Chapter 137: Marika's Busoshoku Haki
Chapter 137: Marika's Busoshoku Haki
In a deep corridor at the other end of the castle, almost at the same time as Lily encountered Cham, Marika was also facing off against the stone statue knights.
Boom!
Kicking a huge hole in one of the statues, she twisted her foot and lashed out with her leg like a whip, swiping at another charging stone statue knight and kicking its upper body clean off.
Marika reached out, grabbing the statue knight by the ankle and swinging its lower body forward with a mighty heave.
Boom!!
The immense force sent the stone statue flying like a cannonball, crashing into the onrushing horde of statue knights and shattering them to pieces on impact.
But it was to no avail.
No matter how many times these statue knights were broken, they would reform and resurrect, their stony forms unchanging.
"Well now, this is a bit tricky," Marika said with a gentle smile, dodging a stone broadsword swung by one of the knights. She broke its arm with a hand chop and, gripping the broken limb, swung it around like a cleaver, smashing through the reforming statue knights as she made her way down the corridor.
She soon reached a large, open area that seemed to be a training ground for soldiers, filled with weapons and armor. At its center stood a massive fighting platform.
As soon as the pursuing statue knights entered this area, they halted as if on command, surrounding the entire training ground.
"Welcome!"
A high-pitched voice rang out from the center of the platform.
The surrounding torches flickered and went out, replaced by bright lights that illuminated the previously dim area, transforming it into a space as bright as day.
On the platform stood a man, his whole body glowing under the lights. He had an afro, bronze skin, and was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of shorts—a boxer, it seemed.
Taped to the platform's columns were several wanted posters. The man scanned them, a smile spreading across his face. "Marika, with a bounty of 80 million berries. I never expected someone like you to intrude on my territory. I am Niman, a sergeant in the Army of the Kingdom of Anu."
He brought his fists together, his eyes narrowing with battle intent. "Defeat me if you want to pass!"
"Well, well, a living person," Marika said with a gentle smile. "But I'm just a cook and not very good at fighting. Can't you just let me go on my way?"
Niman shook a finger, his voice oddly mismatched with his muscular physique. "No can do. If you can't beat me, I'll beat you to death!"
"Now that's what I call..."
"...overbearing," Marika finished with a smile.
She stepped onto the platform. "So, all I have to do is beat you, right?"
"No one can beat me!" Niman asserted, assuming a boxing stance. As Marika advanced, he closed the distance with a quick step, his fist shooting out like an arrow. "I am invincible!"
Bang!
His punch connected with nothing but air.
Marika sidestepped, her palm open as she struck out at Niman's jaw. "There you go."
Boom!
The powerful blow sent Niman's head snapping back, but that was all.
Marika, ever smiling, paused for a moment, her smile faltering slightly. She withdrew her hand, puzzled. "Iron?"
Niman threw another punch, which Marika dodged, countering with a palm strike to his chest.
Bang!
It was like striking a block of iron—a strange, metallic sound rang out, but Marika's immense strength only managed to push Niman back a few steps. His chest showed no signs of injury, and he continued to press forward, undeterred.
"My turn!"
Niman's fist shot out, his speed akin to that of a professional boxer. However, he couldn't land a hit on Marika, who dodged with ease, even lowering her body to avoid his sweeping leg. She took advantage of the opening to strike again.
Bang!
Once more, the sound of striking iron reverberated around the platform.
Marika took a few steps back, her smile unwavering. "So it's steel, huh?"
"That's right!"
Niman was pushed back by the impact but remained unharmed. Grinning, he said, "My entire body is made of steel! This is the 'ability' bestowed upon me by the King himself. Be it weight or density, I am the strongest! And you, an 80-million-berry bounty pirate, have managed to move me, a man of steel. You're worth killing!"
His bronze-colored skin was not just a hue; it was steel.
"It's either high-density steel!"
Marika's strength was great enough to deliver several blows, denting the iron mask.
But now, this man's density surpassed her strength, and his own weight was not insignificant. With each punch he threw, the sound of rushing air signaled the force behind it. If she were to be hit, the outcome would not be pretty.
At this moment, Marika realized that the platform they stood on was not made of stone but rather high-density steel—a material strong enough to support his enormous weight.
Setting aside the 'ability' bestowed by the king, the sheer strength required to manipulate such a weight was impressive in itself.
"Impressive," Marika remarked with a smile. "You're wasting your talent as a mere sergeant. Why not join the Catastrophe Pirates? Captain Sag always welcomes powerful individuals like yourself."
"Don't make me laugh! I'm a noble of the kingdom!" Niman retorted.
He knocked his fists together and continued, "You may be strong and fast, but don't think I can't hit you!"
His bronze-colored skin seemed to melt as steel waves surged from his body. These waves took the form of snakes, coiling around him in a bundle, becoming steel whips.
"The king bestowed upon me this controllable steel body. I can use it however I please, and now, I will use it to capture you!" Niman declared.
The iron whips shot towards Marika, surrounding her on all sides and blocking any possible escape route.
"Just like this!"
Niman lunged forward, moving in close to Marika, and threw a punch straight at her.
With the steel waves unleashed, his burden was significantly reduced, increasing his speed. He gave Marika no time to react as his fist came barreling towards her.
This punch could not be blocked directly.
After all, Marika's body was still that of a normal human.
Her smile froze, and her eyes widened slightly. Her black hair, like a waterfall, came to life, extending and coiling around her arms, forming thick cuffs. She crossed her arms, creating a barrier in front of Niman's fist.
"Iron Block: Hair Cuffs!"
Her hair cuffs gleamed with a bright light, hardening like iron. Upon impact with the punch, they immediately dented.
But it was only a dent; this resistance would minimize the force by the time it reached her arms, allowing her to withstand the blow.
"Useless! It's just hair!" Niman shouted.
Just then, he roared, and his fist twisted, causing several steel spikes to protrude from its surface. With a hissing sound, the spikes pierced through Marika's hair.
"Hair Bind!"
A large amount of hair wrapped around Niman's arm, even as it broke through Marika's cuffs. It continued to coil around his neck, limbs, and other vital areas with large bones, binding him like a spider's nest entrapping its prey.
Meanwhile, Marika's hands clamped down on his fist, withstanding the attack. The force of the blow caused her feet to slide back along the ground.
"Iron Block: Hair Bind!"
The hair binding Niman snapped straight, and Marika's body bent slightly forward as she took a deep breath. Her eyes, now wide open, sparkled with intensity, and she pushed her hands forward in a striking motion, about to slam into Niman's chest.
"Useless!" Niman exclaimed.
The iron whips that had blocked Marika's escape routes now retracted into his body, reinforcing his flesh. He stood firm, unaffected by Marika's dual-handed push.
Bang!!
Sssss!!
Niman's body stumbled back a few steps, and the hair binding him was severed. Steel blades appeared all over his body, along with spikes on his chest, some of which were tainted with blood.
"My defense is invincible!" Niman cackled.
Marika stood her ground, her eyes cold as she looked at her bloodstained hands. Her previously calm gaze had turned icy.
The previous push had caused the spikes to pierce her palms, leaving countless bloody holes.
"A chef's hands must not be tainted with blood," Marika said calmly. "Blood will affect the flavor of the dish and make it unappetizing."
"Foolish woman, who cares about cooking now? You'll be dead soon enough!" Niman boasted as he raised his fist, now covered in spikes like a porcupine.
"Whether it's your hair or your flesh, nothing can withstand my strength and this high-density steel," he continued. "A single punch is all it takes to end you, and no matter how you strike, you cannot break my defense. This is the power of the Kingdom of Anu!"
A punch to the head with that body would undoubtedly be fatal!
Pirates were all weaklings!
Marika's cold gaze locked onto the man with the afro.
He reminded her a bit of Daz Boness, Mr. 1, who served under Crocodile. Although she had never fought him personally, Crocodile had shared some intelligence about him.
Chapter 137: Marika's Busoshoku Haki
"So it's just normal attacks that won't break through, huh? Then, I guess it's time to switch things up."
Marika extended her palm and clenched her fist, her hair dancing and wrapping around her fist to form a spherical hammer.
"That hair of yours is useless!" Niman declared, his hands on his hips as he struck a bodybuilder's pose, chin raised proudly. "My defense cannot be broken by anyone!"
Whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, Marika's figure blurred, and she rushed towards Niman. The hair enveloping her fist tightened and solidified.
"Iron Block: Hair Hammer!"
Marika's smiling eyes widened, revealing a cold, moon-like glint. The spherical hammer aimed straight for Niman's chest.
A cruel smile spread across Niman's face as his chest revealed rows of sharp blades, daring Marika to strike.
If she tried to run, he wouldn't be able to catch her, but against a direct attack like this, he was more than confident.
He loved the clash of iron, the thrill of brutal, direct combat.
With this, he could beat this woman to a pulp!
In addition to the blades on his chest, Niman's fist also sprouted steel spikes as he raised it to match Marika's blow.
Boom!!
The sound of iron striking iron reverberated as Marika's hammer, made of her hair, slammed into Niman's chest. Her soft hair seemed to have transformed, becoming incredibly resilient as it pressed against the sharp blades.
Uncut?
Buzz!
Niman froze, and in that moment of impact, his body trembled slightly, causing his raised fist to pause in mid-air.
"You..."
He stared at Marika, his expression turning cold, as blood trickled from his mouth.
Not only from his mouth, but also from his eyes, nose, and ears—any fragile part of the human body—blood flowed.
"Perhaps your skeleton is covered, but... you can't cover your internal organs, can you? After all, this isn't your ability."
Marika slowly retracted her hand, and the spherical hammer made of her dark hair, in addition to the light of Iron Block, now had a layer of darkness.
Busoshoku Haki!
"No matter how high the density, it's still just iron armor. Against iron armor, you use blunt force. As long as the hardness is enough, it can shake you to death."
A gentle smile returned to Marika's face as she said, "I forgive you. If there's a next time, please listen carefully to what others say. I just want to cook, not fight. But if you get in the way of my cooking, I will get angry."
Niman's body trembled again, and he fell backward, his body crashing heavily to the ground, unable to get up again.
His body was still infused with high-density steel, and while the attack had not caused any dents or damage to the surface, his insides had been shaken to pieces.
From the beginning of the fight, Marika had realized that this man was not truly an 'iron man'. Otherwise, why wouldn't his head be covered? And when his body released those steel waves, his frame became noticeably lighter.
He was carrying a mass of high-density iron, which, while providing great defense, made his insides extremely fragile.
It was like wearing a suit of iron armor.
Normal attacks wouldn't be enough because Marika's own hardness wasn't sufficient, even with the addition of Iron Block.
But with Busoshoku Haki, it was a different story.
Her immense strength, the hardness of Iron Block, and the reinforcement of Busoshoku Haki transformed the hair spherical hammer into an incredibly hard blunt weapon.
Against iron armor, blunt force was key.
The force of the blow and the resulting vibrations were enough to shake a person to death.
And as for this Busoshoku Haki...
She hadn't just acquired it recently; she had mastered it some time ago.
Mastering her own will and projecting that invisible power was not difficult for Marika, especially since she had learned Senjutsu, which allowed her fine control even over individual strands of hair to use Rokushiki. With Sag's guidance, mastering her will wasn't as challenging.
She simply hadn't wanted to reveal it yet, as she was, at her core, a chef.
She preferred cooking to fighting any day.
(End of Chapter)
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