Looking at the unfamiliar yet beautiful figure before him, Zephyr's voice gradually grew low. If Leo wasn't making a move, and even Nami and Hancock were nowhere to be seen… had he really fallen to the point of battling nobodies?
"Zephyr, save the talk for after you defeat Rebecca."
Leo chuckled and shook his head. The Rebecca of before might not have been Zephyr's match. But the current Rebecca, possessing two Imperial Armaments? Victory was far from certain.
"Hmm?"
Zephyr collected himself, and a flicker of interest appeared in his gaze as he looked at Rebecca anew.
Rebecca stared at Zephyr, her brow slightly furrowed. This famous legendary veteran now gave her a sense of being a candle guttering in the wind. As the Captain had said, after so many soul-crushing blows, the once-vigorous Marine Admiral had become broken, resorting to such a mutually destructive method to achieve his goal.
Amidst rumbling, the massive Crushing Machine began to turn. Rebecca promptly focused her mind, exhaled a deep breath, and decisively activated the Imperial Armament: Beast King Transformation at her waist.
Leo watched with anticipation. Rebecca's pink hair gradually turned a lion's mane gold, and a white lion's tail grew from her back. While other body parts showed no obvious change, her overall posture and movements clearly gained the combined traits of human and beast.
"Not finished yet!"
Rebecca shouted lightly, activating the winged Imperial Armament: March next.
Like a curtain falling from the heavens, a pair of pristine white, massive wings suddenly unfurled from Rebecca's back. As they spread, they blotted out the sky like celestial canopies; a mere flap could stir powerful air currents. The surface feathers were distinctly layered, gleaming with a cold luster, their edges sharp as blades.
"What… what is this?!"
Zephyr halted his steps, staring at the sky-obscuring wings in shock. He considered himself well-traveled and knowledgeable about the many Devil Fruits on the seas. Even those he hadn't seen, he'd heard of. But Rebecca's transformation completely exceeded his understanding. He couldn't think of any Zoan fruit that combined lion and avian features simultaneously.
"What is this?!"
"Is she a Devil Fruit user too?"
"Those wings must be over ten meters long!"
"Don't just stand there! Attack together and kill her!!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the NEO Marines aimed at Rebecca and pulled their triggers.
Countless lines of gunfire shot forth, cutting through the air as they streaked toward Rebecca.
"Pathetic tricks!"
Rebecca's gaze turned cold. With a beat of her wings, she took to the air. As the massive wings spread, countless feather-blades shot out, attacking Zephyr and the NEO soldiers.
"Defend immediately!!"
Zephyr's face changed dramatically, his pupils behind his sunglasses contracting to pinpoints. This scale of attack, even just one volley, would cause heavy casualties among his men. Yet his warning came too late.
The sea's calm was completely shattered by an unending stream of miserable screams.
"You lose!"
A bright sword flash and a green figure passed each other.
A ghastly wound stretching from shoulder to abdomen immediately appeared on Binz's chest, gushing copious amounts of blood. After a brief struggle, Binz's eyes rolled back, and he fell with a thud into a pool of blood. The giant vines he controlled, losing their sustaining power, gradually returned to normal.
Baby-5 reverted to human form, calmly lighting a woman's cigarette for herself.
She was the victor of this battle.
"Aaaah!!!"
Not far from her battlefield, a horrifying scream suddenly rang out. Baby-5 focused her gaze and couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
Z, who prided himself on physical prowess, was now covered from head to toe in hair-raising black welts. His once-brawny body resembled a torn sack. Once Koala breached Z's Haki defense, countless killer bees had swarmed him… the scene is left to the imagination.
"You lose!"
Koala kicked Z squarely in the face. A broken body flew out, eventually falling into the sea and slowly sinking.
"Not bad."
Koala waved a hand, dispersing the terrifying killer bees surrounding her. The power of this Devil Fruit far exceeded her expectations.
Simultaneously, on the not-too-distant snowy battlefield.
Huff~
Monet exhaled a frosty breath and walked toward the motionless white figure standing in place. Ain's body was covered in ice and snow. She struggled to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as mountains. Even her consciousness was gradually fading.
She remembered the happy days training under Instructor Zephyr at Marine Headquarters. She also remembered the horrific, bloody scene when they were attacked by pirates during a mission—a nightmare that haunted her to this day. Everything flashed through her mind like slides.
"Sleep. When you wake up, it will all be over~"
Whether an illusion or reality, after these words surfaced in her mind, Ain completely lost consciousness.
Monet let out a light sigh, scooped Ain up in her arms, and flew toward Leo. The icy world behind her gradually melted away.
Thus, Zephyr's three capable officers were utterly defeated.
Zephyr's eyes were bloodshot, straining with rage as he watched this scene. Three beloved disciples who had willingly abandoned their lives and left the Marines with him—two dead, one captured. He had wanted to aid them midway, but facing Rebecca, he was utterly powerless.
"Zephyr, you've grown old~"
The massive wings stirred powerful gales, scraping Zephyr's skin painfully. But maintaining Armament Haki armor constantly was a tremendous drain on his stamina.
Rebecca somewhat disappointedly deactivated the Beast King Transformation. Against Zephyr's current strength, it was clearly overkill. Just the Haki-infused March alone had him utterly overwhelmed.
Swipe!
Swipe!
Dozens of pitch-black feathers sliced across Zephyr's chest in succession, sparking showers of sparks.
Stagger, stagger~
Under the powerful impact, Zephyr's body staggered, retreating continuously.
Rebecca's eyes sharpened, seizing the opportunity.
Whoosh~
The Armament Haki-coated black wings, like a several-meter-long blade, flashed past instantly, cutting a terrible bloody line across Zephyr's chest just as his Haki receded.
Pfft—
Zephyr's face turned deathly pale as he immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood. The bone-deep wound nearly severed all his vitality. Even cracks appeared on the Crushing Machine on his right arm, as if foretelling that his decaying body was nearing its end.
"Cough, cough… Can't deny old age… cough…"
Zephyr propped himself up with the Crushing Machine, struggling not to fall. Sensing the life continuously draining from his body, a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. The nobody he'd looked down on mere moments ago had pushed him to the brink in less than an instant.
"This day… cough… has finally come~"
Zephyr coughed intermittently. A barely perceptible resolve flashed in his eyes. From the day he left Marine Headquarters in disillusionment and stole the Dyna Stones, he had been prepared. He just hadn't expected it to come so soon. What surprised him more was that he'd by some twist of fate lost to Leo.
"Hahahaha… cough… Leo, do you think you've already won?"
Zephyr, ready to die, suddenly grinned and laughed uproariously.
"Even if I can't destroy the world, taking you down is a bargain!"
As he spoke, Zephyr took out a carried container. Opening it revealed a glass vessel holding a dark purple substance—Dyna Stones, with explosive power rivaling the Ancient Weapons. One stone was enough to destroy an island.
"That's… Dyna Stones?"
Rebecca, who was about to launch the final blow, suddenly halted, her expression extremely grave. Leo had already briefed them beforehand. She knew the terrifying power if the Dyna Stones were detonated.
"Hahaha… Too late to be afraid now!!"
Zephyr laughed, his palm gradually turning pitch-black. Let these vile pirates be his burial companions!
"Die with me, old man!!"
Swish!
In a flash of lightning, an eerie green sword flash cut through the air. Before Zephyr could crush the Dyna Stone, it severed his left arm clean off at the shoulder. With a crackle of silver-white electricity, Leo steadily caught the Dyna Stone and promptly stored it in his system warehouse.
"Leo!!!"
Looking at his spurting left arm, Zephyr trembled with pain and cold sweat. But now, what filled his heart more was hatred! Hatred that Leo had ruined his plan again! He couldn't destroy the New World, couldn't even kill Leo.
"Zephyr, you no longer belong in this world. Go in peace."
Swish~
As soon as Leo finished speaking, the black wings flashed like lightning. The next second, a head with wide, unwilling eyes was sent flying high into the air. Zephyr's brawny body fell with a thud into the pool of blood.
"He's dead! They killed Instructor Zephyr!"
"Bastards! Fight them to the death!!"
"Fight what?! Run!!"
Grief, anger, fear… a jumble of emotions filled the few dozen remaining NEO soldiers. Watching Zephyr die before their eyes broke them all.
"Wings of the Divine!"
Another rain of feather-arrows swept down, slaughtering the remaining few dozen. The entire NEO Marine force, except for the unconscious Ain, was wiped out.
"Baby-5!" Leo called out lightly.
Baby-5 understood immediately, hefting the giant cannon on her back, taking aim, and firing.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
The cannon barrel erupted with flashes. Cannonballs the size of a man's head tore through the air, striking consecutively. In an instant, flames soared into the sky as several ships burst into raging infernos…
After finishing this, Baby-5 stowed the giant cannon, leaped up, and returned to the flying ship. The flames lit up their faces. The ships gradually emitted sounds of breaking apart.
"Let's go."
Leo took one last glance, then piloted the flying ship away safely. The fires continued, and with the ocean currents, the ships gradually disintegrated.
"Rebecca, that move of yours was so beautiful!"
"Rebecca, what's that winged thing on your back called again?"
Returning to the lounge, Rebecca was immediately surrounded by Nami and the others, all chattering excitedly. The moment they saw March unfurl, they were instantly captivated.
"It… it's not as amazing as you all say~"
Rebecca's face flushed slightly as she waved her hands shyly.
"What about me? What about me?"
"Wasn't I awesome?"
"Did you see what my killer bees did to Z??"
Seeing all the attention focused on Rebecca, Koala pouted jealously.
Hancock and the others were first stunned, then recalled the dense swarm of ugly killer bees. Those with trypophobia felt it trigger. The women's faces strained into extremely forced smiles as they perfunctorily said, "Ahem… Koala was awesome too."
"Right, right, your Devil Fruit power is also good."
"Koala, keep it up~"
"Rebecca, let's talk more about your Imperial Armament. Didn't you not use the Beast King Transformation earlier?"
Seeing them praise her so half-heartedly, Koala stomped her foot in anger.
"Where's Ain?"
Right then, Leo and Baby-5 walked in from outside.
"Brother Leo, Sister Monet took her into a room."
Shirahoshi responded softly from the side.
Leo nodded slightly and walked straight toward the room.
Inside the room, the ice and snow on Ain's body had melted, and she had been dried off. Her breathing was gradually becoming steady and strong. Leo thoughtfully tucked her in with an extra blanket and conveniently implanted a Slave Brand in her mind. Ain was deeply loyal to Zephyr, even willing to die for him. Such a die-hard fan couldn't be swayed by mere words. When in doubt, apply the Slave Brand. Simple, brutal, and effective.
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully recruiting crewmate Ain. Claim reward?!]
The system prompt followed promptly.
"Claim immediately." Leo responded at once.
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully obtaining reward —————— Paramecia-type: Volt-Volt Fruit!]
Annotation:
①: User can freely manipulate and generate electric currents. Can release small currents to paralyze an enemy's nerves, incapacitating them, or release powerful current beams with power enough to destroy a small building.
②: User can create a powerful electromagnetic field centered on themselves. Within this field, the user can freely control all metal objects, combining them at will.
③: The electromagnetic field can effectively interfere with an enemy's perception.
④: User can convert electrical energy from themselves or their surroundings for utilization. For example, converting electricity into thermal energy to release high-temperature currents, or into kinetic energy to gain powerful explosive force. Can also absorb environmental electricity to replenish depleted energy.
⑤: User can create multiple clones composed of electricity. These clones possess a degree of autonomous combat capability and can take damage in place of the user at critical moments. When destroyed, they revert to electricity and return to the user.
⑥: This fruit has been optimized by the system and has no side effects.
⑦: If not consumed by the Host, the user can share the Devil Fruit ability with the consumer.
"Not bad."
After reading the detailed annotation, Leo nodded with slight satisfaction. In truth, his Climate-Climate Fruit also contained electrical elements. But from start to finish, he had focused on developing lightning, cloud, and wind elements. As for other elements, he'd only dabbled, not delved deep. While electrical elements weren't weak, they were slightly inferior compared to the more destructive wind and lightning elements.
Storing the Devil Fruit in his system warehouse, Leo then left the room.
"Brother Leo~"
"Captain~"
"Leo~"
Seeing Leo emerge, the women greeted him. Leo nodded to each in response.
"Captain, where are we headed next?" Robin asked.
"Wano Country!"
Leo blurted out without hesitation. Dealing with Zephyr and recruiting Ain was just a small interlude on the way to Wano. Now that it was done, it was time to enter the main story and recruit the five notable beauties living there.
"Wano Country? The territory of the so-called 'World's Strongest Creature,' Beasts Pirates Governor, Emperor Kaido?"
"Captain, is Kaido really as powerful as they say?"
"Hahaha… You'll know when you meet him and fight him."
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T/N :
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