Through the dissipating steam clouds, a colossal head slowly emerged, dwarfing the three CP0 agents floating in the air above. The contrast was staggering—these elite government operatives appeared no larger than insects compared to the towering giant's massive features.
"How is it possible for humans to transform into giants?" Ada whispered in disbelief, still cradled in Lucci's protective embrace.
Her Observation Haki had failed to predict the giant's next move. A massive arm, dozens of meters in length, swept toward them with tremendous force, generating hurricane-level winds from its passage alone.
Fortunately, the Donquixote executives' transformation came with significant drawbacks. While their size and power had increased exponentially, their agility had been severely compromised. The CP0 agents, masters of Rokushiki techniques, maintained superior aerial mobility through their "Geppo" (Moonwalk) abilities, easily evading the giant's ponderous attacks.
Lucci assessed the situation with cold calculation as he and his companions maneuvered through the air. He'd encountered twenty-meter giants before—standard height for Giant Tribe Vice Admirals in the Marines. However, titans exceeding one hundred meters in height were virtually unheard of.
As the white steam began clearing from the ambush site, the second Donquixote executive's transformation became visible. Machvise had assumed the form of a massive, fur-covered beast resembling a golden-haired gorilla. Though significantly shorter than his colossal partner—perhaps twenty meters in height—his animalistic appearance suggested different but equally dangerous capabilities.
"Flies in the sky eventually fall to the ground," the beast-giant rumbled, plunging his Armament Haki-coated fingers deep into the earth. His flexible simian hands gathered massive chunks of rubble, compressing them into makeshift ammunition. The intent was clear—ground the aerial CP0 agents through overwhelming projectile attacks.
Kaku observed the golden gorilla's preparations with puzzlement. "What's he planning? Stone throwing? How much damage could rocks possibly do?"
Had their opponent been preparing explosives, vigilance would be warranted. But simple stones, regardless of size, could be evaded with basic Observation Haki.
After forming his improvised ammunition, the beast-giant raised both arms in a throwing motion. "CP0! Catch this—try not to die too easily!"
The stone projectile launched skyward with tremendous force, then fragmented mid-flight like a deadly flower blooming in reverse. The CP0 agents prepared for evasive maneuvers, activating their Observation Haki. If avoidance proved impossible, they could always employ "Tekkai" (Iron Body) to absorb the impact.
Each stone fragment whistled through the air with ominous intensity. Lucci, as the senior agent, immediately recognized the threat. "Those stones are Devil Fruit-enhanced! Don't attempt to tank them directly!"
The aerial stone barrage formed an inescapable net. Some projectiles could be avoided through skilled maneuvering, but others would require direct engagement. Even Observation Haki couldn't guarantee complete evasion against such comprehensive coverage.
"Rankyaku: Renge" (Tempest Kick: Lotus)
Lucci unleashed over a dozen azure cutting waves shaped like flying birds, each slash meeting the incoming stones head-on. Despite their Devil Fruit enhancement, the projectiles remained fundamentally stone—easily shattered by his razor-sharp air blades.
"Seems my stones were too light," Machvise called up mockingly. "Let me give you some ten-thousand-ton specimens instead!"
The second wave of projectiles received progressive weight enhancement from his "Ton Ton no Mi" (Ton-Ton Fruit), each stone gaining mass incrementally from one ton to ten thousand tons the moment they left his grasp.
"According to intelligence, the Ton-Ton Fruit typically only affects the user's body weight, with a maximum limit of one hundred thousand tons," Ada analyzed through gritted teeth, fighting off her persistent headache. "The fact that he can imbue external objects with variable tonnage indicates Devil Fruit Awakening."
This revelation sent shockwaves through Sky Screen viewers. Fruit Awakening represented the pinnacle of Devil Fruit mastery, typically achieved only by the most elite combatants. For Donquixote Family executives to possess such advanced abilities suggested far greater strength than anyone had anticipated.
The battle devolved into a deadly game of aerial bombardment. Wave after wave of enhanced projectiles forced the CP0 agents into exhausting defensive patterns, constantly draining their stamina through continuous Moonwalk usage. Even with Zoan-enhanced endurance, their energy reserves weren't infinite.
"I'll engage the colossal one first," Kaku declared, his competitive nature overriding tactical caution. "Take him down, then deal with the gorilla. Cover me!"
The giraffe-human hybrid began rotating his elongated neck at incredible speed, building momentum until his movements became mere afterimages.
"Kirin Kousatsu" (Giraffe Collapse)
The biological gyroscope maintained devastating rotational velocity while launching dozens of crescent-shaped air slashes at the giant's head. If this initial barrage failed to decapitate the target, Kaku planned to personally test his spinning form against the titan's defenses.
The hundred-meter giant possessed no evasive options against the incoming attack. Previously exposed red flesh became encased in gleaming black Armament Haki as Gladius prepared to tank the assault. Kaku's slashes struck the darkened surface, leaving only superficial white scratches—completely failing to penetrate the giant's enhanced defenses.
Undeterred, Kaku transformed his entire body into a spinning black projectile, his own Armament Haki coating creating a contest of superior hardening techniques. The collision generated violent sparks as the giraffe-man's superior close-combat skills gradually gained advantage, his high-speed rotation cutting through the giant's facial armor. Within moments, he'd severed the titan's nose entirely, and given sufficient time, could potentially remove half the massive head.
Gladius slowly raised both enormous arms, his Haki-coated palms seeking to crush the persistent insect buzzing around his face. The CP0 agent's continuous spinning attacks were becoming genuinely irritating.
Recognizing the danger, Kaku ceased his rotation and Moonwalked to safety. The giant's defensive movements were laughably slow—even without Observation Haki, basic eyesight sufficed for evasion.
"So what if you transform into a giant?" the giraffe-man taunted with obvious disdain. "You're still nothing but a massive sitting duck!"
"Joki Bakuhatsu" (Steam Explosion)!
Massive quantities of superheated steam began emanating from the titan's body. Kaku, still positioned relatively close to his opponent, found himself surrounded by seemingly harmless vapor. Under the influence of Gladius's "Pamu Pamu no Mi" (Pop-Pop Fruit), the previously benign steam began expanding around the CP0 agent at a visible rate.
"This is bad—" Kaku's Observation Haki detected imminent danger, but his warning came too late.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Countless explosions engulfed the giraffe-man in overwhelming fire and concussive force. Each detonation possessed building-leveling power, sending black mushroom clouds billowing skyward. The aerial barrage continued relentlessly near the super giant, hundreds of explosions creating an inferno that showed no signs of ending.
Through the thick black smoke, Kaku's form slowly plummeted earthward. His pristine white suit had been reduced to charred tatters, blood trickling from his mouth as consciousness fled his battered form. Despite coating his entire body in Armament Haki before the attack, the explosive power had proven overwhelming. The Pop-Pop Fruit's destructive potential exceeded Marine ordnance by several orders of magnitude.
Gone were the days when explosions served as mere inconveniences in battle. Even Yonko Big Mom had suffered genuine damage from explosive attacks. The era of characters like Pell surviving "nuclear-level" bombs through plot armor had ended permanently.
Like Machvise, Gladius had achieved Devil Fruit Awakening. This enhanced state allowed him to imbue any matter within dozens of meters with explosive properties without direct contact—a devastating ability that even Armament Haki couldn't fully neutralize.
Kaku had charged in with supreme confidence... and been defeated instantly.
The shocking reversal left Sky Screen viewers stunned. Elite CP0 agents, supposedly among the World Government's most powerful operatives, had just suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of Donquixote Family executives. The implications for global power balance were staggering.
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