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3rd Chapter Today, Enjoy :)
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Akainu's expression was incredibly grim.
Even after losing Doberman and Strawberry, and half the Buster Call fleet—The forces he led still comprised three HQ Vice Admirals and over one hundred elite Marine officers of Captain rank or higher!
Against the Straw Hat Pirates without Sky Sovereign Rowen, they should have held an absolute numerical advantage.
But the combat strength of Straw Hat and his crew far exceeded Marine HQ's initial projections...
Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro—that demonic power Aokiji mentioned, capable of channeling a sliver of Conqueror's Haki, even had a new form—He could manifest three heads and six arms, wielding nine swords, surpassing Onigumo's Eight-Sword Style.
Combined with the Desert Princess Vivi's Sand-Sand Fruit abilities, even Onigumo was locked in a difficult battle.
Black Leg Sanji's combat power was initially within expectations—Rear Admiral level. With Cat Burglar Nami's special weapon—into which that brat Rowen had infused a portion of his Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power—Vice Admiral Yamakaji had to be extremely cautious.
But if he was careful, defeating Black Leg should have been only a matter of time...
But now, the situation had suddenly changed.
A strange power was awakening within Black Leg, comprehensively enhancing his speed, strength, and resilience.
This power reminded Akainu of the Vinsmoke family from the Germa Kingdom, who terrorized the North Blue.
Vinsmoke Judge—a former member of MADS, the research group Vegapunk once belonged to.
After Vegapunk was apprehended and began working for the World Government, that group disbanded. Vinsmoke Judge loved experimenting with human modification, and the Germa Kingdom possessed an army of modified soldiers.
Judge's own children were all modified humans, using their enhanced bodies and bizarre raid suits to rampage across the North Blue.
The Vinsmokes' carefully modified soldiers possessed enhanced 'strength', 'resilience', and an 'exoskeleton'.
Although Black Leg hadn't shown an Exoskeleton, this sudden increase in strength and resilience was very similar to a Germa modified human.
But the most unexpected development was Straw Hat Luffy!
He was actually overwhelming Vice Admiral Momonga...
That combat level had already reached the tier of Gion and Chaton. And Momonga's report about the peculiarity of Straw Hat's Devil Fruit—greatly concerned Akainu.
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Akainu, though ruthless, was no fool.
In fact, he possessed considerable strategic acumen, being the Five Elders' preferred candidate for the next Fleet Admiral.
He had personally experienced the terrifying power of multiple Devil Fruits combined. Even he had struggled to handle it, unable to protect his subordinates.
The bloody facts proved that any Devil Fruit Rowen coveted could perfectly complement his existing abilities, elevating his power to a more troublesome and terrifying level.
Straw Hat's Devil Fruit, in combat, truly didn't behave like a normal Paramecia, just as Momonga reported.
If this fruit was indeed highly valued by that brat Rowen... then it was highly likely it could be Awakened in Rowen's hands, granting extremely troublesome abilities.
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"I didn't expect Pirate Hunter's so-called 'Asura Aura' would have such an effect..."
"And Black Leg Sanji? Could his real name be Vinsmoke Sanji? That ability... is very similar to a modified human from the Germa Kingdom..."
Akainu wasn't in a hurry to attack yet.
Instead, a mocking smile spread across his face. Against inexperienced brats like these—Akainu was an expert!
"And Straw Hat's Gomu-Gomu Fruit... It's not a normal Paramecia, is it? You boarded this ship to obtain the powers of these people, didn't you? Just like how you obtained the Flare-Flare Fruit's power from Fire Fist Ace... Once you have all their powers... they'll just be your tools, right? Sky Sovereign Rowen? And to get those powers, you actually played 'pirate' with these brats? How amusing,"
Akainu's mocking expression was at its peak as he threw his head back and laughed.
Trash talk was Akainu's signature ability.
Using taunts to disrupt an enemy's psychological state was highly effective on the battlefield. Especially against a user of Haōshoku Coating!
This tactic was tried and true.
As pure spiritual power, Haōshoku Coating was greatly affected by psychological disruption.
And such words would also affect Straw Hat and the others fighting in the distance. With Observation Haki, they would surely hear his mocking laughter.
Akainu looked at Rowen, his smile widening.
'Brat, I'M NOT AOKIJI. I'll show you the true meaning of war—both physically and mentally!'
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But Rowen's reply completely threw Akainu.
"That's right. I am just using them as tools," Rowen looked up, smiling at Akainu.
"Huh?!" Akainu's smile froze.
He admitted it??
How the hell could he just admit it??
He was just using his standard trash talk attack, trying to break Rowen's and the Straw Hats' psychological defenses!
Shouldn't the standard script be Rowen roaring in denial, and Straw Hat and his crew becoming enraged?
Once someone gets angry, they lose their absolute calm. And on the battlefield, losing absolute calm meant defeat was not far behind.
This was a fundamental truth of war, learned by Akainu through countless bloody battles.
But what was this brat's reaction??
No denial—a direct admission??
Wasn't this brat afraid Straw Hat and his crew would turn on him??
After all, it was Rowen who single-handedly orchestrated the Enies Lobby attack to display his 'Might'. The Straw Hats were just following his lead, declaring war on Marine HQ and the Buster Call!
Under such circumstances, to be called a 'tool' by that brat... Akainu, putting himself in their shoes, knew even his iron will would be violently shaken.
It was the ultimate insult and betrayal!
No matter how strong one's will, facing such an insult, such betrayal, it was impossible to remain indifferent!
Mutiny wasn't out of the question!
'What was this brat planning?'
But Rowen's next words made Akainu's face turn gloomy.
"Any problem with that, Luffy? Zoro? Sanji?" Rowen called out, his voice, amplified by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's thunder, reaching the distant battlefield.
"NO PROBLEM! Use my strength as much as you like, Rowen! I'M YOUR STRONGEST TOOL!" Zoro yelled back, grinning fiercely, his own attacks becoming even more ferocious.
"Once I'm done with this bastard—I'll make you the best damn Pirate Lunchbox! Marine Admiral—My name is Vinsmoke Sanji! Remember that! I'm not just Rowen's tool; I'm also his nutritionist!"
Sanji roared, his attacks on Yamakaji growing even more ferocious.
"SHISHISHI! UNDERSTAND NOW, ADMIRAL?? OUR COMRADES' BONDS CAN'T BE SHAKEN BY A FEW WORDS FROM YOU, YOU IDIOT!" Luffy's intensely mocking laughter reached Akainu's ears via Observation Haki, making his face turn as black as ink.
With the spiritual link between them—Rowen's true feelings couldn't be masked by mere words; Luffy and the others could feel it.
Rowen treating them as tools? Don't make them laugh!
Would you tell your 'tools' all your secrets, hiding nothing?
Would you infuse your 'tools' with vast amounts of spiritual power, helping them get stronger?
Would your 'tools' feel such warmth and support radiating from your heart, like the winter sun?
Rowen—was their most precious comrade! The one who guided their dreams. The one whose dreams they were willing to die to help fulfill.
As for borrowing each other's strength?
Weren't a comrade's powers meant to be shared?
Weren't they themselves utilizing Rowen's power to become stronger?
For a mere Admiral to think a few words could break their bonds—
Then they would use their actions to show this Admiral exactly how deep their bonds truly ran!
Being Rowen's tool? THEY WERE DAMN HAPPY TO BE!
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"Well? Akainu? My 'tools' are quite useful, aren't they?" Rowen asked calmly.
No mockery, no emotional fluctuation—but to Akainu, this was the ultimate insult.
His tried-and-true trash talk—now looked like the clownish antics of a fool. Especially being called an 'idiot' by that fool Straw Hat—it made Akainu's face incredibly grim.
But Rowen's counter-attack wasn't over.
"By the way... You came here on this mission—and you don't even know what Luffy's ability really is?" Rowen's words made Akainu tense—
Straw Hat's ability? Was this brat about to reveal it himself?
But Akainu wouldn't blindly trust any information revealed by Rowen now—His previous boasts had led Marine HQ to develop flawed strategies that resulted in catastrophic losses. Revealed abilities could become weapons.
An Ultimate Human! This man's strategic thinking—even Akainu had to be cautious.
But despite this, Akainu was still extremely interested in Straw Hat's true ability. Was it really the Gomu-Gomu Fruit?
"Hey, hey, really? Marine Admirals... aren't they the World Government's Strongest Combatants? And you were chosen by the Five Elders as the next Fleet Admiral, right? You're telling me they didn't tell you—the one they sent on this mission—what Luffy's true ability is? Just that Paramecia Gomu-Gomu Fruit? Even that name—was given by the Five Elders themselves—So they sent you here without even telling you the truth about his power? I see... you're not even a 'tool' to the Five Elders. You're just a watchdog."
"What 'Navy upholding Justice'? You're just the lapdogs of the Celestial Dragons, of the Five Elders! 'Akainu'—doesn't that title suit you perfectly, then? Were you hoping, by proving your loyalty as the Five Elders' watchdog, to become Fleet Admiral? How pathetic! A lapdog at the feet of the Five Elders, begging for the Fleet Admiral position! Do they occasionally pet you to prove their approval too?"
Rowen's smile grew wider and wider, until finally, it became a loud, mocking laugh.
Akainu first felt his eye twitch, then his entire face began to twitch—until finally, his entire body began to tremble with intense rage!
This brat... knew he was chosen by the Five Elders to be the next Fleet Admiral?? He was claiming that the name of Straw Hat's fruit, that so-called Paramecia Gomu-Gomu Fruit—was given by the Five Elders themselves?!
Akainu didn't think he was lying.
His Observation Haki wasn't just for show... This brat opposite him had even dropped his guard against his Observation Haki, letting Akainu clearly sense his emotional fluctuations—confirming the truthfulness of the brat's words.
Meaning—Straw Hat's Devil Fruit really wasn't a simple Gomu-Gomu Fruit! It was a Devil Fruit so significant that even Sky Sovereign Rowen coveted it, a fruit whose true nature was concealed by the Five Elders themselves under the name 'Gomu-Gomu Fruit'!
Such crucial information—they hadn't told him at all! Just ordered him to capture or kill Straw Hat...
Not a shred of respect for him, a Marine Admiral, a future Fleet Admiral!
The Justice of the Navy, and he, Akainu—were dogs for the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders??
And his title, 'Akainu' (Red Dog)—was chosen to show he was a loyal dog to the Five Elders, to get the Fleet Admiral position??
BASTARD!!!!!!
His attacks were dog/hound themed!
His strongest technique, 'Meigo' (Dark Hound), was his signature move! That's where the 'Akainu' title came from!
This was an insult to everything they stood for.
Akainu seethed with rage, smoke literally pouring from him as the Magma-Magma Fruit's power began to leak out uncontrollably from his fury.
Akainu now understood why that brat had readily admitted treating the Straw Hats as 'tools' earlier—It was all for this moment!
To show him—how Straw Hat and the others, when he called them tools, reacted with joy and excitement.
And him, Akainu, and Marine HQ? The Five Elders didn't even give them proper intel, letting them suffer from this information disadvantage!
If not for Yamakaji's timely support, Momonga might have already fallen to Straw Hat's suddenly strengthened Devil Fruit ability!
And the root cause was Momonga being completely unaware of Straw Hat's true abilities, caught off guard and suffering a major blow!
Even he, an Admiral, and Momonga, a Vice Admiral, were treated like this—like dogs that could be discarded at any time.
From the moment he opened his mouth—his trash-talk became a tool for Rowen's own schemes!
Words meant to disrupt Rowen and the Straw Hats—were turned back on him and Marine HQ!
And damn it—everything that happened aligned perfectly with what Rowen said!
The Five Elders gave them no intel, let the Navy suffer losses, and showed no respect for him, an Admiral and future Fleet Admiral!
Lies aren't sharp blades—the truth is!
Faced with undeniable truth, unable to refute it, Akainu exploded.
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"DIE——!!!" Akainu roared, his magma fist hurtling towards Rowen!
"Did I hit a nerve, Loyal doggy??" Rowen laughed mockingly.
For some reason, hearing that seemingly childish taunt—combined with everything else, made Akainu feel his psychological defenses completely shatter.
Completely... BROKEN!
"MEIGO (DARK HOUND)——!!!"
With no proper timing or setup, Akainu, disregarding the consumption of stamina and Haki, unleashed his strongest technique!
His right arm transformed into hyper-condensed magma, the full eruptive power of a volcano unleashed, combined with his full-power Armament Haki, blasting ferociously towards Rowen's head!
Meigo—Akainu's strongest finishing move
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