Chapter 44: Chapter 42 He is strong!!!
**"That kid... how is he this strong?"**
Cermo's heart was filled with shock and fear. Though he possessed Armament Haki, its strength was mediocre. If he faced the boy's punch head-on, his Haki would likely shatter, rendering him completely vulnerable.
"Lord Dragon!"
A slave trader accompanying him stared at Dragon, who had just been sent flying by a single punch. His expression was a mix of terror and disbelief at Satoru's overwhelming power.
Dragon was the strongest fighter their family had assigned to guard the area. Yet, the so-called strongest had been utterly outclassed without lasting even one exchange.
Realizing the disparity between them, Dragon's mind was already retreating. That single blow revealed a vast chasm in strength. Judging an opponent by their age? The most foolish mistake he could have made.
**"Even if you want to retreat, I won't let you. I don't allow anyone who dares to hate me to leave alive."**
Satoru's cold words crushed any hope of escape.
**"It seems this is a fight to the death, then."**
Dragon straightened up, his muscles tense with vigilance as he prepared to attack again.
"You're Cermo, right?" Dragon addressed the captain of the Sin Skull Pirates, standing nearby.
"You've seen his strength. Alone, neither of us stands a chance. But together, we might have a sliver of hope."
**"That's exactly what I was thinking,"** Cermo replied immediately. Facing certain death, he had no choice but to agree.
**"No matter how many ants gather, they're still just ants."**
Satoru's Infinite Limit Warlock technique remained active, making his body untouchable. Without Conqueror's Haki or its advanced form, they stood no chance of breaking his defenses.
**"Well then, let's see how far my range goes."**
Satoru clasped his hands, and a brilliant blue sphere appeared above the battlefield.
**"Cursed Technique: Cang."** (I just thought it was cool name, it nothing have to do with chinese)
With those words, an immense gravitational force erupted from the sphere, pulling everything towards it.
**"Aah!"**
**"Help!"**
Pirates and slave traders alike screamed as they were helplessly drawn in and erased from existence.
The sphere's force mimicked the pull of a black hole. Though Satoru's current strength didn't match a real black hole, it was more than enough to annihilate everything in the vicinity.
Even Dragon and Cermo struggled to resist the pull. The ground beneath their feet crumbled as their bodies began to lift.
**"Damn it! If this continues, we'll be sucked in!"** Dragon growled, his face twisted with frustration. He hadn't expected his arrival to become the trigger for such devastating destruction.
**"Isn't there anything we can do?"** Cermo asked, his voice filled with desperation. His Devil Fruit powers were useless in this scenario. He hadn't even unleashed his full strength, yet it was already over.
**"When you chose this path of evil, you should have known this would be the outcome,"** Satoru declared.
With a final surge of energy, Satoru's mana reached its peak, pulling everything—people, trees, and even parts of the ground—into the blue sphere. A massive crater was left in its wake.
**"Phew~ That was exhausting."**
Satoru exhaled deeply. Though the technique consumed little mana due to his limitless reserves, it required considerable mental focus.
Hearing the silence, Chris and the others cautiously returned to the scene.
When they saw the devastation, they froze in disbelief. The battlefield was unrecognizable, transformed into a barren wasteland.
**"Satoru! Are you alright?"**
Chris spotted Satoru lying on the ground and rushed to him using his Devil Fruit powers.
**"I'm fine. But a sweet treat would really hit the spot right now,"** Satoru joked, grinning faintly.
Chris sighed in relief. **"If you're joking, then you're fine."**
**"Unfortunately, I'm someone who refuses sweets."**
**"I have a candy here. Want it?"**
Herak stepped forward, holding a small piece of candy. He offered it to Satoru.
**"Huh?"**
Everyone was surprised, including Satoru. Herak, known for rejecting sweets as "childish," had just produced candy from his pocket.
**"It's not what it looks like! Someone gave it to me yesterday,"** Herak stammered, embarrassed under their gazes.
**"Ohhhh!"**
The group erupted in teasing laughter.
**"It was a girl, wasn't it?"** someone teased.
Herak didn't respond, but his blushing face said everything.
**"Damn it, why does Herak get the girl first?"** one of the students groaned.
**"Seriously! I'm way more handsome, yet no one gives me candy. This world is so unfair."**
Though their jokes were genuine, their envy was just as real.