The sprout surged skyward with astonishing speed, instantly transforming into a towering manifestation of an Admiral's power — the newly evolved Admiral Aramaki.
"Mori Mori Fruit Art, Forest of Spears, Forest of Spears!!"
Aramaki's eyes gleamed sharply as he waved his hands with ferocity. Massive, dense rows of razor‑sharp bamboo spears erupted from the earth and slashed toward the exact spot where Franky was standing.
If Franky had not relied on his Fruit's extraordinary regenerative ability, that direct strike would have been fatal.
Aramaki now regarded this strangely peculiar and perverted cyborg pirate as a genuine, formidable adversary worth his strength. He even resorted to a surprise assault.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Countless sharp bamboo shoots exploded from the ground, instantly growing into thick, lethal spears that thrust fiercely toward Franky.
"Pfft!"
Although Franky was capable of sensing attacks with Observation Haki, his training still wasn't fully refined. After the intensity of the fight, a moment's relaxation caused him to overlook the movements around him, and he was impaled by the dense bamboo spears before he even realized it.
But this was the true power of the Mori Mori Fruit controlled by Admiral Aramaki. Even those with formidable Observation Haki might not detect such unassuming vegetation. The Mori Mori Fruit had an innate stealthiness that made its growth nearly undetectable.
"Awooo! What a tough guy to kill!"
Franky hung suspended in mid‑air, skewered by the sharp bamboo spears, letting out a shocked and comedic yell.
"That was terrifying! I, the super awesome Franky, almost died!"
Fortunately, Franky habitually shifted his body into his Fruit's liquid form. Although the bamboo spears appeared to pierce his body, he had actually suffered no real damage.
It was also fortunate that the bamboo spears summoned by Aramaki could not be reinforced with Armament Haki, or Franky might have been fatally skewered.
"Hmph… what exactly is your Devil Fruit ability?"
Aramaki sensed that Franky remained uninjured. He slammed his hand into the ground with force, forcing a massive network of vines to erupt from the bamboo forest, all intent on draining Franky's energy.
"Franky, Star Shield!"
The sharp vines assaulted the sturdy shield Franky had formed with his left arm, but they failed to penetrate his defense.
Still, it only delayed the vines momentarily.
"Awooo! These moves are seriously annoying!"
With a weird cry, Franky's body writhed and solidified again, transforming into a giant cannonball — pitch black with eerie crimson lights glowing within.
"Super…!"
The cannonball — still wearing his signature triangular black sunglasses — screamed as it hurtled toward Aramaki's position, evading the descending vines with a whistling sound.
Weapon Pervert Black Phosphorus Explosion!
Whoosh!!!
With a shrill roar, the cannonball plunged toward Aramaki's area.
"Kid! I won't be careless again!"
Admiral Aramaki's eyes hardened. The writhing vines suddenly lashed out and wrapped tightly around the incoming cannonball.
Drip, drip, drip…
The moment the vines ensnared and touched the cannonball, a sharp warning sound emitted, followed by a thunderous explosion.
Boom!!!!
A massive blaze engulfed the area, incinerating the vines instantly with overwhelming heat.
Clatter…
The remnants of the exploded cannonball writhed briefly before gathering in mid‑air, reconstructing themselves into Franky's bizarre, celebratory form once again.
Pfft!
But just as his body fully reformed, a lone vine appeared from nowhere and accurately pierced Franky's abdomen, striking the cola energy zone.
"Oh no…"
Franky's eyes widened as he stared dumbfounded at the vine — its surface glittering with strange scale‑like light — protruding from his body.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
The vine writhed violently, swollen as it rapidly siphoned Franky's energy.
In just an instant, Franky's tall, sturdy frame shriveled as all his moisture and energy were absorbed.
"Ugh…"
His body, sucked dry of any fluid, collapsed to the ground like a desiccated husk, trembling weakly as he groaned.
"Phew… finally got him…"
Aramaki withdrew the vine that had formed from his finger. He felt a surge of replenishment from absorbing Franky's energy. With a smug gait, he approached the weakened, dehydrated Franky, stepped on his stomach, and sneered down at him.
"Wondering why a vine suddenly sprouted from your body? Idiot, plants release seeds during growth. The moment you used your Devil Fruit regeneration and let your guard down was when I struck.
"I had the vines scatter seeds as they swung around you. Most were destroyed in the explosion, but one clung to you."
Aramaki pressed down hard on Franky's abdomen, grinning cruelly.
"Then, when you weren't paying attention while focused on me, I accelerated the growth of that surviving seed!"
"Ugh… ugh… ugh…"
Franky trembled weakly, moaning in pain.
"Alright, pirate. Die with reverence and fear for nature!"
Aramaki sneered as he prepared to execute Franky on the spot. If this pirate hadn't shown such remarkable strength, Aramaki would have dragged him back to Marineford as evidence of his achievement.
But seeing this pirate — who had burst from nowhere — overcome him in direct confrontation was a disgrace. An insult.
If Fujitora and Kizaru saw this, they would mock him mercilessly.
"How dare you make me, an Admiral, look so foolish!"
Aramaki's heart burned with resentment, and he refused to bring this pirate back alive.
Whoosh!
The pointed vine that extended from Aramaki's finger aimed for the fallen Franky's head as he sneered:
"Don't blame me; blame your own stupidity! In your next life, don't dare defy the World Government again!"
Crack!!!!!!!!
Suddenly, in the distance, a world‑shaking eruption of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward across the island.
Boom!!!!
The overwhelming roar of Conqueror's Haki radiated with terrifying power, black lightning crackling through the air.
"Whose Conqueror's Haki is that?!"
Aramaki's extended vine froze midair, trembling uncontrollably.
He was utterly shaken.
He had faced Kaido, Big Mom, and several clashes with Red‑Haired before, and he had even felt Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki — but none had compared to this.
This Conqueror's Haki was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
And what terrified him most was its precision — not a single fragment leaked or faltered.
Aside from Aramaki himself, no one else on this island had resisted or even sensed this Haki.
What kind of person could wield Conqueror's Haki with such control?
"Hey, Aramaki…"
Amidst the terrifying aura of Conqueror's Haki, a man's calm, smiling voice echoed:
"What are you trying to do to my comrade?"
T‑terrifying presence!!!!
Aramaki trembled. He forced himself to raise his head and looked toward the source of that overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.
His voice trembled as he bellowed:
"Who are you?! WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU!! To possess such Conqueror's Haki!! Damn it!!!"
Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Also,
If you want to read more, there are up to 100 chapters available on patreon.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph