Chapter 428: Hyde's Yamata no Orochi in Action...

"Boom… Boom…"

Frosty air surged all around.

Two imposing figures stood off against each other.

"Crrk… crrk…shh...shh…" Arcas was brimming with battlelust, crackling arcs of electricity coursing across his whole body, constantly stimulating his cells, driving his speed to the limit.

His massive wings flapped, making him unbelievably swift.

He kept swinging his blade, wreathed in roaring flames, carrying an unmatched heat and power—clashing in a head-on bout against Black-Arm Zephyr, who wielded the powers of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

"Clang… Clang…"

Sparks flew in the blink of an eye, blade glinting brilliantly and slicing through the air.

Fists and naginata ceaselessly collided in fierce exchanges.

At times, an ice-laced punch would collide with a flame-clad blow, each trying to overpower the other.

"Buzz… Buzz…"

"Boom… Boom…"

Although Arcas, being on the younger side, was in pure brute strength somewhat below his opponent, the combination of his particular powers—plus his naturally iron-hard body and monstrous strength—made up for some of that disadvantage. In the short term, he battled this former Marine Admiral as an even match, not looking at all outclassed.

It had to be admitted that combining the Tremor-Tremor Fruit with the Lunarian race's potent flame powers was practically a nemesis to the Ice-Ice Fruit. Even someone like Black-Arm Zephyr showed signs of strain.

"Justice Impact!!"

A raging fist, encased in an ice gauntlet and infused with high-grade Armament Haki, slammed forward relentlessly.

"Air Quake!!"

Arcas refused to give ground.

His free left fist, wrapped in robust Haki and blazing with roaring flames, gathered up a tangible aura of power and unleashed it without mercy.

"Boom!!!"

The atmosphere cracked beneath the impact.

Their powerful blows clashed, locked in a stalemate, diametrically opposed like the tip of a needle against its matching edge—utterly incompatible elements of water and fire.

"Woo-hoo-hoo…" Heatwaves rolled out; cold air gathered in.

All around, it felt like being stuck in both fire and ice, alternatingly scorching and freezing.

"Roaar… Roaar…"

Meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield—

Amid earth-shaking roars, a gigantic, fearsome beast appeared.

It was armored with scaly hide, sporting eight horned, cloud-patterned serpentine heads, looking all the more imposing.

Flames billowed behind each head, leaving onlookers quaking in fear.

"What is that…?"

"An Yamata no Orochi?"

"Another monster?!"

Ahead, the sight of this colossal, multi-headed serpent made the eyes of several skilled CP0 agents widen in alarm. Even Sengoku, off in the distance locked in battle with Ares and unable to gain the upper hand, narrowed his eyes sharply.

Sure enough, the Kukulkan family was sending out more non-human monstrosities.

"Don't be intimidated! Doesn't matter what that thing is, charge it!"

The lead CP0 officer snarled, baring sharp fangs and claws, an eerie blackish flame swirl encircling him.

He was a user of an Ancient Zoan: the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model Tyrannosaurus variant, apparently awakened.

Not only him, but among the other CP0 agents present, two more were awakened Zoan users, and two possessed Paramecia powers.

It was proof that though the World Government had lost much over the years, its centuries-long rule still gave it deep reserves.

With Totto Land posing an immense threat, the Government had rushed to build up CP0's elite.

After all, these CP0 "hunting dogs" of the Celestial Dragons were far more "trustworthy" from the Government's point of view than any Marines who might defect, such as Zephyr had done.

Over these recent years, beyond bestowing top-tier fruits on the Knights of God, the Government had distributed quite a few considerable Devil Fruits to CP0—not the scraps of yesteryear.

Hence, CP0's overall combat strength was well above its former level.

"Die, you dogs of the Celestial Dragons!"

Now having transformed into the eight-headed serpent—a colossal Hydra—Hyde stared down the CP0 fighters.

His powerful Observation Haki locked onto them.

All eight heads, seemingly with minds of their own, wore different expressions—some vicious, some savage, some brash, some mocking…

Yet every single jaws parted at once, baring terrifying fangs:

"Szz… szz…"

A shrill whoosh—

One after another, deadly jets of venom shot through the air at frightening speed, heading for the CP0 operatives.

"Slash…!"

"Slash—Evade!!"

In that instant, each CP0 member stepped hard against the ground, darting aside in the nick of time.

"Ssss…"

A harrowing sight followed: those pillar-like jets of venom bored straight into the ground, corroding it away and leaving a series of horrific, gaping holes—enough to make one's scalp prickle.

"Stay on guard—do NOT let that venom touch you…" the leading CP0 man shouted, adrenaline coursing.

Already in a half-beast Zoan form wreathed in blackish flames, he stomped down powerfully, launching himself forward like a bullet:

"Tempest Kick: Gale Frenzy!"

His clawlike legs blurred and slashed at rapid speed, hurling a volley of pale-green Rankyaku blades to slice apart the monstrous serpent heads looming in front.

"Crack… crack…"

Space seemed to be torn asunder—

A swarm of large cutting arcs hurtled forth, colliding with the monstrous serpentine heads in rapid succession.

"Thud… thud…"

Even so, the towering Hydra reacted with swift ferocity.

"Woo-hoo-hoo…" Several huge tails whipped through the air, bashing the incoming cutting arcs aside, forcibly deflecting them.

"Boom… Boom…"

Countless arcs crashed into the distance, throwing up massive plumes of debris, shaking the ground violently.

"Whoosh… whoosh…"

Then the eight giant heads stretched forward all at once, snapping in a blurring assault.

Caught off-guard by the lightning-fast bite, the CP0 members either scrambled to parry or leapt away.

"Ahh—!"

But one agent, less powerful and a fraction too slow, got seized in a split second by those jaws. He only had time for a bloodcurdling scream before the terrifying venom dissolved him into a puddle of slime, bones and all—a sight that chilled onlookers to the bone.

"Iron Body: Wild Bull Slam!"

Simultaneously, another CP0 user—wielding the Ox-Ox Fruit, Model Musk Ox—charged forward in a human-beast form. His sharpened horns, imbued with Haki, clashed head-on with one of those lunging serpent heads.

"Thud!!"

There was no suspense.

The moment they collided, the CP0 agent let out an agonized cry, his horn snapping, skull bursting open in a spray of gore.

He was knocked away, blood gushing from his shattered head.

"Rooaar—"

Right after, the Yamata no Orochi bellowed, revealing speed that defied its colossal form—lightning quick.

Eight massive heads, each seemingly impervious to blades, bulldozed everything in their path. They even displayed separate consciousnesses, converging from multiple angles in a coordinated onslaught.

"Tempest Kick: Air Sever!"

"Tempest Kick: Leopard's Tail!"

"Dual Blade: Steel Slash!"

"Thud… thud…"

Roars thundered.

The Orochi simply shrugged off attack after attack, smashing aside a gigantic slicing arc with brutal force.

No matter how desperately the CP0 operatives pressed their offense, they were pushed back time after time.

And each enormous, Haki-clad head reacted with frightening speed, blocking every angle. Not even the awakened Ancient Zoan "CP0 Shield"—who'd tried lunging from blindsides—could break through.

"Bang!!"

A direct clash ended in a stalemate—if not advantage for the Orochi.

Its scaly hide plus Haki reinforcement formed a hide tougher than steel, ramming with horrifying power to send that CP0 Shield flailing backward, arms throbbing from the impact.

He felt his vicious claw-lunge, coated in advanced Armament, trembling uncontrollably.

Shock momentarily flared in his eyes.

"Hellfire!!"

As the CP0 agents stared in disbelief, the Hydra's heads opened their jaws all at once.

From each maw burst dazzling flames packing unimaginable heat, blasting outward in a wave.

"Boom… Boom…"