Facing unknown danger, Gurd retreated several steps, shielding himself behind the Revolutionary Army's strongest fighters.
"You go first, I'll cover you!"
"Eh?!"
The Army Commanders were dumbfounded.
No one expected Gurd to push them into the vanguard. The demon woman in the sky was clearly terrifyingly powerful!
They regretted coming out now.
Before the commanders could hesitate, Imu launched the first attack. A magic array appeared at the tip of her trident as a black cannon barrel extended from it.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Multiple artillery shells rained down!
"Scatter now!"
The commanders' expressions changed drastically as they immediately dodged in all directions.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
The earth trembled as flames shot skyward. The explosions were several times more powerful than ordinary artillery, making the commanders break out in cold sweat.
"Attack together!"
"Understood!"
No one knew what other tricks the demon woman had. Allowing her to freely use her abilities meant surrendering the initiative.
Mori, being the largest, raised his harpoon and thrust at the airborne demon woman.
Imu calmly observed Mori, flapping her wings to evade the harpoon. She then turned her right palm upward, conjuring a magic array above it from which a magic book materialized.
As the book opened, white flames and black smoke emerged, rapidly forming an enormous shotgun.
Imu grasped the shotgun and fired at Mori below.
"Boom!"
"Uwaaahh!"
A bloody hole exploded in Mori's shoulder as he collapsed in agony.
Imu lightly tapped the air, summoning another magic array: "You shall sacrifice fleeting lifespan to gain tremendous power and an immortal body, while becoming Imu's slave."
As these words echoed, an enormous magic array appeared beneath Mori, drawing him inside.
This sequence happened so fast that the other commanders were left bewildered, wanting to help Mori but unsure how.
The magic array absorbing Mori burned with pale flames, clearly dangerous to touch.
After brief hesitation, Mori was completely absorbed into the array, only to reemerge moments later.
His originally ten-meter-tall body now stood dozens of meters high, with demonic wings sprouting from his back and horns and fangs growing from his head.
He resembled an ancient giant.
Even his weapon had transformed from a harpoon into a Devil Trident!
"Ooohhh, such incredible power!"
Mori roared as he raised the trident, scanning his companions on the ground before swinging it without hesitation.
"Stop looking at me like that, you perverts!"
"Stop, Mori!"
Ivankov shouted, only to be sent flying by Mori's trident the next moment.
At the rear of the battlefield.
"Hey, this is way too exaggerated."
Gurd's eyelids twitched violently.
Summoning giant cannons and weapons, forcibly establishing Demon Contracts, even enhancing ordinary giants into ancient ones while granting immortality.
Each ability alone would be terrifying enough, yet they were all concentrated in one being who might possess even more unknown powers.
Good thing he hadn't charged in recklessly.
"Shigyaaa!!!"
Ivankov had transformed into a demon too!
"Why did the cross-dresser change?"
Gurd stared wide-eyed.
He hadn't seen Ivankov get hit, yet Ivan had suddenly become a Demon Cross-dresser while the other commanders remained unaffected.
What was happening?
What is the medium for signing a Demon Contract?
Gurd stared at Imu floating mid-air.
He didn't believe such convenient abilities existed in this world. Mori and Ivankov must have fulfilled certain conditions to transform into Demons. Otherwise, this power alone would be enough to dominate the world.
He recalled everything that had just happened.
"Could it be... blood?"
Before Mori transformed into a Demon, Imu had shot through his shoulder with a shotgun. Ivankov, being the largest, was also sent flying by Demon Mori's trident before his transformation.
The common point was being injured first.
"GROOOOAR!!!"
While Gurd pondered, countless Nightmare Monsters gathered behind Imu, receiving the same enhancement as Demon Mori and Ivankov!
Like an Abyss Legion!
Imu's calm gaze locked onto Gurd again: "Submit to me, and I shall grant you everything you desire."
"KEHAHAHA!"
Gurd laughed mockingly: "Little girl, what I want is something you can't give, nor afford to give. Besides, I prefer taking what I want with my own hands."
"Then perish."
Imu's eyes turned cold.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
The monsters charged at Gurd with furious roars.
Mori raised his Devil Trident, swinging it down like an axe toward Gurd.
"BOOM!!!"
The ground trembled as massive fissures extended hundreds of meters, showcasing the terrifying power of the ancient giant race.
Gurd appeared beside the trident, pressing one hand against its side while glancing at Ivankov charging from the other direction.
Floating debris around him shot out like bullets!
"THUD THUD THUD!"
In an instant, Ivankov was sent flying with a scream, his body riddled with holes. Yet the wounds visibly healed at incredible speed.
Immortality!
"Ivan! Mori!"
The other Army Commanders rushed over anxiously, worried about Ivankov and Mori's safety, though they had no idea how to help.
"Mr. Gurd, please show mercy!"
"..."
Ignoring them, Gurd sprinted up the trident, leaping onto Mori's arm before propelling himself toward the giant's face.
His fist coiled back!
"Destruction·Million Ton Blow!"
"CRACK!"
The punch landed squarely on Mori's forehead, black lightning scattering outward!
Gurd's body tensed again as his veins bulged, driving Mori's head back with full force!
"FLY AWAY!!!"
"BOOM!"
Thunderous impact!
Mori's massive frame was sent flying like a cannonball, crossing kilometers before crashing into the sea.
"WHAAAT?!!"
The Army Commanders' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Such an enormous body... punched clear off the island!
What monstrous strength!
Landing without hesitation, Gurd bent his legs and kicked off, crossing a hundred meters in an instant. The resulting shockwave tore a massive trench through the ground!
"SMACK!"
His hand seized Ivankov's afro!
Gurd swung the giant's body in circles, faster and faster until it blurred like a propeller!
Though Ivankov and Mori had gained immense size and power, their lost rationality made them easier to control.
Their enhanced strength still couldn't bridge the gap with Gurd!
Facing the ocean, Gurd violently hurled Ivankov outward!
"SCRAM!"
A shooting star flashed past!
"BOOM!!!"
A dozen seconds later, massive waves erupted from the distant sea surface.
Both Ivan and Mori were Devil Fruit users. Even after turning into Demons, they couldn't lose their Devil Fruit abilities, which meant seawater could still strip them of their mobility.
Most importantly, the two had signed a Demon Contract with Imu, granting them immortality. Since they couldn't be directly killed, the only option was to restrain them through other means.
Gurd's eyes gleamed with ferocity as he turned toward Imu.
"You're next!"
(End of Chapter)