Chapter 293: The number of real monsters
Chapter 293: The number of real monsters
____
The number of true powerhouses and ordinary people on Cake Island dwindled as more members of the BIGMOM Pirates converged from all directions, gathering in increasing numbers.
Aoki stood at the center of the chaos, his body crackling with lightning.
"Now that there's no one else to interrupt, let's begin. Today, I'll make the BIGMOM Pirates part of history!"
"Hmph, what nonsense!" Charlotte Linlin scoffed, gripping her massive longsword.
To her left floated the fireball Prometheus, and to her right, the white cloud Zeus. The blade in her hand, Napoleon, was another homie created from fragments of her own soul.
Aoki didn't waste words. He raised his hand and gestured.
Swish!
Hancock was the first to spring into action, descending from the sky with a powerful kick aimed at Katakuri's head.
Katakuri was a fraction of a second too slow to react, managing to block the attack only at the last moment.
Thud!
The force of the blow sent him flying, his face showing a mix of shock and disbelief.
Hancock lifted her foot slightly, her gaze sharp. "Just as Aoki said, your Observation Haki no longer lets you see the future."
Katakuri wiped a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth. "What's going on?"
Hancock, offering no explanation, launched herself at him again, her attacks relentless.
"She actually went straight for the strongest one," Esdeath remarked as she surveyed the remaining opponents. Her long blue hair gradually turned white, and snowflakes began to drift from the sky. Her figure vanished silently into the chaos.
The red-eyed and black-eyed individuals exchanged glances, their bodies transforming into bolts of blue lightning as they surged into the crowd of enemies.
"Let's go!" Alice called out, leading the soldiers as they jumped into the fray.
Robin, meanwhile, remained in the sky, standing on a solidified platform of air as she observed the battle below.
Although her strength was decent, it couldn't compare to Hancock or the others. In the past, when the Burning Heaven Pirates were short-handed, she had no choice but to join the fight. Now, with Esdeath and the two newcomers bolstering their ranks, her direct involvement was no longer necessary.
To minimize casualties, all the soldiers were equipped with Burning Heaven suits for this battle. Though most of them were new to the suits and not yet proficient in using them, the enhancements in strength and speed were undeniable.
As the battle began, the BIGMOM Pirates started to falter immediately.
"It's our turn now. Are you ready?"
Aoki's body swelled as he assumed his Nature Spirit form. Lightning surged around him, and his presence grew vast and almost sacred.
"The Mythical Zoan ability has awakened?" Charlotte Linlin remarked, her eyes fixed solely on Aoki. She ignored the other battlefields, entirely focused on him.
In her mind, it would have been strange if the Dragon King didn't possess such power.
"Then let's begin!"
In a flash, Aoki appeared directly in front of Big Mom, his arm crackling with lightning as he swung a devastating punch.
Charlotte Linlin's expression didn't change.
The BIGMOM Pirates prided themselves on their intelligence network, and she was already well aware of the Dragon King's abilities.
Raising her longsword, she channeled a streak of fire from Prometheus into the blade, which extended dramatically.
"Emperor Sword: Breaking Blade!"
Boom!
Blazing fire clashed with brilliant blue lightning, each force vying for dominance. The shockwaves from their clash shattered the ground beneath them.
A tremendous force surged through the battlefield, deflecting the longsword. Charlotte Linlin stumbled back several steps, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
She had lost.
In a direct clash of strength, she had been overpowered.
Katakuri, distracted for a moment by his mother's setback, left himself open. Hancock seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful kick that sent him flying once again.
The other members of the BIGMOM Pirates who witnessed this were filled with disbelief.
Aoki, however, had anticipated this reaction. He stepped forward, and his body suddenly split into two identical figures.
In a flash, both figures appeared on either side of Charlotte Linlin.
For a moment, surprise and suspicion flickered across her face.
She couldn't discern which was the real Aoki and which was an illusion. Even her Observation Haki couldn't detect any difference.
"Could it be... both are real?" she thought, her mind racing. "What kind of ability is this?"
But then she shook her head.
It didn't matter.
"Zeus!"
"Mother!"
Charlotte Linlin raised her longsword, and Zeus instantly darkened, crackling with purple lightning that rained down toward Aoki.
"Using lightning against me?" Aoki said, unmoved.
He made no effort to dodge. Every bolt of lightning veered off course as it approached him, the space around him distorting and redirecting the attacks.
Both Aoki figures raised their fists, their Armament Haki forming a cherry-colored glow around them.
Charlotte Linlin swung her longsword, black and red lightning crackling around the blade.
Boom!
A kaleidoscope of blue, purple, black, and red lightning illuminated the battlefield. The clash sent shockwaves rippling outward, the force turning into powerful airwaves that caused the clothing of both combatants to whip wildly in the wind.
Suddenly, a third Aoki appeared above Charlotte Linlin, seemingly out of thin air. His arms, cloaked in Armament Haki and blue lightning, struck down with tremendous force.
Boom!
A muffled sound echoed as Charlotte Linlin's face contorted under the impact, and she was sent hurtling backward.
Zeus immediately ceased its attack, darting to catch her mid-air before she hit the ground. It carried her higher into the sky.
"Is this Conqueror's Haki entanglement?" Aoki murmured, examining his fist.
The technique was undeniably powerful. Yet, with his current strength, he could compensate for not fully mastering it.
Charlotte Linlin's cold eyes locked onto him. "So, both are real… and there's almost no difference in power."
The two Aoki figures floated side by side into the air, their presence dominating the battlefield.
This technique was a manifestation of Aoki's mastery over time and space. By manipulating these forces, he could create a second body that was indistinguishable from his original.
Maintaining three or more illusions at once was taxing and only sustainable for brief periods. However, with just two, the ability could last much longer, albeit at a significant energy cost.
For Aoki, though, this was no issue.
What made this technique even more formidable was that both bodies operated at 100% combat power, with all abilities fully functional. The only limitation was that it left no energy for utilizing other time-based techniques.
But the trade-off was well worth it.
The combined power of two bodies was far greater than the sum of their individual strength.
Charlotte Linlin's expression darkened further.
"What is his ability?"
She had gathered extensive intelligence on the Dragon King, and even then, his capabilities had seemed absurdly powerful. Yet, facing him now, she realized the reality far exceeded the reports.
Aoki, too, had his own thoughts.
The Soul-Soul Fruit was undoubtedly a formidable power, and Charlotte Linlin had developed it exceptionally well. Yet, Aoki couldn't help but feel it didn't fully suit her.
With her overwhelming physical strength and indestructible body, she didn't need to rely on fire or lightning. A single punch from her should have been enough to crush most foes.
If she had eaten a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit instead, her strength might have been even greater.
But her circumstances had been unique. Unlike others, she hadn't chosen her Devil Fruit; it had been given to her.
Shaking off these thoughts, Aoki refocused. His two bodies flashed forward, appearing on either side of Charlotte Linlin.
Bang!
A powerful strike sent her flying once again.
Before she could hit the ground, both Aoki figures teleported and intercepted her mid-flight.
"Prometheus!" Charlotte Linlin roared.
The living flame opened its mouth, spitting a massive fireball toward Aoki.
Boom!
Flames roared and rolled across the battlefield.
The next moment, Aoki emerged from the inferno, completely unharmed.
One of his bodies crackled with lightning, which condensed into a massive spear of pure electricity, tens of meters long. The other body held an enormous fireball in its hands, which rapidly expanded to a similar size.
The red and blue lights blended together in a strikingly beautiful display, but those who understood the situation were filled with icy dread.
The lightning spear and the blazing fireball launched simultaneously, trapping Big Mom between them.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Half the world seemed to turn into a sea of fire, while the other half became a hellish thunderstorm.
Both Aoki figures raised their arms.
Click, click, click!
Endless bolts of lightning rained down, bombarding Big Mom in the center of the storm.
Both the BIGMOM Pirates and the Burning Heaven Pirates scrambled to distance themselves from the battlefield, fearing the devastating effects of the clash.
"Mom…" Katakuri's eyes betrayed a rare hint of worry.
The battlefield had turned dire for the BIGMOM Pirates, and Katakuri's worst fears had come to life.
The three individuals standing alongside Esdeath demonstrated incredible power, completely overpowering their opponents.
At present, no one in the BIGMOM Pirates could match their strength.
Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Burning Heaven Pirates, clad in their Burning Heaven suits, utterly crushed the ordinary members of the BIGMOM Pirates. The only reason the BIGMOM Pirates hadn't completely collapsed was their sheer numbers and the support of their cadres.
But Katakuri knew this fragile balance wouldn't last long.
Their only hope was their mother.
If she fell, so would the BIGMOM Pirates.
At that moment, a sharp whistling sound broke through the air behind him. Katakuri turned quickly, his reflexes allowing him to block the attack without hesitation.
Boom!
The force of the blow sent him stumbling back two steps, his brows furrowing.
A strange, unseen power lingered in the air around him, disrupting his Observation Haki and negating his ability to foresee the future. His strength was significantly weakened as a result.
---
Elsewhere on the battlefield.
Esdeath waved her hand, sending a wave of icy wind sweeping through the area. Dozens of enemies froze instantly, turned into lifelike ice sculptures, though they remained alive.
This level of precision and power was something she couldn't achieve when she only possessed the essence of her Devil Fruit.
However, the dual blessings of her blood teigu and her Devil Fruit had elevated her abilities, greatly enhancing both the strength and control of her ice powers.
Esdeath didn't spare a glance at the frozen enemies, nor did she concern herself with the rest of her foes. Her fiery gaze was fixed on Aoki and Big Mom.
"So that's the pinnacle of power in this world," she murmured to herself. "Incredible strength, impenetrable defense, terrifying Devil Fruit abilities, and mastery of high-level Haki. Truly formidable!"
She didn't doubt for a moment that she was no match for such a powerhouse right now.
But the thought only made her blood boil with excitement.
For Esdeath, becoming stronger and engaging in battle were her very reasons for existence. Facing a worthy opponent was her ultimate goal.
In her original world, she had already reached invincibility. No one could come close to challenging her.
Her only outlet had been leading armies and waging war, but even then, true challenges were few and far between.
Now, that had changed.
She no longer had to worry about finding powerful opponents. The strongest individuals in this world far outclassed her, even with her enhanced strength from blood vampire magic and her Devil Fruit powers.
And according to Aoki, there were beings in existence millions of times stronger than even the ones here.
Esdeath clenched her fists. Her goals had become crystal clear.
First, ensure Aoki's survival.
Aoki was the key to her ability to travel across worlds. If anyone dared threaten his life, she would fight to the death to protect him.
Second, become stronger!
Kurome and Akame stood at a distance, watching the area where lightning and thunder clashed violently.
"Sister, we both have the Thunder Fruit, but why does it feel like Aoki's destructive power is far beyond ours?" Kurome asked, resting her chin in thought.
"It's not just a feeling," Akame replied. "The lightning Aoki controls is undeniably more destructive than ours, and…"
Kurome finished her sister's sentence. "And what's even more terrifying is his stamina. Using such power so recklessly… is his physical strength limitless?"
Akame opened her mouth to respond but paused as her expression shifted. Her gaze turned outward.
"Another enemy is approaching."
A new group entered the battlefield, led by a short, rotund old man in a pink button-up shirt and a white apron. The old man carried a sword and radiated a menacing aura.
Kurome tilted her head. "The people in this world are truly bizarre. There are mountain-sized women, and now there's someone this tiny."
Akame unsheathed Murasame with a calm smile. "Don't underestimate him. He's not weak."
Kurome's expression stiffened as her black eyes glowed faintly.
"Sister… could it be?"
Akame nodded slightly. "Yes, my Observation Haki just awakened."
Kurome's face turned serious. "It seems I need to work harder."
With Esdeath awakening her Conqueror's Haki and her sister unlocking Observation Haki, Kurome felt the pressure to not fall behind.
"Drink!"
A pained cry echoed across the battlefield.
"Weiguo!"
A massive wave of sword energy tore through the sea of thunder, racing toward Aoki.
Aoki calmly raised his palm, his Armament Haki flowing like liquid as a cherry-red glow enveloped his arm. He reached out and grabbed the incoming sword energy mid-air.
Clang!
The sword energy trembled violently in his grasp. After two seconds, it shattered into pieces with a deafening boom and dissipated into nothingness.
Boom!
Charlotte Linlin burst out of the Thunder Prison, wielding a bizarre weapon forged from lightning, fire, and her longsword.
"Aghhh!"
She swung the weapon, unleashing massive slashes that tore through the air and hurtled toward Aoki.
Aoki enveloped his arms in Armament Haki and met each attack with precise punches, deflecting them with ease.
Armament Haki proved its versatility once again, excelling in both offense and defense.
After repelling several strikes, Aoki's figure blurred. His two bodies teleported beside Charlotte Linlin simultaneously, unleashing a synchronized punch.
Boom!
The force of the punches sent a wave of Armament Haki raging through her body, while blue lightning coursed inside her.
Charlotte Linlin stumbled backward, coughing up blood. Ignoring the concern of her crew behind her, she raised her longsword again. Flames roared, black and red lightning crackled, and she swung it at the Aoki in front of her.
Aoki met her attack with another punch, while his other body struck from behind.
Bang!
Charlotte Linlin staggered forward uncontrollably, blood spilling from her mouth once more.
"Mother!" Prometheus and Zeus cried out, flying toward Aoki in desperation.
Prometheus transformed into a fiery pillar, while Zeus morphed into a lightning spear.
Aoki calmly raised his palm.
Boom!
The fiery pillar and lightning spear struck him directly, but they dissipated on contact, failing to harm him.
Charlotte Linlin seized the opportunity to retreat several steps, putting distance between herself and Aoki. Prometheus and Zeus quickly returned to her side, hovering protectively.
After taking a few deep breaths, she looked up at the two identical figures floating side by side in the air.
"A true monster has been born in the sea," she muttered, her voice low and grave.
Teleportation, clones, lightning that could wound even her, and raw power surpassing her own—these abilities alone were terrifying.
Yet, according to the intelligence she had gathered, the Dragon King was rumored to possess even more, including immortality and gigantism.
These overwhelming powers combined to create the man standing before her now.
In the past, she, Kaido, and Whitebeard were all called monsters, but compared to this man, they were all slightly inferior.
Blue lightning and thunder intertwined around Aoki, and his aura became stronger and stronger.
"Thanks for the compliment, but I won't show mercy."
"Well, well, well, I admit that you are indeed very strong, but it is not so easy to get my head."
A ball of light appeared in Charlotte Linlin's hand, and she swallowed it directly. Her body suddenly swelled up and became more than twice as large in the blink of an eye.
Aoki said, "Your obsession with the giants is really strong."
However, the giants are indeed very strong.
Mainly because the lower limit is extremely high.
Almost all giants who join the navy can become vice admirals.
"Firelight Cannon!"
There was a purple light in Charlotte Linlin's eyes, and the combination weapons in her hands changed.
A high-density laser shot towards Aoki.