Chapter 568: Nika? Tom!
Chapter 568: Nika? Tom!
In the Power Chamber of the Pangaea Castle in Mary Joa, Topman Volchuri had one hand pressed against the table, atop the wanted posters of Sage and Luffy. He spoke, "The news from the Land of Harmony's agents is that the Calamity has won. It's foreseeable that this guy's influence will grow into a threat."
On the side of the table, there were a few sofas, but only Nasushiro and Satan were seated. The Environment God, Marcas Maz, stood behind the sofa with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the wanted posters on the table.
Shepherd Ten-Bit stood with his back to the sofa, gazing out the large window, striking a deep and silent pose.
"Satan, you should have defeated Sage back then. If you had, he wouldn't have grown into a threat now," Volchuri said, looking at Satan, who was leaning on his cane.
"No, he's already grown to a point where no single person can hold him back. And I've told you before," Satan spoke in a low voice, his eyes twitching slightly as he spoke, as if still bearing some pain, "He's a threat to us as well."
Indeed, when he was transported to Tazarro and fought Sage, he had suffered immense pain.
Although he had immortality, the pain was very real. It took him a long time to erase that pain.
The others fell silent, tacitly agreeing with Satan's words.
After knowing each other for hundreds of years, Satan didn't need to exaggerate. They were now somewhat aware of the power Sage possessed.
"Moreover, he's already confronted the Straw Hat Kid."
Satan glanced at Luffy's wanted poster and said, "Regardless, if given a choice, it would be a good thing for Sage to defeat the Straw Hat Kid. If he wins, at most, he'll be another Locks. Compared to the possible events that might occur, this should be the best outcome. As long as we can eliminate this unstable factor, no matter the cost, it's worth it."
After his words, the atmosphere froze once more, plunging them into silence again.
After a while, Nasushiro's glasses moved slightly with his head, reflecting the light as he slowly spoke, "The Rubber Fruit... We've been dedicated to retrieving this fruit, but every time, we fail to obtain it. Even when we discover and escort it, it ultimately leads to accidents."
Volchuri nodded, his voice hoarse, "The last accident involved Red-Haired Shanks. In eight hundred years, we've never succeeded."
Marcas Maz spoke calmly, "It's as if the fruit is escaping us."
"Of course."
Shepherd Ten-Bit spoke gravely, "The Devil Fruits inherently possess a will, especially the Animal-type. This one, in particular..."
Volchuri's expression darkened, "The Rubber Fruit, or the Animal-type, Human-Human Fruit, Beastman type, Nika Form!"
"I've never quite understood."
Shepherd Ten-Bit turned around and said, "I'm the youngest, and I haven't experienced what you're talking about. Although that fruit grants an absolutely free body, like the Liberated Warrior, the Sun God Nika, in the end, it's still just a Beastman type. Is it really worth treating it with such caution?"
"It is."
Satan narrowed his eyes, "That's the greatest instability!"
...
"Hahaha!"
In the Flower Capital, Luffy spread his arms wide and laughed, his body suddenly springing upwards as if merging with the bright moon above. His leaping, exuberant body assumed a running posture, reflecting within the full moon, causing it to shine like the sun, making those who watched instinctively squint.
"So happy! I'm so happy! Even though I lost, why am I so happy? This is already my strongest form!"
Luffy bounced his legs from within the full moon, shaking like noodles, then quickly stretched and extended them to the ground, pulling the rest of his body down with them.
Slap! In an instant, the ground beneath his feet seemed to turn into waves, revealing its elasticity.
The sudden change in terrain caused the expressions of the crowd behind Sage to change.
"This..."
Moria's face grew solemn. As a long-time ability user, he knew a thing or two about attribute changes.
The Paramecia type could influence the surrounding environment. It was clear that this was an awakening.
But aside from influencing the environment, what was this posture all about?
Was this how Logia types worked?
Moria, a bit puzzled, looked at Sage in front of him, then understood.
Perhaps it was possible. The Straw Hat Kid wasn't the first example of this.
The very first example was right there, alive and well, in front of them.
"Strong!"
Lily immediately drew out her White Lightning, assuming a vigilant stance, her face solemn.
This guy was not only powerful but also gave off a peculiar feeling.
Before Lily could even ponder her confusion, an unbelievable scene unfolded before her eyes.
Luffy staggered on the ground, one hand covering his face and the other his stomach. After laughing so hard that he rolled on the ground, he abruptly straightened up, flicking his hand to the side, clearly revealing his eyes and nose.
"Hahaha, White-haired Man... no, Sage, let's settle this!"
Lily watched in disbelief, her eyes widening as she witnessed the displaced eyes and nose returning to their original positions, as if they were made of slime.
What was that?
What was going on?
Could a person do such a thing?
Although many times, when they encountered incomprehensible situations, they would exaggerate their reactions, but that was just an exaggeration.
Like sharp teeth and a gaping mouth, it was just an exaggerated expression. The bulging eyes were merely a figure of speech, a form of exaggeration, and not something that could actually protrude.
Of course, this didn't apply to Ability users.
Someone like Buggy could do all of that.
But this situation, seemingly influenced by an Ability, felt even more peculiar and genuinely comical, was unheard of and sent a chill down her spine.
"That's strange."
Sage nodded, looking down at Luffy with a smile.
He knew about the Sun God.
Nika, Joyboy, they all possessed the same fruit.
However, this was the first time he had encountered it directly.
The peculiar feeling lingered in his mind. It wasn't just that the guy was covered in Aura like him, nor was it as simple as an inward trend. It was the feeling of blooming outwards, something different.
It was as if...
"It's like a different person."
Sage asked, "Who exactly are you?"
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
Luffy clenched his fist, his mouth curving into a seemingly comical but supernaturally exaggerated smile, "I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"I think you should change your name to Monkey D. Nika."
Sage tilted his head slightly, looking down at Luffy with disdain. "You're strong, but you don't look like yourself, kid. Being influenced by the fruit's power isn't a good thing."
It was normal for Ability users to be influenced by the Devil Fruit's power. Even when first consuming a Devil Fruit, the most noticeable change was in one's personality, gradually transforming into the personality represented by the fruit's power.
Thunder meant arrogance.
Fire meant passion.
Lava meant irritability.
Ice naturally meant coldness.
Light would not be extinguished, but it would blend with the light.
"The top-tier warriors, even if influenced, can maintain their will, surpassing the fruit's power. Will is what surpasses everything. Otherwise, no one would become a top-tier warrior solely through willpower."
"The fruit's power is indeed great, but when using it, one should at least ensure they don't lose themselves to it. Look at you now, Monkey D. Luffy? Haha, the Luffy I remember is a bright and slightly clever guy, not this fool!"
"I don't care! Let's fight!"
This work is organized by Liu Jiu Book Bar.
Luffy chuckled, placing his right hand on his left shoulder while his right hand formed a windmill shape. His tongue stuck out from his mouth, a smile on his upper lip.
"Rubber Rubber, hmm."
"Go ahead!"
Boom!
A sonic boom erupted as Luffy struck a pose, and the people behind Sage immediately moved away, leaving an empty space.
Whether Luffy could fight or not was unknown, but at this moment, it was true that Sage's combat wouldn't reveal any openings.
If Sage divided his attention, he might get into trouble. If he didn't, someone else might. Neither option was desirable.
They automatically moved away, not wanting to be a burden.
Facing the sudden punch, Sage's eyes narrowed, and his Eight Precepts Club instantly wrapped around a cluster of black-red electric light, which he swung down with force.
Boom!!
There was no clash of auras, only the restrained auras of both sides, causing Luffy's fist to collide directly with the scythe-like weapon with backward-facing spikes.
Despite being strengthened by Horm-Horm Fruit, the weapon, with its cutting spikes and striking force, struck the fist as if it were a highly elastic object. The spikes pierced the fist, and then the weapon itself was driven into the fist, causing it to flatten and wrap around the weapon. Then, with a quick pull, the fist retracted, trapping the weapon within.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Luffy grimaced, his fist transformed into a scythe-like model, as if it had been stamped with a mold.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he swung his hand horizontally, "I've got it! Rubber Rubber Scythe!"
Sag, expressionless, swung his iron rod, striking the rubber scythe that Luffy had swung out. The impact from the top caused the rectangular fist to flatten and create a shockwave, further smashing the fist into a pancake.
On the pancake, five long strips suddenly extended, wrapping around the scythe and binding Sag's body.
"Hehehehe, Rubber Rubber Five-Finger Net!"
Luffy chuckled, his body twisted like a whirlwind, causing his extended arms to form a coil. As he spun, he gradually rose into the air, and then suddenly stopped, straightening himself.
"Here I go!"
The force of the impact sent Sag flying into the sky, transforming into a meteor.
Luffy extended one hand to his brow, feigning a far-off gaze, and laughed heartily, "It's flying high! Let's call it Rubber Rubber Meteor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the flying meteor shot back at an even faster speed, reaching Luffy in the blink of an eye. And right in front of him, the scythe was already positioned horizontally.
Bang!!
The heavy impact embedded the scythe into Luffy's face, piercing through the back of his head and creating a large trench as his body flew backward, rolling heavily on the ground.
"Pierced through."
Sag glanced at the iron rod in his hand, then looked ahead, clicking his tongue, "What a ridiculous ability."
No attack had ever left such a deep impression.
Sag's attacks usually tore through muscles, but this one had penetrated straight through.
But the elasticity transmitted through the rod was completely different. It was like hitting a well-stretched rubber ball, only capable of bouncing off.
Thud!
At the end of the trench, Luffy bounced up, his face contorting into a long strip, the upper half of his face caving in, and his head taking on a mold of backward-facing spikes, resembling a humanoid shape, but with a more bizarre appearance than even the Sea Kings.
The more bizarre it became, the more terrifying it was.
"Rubber Stick Man!"
Luffy chuckled, clapping his hands to his face, and the distorted face returned to normal.
"Then..."
He placed his hands on the ground, assuming a running stance, "Here I come!"
His legs swiftly sprinted, like a whirlwind, causing the ground to slide backward, as if a giant wave was constantly building up behind his legs on the hard ground.
"Charge!"
There was no sudden flash or surge, just a normal sprint, as Luffy dashed forward with his legs spinning like wheels, rapidly closing in on Sag.
Sag narrowed his eyes, assuming a baseball batting stance. As Luffy charged forward and raised his fist, the scythe, along with his hands, at an invisible speed. In the next instant, they reappeared right in front of Luffy.
"Galactic Heavy Strike!"
Bang!!
The outstretched fist was struck by the iron rod, smashing it into Luffy's face and embedding it.
"Ow, that hurts!"
Luffy bounced in pain, his mouth agape, and his tongue swelling out. The struck hand was swollen and puffy, like a giant's hand, and his temple revealed a hole, emitting a jet of steam.
An exaggerated display of pain!
And even more exaggerated was...
"Rubber Rubber..."
Luffy's head lowered, and the jet of steam from his temple materialized into a substantial form, carrying an abnormally high temperature, and it sprayed downward.
Sag's eyebrows furrowed, and he stepped back, avoiding the descending steam. Instinctively, he swung the rod upward, striking the swollen hand and the giant hand descending from above.
"Get away from me!"
Sag shouted, and with a mighty heave, he sent the giant hand flying.
The hand instantly returned to its original form, and Luffy descended from the sky, landing with a joyful laugh as he bounced on the ground.
"Hahaha, this is fun!"
"You might as well not call yourself Nika anymore."
Sag took a deep breath, tossed the scythe behind him, and stretched his hands, "Tom will do."
What an expressive guy!
Just like his mother's comedy manga!
(End of Chapter)
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