Chapter 18

Loya had only used this mode twice, and in just two attempts, the power of the dragon increased by 1%! He wouldn't use this move unless absolutely necessary.

But the results were impressive. The dragon's body had now surged to 39%!

What does this mean?

Previously, Loya had to dodge and weave to avoid the Silverback Great Ape's attacks. Now, he could confront it head-on, without a hint of hesitation!

His defense and attack were now even more terrifying than the silverback great ape's. He was a bona fide humanoid beast!

Iron Fist of the Ice Dragon!

Broken Teeth of the Ice Dragon!

Claws of the Ice Dragon!

Ice Dragon's Grip!

Loya unleashed a storm of punches and kicks, his frenzy surpassing even the rampaging silverback. His icy, snake-like eyes scanned the ape, radiating a cold, lethal intent that silenced the forest around them.

Even a hint of dragon's majesty was enough. Dragons, after all, reign supreme among all creatures.

The silverback felt Loya's dominance like a blow to its heart. It was unsettling, yet... invigorating. When facing certain death, what else is there to fear?

Their clash was deafening, brutal, and bloody.

As time wore on, the ape's movements slowed, its counterattacks weakening. No amount of willpower could defy nature's laws. Its lifeblood was spent; the end was near.

Sensing the ape's despair, Loya stepped back, watching from a distance. Their eyes met, and Loya's composure returned. He sighed deeply, nodding solemnly at the ape's pleading gaze. "You fought nobly, warrior. Farewell."

After two grueling hours of combat with mortal wounds, the ape chose death over retreat. It was a bittersweet moment.

The silverback, looking oddly satisfied, managed a pained smile through its blood-stained visage. It raised its fist one last time, staggering towards Loya.

Loya summoned more magic than before, cold air swirling around him. Bright blue light enveloped him, lending him an icy majesty.

"Ice Dragon's... Iron Fist!"

BOOM!

The giant body fell, slamming into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. The silverback great ape died, content at last.

Loya stared at the ice sculpture frozen mid-swing, feeling oddly hollow. It was as if he'd entered a moment of perfect clarity.

He released his magic, slumping to the ground. Picking up a dirt-covered ice cube, he popped it in his mouth, crunching thoughtfully.

"Screw it," he muttered. "I'll rest up a bit, then go hunting again."

The navy official's hand shook as he wrote down the score: "Christopher Loya... killed a silverback great ape, 1000 points."

Zephyr stared at the screen in silence before letting out a bitter laugh. "Kuzan, what am I supposed to teach this kid when he joins the elite camp?"

"Teacher Zephyr..."

Kuzan understood Zephyr's concerns. He'd seen Loya's rapid growth firsthand.

"Well," he offered gently, "at least Loya's hand-to-hand combat needs work. And he can't use Haki yet."

Zephyr had trained countless students, including the current admirals. In his younger days, before... the incident, he'd have been thrilled to have such a talented pupil. But now, older and more tired, watching Loya's progress felt overwhelming.

Kuzan's attempt at comfort only made Zephyr more morose.

"Just look at how he's performed this month under your command," Zephyr sighed. "I'm afraid my old methods will be obsolete soon! By the way, how old is Loya?"

"Twenty-five. Doesn't look it, but that's his age."

Zephyr relaxed a bit. "That's not so bad. If I remember right, you became a lieutenant general at twenty-five too."

"Actually, I was twenty-six," Kuzan corrected. "The next year, I took part in the Buster Call that destroyed Ohara. It's all on record, Teacher Zephyr."

Zephyr's face fell. "...I think I'm done talking for today."

After consuming a pile of ice cubes, Loya finally felt his strength returning. Dusting off his pants, he moved his sore limbs towards the silverback great ape's body.

The battlefield was completely leveled, eerily silent. All creatures had fled the recent chaos. A few that hadn't escaped were now frozen, their lifelike ice sculptures shimmering in the sunlight.

Loya stood silently before the silverback great ape's corpse. This was the first time he had faced such a situation. The great ape, knowing it would die, never lost its will to fight until its last breath. What a resolute spirit. In that moment, Loya felt his opponent wasn't just an animal but a warrior.

That's why he spoke those words.

The warm sea breeze tousled his hair, and Loya's arms transformed into two massive wings of ice. With a brief pause, he launched towards the corpse.

"Ice Dragon's Wing Strike!"

This wasn't about beating a dead horse - it was about giving the great silverback a proper burial.

With a rumble, Loya's icy wings sliced through the frozen ground, hurling aside tons of dirt. The ape's body toppled into the pit, and Loya covered it with soil.

"Ice Make: Ice Coffin!"

He slammed his fists down, instantly freezing the surrounding earth. No scavengers would disturb this grave.

After finishing this solemn task, Loya stood in silence for a moment before turning away, his steps more determined than ever. He wasn't just burying a worthy opponent - he was burying his weaker past self.

The future held more battles like this. The ape's fate was a stark reminder that death lurked closer than ever.

An eerie quiet had fallen over the forest. Sunlight filtering through the leaves sparkled like stars, casting everything in a crystalline glow. The silence felt unnatural.

"Weird," Loya muttered. "When did it get so quiet?"

As he wandered, he realized the once-lively forest was now still. No sounds from other recruits, not even a chirp from birds or insects.

He knew his dragon form's aura was intimidating, but surely its range wasn't this vast? At Marineford, it had only affected half the recruit battalion, spreading to half the naval HQ at most when he really cranked up the pressure.

"Fear is contagious, I guess," he mused.

The initial explosion and dragon's might had spooked the nearby animals, sending them fleeing in panic. Even predators on the fringes, initially unfazed, started to worry after a few kills.

The fleeing creatures ignored their fallen comrades and the predators around them, charging forward recklessly.

The predators hesitated. Was there something terrifying behind these animals? The island's apex predator, maybe?

They didn't stick around to find out. Soon, a tide of beasts was fleeing through the forest.

"I'm gonna starve to death at this rate!" Loya groaned, clutching his empty stomach. Even the rocks were starting to look like bread rolls.

Just then, Lieutenant General Mole appeared, sporting a mohawk. Loya's eyes lit up.

"Ooh, giant sausage!"

WHACK!

"OW!" Mole's face darkened as he slammed Loya to the ground. "Who're you calling a sausage? That's my hair, you idiot!"

After things calmed down, Mole reluctantly sheathed his sword. He'd doubted Kuzan's words on the boat, but now he believed Loya really did have lieutenant general-level strength.

Loya sat on the ground, rubbing his head. "What's your problem? Can't you see I'm starving here? Is this your idea of justice - starving me into submission?"

Ignoring Loya's whining, Mole pointed. "There's a gathering point that way. Assessment's been cancelled due to special circumstances. Head there now."

"Special circumstances?" Loya sneezed, then asked, "What, are there pirates on the island or something?"

Mole sighed deeply. "You fought that silverback ape, scared off all the animals, and caused a beast stampede. We had to stop the assessment for everyone's safety."

"Wait, what?" Loya looked genuinely confused. "The whole island's having a stampede because of me?"

"What else?!"

At the beach, hundreds of dejected recruits sat in small groups. Some were bandaged or on crutches, getting treated by the ship's doctor.

"Hey, Loya's back!" Xueba called out, spotting Loya sliding over on ice blades.

"Yo! What's up, everyone?" Loya greeted cheerfully, oblivious to the tension.

He was immediately dogpiled by furious recruits.

"You jerk! Do you know I almost died because of you?!"