Chapter 371: Awakening of the Power of Law
Because of the angle, some people had already seen Uchiha Dali's clone gradually taking shape, while others still couldn't see him at all.
Just hearing the gasps of astonishment from all around was enough to make everyone's hearts sink to the bottom.
Sakazuki, with a cigar clamped between his teeth, looked grimmer than ever.
He hadn't expected his continuous barrage of attacks to have absolutely no effect.
By now, even those who couldn't yet see Uchiha Dali's clone understood that he was indeed still alive—shock was written all over their faces.
Because Uchiha Dali's clone spoke.
"Time's up."
That mocking, emotionless voice was like a death sentence pronounced by the King of Hell himself.
It echoed in everyone's minds without warning, sending a chill through every body present.
Sakazuki clenched his fists tight, his stance tense as if facing his greatest enemy.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept across the sky, blowing away the remaining ashes and debris.
The entire world could finally see clearly.
Uchiha Dali's clone was completely unscathed.
Even after taking the full force of one of the Marine Headquarters' highest combat powers—Admiral Sakazuki—and enduring several rounds of devastating attacks, this mysterious man had survived without a scratch.
Terror.
Awe.
Profound confusion.
Countless emotions surged through every heart.
Who exactly was this mysterious man?
Why was he so powerful?
And what was his true purpose?
One question after another rose in everyone's minds.
"Oh my, how scary…"
Borsalino's usual nonchalance and teasing tone were gone. This time, his trademark phrase came out with genuine astonishment.
Kuzan's eyes burned with focus as he stared unwaveringly at the figure in the air.
He knew what would come next—this was when the enemy would strike back, and the Marines would be the ones to suffer.
Sengoku, harboring no illusions of luck, snapped back to his senses and immediately barked through the Den Den Mushi:
"Stop standing around! Everyone, battle stations—now! Stay sharp!"
"Don't let Luffy rescue Ace! Block him! The rest of you, counterattack with everything you've got!"
He hadn't specified whether that "counterattack" was aimed at the Whitebeard Pirates or at Uchiha Dali's clone.
But the moment the order was given, almost every Marine instinctively knew whom Sengoku meant—their blades were pointed at Uchiha Dali's clone.
Sakazuki led the charge. He crushed his cigar between his fingers, breaking it clean in half, and then suddenly launched another attack.
"Today, it's either you or me!"
As he shouted, he soared into the air, driving a punch straight toward his target.
"Hellhound!"
Sakazuki shot up like a meteor, moving at a terrifying speed.
In an instant, he was right in front of Uchiha Dali's clone, throwing a fierce punch at the man's head.
This was the full power of the most destructive Logia-type Devil Fruit.
That single blow carried fifty years of refined strength.
The molten magma was hot enough to burn through and melt the very earth itself.
To be struck directly would mean certain death.
Even brushing against that intense heat could be fatal.
But Sakazuki didn't realize that the stronger and fiercer his attacks became, the greater the stimulation they brought to Uchiha Dali's clone's entire being.
At the same time, the clone's unparalleled comprehension allowed him to grow at an astonishing rate.
Just then, as Sakazuki launched another all-out attack, a system prompt rang in Uchiha Dali's clone's mind.
[Ding! You have repeatedly witnessed and endured damage from the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit. Your body has achieved complete immunity to that damage type. You have comprehended the ultimate power of the Logia-type: Fire Variant Control · Perfect!]
[Fire Variant Control · Perfect: By personally studying the nature and principles of the Magma-Magma Fruit's power, you have awakened a new, higher-tier ability. This ability allows you to control all forces related to fire or heat, including but not limited to flames, magma, extreme heat, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion.]
[When wielding the power of Fire Variant Control · Perfect, you gain absolute dominance and mastery over all similar abilities! Your power surpasses anyone using the same type of energy, granting you absolute priority in offense and total immunity to damage of that type!]
…
Uchiha Dali's clone hadn't expected Sakazuki to offer him any inspiration for enlightenment.
But to his surprise, Sakazuki's desperate, full-powered assault had granted him an utterly incredible ability.
This was no longer just a divine technique.
This was the power of law itself—something that transcended divine arts, a force governing the very rules of existence.
Of course, the Fire Variant Control · Perfect he had just gained was merely one fragment of the countless laws within this vast universe.
But for Uchiha Dali's clone, it was priceless.
He had been nothing more than a copy—a temporary summon that couldn't exist for long in reality, even if he looked identical to the original.
But now, everything had changed.
Through continuous growth and breakthroughs, the borrowed power from another dimension was gradually merging back into his own being.
This was a real transformation—turning that power into a part of himself. In this process, his identity as a "temporary summon" was being erased bit by bit.
It was a sense of fullness, of genuine existence.
For both Uchiha Dali and his clone, such progress was the greatest reward.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Uchiha Dali's first clone became a permanent one—able to exist independently, perhaps even attaining a form of immortality.
He could remain here and rule this planet in Uchiha Dali's stead.
And when that happened, Uchiha Dali's true body would finally be free—free to roam the cosmos alongside Ōtsutsuki Kyōshiki, hunting other Ōtsutsuki and pursuing Ōtsutsuki Àoshiki.
"Sakazuki, you've done well."
"So? Want me to give you another five minutes?"
Uchiha Dali's clone smiled playfully as he looked at the charging Sakazuki.
Normally, as a temporary summon, he could only exist for about thirty minutes.
He had already spent roughly twenty minutes standing there, taking attacks.
That meant that in ten minutes, he should have vanished.
However, thanks to his ongoing evolution and breakthroughs, his existence time had already multiplied dozens of times over.
Now, he wanted to use Sakazuki to help him grow even further.
What was that saying again? "Make full use of everything."