Chapter 484 - 323

Chapter 324: Sabo! Dragon Claw Fist Shatters the SkyRewind to a few minutes earlier.The iron sheet, rendered thin and incredibly sharp by the Flutter-Flutter Fruit ability, spun silently as it was flicked by Diamante, aiming straight for Rebecca's unprotected back.The edge of the sheet gleamed with the cold light of poison, and a cruel, triumphant smile spread across Diamante's face.Rebecca's entire attention was captivated by the shocking scene ahead: Zoro trapped in a desperate situation, then erupting with crimson-gold Haoshoku to break through. Combined with the deafening roar of the crowd around her, she completely failed to sense the lethal threat from behind.The iron sheet was less than half a meter from her back!At this critical moment—"Swoosh!"A figure enveloped in warmth appeared abruptly behind Rebecca as if teleporting, shielding her small frame completely.He wore a black trench coat and a gentleman's top hat, with a distinct scar near his right eye. Yet, his face bore a reassuring, bright smile tinged with a hint of roguishness.The Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, the "Flame Emperor" Sabo!His right palm was coated with a layer of Armament Haki so dense it seemed tangible. At this moment, that hand was firmly slapping against the ambushing iron sheet!"Dragon Claw Fist."Sabo's movements flowed seamlessly. While shattering the iron sheet, his left hand had already gently but firmly grasped Rebecca's shoulder, pulling her backward out of the danger zone."Are you alright, Your Highness?"Sabo turned his head, offering a comforting smile to the still-dazed Rebecca.Rebecca, her heart still pounding, looked at the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar handsome young man before her, then at the few charred pieces of iron debris on the ground, instantly understanding what had happened.Her face paled slightly, but she immediately steadied herself and nodded gratefully:"Th-thank you!"Sabo smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.His gaze was already locked onto the ornate treasure chest falling through the air and the two white-clad figures charging towards it... CP0's Kaku and Stussy!"Sorry, this path is closed."Sabo murmured softly, then stomped down hard with his foot!"Dragon Claw Fist!"A burst of air exploded beneath his feet as his figure instantly transformed into a streak of light. His speed was so immense that, starting later, he arrived first, intercepting the chest's falling trajectory ahead of Kaku and Stussy!As he passed the fully charging Kaku, Sabo even had the leisure to chuckle lightly. His right hand, coated in Armament Haki, curled its fingers into the shape of a Dragon's Claw and made a grasping motion in Kaku's direction!"Dragon's Claw!"A condensed shockwave with penetrating force blasted through the air towards Kaku!Kaku's expression changed slightly beneath his mask. He hadn't anticipated his opponent to be this fast or his attack this fierce.He immediately changed stance, crossing his arms covered in Armament Haki to block.Boom!Air exploded, slightly hindering Kaku's forward momentum and causing his figure to pause.Meanwhile, Sabo, using the recoil, increased his speed again, arriving first beneath the chest!"Little handsome, don't be in such a hurry~ You might get hurt~"A soft, charming voice laced with murderous chill sounded beside him.Stussy had somehow closed in like a ghost. The fingernails on her fingertips, painted with vibrant polish, now gleamed with a metallic cold light and were coated in a layer of black Armament Haki!Her five fingers hooked like claws, tearing through the air with a sharp shriek, silently aiming for the major artery in Sabo's neck!This move was vicious, tricky, and incredibly fast—a killing technique combining "Life Return" and the Six Powers' Finger Pistol!Sabo, however, seemed to have anticipated it. Without even turning his head, he swung his left hand backward!"Dragon's Breath!"Boom—!!A massive surge of shockwaves erupted from the palm of his left hand, blasting directly towards Stussy's face!Stussy's pupils contracted. A direct hit from this, even with Armament Haki protection, would not be pleasant.Her lithe figure twisted impossibly in mid-air like a fish, narrowly dodging the attack, though the surging air waves still caused the ends of her hair to curl slightly.Seizing this opening, Sabo had already caught the falling chest securely and landed lightly on the ground.Instantly, all eyes in the arena focused on him once more!Kaku and Stussy landed a few meters away from Sabo, left and right, subtly surrounding him, their eyes behind their masks filled with extreme vigilance.Sabo, however, seemed utterly indifferent to their encirclement. He hefted the chest in his hand, then flashed a brilliantly bright smile at Stussy and Kaku."Thanks for the escort, you two."He teased, then, as their expressions changed drastically, gripped the edges of the chest with both hands and applied a slight force—Crack!His fingers, covered in Armament Haki, easily twisted off the chains securing the chest!The chest opened.A fruit lay quietly on a velvet cushion. It was entirely white, its surface covered in spiral, raised patterns. It seemed as if countless fine vibrations were constantly transmitting from within.Even from a distance, people could vaguely sense the unnatural distortion and hum in the air surrounding the fruit.The Tremor-Tremor Fruit! The legacy of Whitebeard's world-destroying power!Without any hesitation, under the furious gazes of Kaku and Stussy, and watched by the 100,000 spectators in the arena and countless representatives of various forces viewing through den den mushis, Sabo reached out and picked up the fruit.He looked down at it, his brow seeming to furrow slightly at the legendary taste, but it quickly relaxed.Then, before the entire world—He opened his mouth and took a bite."Mmph!"His face instantly contorted for a moment, displaying an indescribable expression of disgust.Silence.The colosseum fell into an unprecedented dead silence.Everyone—pirates, spectators, nobles, and hidden forces alike—stared dumbfounded at the young man who had swallowed the fruit.He... ate it?The Revolutionary Army's Sabo, ate the Tremor-Tremor Fruit?!Immediately afterward, an uproar and exclamations powerful enough to ignite the entire arena erupted!"He ate it!! Sabo ate the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!!""The Revolutionary Army has obtained Whitebeard's power?!""The world is about to change!!""CP0! The Marines! Stop him!!"In the VIP seats, the wine glass in Diamante's hand fell to the floor with a "crack," shattering to pieces.His face turned deathly pale as he muttered:"It's over..."Kaku and Stussy tensed their entire bodies, entering their highest state of alert.One of their greatest fears had come true!The Tremor-Tremor Fruit had fallen into the hands of the World Government's greatest enemy... the Revolutionary Army! And it was personally consumed by their second-in-command, Sabo!Sabo stood still, his eyes slightly closed, as if sensing the new power surging within him.A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.In that instant, Kaku and Stussy, who were closest to him, seemed to see a faint, vibrating ripple flash deep within Sabo's pupils.The aura around him became more restrained and profound, yet an intangible "presence" capable of shaking space itself quietly began to emanate.He clenched his fist, his knuckles emitting a faint "crack" sound reminiscent of shattering space."I see... So this is the feeling of 'vibration'?"Sabo murmured softly, a confident curve lifting the corner of his mouth."What a... heavy and powerful gift, old man Whitebeard."He raised his head, his gaze first falling on Rebecca, who was still somewhat nervous but whose eyes were filled with gratitude and curiosity. A gentle smile appeared on Sabo's face."Princess Rebecca,"his voice came clearly,"Luffy asked me to tell you that the promise he made to you, he will definitely keep! Whether it's the darkness of this country or your father's freedom! Until then, please protect yourself well and wait for the dawn to come!"Luffy... sir?A blush instantly spread across Rebecca's cheeks.She remembered the straw hat-wearing young man from the daytime, his smile as bright as the sun, the sincerity in his eyes when he invited her onto his ship... her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast."Luffy-sir... he still remembers..."Rebecca lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's, yet a warm current and unprecedented courage surged within her heart.Sabo then looked towards Bartolomeo, who was trembling with excitement on the verge of ascending to heaven on the spot.He remembered this green-mohawked youth, Luffy's little fanboy, the user of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit."Green-haired guy,"Sabo said with a laugh,"You must be Luffy's comrade, right? Could you please protect Princess Rebecca for a while? The scene that follows might get a bit... noisy."Hearing this, Bartolomeo was stunned for a moment before being overwhelmed by a tsunami of immense happiness and a sense of mission!'Senior Luffy's brother... Senior Sabo! Is entrusting me! To protect the princess Senior Luffy invited onto his ship!'"L-leave it to me! Senior Sabo!!"Bartolomeo puffed out his chest, pounding it so hard it thumped loudly, tears and snot almost spraying out together.I, Bartolomeo, swear upon my faith in Senior Luffy! Even if I have to stake my life, I will never let Princess Rebecca suffer the slightest harm!! I swear upon the dignity of the president of the Barto Club!!His exaggerated reaction caused even Sabo to pause for a moment before he chuckled."Then I'll leave it to you."Having settled his worries, Sabo turned his gaze back towards the two CP0 agents before him.Kaku slowly drew the twin swords at his waist.Their blades gleamed with a cold light under the firelight. His aura became heavy and profound, completely different from before."Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo."Kaku's voice, filtered through his mask, carried a metallic quality,"Surrender the power of the fruit, or... die here."Surrendering the fruit's power was naturally impossible; this was merely a formal declaration of battle.Stussy also slowly assumed an elegant yet lethally seductive stance. The Armament Haki on her fingertips grew denser, and her aura became elusive and wavering, like a venomous snake poised to strike.The alluring smile on her face had vanished, replaced by icy killing intent and solemnity."The Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, plus the newly acquired Tremor-Tremor Fruit... it seems today's 'merit' will be far greater than anticipated."Her voice remained soft and seductive, yet it chilled to the bone.Sabo looked at the two of them, cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck.The five fingers of his right hand curled once again into the shape of a Dragon's Claw. Pitch-black Armament Haki instantly covered it, the power of internal destruction held in check.Simultaneously, his left hand clenched slightly into a fist. An energy that seemed capable of making the surrounding light tremble faintly began to quietly gather and compress within the palm of his left fist."Perfect."Sabo grinned, a sunny smile that carried undeniable dominance."When you get a new toy, you always have to test it out. I'll use you... to try out 'Old Man Whitebeard's' power."Before his words had fully faded, Kaku moved!He knew he couldn't give Sabo more time to familiarize himself with the fruit's power; he had to end this quickly!"Zoan Type, Ox-Ox Fruit, Model: Giraffe - Awakening - Human-Beast Form!"Kaku's body suddenly swelled and grew taller!His legs became thicker and more powerful, covered in giraffe-like spots and thick hide, and his neck stretched out abruptly.His arms also became longer and more powerful, his hands tightly gripping his twin swords.His entire body assumed a half-beast form, a perfect fusion of strength, resilience, and vitality!The formidable vitality brought by his awakening allowed him to withstand more severe blows, and his recovery far surpassed the norm!"Six Powers Secret Technique: Maximum Wheel - Tempest Kick: Circle Cut - Chaos!!"Kaku's twin swords vibrated and swung at an extremely high frequency!Following the trajectories of the blades, dozens of massive cyan-blue vacuum slashes, like a storm of wind and rain, swept towards Sabo!Each slash was powerful enough to cleave through steel walls, and their range was so vast they nearly sealed off all of Sabo's avenues of evasion!This was Kaku's killing move, combining the enhanced power of his awakening with the peak mastery of the Six Powers!Simultaneously, the giraffe head unique to his Human-Beast Form, coated in top-tier Armament Haki, shot forward like a warhammer right behind the Tempest Kick slashes, aiming to smash into Sabo!A dual assault, as fierce as thunder!Faced with this terrifying offensive capable of shearing off a small hilltop, Sabo neither dodged nor evaded.His gaze was calm. His right Dragon Claw adjusted its angle slightly, while the tremoring energy in his left fist had been compressed to its limit. A white ring of light shimmered faintly around his knuckles, causing the nearby air to hum under the strain.Just as the densest wave of Tempest Kick slashes was about to hit him, and Kaku's headbutt was mere inches away—Sabo moved.His right Dragon Claw shot out like lightning, piercing through the minute, almost non-existent gaps between the Tempest Kick slashes, its five fingers splayed open—Snap!A crisp sound of impact!The Dragon Claw, coated in top-tier Armament Haki, clamped down like iron tongs onto the bridge of Kaku's charging nose!The powerful impact caused the muscles in Sabo's arm to bulge, and the ground beneath his feet cratered violently, yet his stance remained rock-solid, not retreating a single step!A flicker of astonishment crossed Kaku's eyes. He hadn't expected his opponent to block it so directly, let alone with such precise control of strength and Haki, actually seizing the focal point of his strongest charge!And in that instant he was caught, his momentum halted—Sabo's left hand moved.That long-prepared left fist, wreathed in a gray-white ring of tremoring light, punched forward!The motion was simple, even somewhat slow.But the moment the fist shot out, the space centered around the knuckles of Sabo's left fist—Like a mirror struck by a stone!Crack—!!!An unmistakably clear sound of shattering space echoed throughout the entire arena!Countless fine spatial cracks, centered on Sabo's left fist, erupted and spread through the air!It was as if that punch hadn't struck the air, but an invisible glass world!This horrifying sight sent shivers down the spines of all who witnessed it!However, this was only the beginning.Sabo let out a low shout. The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, compressed to its limit within his left fist, perfectly fused with his own top-tier Armament Haki and the unique force-delivery technique of the Dragon Claw Fist, transforming into an indescribable, destructive energy!"Dragon Tremor Fist Secret Technique: Shatter the Void!"Top-tier Armament Haki Internal Destruction, penetrating defenses to strike the interior directly!The Tremor-Tremor Fruit's vibrating force, ignoring external defenses, acted directly on every molecule within the object, causing resonant shattering!The Dragon Claw Fist's penetrating force, creating a channel for energy transmission, concentrating the explosion at a single point!Triple-layered destructive power detonated violently inside Kaku's skull and cervical spine!"Urk... Aaaaagh—!!!"In a thousandth of a second, Kaku's eyes bulged wildly! Crimson blood vessels instantly crawled across his eyeballs, almost popping them from their sockets!His mouth beneath the mask opened, trying to scream, but only managed to emit half a muffled syllable.Immediately after—Thud! Crack! Crack-crack-crack—!!!!A series of spine-chilling, densely packed, indistinguishable cracking sounds erupted like popping beans from within Kaku's head and neck!It was the sound of his skull, cervical vertebrae, nerves, blood vessels... all internal structures being crushed and disintegrated from the most microscopic level by that terrifying vibrating and destructive force!Kaku's massive, vitality-filled awakened Human-Beast Form body suddenly stiffened!The surface of his incredibly hard, armored skull didn't even show a noticeable dent or wound, but inside, it had already turned to mush.The light in his eyes faded like a receding tide, leaving only a dead, hollow emptiness."Thud!"Sabo released his right hand, which had been gripping Kaku's head.Kaku's tall body, like a marionette with its strings cut, flopped limply backward.Boom! Boom! Boom!His body smashed through three thick stone walls of the arena in succession, finally buried deep under countless rubble and debris. Dust billowed into the sky, followed by utter silence.One blow.Just one blow.CP0's senior agent, a Zoan Awakener, a master of the Six Powers and dual-sword style, Kaku—his fate was unknown!The entire arena once again fell into a deathly silence.This silence was deeper, more terrifying than any before.Everyone stared dumbfounded at the young man holding his punching pose, at the sandy ground beneath his feet, which looked as if crushed by an invisible force, covered in a spiderweb-like pattern of radial cracks.The icy killing intent on Stussy's face was completely replaced by unprecedented shock and disbelief.She instinctively took half a step back, her alluring composure utterly gone.King and Katakuri also temporarily halted their standoff with Zoro, looking over in shock.Their eyes were filled with unprecedented gravity and wariness.The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit... combined with Sabo's own formidable strength... was it truly this terrifying?!Zoro, who had just parried Lucci's first furious claw slash, spared a glance in this direction, the corner of his mouth quirking up:"Oh? He ate it. Pretty quick on the uptake."He didn't seem surprised by Sabo's instant defeat of Kaku.Bartolomeo was so excited he was about to faint. If he hadn't remembered his duty to protect Rebecca, he would have already prostrated himself in worship.Rebecca covered her mouth, her eyes wide open, speechless with shock.Sabo slowly retracted his left fist, shaking his wrist slightly as if he had just done something trivial.He looked at Stussy, whose face was ashen and who looked ready for battle, and flashed his trademark smile."Well then..."His right Dragon Claw rose once more. On his left fist, the white ring of tremoring light began to gather again, more condensed and dangerous than before."Who's next?"