged at Bear King while his foe countered with a desperate, full-throttle charge.

A resounding "Baam!" echoed through the chamber as an immense force sent Kreegan hurtling toward a stone wall. Blood dribbled from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground, his breath labored and his body aching.

Bear King, his eyes brimming with unbridled hatred, commenced a slow, purposeful advance towards his fallen foe. "I will crush your head!" he growled menacingly.

Yet, to Bear King's astonishment, Kreegan, with great effort, began to smile with an ear-to-ear grin. Raising his empty left hand with a visible struggle, he uttered through strained breaths, "I won, Summon Ichinami."

Ichinami, impaled in Bear King's chest, suddenly vanished from its precarious position, reappearing swiftly in Kreegan's grasp. A gaping wound adorned Bear King's chest, and the Corrosive Touch spell continued its gruesome work, causing the wound to widen.

Bear King took a final, faltering step forward before toppling to the ground. Kreegan couldn't contain his laughter despite his broken right shoulder and the pain that coursed through his body. His wounds might not prove fatal, but they throbbed mercilessly, and he was at the edge of passing out.

Desire to sleep intensified; Kreegan closed his eyes, yearning for the soothing sound he cherished. And as if answering his silent plea, he heard it: "DING." A surge of energy coursed through him, accompanied by uncomfortable, bone-shifting sounds. His fractured shoulder bones and ribs snapped back into place.

"AHHHH!!!" Kreegan's involuntary scream echoed through the chamber as the restorative magic surged within him. Soon, his injuries mended, and his spells were primed once more.