CHAPTER 175- Forest of Hatred; The Warped Loyalty of Aramaki

A timid voice suddenly echoed through the tense silence.

Aramaki froze on the spot.

Was this trembling, pathetic tone truly coming from the celestial being he revered as a god? The so-called supreme World Noble?

Even more absurd—just moments ago, he had sworn with pride to avenge this very man. As the Celestial Dragons' most devout guardian, their most zealous sword, he had come prepared to crush this insolent Marine Admiral.

Yet now, Saint Charlos himself was mumbling about running away… again. And right in front of the very enemy he was supposed to command!

It was a humiliation of the highest order.

Before Aramaki could even open his mouth, another voice followed—an even sharper slap across the face.

"Ar-Aramaki, we need to get out of here—fast! Or we won't get another chance!" Spandain shouted in panic.

Aramaki's expression twisted with fury as he spun around, roaring at the top of his lungs.

"You wretched CP0 filth! Didn't you just say I had a 100% chance of victory?! And now you spout this coward's drivel? You dare poison the mind of the great Celestial Dragon? Watch your tongue—or I'll crush you until there's nothing left!"

As his fury boiled over, massive vines erupted from the ground around him, coiling like venomous serpents, ready to strike.

But before Aramaki could unleash his power—he froze.

His eyes narrowed. His pupils shrank.

From all directions, five imposing figures emerged, closing in silently.

The oppressive aura they gave off hit like a thunderclap.

At that moment, Aramaki finally understood why Spandain and even Saint Charlos were so desperate to flee.

These five weren't just any fighters. Their presence, their pressure—it was undeniable.

He'd seen the reports, heard the rumors—the new admiral, Luo Yu, was recruiting "special combat forces" across the seas. The strongest of the strong. These five... fit the description perfectly.

If it had just been Luo Yu, or even one or two more, Aramaki would have stood his ground without hesitation.

But five top-tier warriors at once?

And then he realized another bitter truth—he had assumed that after both he and Fujitora publicly refused Fleet Admiral Sengoku's invitation, this new admiral would be left with no options.

And yet here they were—five powerful warriors, already aligned with Luo Yu.

Aramaki's lips twisted into a grim smile.

"Well, well… Admiral Luo Yu," he sneered. "That's quite the ambush. I didn't expect you to be this dishonorable. Gathering so many to gang up on little old me—what a warm welcome."

He turned to Fujitora with a smirk.

"Still, I suppose I'll have to repay your hospitality in kind. I originally planned to take you down myself. But now? Let's see how you handle the pressure of facing two admiral-class fighters at once."

"This is your lesson in battlefield ethics—from me, to you."

Then, turning to Fujitora: "Fujitora-nii-san, I hate to pull you in, but this new guy clearly doesn't fight fair. Time for you to step up."

Spandain, who had been desperately dragging the battered Charlos toward safety, felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.

Aramaki and Fujitora, together?

Could they actually turn the tide?

But then—

"Heh… Aramaki," Fujitora chuckled, finally rising from his seat, gently pushing aside his dango skewer as he stood with his cane-sword.

"I was planning to step in," he said calmly. "But not on your side."

BOOM.

A crushing weight suddenly slammed down onto the battlefield—a monstrous gravitational force erupted from Fujitora, pinning everything in place.

Aramaki froze mid-step.

Spandain and Charlos, now several hundred meters away, stood utterly stunned. Their eyes bulged as if they might burst.

They had seen a lot. But nothing had prepared them for this.

Fujitora had truly betrayed them—and turned his blade against Aramaki.

The balance had flipped.

What was once a 2v1... was now very clearly 6v1.

Feeling the gravity tighten like an avalanche over his body, Spandain panicked.

"Run! Saint Charlos, RUN!" he screamed, grabbing the Celestial Dragon once more.

"Fujitora is one of the special combat targets! He's with the new admiral!"

Saint Charlos didn't need to be told twice.

Flight had become second nature by now. Without hesitation, the supposed "noble" turned and bolted, fleeing as if his life depended on it—because it did.

"You bastards!" Aramaki roared. "You dishonorable wretches! How dare you make the great Celestial Dragon suffer this fear?! I'll slaughter you all!"

His expression twisted with rage and betrayal.

"Fujitora-nii-san! Why?! I respected you! And this is how you repay me? I'm disappointed in you!"

"But if that's how it is—fine. I'll kill you all."

"Forest of Hatred!!"

BOOOOM!!!

With a savage roar, Aramaki activated his Devil Fruit powers to the limit.

The very ground cracked open.

From the soil of Sabaody Archipelago—formed by massive Yarukiman Mangrove trees—countless roots exploded upward like writhing dragons. The entire island came to life under his control.

Roots burst from the ground in all directions, twisting like serpents. Tree limbs morphed into spears, tentacles, and pikes—all surging toward the enemy like a living, vengeful forest.

Fujitora and the others immediately leapt back, cutting down the incoming tendrils with swift, practiced movements.

But Aramaki only grinned wider.

"Luo Yu, you filthy lesser, I'll kill you myself!"

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Root after root erupted like missiles, hurling themselves toward the admiral.

A forest's fury had been unleashed.

But Luo Yu's expression remained calm.

His Conqueror's Haki surged through his veins.

In an instant, he infused it with a deep, jet-black Armament Haki—his overwhelming presence detonated outward like a typhoon.

BOOOOOM!!

The two forces collided.

The enchanted roots were pulverized instantly, reduced to splinters and dust as Luo Yu's combined Haki wave smashed through them like divine judgment.

And then—unimpeded—it rocketed toward Aramaki himself.

But just as the devastating force approached, Aramaki merely laughed.

"HA! You arrogant fool!" he howled. "So long as I'm rooted into this island—you can't touch my true body!"