As the 'Rooster' in the sky shattered into fragments of light and disappeared, the blinding radiance that had lit up the nearby sea suddenly disappeared.
Akainu: "..."
He stood motionless, his expression darkening as he realized what had happened. After sustaining a rare injury, he had made a mistake that had not been seen for a long time.
From the moment he first saw the 'Rooster,' its dazzling light had made a lasting impression on him. Until just moments ago, the celestial radiance emanating from the Youji above had convinced Akainu that this was its true form.
But the truth was clearly otherwise.
A light clone had used the brief opening after the last attack.
As Kizaru's former classmate, Akainu naturally knew about his Devil Fruit ability; the light clones he created were virtually indistinguishable from his true form.
He never expected that the Mythological Beast Devil Fruit would grant Youji similar abilities.
Taking advantage of the blinding flash from their earlier clash, Youji had created a light clone to replace his true body.
And now...
"There!"
Akainu's Observation Haki erupted, instantly pinpointing the distant figure. The colossal Winged Dragon was currently soaring skyward from Third Island! The radiant light and crimson mist that had enveloped him had dissipated, leaving his aura slightly weakened.
Behind him, Alan, who was also wearing a mask, stood beside the iron chest containing the Celestial Dragons.
"That's his accomplice from Information," Akainu realized immediately. "His true goal from the start was to lure me further away."
And that was precisely the truth.
"Playing for your life against Akainu at Sabaody Archipelago, knowing full well that the other Admirals were on their way? Only a fool would do that."
This was the thought that crossed Youji's mind as he soared through the sky. He knew that in his Winged Dragon Divine Form, he was formidable indeed.
But to claim that he could defeat Akainu in just three moves? That was utterly impossible, no matter how he looked at it. Admirals represented the Marine's strongest combat force and stood at the pinnacle of power on the Sea.
During the initial Marineford War, Akainu withstood two furious attacks from an enraged Whitebeard and emerged unscathed.
For context, those two attacks had almost destroyed the entire Marineford fortress.
This demonstrated the admiral's extraordinary physique and vitality; even without his Devil Fruit abilities, he was a monster among monsters.
Therefore, from the outset, Youji's plan was remarkably simple.
This was never a life-or-death battle, but rather a strategic retreat.
"With this much distance between us, Akainu's not the type to pursue aggressively. I have more than enough room to withdraw."
This was Youji's plan.
But at that very moment...
"Hmm?"
He caught sight of Akainu's movements on the sea behind him out of the corner of his eye.
"So, you think you can escape using such a method?" The Marine Admiral clenched his fist, his body trembling slightly as a primal power began to surge within him.
Whoosh!
Beneath the sea, something seemed to be rising.
"That's..."
Youji's pupils constricted. "So his Devil Fruit has truly Awakened."
His heart grew heavy. The gale generated by his wings intensified as he braced himself for Akainu's next strike.
But at that very moment...
"Lord Youji, please keep moving forward!"
...he heard Alan's urgent whisper from behind.
Simultaneously...
"Hmm!?"
Akainu, who was positioned on the sea surface, also noticed several figures leaping towards him on Islands 14 and 12, the two islands closest to him.
Each figure wore a distinct mask and different attire, and even their heights seemed artificially altered.
The one thing they all had in common was the iron chest strapped to their bodies.
"The Twelve Zodiac still have members on this island?!" Akainu instantly recognized them.
"Weaklings. They're not the highest-ranking Officers of the Twelve Zodiac."
His Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) could sense their weakness; they were so weak that they posed no threat to him, even if he stood completely defenseless. They certainly wouldn't be able to interrupt his imminent, fully charged attack.
But the next moment...
"Hmm!?"
The figures simultaneously opened the iron chests in their hands.
Of course, there wasn't a second Celestial Dragon inside.
Instead, the chests contained bombs!
The countdown timers on the bombs made it clear that they had already been activated and were about to detonate!
BOOM!
The explosion erupted.
Akainu's expression finally changed.
Admittedly, explosions posed little threat to him as a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
But let's not forget... He was standing on the sea.
While the explosion posed no direct danger to him, it was a different story for the 'floating islands' of cooled magma beneath his feet.
No matter how powerful Akainu was, once those islands were destroyed, he was still a Devil Fruit user!
"These bastards..." Akainu gritted his teeth.
"What kind of resolve is this?" They weren't even trying to survive; they had come looking for death.
And that was precisely what infuriated him most.
"With such unwavering resolve, why won't they walk the righteous path?"
"They're so weak, yet they insist on defying 'justice.'"
Just like those who clamor about freedom and dreams, setting sail as pirates.
In Akainu's eyes, it was precisely these people who...
"...have plunged this era into such turmoil!" he snarled.
Magma erupted violently, forming a barrier against the explosions. The brave figures leaping towards him were reduced to fleeting fireworks against the night sky.
But those fleeting fireworks were not without purpose.
In that split second, Akainu's impending Devil Fruit Awakening attack was disrupted.
Given Youji's speed, even this brief gap was enough time for him to cover a considerable distance.
Clack! Clack!
Akainu ground his teeth together furiously.
Meanwhile...
Pfft!
Alan spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed weakly against Youji's back.
Huff, huff.
The cumulative feedback from the instantaneous destruction of all his light clones surged through him, and it left an agony beyond imagination that would have knocked even the hardiest warriors unconscious instantly.
But...
"Lord Youji..."
Against all odds, Alan remained conscious.
He even grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. "Even the weakest among us can still accomplish something."
He had done what he needed to do.
'...'
Watching this scene unfold before his eyes, Youji fell silent.
He hadn't known when Alan had planted the bombs in the crates. According to the original plan, his clones were only supposed to cause chaos if necessary.
"What a reckless fool," Youji thought, shaking his head as he looked at the dying Alan.
"But you were wrong about one thing."
"W-what...?" Alan seemed confused.
"You're not weak."
Then he heard Youji's voice, tinged with amusement: "On the contrary, you're far stronger than I ever anticipated, you little trainee."
"Heh heh. But if that's the case, your powers will be gone. Are you okay with that?"
"It doesn't matter," Alan grinned. "Lord Youji, you yourself said that powers are just one aspect of strength. Even without them, I'll keep growing stronger by following you."
With these words exchanged, everything seemed settled.
But...
Reality rarely bends to human will.
At that moment, the sea before Youji began to churn violently.
Hōng lóng!
Massive, surging waves erupted instantly. The terrifying waves rose to form a colossal 'seawater cage', trapping Youji inside.
From within the sea:
Woooo~
A haunting cry reverberated across the entire sea.
Beneath the waves, an impossibly huge creature slowly revealed itself.
It was an incredibly strange creature.
The towering waves and tsunami were merely the aftereffects of its colossal body passing through the sea. Its size defied comprehension, but it was undoubtedly at least a kilometer long, rivalling the scale of a 'Deep Sea King-class' entity.
However, at that moment, Youji could tell that the creature was not a Deep Sea King-class monster.
He could see flames erupting from its mouth and smoke billowing from its nostrils. Its serpentine body ended in a dragon-like head.
It was the Leviathan, a legendary sea monster.
It shouldn't exist in the real world.
A split second later, Youji heard a voice from above.
"Nightmare Cave · Nightmare Creature (MMA) · Leviathan!"
A figure appeared alongside the voice:
A tall, slender creature with goat-like antlers and a scaly hide.
It was a Qilin.
But white flames wreathed its body and coiled around its feet. It wore an ornate military uniform and a resin bubble identical to those worn by Celestial Dragons. A breathing mask covered its mouth and nose, and it clutched a trident in its hand.
Without a doubt, it was a Devil Fruit User.
Youji naturally knew who he was.
Devil Fruit User detected: Saint Rimoshifu Killingham.
Devil Fruit confirmed: Zoan Mythological Beast – Dragon-Dragon Devil Fruit, Qilin Form. Analyzing and storing in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
Devil Fruit ability: Manipulates the dream realm, transforming dreams into reality.
Effects at each level:
LV3: Full Devil Fruit abilities are gained. They can hypnotize others into the Dream Realm, achieve the Zoan Fruit's three-stage transformation, and manifest the 'Dream-to-Reality' power by drawing objects from the Dream Realm into the real world. They can also create 'Dream Realm Products,' such as weapons, food, plants, and fruits. However, while the food satisfies hunger, it lacks calories. Unlocking this level requires 2,000,000,000,000 Beli.
LV4: Deep Development of the Devil Fruit: Can create and guide real dream creatures (MMA) from dreams. These creatures possess intelligence and physical form, but their creation consumes the dreamer's life force and energy. Requires 4.5 billion Beli to unlock.
Dream creatures and Dream Realm Products are not truly real, so the concepts of death and destruction do not apply to them. Even if "killed," they can be reborn whenever the Devil Fruit User activates their ability. However, their strength varies depending on the dreamer and they vanish upon awakening.
LV5: Devil Fruit Awakening - Dream Lord: Grants a unique Zoan Fruit Awakening transformation, enveloping the user in fiery clouds and drastically increasing all attributes. By touching a living being, the user can induce a "lucid dream" state, allowing them to summon Dream Realm items and creatures from their thoughts even without entering the Dream Realm. This effect also applies to the Devil Fruit User themselves. Dream Realm constructs created through "lucid dream" do not vanish upon awakening; instead, they persist until their energy is exhausted and they naturally dissipate. Requires 15 trillion Beli to unlock.
Analysis Progress: 0%
Member of God's Knights, Mythological Beast-Type Devil Fruit User… Saint Rimoshifu Killingham
"Ha, I only slept for thirty-odd hours. To wake up to such absurd nonsense..." Saint Rimoshifu yawned, muttering these words.
"Even the Marine Admirals... truly useless fools."
He glanced down at Youji and Alan below, then at the iron box, which was beginning to seep blood.
"To dare do this to my son, and even kill my attendant..."
Though his eyes seemed drowsy, they flickered with distinct coldness.
"What a nuisance. Since that's the case, the young one over there can go back and become one of my 'Dream Slaves,' and you..."
He turned his gaze to Youji. "You seem like a decent 'transportation device. You'd be perfect to replace that attendant."
As his words trailed off...
Youji's eyes narrowed.
The truth was now glaringly obvious.
The Saint Rimoshifu standing before them was the 'father' that Saint Ambokam had spoken of and the God's Knight that Enel served.
Naturally, Enel himself remained blissfully unaware.
He believed he was on the path to godhood and was destined to become one of the Celestial Dragons. But, judging by Qilinholm's words, the man viewed him merely as a servant and a convenient means of transportation.
"Lord Youji," Alan croaked from behind him. "Forget about me. Take the iron box and run!"
Alan didn't know who Saint Rimoshifu was.
But he could see the terrifying behemoth looming below, and judging by Youji's movements, he could tell that the newly arrived figure above was also a formidable opponent.
He knew that, in their current besieged state and having already endured two consecutive battles, Youji would have no chance of escaping if he continued to protect him.
"Leave me behind, Lord Youji," Alan urged.
Instead, however, he heard Youji chuckle.
"You little rascal..."
Strangely, there was no trace of tension in Youji's voice; on the contrary, he sounded remarkably relaxed.
"It's all right," he declared. "We're safe now."
"Safe?" Saint Rimoshifu scoffed. "You presumptuous insect! Have you been frightened into babbling nonsense?"
As he spoke, the colossal leviathan beneath them opened its blood-drenched jaws, ready to strike.
But at that very moment...
Buzz!
A tremendous presence descended.
Hmm!?
Both Akainu, who had already returned to his battleship on Sabaody Archipelago and was preparing to pursue them, and Saint Rimoshifu exclaimed in surprise.
The Leviathan's attack froze mid-strike.
Even the birds in the sky plummeted to the ground.
The trees on the Sabaody Archipelago swayed violently, and the clouds in the sky dispersed suddenly. The next instant, Akainu on the battleship saw a Space Gate materialise out of thin air behind Youji.
Youji and Alan vanished into it.
"Zishu?"
Akainu immediately made this deduction. The Marine was familiar with Zishu's elusive spatial abilities.
But moments later, Akainu froze in shock.
Despite the great distance, he could already see a figure emerging from the Space Gate.
The mask on its head was not the rat-headed one associated with Zishu.
Instead, it wore a Sea Beast-headed mask that had never appeared in Marine intelligence reports.
The Sea Beast mask appeared to be in constant motion, as if flowing.
Etched upon its surface was a boundless expanse of stars.
(End Of This Chapter)
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