https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-536-Agin-and-Sanji-s-Reunion-Battle-/12951453/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-538-Sanji-s-Awakening-The-Battle-of-the-Seven-Stars-/12956200/
Chapter 537: Burst Mode! The Cyborg's Transformation!
Chapter 537: Burst Mode! The Cyborg's Transformation!
"How dare you ignore me! You underestimate me!"
Black Maria, having been ignored, retracted her long-handled roulette wheel from the floor, her eyes glaring as she spread her fingers and shot out a cluster of spider silk.
"Just wait until I bind you, then I'll give you a proper roasting!"
She was a Spider-Fruit Ancient Form - Pattern Rose Ancient Wolf Spider, one of the strongest 'Twin Youngsters of the Flying Six' within the Beast Pirates' 'True Elite' tier. How could she be looked down upon!
But as the spider web entangled around Akainu, the intense heat emanating from his body instantly ignited the web, turning it into ash that scattered on the ground.
"The Flying Hexad, huh."
Akainu glanced back at Black Maria, "Sage said that the Flying Hexad's ranking system is similar to our 'Seven Stars'. I don't see it that way. I'm a gatekeeper of the Seven Stars, and everyone who becomes a Seven Star is stronger than me. What's your rank?"
Black Maria narrowed her eyes slightly, "I'm the second-ranked member of the Flying Hexad. What right do you have to fight me, being at the bottom?"
As she spoke, she straightened her upper body, picked up her pipe, took a deep puff, and exhaled a faint cloud of smoke.
"Those at the bottom must have the resolve of the bottom. You all will drown in your delusions!"
The smoke enveloped the group, causing them to pause in unison, their eyes gradually losing focus.
"Wheel Mastery!!"
Black Maria's Aura-imbued long-handled roulette wheel spun in her hands, and the large face in the center of the wheel cried out as it spun and ignited with flames.
She let out a shout and raised the wheel high, slamming it down towards Akainu's head.
Thud!!
The motionless Akainu suddenly extended his fist, emitting intense red heat, and forcefully collided with the wheel, his powerful Aura causing the wheel to veer off course.
"How can you be so fast?!"
Black Marika exclaimed, "I didn't even see your shadow!"
Her technique, 'Illusion Fog', combined her Zoan-type ability with specially crafted smoke, creating an illusion of the deepest memories within the opponent's mind.
It contained all the beauty from one's memories, using that beauty to entice and lure them into the illusion, exposing their vulnerabilities.
She hadn't fought against her fellow crewmates, but anyone who encountered this Illusion Fog would be momentarily stunned. Otherwise, she wouldn't be ranked second. For those with seemingly tough bodies, Illusion Fog should be the most suitable technique, but why did it last less than a second?
She didn't even see the illusion created within the fog!
"The Click Leader."
Akainu spoke calmly, "The one who appeared was him, my former captain in the East Blue, and the first captain in my heart."
He took a step forward and said, "Our attempt to enter the Grand Line failed due to bad luck, encountering Hawkeye. If we had made it, with Click's strength, even if we couldn't achieve a bounty over 100 million, we would have been decent pirates, perhaps even entering the New World."
"But he didn't listen to advice. Despite failing in Baratie, he had few subordinates. At that time, he should have shown the spirit of a pirate, instead of continuing to tarnish the pirate flag with his despicable actions. If not for that, I might have continued following him."
"If he were still alive, I'd like to talk to him, to tell him that his decision back then was a mistake. But I know clearly that he won't be reborn, because Sage personally blew him up. Those killed by Sage have no chance of revival!"
He took a few steps forward, "Fake, there's no need for conversation!"
Thud!
As he spoke, he stomped the ground, creating a smoke ring, and took a Moon Step towards Black Maria's spider half-body, melting the remaining hammer into molten iron, coating his fist with it, causing it to glow red.
Thud!!
The scorching molten iron, carrying an unparalleled impact, almost formed a pillar as it pierced through the spider half-body's face, leaving a trail of crimson.
Clang!
Black Maria's tightly gripped hammer-wheel loosened, falling to the ground, and she herself tilted her head back, her eyes rolling up, smoke rising from her mouth, her spider half-body going limp, dragging her upper body down with it, losing consciousness.
Strong?
Actually, it was quite impressive.
But Akainu's ability was stronger, and the destructive power of the molten iron, combined with Akainu's inherent steel-like heat, made it difficult for anyone to withstand purely with their flesh.
Aura?
The Aura was also not up to par.
"In terms of combat power, it's not bad, and can be considered the top 'Nova' among the new generation. But when joining our Calamity Pirates, there's still room for improvement."
Akainu spoke, and his figure suddenly flashed, becoming an afterimage as he dashed towards the rear, his fist glowing red as he smashed it forward.
Bang!
A similarly fiery red leg blocked the punch, and Sanji used his leg to hook Kurozumi's hand, pulling it to the side to open up his chest. The hook-like foot then stabbed inward.
Kurozumi extended his other hand to block, but found the person in front of him jumping into the air, the other supporting leg swirling with smoke, and kicked him in the exposed abdomen.
Bang!
Kurozumi, pushed back by the massive force, instinctively took a few steps backward. He shook his hand and looked at Sanji, who had bounced twice in the air and landed on the ground, both feet burning with a fire that was almost identical to Kurozumi's, even emitting flames. He narrowed his eyes slightly:
"Moon Step, huh? Mr. Sanji, you've gotten stronger. It's no wonder you're my benefactor. This is for the best; if you weren't strong enough, you wouldn't be able to survive in the New World."
"Move aside, Kurozumi."
Sanji said, "I need to go elsewhere; I don't have time to fight you here. I can't be gentle with women, but as a man, I'll show no mercy!"
Kurozumi shook his head, "On a personal level, I would like to let you go, but given my current duties, I can't do that."
"Whatever you intend to do, raiding Kaido and Wano Country is our predetermined plan. Allowing you to leave and causing any variables would be unwise."
He took two steps to the side, standing at the entrance of the passage, and tore off the upper part of his clothes, revealing muscles that looked like brown steel.
"If you want to leave, you'll have to defeat me!"
"It seems we can't come to an agreement."
Sanji clicked his tongue, and one of his feet slowly rose. "Perfect, we didn't get enough of a fight two years ago in Alabasta. Last time, you blew up our ship in Punk Hazard; let's settle all accounts now!"
Kurozumi said no more, his muscles bulging and turning a steel color, radiating a fiery red hue.
"Cheek Meat Strike!"
Sanji moved at high speed, his leg stabbing forward, trailing flames, and kicked Kurozumi in the face.
Clang!
With a metallic sound, Kurozumi's head tilted back, his eyes lowering, and he praised, "As expected of Mr. Sanji, your speed is fast, and your strength is considerable, but..."
He caught Sanji's ankle with his hand, his eyes widening, and with a deep breath, he thrust his arm forward, slamming Sanji into the ground, sending wood chips flying and creating a dent.
"This kind of strength is not enough!"
Sanji coughed and gritted his teeth, his other foot swiftly kicking Kurozumi's wrist to break his grip. He quickly braced himself with both hands, performing a large spin, his legs' flames forming a spiral, and with a powerful rotation, he struck Kurozumi's waist.
"Banquet Table Spin Kick!!"
Bang!!
The immense force made Kurozumi, even with his Steel Body, widen his eyes, his body instinctively flying to the side.
At that moment, Kurozumi's elbow struck Sanji's ankle, causing his leg to lower. Seizing the opportunity, he pressed down on Sanji's leg, his body exerting force to get close to Sanji's upper body. His fist, glowing with fiery red, struck Sanji's face with a powerful punch.
Boom!
Sanji's face was pushed inward by the punch, his head crashing through the dented floor, smoke rising.
"Just this won't be enough to defeat me!"
Kurozumi raised his fiery red fist, without hesitation, and continued to strike Sanji's chest.
"Ice Soul!"
Just as his fist was about to reach Sanji's chest, a ghostly presence suddenly passed through his body, covering his burning red body with a layer of ice, temporarily freezing the high temperature.
"Hundred Flowers Chaos!"
Without the high temperature, some cherry blossoms immediately floated from Kurozumi's arms, transforming into countless hands, which then combined and solidified into about a dozen arms, each gripping his joints, trying to pull him backward.
Robin, with her hands crossed, activated her ability to extend several arms from the ground, lifting Sanji out of the dent. His face was burned by the punch, and his neck was oddly twisted.
In that instant, the ice that had been gradually melting on Kurozumi's body began to disappear.
"Plunder Song - Snow Blade!"
Seeing this, Brook drew his cane sword, the blade covered with a layer of hellish cold, forming ice crystals on the edge. He delivered a precise and swift strike toward Kurozumi's chest.
"Ten Thousand Purple and Red - Butterfly Orchid!"
Cherry blossoms scattered in the air, transforming into countless hands that appeared in the air, striking Kurozumi's vital points with the unique slapping technique of Fishman Karate.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a burst of scorching steam exploded around Kurozumi, instantly melting the already melting ice and causing Robin to instinctively retract the hands that had grown on his back.
Boom!
A scorching hot fist collided with the incoming swift sword, and the resulting steam wave blew Brook away, causing him to tumble onto the ground.
"Ouch! Ouch! It's hot! I might become a steam skeleton! Although I'm a skeleton, this heat is intense! Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Huff!
Steam rose again, dispersing the hands that had appeared in the air, extinguishing them instantly.
Robin grunted, taking a step back and examining her hands. There were signs of burns on them.
The limbs she manifested were connected to her body, and any damage to them would affect her main body as well.
But how could this intense steam cause such burns?
"Not bad," said Smog, revealing his emotionless face, unharmed by the steam. He twisted his neck, clenching his fist and speaking in a low voice, "The chilling cold almost penetrates the bones, but since it's a physical manifestation, it can be thawed. This level of freezing is nothing compared to Aokiji's abilities."
Smog turned to Robin, "Robin-dono, as a relative of Sage's bloodline, your techniques also target vital points. However, as a relative, the strength is vastly different. My body is made of steel, and ordinary vital point strikes are already ineffective against me. The difference is too great!"
Huff!
Smog released a burst of steam from his feet, visibly increasing his speed as he reached Robin in the blink of an eye. With a powerful punch, steam erupted from his elbow, providing additional propulsion and a scorching wave of energy, completely overwhelming her upper body.
"Burst Mode - Empty Bullet!!"
Boom!
Robin's body flew out of the steam, landing on the ground with visible aura surrounding her arms, but the aura couldn't defend against the gas. Although she had the ability to harden, it was ineffective against this scorching heat, resulting in more extensive burns.
"Robin!"
Brook immediately got up, his sword blade glowing as he launched ice crystals at Smog.
Smog dodged the attack by turning his head, and with another punch, a wave of energy resembling a pillar slammed into Brook's body, melting the ice crystals and blowing the skeleton away, who landed on the ground, smoke rising from his body.
"This is my 'Burst Mode'," Smog explained. "By operating at high temperatures with my steel body, the 'steam' it generates provides me with immense propulsion and enhances my strength by a level. It's not just you who can grow."
After consuming the fruit for so long, he couldn't just keep melting steel and metal. Abilities are abilities, and the self is the self. Those who rely solely on abilities will eventually be countered. Only by integrating abilities with the self can one achieve steady growth.
Smog's specialty lies in the body techniques taught by Sage, combining the Six Powers with abilities, which is the path he should follow.
Fortunately, he has developed this ability.
"Steel Body, Melting Power, and the integration of abilities," he said.
Looking at the three people on the ground, Smog shook his head, "At this level, forget about raiding Kaido. Even I can't defeat them, and it's impossible to compete with Sage for prey."
"Don't talk so confidently, Smog," Sanji said as he slowly got up, forcing his neck back into place under Smog's watchful eye.
He glanced at Robin's burnt hands and said, "Enemies don't deserve any courtesy!"
Smog smirked, "Mr. Sanji, even if you stand up again, it won't change anything."
Crack!
Sanji's body emitted a loud cracking sound, resembling bones but with a slightly different tone.
"In any case, I'm enraged, Smog!"
Sanji lifted his leg, igniting flames, "This time, even if you try to stop me, I won't hold back!"
They were ordinary legs, at least in Smog's eyes.
But Smog noticed something else, something like steel but seemingly harder, a strength that appeared to be several levels higher than before.
Odd, yet powerful.
Smog slightly lowered his body, "I said, to leave, you must defeat me!"
Whatever it is, beat it first!
(End of Chapter)
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