Chapter 66: The Devil Fruit User's Deviousness
Chapter 66: The Devil Fruit User's Deviousness
Bang!
With a single strike, the thick shell caved in with a wisp-like mark.
"Whoa!"
Buggy reverted to his original form, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His scalp prickled as he rolled aside just in time. A wisp-like slash tore across the ground where he'd stood, carving a deep trench.
"How is this possible? My transformed Steel-Skinned Armadillo Worm is impervious to blades and bullets!" Buggy shouted, rolling several times before glaring up in disbelief.
"That depends on what kind of blade or bullet you're talking about", Klah replied coolly, adjusting his glasses. "Ordinary weapons won't work, but that doesn't mean mine won't. Your shape-shifting is intriguing, but if it can't impress me, you'll die here."
A Six Styles practitioner who’d mastered all techniques could unleash terrifying combat power—like Calm Step, capable of slicing through rock.
When Rob Lucci once kicked through steel plates at Enies Lobby, Klah had used Claw Blade to deliver a wisp-like strike that dented steel with Calm Step. For him, this was no problem.
"Transformation!"
Buggy roared, biting his lip as he transformed into a massive-horned rhinoceros, charging furiously at Klah.
"That's the Angry-Horned Rhinoceros", Lida recognized immediately.
"You know it?" Kuro asked, puzzled.
Lida nodded, drooling slightly. "I’ve eaten it before. The flavor was amazing! Sure, the hide’s thick, but the meat inside is incredibly tender. I wonder where the herds went. They vanished suddenly. I miss that taste—no seasoning needed, it roasted perfectly on its own."
"I wasn’t asking if it’s delicious! For you, everything’s either edible or not."
Kuro twitched his lips, silently exhaling a Smoke Ring. Thank goodness Headquarters’ cafeteria had stocked him up—he still had savings.
"Your rage’s clouding your senses. You won’t even use Observation Haki properly. Shave!"
Klah chuckled, vanishing in a high-speed dodge as the rhino charged. The beast’s horns smashed into a boulder over five meters tall, shattering it. The impact’s power was immense—but useless without a target.
As the rock disintegrated, Kuro materialized atop the rhino’s back. "Transformed forms taking damage hurts you too, right? Fishman Karate: Claw!"
Hiss!
Klah spun, his Claw Blade slicing open the rhino’s spine. As he prepared to strike again, the beast roared and shifted into a colossal silver-backed gorilla, swinging its arm at Klah.
No time to dodge!
"Iron Body!"
Klah tensed, bracing as the tree-trunk-sized limb swept across.
Bang!
His body flew like an arrow, crashing into a hill and kicking up dust.
"What happened?"
Buggy reverted to human form, his face dark as he glared at the dust cloud.
That strike felt like hitting steel.
That guy’s truly an elite Navy officer!
"Six Styles, huh? This complicates things."
Buggy spat blood, the pain sobering him. Reddish glints flickered in his eyes.
No more holding back—he’d die otherwise.
Whoosh!
The dust scattered in a gust, revealing Klah stepping forward. He brushed dirt off his suit, standing firm.
"That all?"
"Give up. You won’t provoke me."
Buggy smirked. "Watch what makes Devil Fruit users terrifying!"
He leapt skyward, transforming into a vulture and diving at Klah.
Klah narrowed his eyes, Claw Blade raised. Suddenly, his pupils contracted. He sprang aside just as—
Boom!!!
A massive solid cannonball crashed where he’d stood. No explosion, but its sheer weight was lethal.
"A cannonball? Can he transform into that too?" Kuro exclaimed.
The vulture had turned mid-air into a giant cannonball.
"Can it become food?" Lida wondered, nibbling his finger.
"What kind of devilry is this?"
Klah wiped cold sweat. If he’d hesitated, that mass would’ve crushed him. Landing, he swung his Claw Blade—
Too late. The cannonball shrank into a burrowing mole, claws digging rapidly underground, evading the strike.
Hiss!
As Klah’s hand extended, vines erupted from the mole’s tunnel, wrapping his arm in Encasement. Startled, he recoiled, but the vines clung, stretching endlessly.
Just as he raised his Claw Blade to sever them—the vines softened, morphing into Buggy himself.
Closing the distance.
"My Devil Fruit ability lets me mimic any form I’ve seen—even replicating their properties. But each transformation can only be used once. You forced me to use my old stored reserves, so prepare to pay the price!"
He grinned maliciously, his other hand pulling back.
"Partial Transformation: Change: Bull Hoofprint!"
The hand morphed into a giant bull hoof, slamming into Klah’s chest.
Bang!
Klah spat a wisp of blood, his body hurtling like a cannonball into the ground. This time, he couldn’t activate Iron Body.
Kuro glanced at the smoky crater, shaking his head. "See? High bounties exist for a reason. Paramecia abilities are too devious. Stay alert, Lida."
That’s why Kuro hated Grand Line—especially New World.
Pirates surviving there were never simple. Especially Devil Fruit users. Those fruits could defy miracles.
Lida nodded. "Hey, will Klah be okay?"
Kuro replied, "He insisted on testing his strength. Injuries are natural. He’s still mobile."
"Cough! Cough!"
Klah coughed blood now, his officer-style pompadour disheveled, strands dangling over his forehead as he knelt, panting.
Buggy landed, sneering. "How’s that, Navy? Don’t underestimate me! I’ve challenged the Four Emperors!"
"Don’t get cocky, pirate!"
Klah surged up, charging forward with Claw Blade scraping the ground. His speed escalated, blurring into an afterimage.
"God-Speed Shave!"
Ten intersecting slashes flashed before Buggy, Klah vanishing except for his voice.
Too fast!
Buggy barely roared, "Transformation: South Sea Shell-Spined Crocodile!"
His body swelled, spikes erupting across his skin, transforming into a monstrous, armored crocodile.
Hiss!
Ten cross-shaped slashes tore his chest, spraying blood. Buggy collapsed back to human form, gasping.
Klah stood behind him, arms crossed, kneeling on one knee.
"Huh?"
Kuro and Lida both murmured.
"Kuro, that technique..." Lida blinked.
"Ah, like my Iaijutsu: One Sword Style." Kuro smirked. "He’s got potential. Watching so long, he finally grasped the essence."
Once, Kuro had used that technique to stop Mongar’s Iaijutsu—its speed dwarfing Shave. He’d shown Klah the move, never imagining the kid would learn its essence.
The stronger Klah becomes, the happier Kuro feels. Then Klah can handle things when needed.
(End of Chapter)
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