Chapter 169: Awakening of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit!
"If that's the case, let's die together!"
'These Ministers of the BIG MOM Pirates!'
Adrian's gaze instantly turned ice-cold. With a ripple, Shuxue was sent to the castle space.
The next moment, his figure flickered abruptly, soaring high into the sky. His right hand formed into a claw shape, and a blue energy cannon appeared from the palm of his hand.
Boom!
The formidable energy cannon shot out instantly, expanding into a blue energy shockwave with a diameter of over a meter, fiercely heading towards Katakuri, Perospero, and Amande below.
Both Katakuri and Perospero felt an intense sense of crisis akin to being pricked by needles in their Observation Haki. They dared not be careless, nodded at each other, and took action.
Katakuri planted his trident into the ground, erecting a soft mochi defensive layer in front of the trio.
Perospero raised his candy staff, tracing an arc in the air to instantly form an extremely hard candy wall outside the mochi layer.
{Candy Mochi Wall}
Boom!!
The blue energy shockwave instantly shattered the protective wall made of hard candy, with unstoppable momentum, then penetrated into the mochi protection layer inside.
Against the ghostly cannon, the mochi only held for less than a second before rapidly expanding and bursting apart.
The blue energy gushed out from the shattered protection layer, casting everything around in a faint blue light.
"What kind of ability is this?"
Perospero's pupils reflected a blue hue; he couldn't help but sweat, his expression extremely solemn.
If Katakuri hadn't used his ability to teleport, the three of them would have been instantly buried along with that thick mochi the moment the ghostly cannon struck the candy wall.
"Brother Perospero, take Amande and leave first!"
Katakuri's eyes blazed red, his Observation Haki pushed to the limit as he intently watched every move of White Ghost opposite him.
"What? Ka-"
"Go! I can stop White Ghost for long!"
Katakuri's voice was unwavering, filled with undeniable resolve.
"I am Charlotte Katakuri!" He clenched his fist and looked at the figure in the sky.
Adrian, standing in the sky, suddenly became a blur, transforming into a ghost-like figure that could shift and change shape, instantly closing in on Perospero. "But I can't let you leave."
One moment, he was there, and now, he is here.
He raised his ghost sword high, as if to cut both Perospero and the candy-coated Amande behind him in two!
Clang——!!
A trident covered in dense Armament Haki blocked the ghostly sword, stopping it just in time.
Katakuri felt the power of Armament Haki depleting like flowing water.
Without turning his head, he bellowed, "Go!"
As soon as he spoke, Katakuri activated the power of his Devil Fruit.
The upper half of his left hand instantly turned into mochi and compressed inward crazily, a scorching heat emanating from his arm, transforming in an instant into a blazing flame mochi, striking at Adrian like a rocket launcher!
"Grilled Mochi!" {焼餅, Yaki Mochi}
Adrian frowned slightly, not underestimating the power and mastery of Katakuri's Armament Haki, and used his Ghost Warrior ability to dodge in an instant.
Taking advantage of the precious time Katakuri had bought, Perospero manipulated the candy shell enveloping Amande and ran swiftly towards the outskirts of the town.
Adrian wanted to continue the chase after Perospero and Amande but Katakuri clung to him like a stubborn plaster, not letting him leave!
Mimic Ghost – Imitation Game!
With a thought, Adrian created dozens of mimic ghosts identical to himself.
"Mochi Singing Result!" (餅吟着, Mochi Ginchaku)
Katakuri's eyes flashed with red light as he suddenly turned his arms into flowing strips of mochi, enveloped in hardened Armament Haki, and launched a full-scale, rapid barrage of punches against the Mimicry Ghosts, dispersing them one by one.
Adrian furrowed his brows, facing Katakuri's full-force onslaught. Even if he wanted to break free from the entanglement, it wouldn't be something he could accomplish in a short while.
With Perospero's speed and the time Katakuri bought, they should be able to get far away by now!
Adrian hovered in the sky, his gaze icy. Bringing his palms together, he formed a semi-spherical shape of energy, aiming at Perospero's retreating figure in the distance.
Azure particles of light gathered together and rapidly expanded between his hands, erupting into a brilliant azure beam with overwhelming power – far greater than the previous ghostly cannon!
At that moment, the ground of Mystoria Island began to churn and undulate. All non-living matter seemed to sink into a mochi swamp, slowly melting into the earth.
Just as the azure beam was about to strike Perospero and Amande, an immense surge of flowing mochi burst from underground, taking the full force of the beam and disintegrating into powder!
"Such a level… Is this the awakening of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit?"
Adrian narrowed his eyes at Katakuri.
The supreme masterpiece of the Charlotte Family stood with one hand on the ground. Bizarre rippling rings emanated outwards from him as a center point, white streams of flowing mochi gushing forth like fountains.
Katakuri looked deathly pale, sweat beading his exposed brow. But his crimson eyes shone with an incredibly powerful, unwavering will!
"White Ghost! You will never get past the defenses of my Mochi-Mochi Fruit!"
At the same time, a surging tidal wave of Haoshoku Haki swept over them. Fine black-red arcing sparks flickered ominously in the air!
After witnessing that catastrophic ghostly beam, Katakuri realized White Ghost before him was the most formidable enemy he had ever faced!
Against such an adversary, Katakuri's powerful will erupted as he unhesitatingly unleashed every ability at his command!
"A rare Awakened Paramecia Devil Fruit user!"
Faced with such an overwhelming Haoshoku Haki blast, Adrian just laughed lightly.
He had not expected Katakuri to go all-out in this situation, even forcibly Awakening his Mochi-Mochi Fruit!
Adrian's right hand clenched, forming another ghostly cannon aimed directly at Katakuri's body.
"However, you've now become a very valuable target for me to claim!"