In the distance, gods clashed, tearing heaven and earth apart. Nearby, only ruins and wailing filled the air.
Once called the "Sacred Land of God Valley," this place had now become the ultimate hunting ground. And Kael Grylls was once again playing the role of a top-class predator.
"Now this is familiar," Kael weaved through scorched woods and shattered estates, lips curled in a nostalgic grin. "Three years of surviving on deserted islands honed my jungling skills. Can't let them go to waste."
The jungle king was back online!
His first targets? Naturally, those pompous swine who strutted about like gods the Celestial Dragons.
As for treasure, he would grab it along the way. No loot could compare to the fun of hunting the so-called nobles of the world.
Hunting was pure joy.
To avoid drawing too much attention from the World Government later, Kael even decided to add a little extra "flavor" to his acts.
Inside a relatively intact manor, a group of CP agents in black suits were desperately escorting a fat Celestial Dragon who still had half a roast chicken leg hanging from his mouth.
"Faster! Protect me, you useless trash!" the noble shrieked, spittle spraying against the bubble hood covering his head.
Suddenly, a strange figure blocked their path.
It was a yellow, square-bodied creature full of holes, dressed in a white shirt and brown shorts. With two buck teeth and an eerily cheerful grin, it waved.
"Ahahaha, hello there! Want a delicious Krabby Patty?"
"SpongeBob" greeted them in a shrill, piercing voice.
The CP agents froze. What in the world was this? Some kind of exotic beast? A pirate mascot?
"Stop it!" the leader snapped, drawing his blade.
But before they could move, SpongeBob puffed his cheeks and blew out a handful of shimmering bubbles.
They looked harmless, floating lazily through the air. But the moment one touched a blade,
Boom!
An invisible shockwave exploded outward. The agent didn't even have time to scream before being launched like a cannonball, smashing through three walls before collapsing unconscious.
The others blanched. But Kael pressed the assault, his distorted laugh echoing as he blew more and more "bubbles."
Compressed air blasts, disguised as playful bubbles, struck with pinpoint precision. Each one slammed into joints or stomachs, crippling the agents instantly, leaving them alive only to wallow in despair.
With the guards down, "SpongeBob" strolled toward the Celestial Dragon, who was now sobbing and leaking snot inside his bubble.
"Not a bright one," Kael judged silently. "Dead."
His finger flicked, invisible waves scrambled the man's brain like an egg. He slumped lifelessly.
Looting what he could, Kael whistled and set off again on his hunt.
Soon, another target appeared, and Kael changed his skin.
This time, a massive pink starfish in green flower-print shorts shambled into view, drooling and glassy-eyed.
Patrick Star.
"This one looks brutal. Dead."
His gaze fixed on a female Celestial Dragon whipping slaves for sport, Kael felt nothing.
Controlling "Patrick," he waddled forward, lifting a stubby hand skyward.
"Look, a starfish!"
The CP guards instinctively glanced up.
That was their mistake.
From Patrick's belly button, a blazing red beam fired.
Heat Ray.
The focused infrared blast tore through several agents, then pierced straight through the Celestial Dragon and the decorative rockery behind her, leaving behind nothing but a glowing hole.
Kael admired the smoking scene with satisfaction. Precision strikes like this felt far more elegant than simply smashing with brute force.
But when faced with true heavyweights, his demeanor shifted.
On a flattened plaza, another Celestial Dragon, protected by armored figures, stood trembling.
The God's Knights.
Kael's eyes grew serious. These men radiated power. Each one was steady as a mountain, leagues beyond CP fodder.
"Guess I need a new style."
He melted into the shadows. Waves of light bent, forming the long-nosed, bulbous-headed illusion of a dour octopus.
Squidward, entering the stage.
He didn't attack immediately. Instead, he studied the formation. Their defense was airtight, every gap covered.
"This one looks… tricky."
He opted for assassination. Gripping his naginata, Kael aimed the blade at the weakest knight in the ring.
Silent Sky-Piercing Thrust.
No sound, no ripple, no killing intent. The strike slipped forward like a viper's fang.
Thunk!
The blade pierced. Kael's heart leapt.
But then something was wrong. The feedback wasn't flesh. It was like stabbing into tough rubber.
The knight turned, frowning. His wound sealed before Kael's eyes.
"Found you, stalker," the knight's voice was flat.
"Tch. Immortal bodies? Disgusting."
Kael didn't hesitate. His blade trembled, loosing arcs of sword energy, then he withdrew, illusions scattering. Dozens of Squidwards fled in all directions while his real body vanished deeper into shadow.
The God's Knights were as fearsome as their reputation. A head-on clash was a fool's game.
Abandoning the target, Kael prowled on.
Through a devastated residential district, he found another Celestial Dragon family under guard: a man, a woman, and two small children.
Kael narrowed his eyes, already preparing his usual judgment.
"This one looks like… huh?!"
The words caught in his throat.
The man wasn't arrogant, wasn't cruel. His face was twisted with fear and worry.
Instead of hiding behind his guards, he spread his arms wide, shielding his wife and children. One golden-haired boy even glared out at the chaos with defiant eyes.
That man's face Kael knew it well.
Donquixote Homing.
The rarest of Celestial Dragons, the one who chose to renounce his divine birthright and descend to live as a human.
Kael's naginata suddenly felt heavier.
He slaughtered Celestial Dragons because they were parasites, scum, cancers upon the world.
But this one was different. A father worth respecting. A man naïve, foolish, yet still clinging to conscience.
Every man had the right to choose his path, whether righteous or evil. Homing's end would be tragedy, and Doflamingo's future was darkness but those were their choices to make.
He could punish crimes. But he had no right to condemn a future that had yet to happen.
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