Chapter 489 - 328

Chapter 329: Thunder and Fire Shake the Golden Vulture"You are not just a slightly stronger insect.""You are a... cockroach that needs to be seriously crushed to death."The moment the last word fell, Falcon's figure suddenly vanished!The shadow of the clock tower seemed to distort for a moment; in the next, Falcon had already appeared to Sanji's left!The distance between the two seemed non-existent!His right hand's five fingers were pressed together, fingertips covered in pitch-black Armament Hakicondensed to the extreme; the moment his arm thrust out, it even brought about a sharp, piercing hiss!"Finger Pistol: Feather Piercing!"Five fingers like spears, stabbing straight at Sanji's temple!Simple, direct, fatal!In Sanji's pupils, the rapidly enlarging fingertips were reflected.His Observation Haki was already fully deployed; though the opponent's speed was fast, the trajectory was not impossible to capture.At the moment the Finger Pistol was about to hit his body, his upper body bent to the right at an inconceivable angle that no human should be capable of!Swoosh!The Finger Pistol grazed past his ear, the sharp wind stinging his cheek and cutting a few strands of hair.At the same time, Sanji's left foot, supporting him on the railing, suddenly exerted force. His body rotated using the momentum of that bend, and his right leg, like a cannonball fired from a barrel, carried a sudden burst of azure lightning as it kicked hard toward Falcon's exposed right ribs!"Collier: Flash Bolt!"Fast! Ruthless! Tricky!A golden light flashed in Falcon's eyes. His thrust-out right wrist bent back in an incredible way, and his elbow dropped like a hammer to meet Sanji's kick!Bang!Another muffled thud.Elbow and leg collided, lightning exploding.Both jumped back simultaneously using the recoil, landing on opposite ends of the clock tower.Falcon shook his slightly numb right elbow, watching the lightning and firelight flare up again where Sanji landed. In his golden vertical pupils, that sense of surprise finally settled, replaced by scrutiny and re-evaluation.'This speed... as expected, it's not ordinary Shave or Moonwalk. Is it lightning stimulating cells? And those flames... dual elements?''His Observation Haki is also quite excellent, able to predict the trajectory of my "Falcon Swoop".'His previous assessment of "Vice Admiral level" was completely overturned.The blond cook before him had demonstrated a level of strength that had entered the realm of "needing to be taken seriously.""Interesting."Falcon spoke slowly, his voice still icy, but with a trace of hard-to-detect interest."It seems the Straw Hat crew's bounties indeed failed to fully reflect your level of danger. Especially you, Cook. Your ability... is very peculiar."Sanji stood straight again, brushing off non-existent dust from his pant leg."Peculiar?"He sneered, a cigarette in his mouth."You CP0's hobby of hiding and peeping on others is what's truly peculiar!""If you want to fight, then fight. Enough with the nonsense.""As you wish."Falcon said no more.His figure was like a ghost, pulling out several afterimages that were hard to distinguish from the real thing within the limited space atop the clock tower!Every afterimage carried a sharp killing intent, launching attacks from different angles!"Tempest Kick: Chaotic Blades!"Several blue-green vacuum slashes, like an interlaced net, blocked Sanji's evasion space from all sides!At the same time, Falcon's true body was hidden among the afterimages, like a lurking venomous snake, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.He had mastered the Rokushiki to perfection, and combined with his post-awakening superhuman physical attributes, his speed, power, and technique merged into one. His offensive was like a violent storm, seeking to crush his opponent with absolute superiority!He wanted to use pure Taijutsu and Haki to make this cockroach, who dared to offend the "Divine Majesty," realize the chasm-like gap in despair!Facing this suffocating offensive, Sanji's gaze grew even calmer.The awakening of the bloodline factor brought not only an overall improvement in physical attributes but also a qualitative change in neural reactions.What the Rumble-Rumble Fruit bestowed was far more than just the ability to attack with lightning; it also provided near-precognitive neural conduction speed and a keen perception of electromagnetic waves.His Observation Haki spread out like an invisible spiderweb, capturing every change in the airflow and every direction of killing intent.At the moment the several Tempest Kick slashes were about to close in, Sanji's figure suddenly blurred!"Thunderclap: Shunpo!"Fine blue electric arcs exploded under his feet, and his body moved like instant teleportation, passing through a fleeting gap in the net of Tempest Kicks!The slashes grazed the corner of his clothes, pulverizing a section of the railing behind him.And almost at the same time he escaped the encirclement, Falcon's true body also moved!He burst forth from an afterimage, his right leg covered in Armament Haki like a battle-axe, sweeping toward Sanji's waist with a scream that tore through the air!"Iron Body!"Sanji seemed to have no way to dodge!His waist muscles instantly tightened and hardened, covered in condensed Armament Haki, while his body turned slightly to take the heavy blow head-on!Bang!Sanji was kicked flying sideways, crashing into the bronze bell in the center of the clock tower with a loud "Dong," causing the bell to shake violently.He felt a sweetness in his throat, but he forced himself to swallow the rising blood.And Falcon wasn't feeling well either.When his right leg hit Sanji, two extremely destructive energies instantly transmitted up along his leg bone!If he hadn't thickened the Armament Haki defense on his legs in time, and if his awakened physique wasn't extremely resistant, he might have suffered a small loss from that blow!'This is... internal destruction with Armament Haki? And that strange elemental penetration!'Falcon's heart shook again.Before he could think further, Sanji's counterattack arrived!Using the reaction force from hitting the bronze bell, Sanji's legs kicked off hard against the bell's wall!"Diable Jambe: Frit Assorti!"His legs turned into a dazzling array of afterimages in the air, each one entwined with azure lightning and dark red fire, pouring down toward Falcon like a rainstorm!The attacks covered all vital points, and the speed was so fast that only a blur of blazing light could be seen!Falcon's eyes narrowed, not daring to be the least bit negligent.His arms instantly became a defensive curtain, combining "Iron Body" and "Armament Haki," along with the exquisite "Paper Drawing" force-deflection technique!Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!... The dense sounds of impact, like drumbeats, rang out frantically atop the clock tower!Every collision burst with dazzling sparks and jumping electric arcs!Falcon was forced back continuously by this fierce barrage of kicks, his feet plowing deep furrows into the stone floor, every step shattering a piece of masonry!Although most of the attacks were defended, the lightning and fire energy that seeped through still caused waves of numbness and burning pain in his arms, making his blood and Qi churn slightly.'To think... I'm being suppressed?! In a pure close-quarters Taijutsu exchange?!'This thought was like an ice pick, piercing into Falcon's habitually arrogant and cold heart. He couldn't accept it! As a Top Commander of CP0, an Ancient Species Awakener, and a master of Rokushiki, he was actually losing in a direct Taijutsu confrontation with a cook?!"Roar—!!!"A low growl mixed with anger and a beastly aura erupted from deep within Falcon's throat!The few golden feathers on his neck suddenly flared up!The aura around his body surged explosively, like a slumbering beast opening its eyes!It couldn't go on like this!This cockroach must be crushed immediately and completely!"Insect... you have successfully provoked me."Falcon's voice became hoarse, with a texture like grinding metal."Let me show you what it means to... touch the power of the 'God's Domain'!"He clenched his fists tightly, and every bone in his body let out a series of tooth-aching cracks!"Zoan Type, Ancient Species, Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Golden Terror Vulture—"Blinding golden light suddenly erupted from his body!"—Hybrid Form: Unleashed!!!"The pure white suit on his body was the first to give way, tearing and vaporizing inch by inch in the golden light!Next, golden scales spread like a tide, covering the main parts of his torso and limbs!His arm bones let out a series of crackling pops, muscles expanded and stretched frantically, skin was torn apart, yet healed instantly in the golden light.In just a single breath, his arms had completely transformed and extended, turning into two massive wings nearly three meters long!Every feather seemed as if crafted from real gold, with sharp edges reflecting a cold and luxurious light under the sun.His feet extended into hooked, sharp golden claws!Most striking was his neck area.A ring of black flame clouds, constantly rotating and rising as if alive, clearly emerged and slowly circled him.This was the hallmark feature of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user entering the realm of Awakening!At this moment, Falcon had a human body with golden wings, his body covered in golden scales, with sharp claws and teeth, and tail feathers for balance.Like a harpy warrior stepping out of myth, he possessed both human intelligence and the extreme power, speed, and ferocity of a bird of prey!Powerful Armament Haki flowed, perfectly adhering to those golden feathers and sharp claws, forming a "Golden Armament" that integrated offense and defense, reaching an astonishing level of hardness and sharpness.The terrifying aura was like a tangible wind pressure, sweeping out in all directions with him as the center!"Can you feel it, insect?"Falcon's voice carried an echo as those golden vertical pupils looked down coldly at Sanji."This is the power worthy of the title 'God's Shield'. Your pathetic struggle just now was nothing more than an ant waving its antennae at a mountain."He slowly raised a golden wing and gave it a gentle flap.Boom—!!!The violent airflow erupted like a hurricane, sweeping away the dust and debris that had accumulated atop the clock tower for countless years!Sanji had to crouch slightly, his feet gripping the ground to resist this wind pressure."Now,"Falcon slightly retracted his golden wings and leaned forward, taking a diving stance."Experience despair."Before his words finished, he gave his wings a sudden flap!Not flying, but like a fired cannonball, at a speed far exceeding his previous "Shave," he turned into a straight golden meteor, shooting toward Sanji!Wings tucked at his sides to reduce resistance, his golden claws covered in "Golden Armament" were in front, aiming right for Sanji's chest!"Golden Dive: Claw Rip!"The speed was too fast! The power too concentrated! The momentum too ferocious!Facing this thunderous strike, there was no fear on Sanji's face. On the contrary, blue electric light and dark red flames seemed to be burning fiercely in his eyes!"Touching the God's Domain?"Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette and then spat out the butt, letting it be scattered by the gale brought by Falcon's charge."Don't make me laugh..."He bent his knees slightly, lowering his center of gravity.The muscles in his legs began to writhe and swell abnormally, and the skin surface took on an abnormal crimson hue, as if magma were flowing beneath.At the same time, fine, violent blue electric arcs erupted from his feet, entwining upward and merging with that crimson color!"bloodline factor: Deep Release!""Rumble-Rumble Fruit: Maximize!""Ifrit Jambe—"He growled lowly, and the pant legs on both his legs turned to ash under the high temperature and current, revealing the demon-like legs below, now completely composed of interwoven crimson and azure energy!The terrifying heat distorted the air, and the high-voltage current let out a sizzling low hum of death."—Full Power!!!"Just as Falcon's golden claws were less than a foot from his chest, Sanji moved!Using his left foot as an axis, he spun violently!His right leg whipped out like a lash, the thunder-fire energy in his leg spinning and condensing frantically, finally turning into a red-and-blue spiral shockwave!"Diable Jambe: Flambage Shot - Thunder-Fire Ascension!!!"A bicycle kick, soaring into the sky!The thunder-fire drill collided head-on with the golden claws!Boom—!!!As if two meteors collided at the top of the clock tower!Golden light and red-blue thunder-fire flames clashed, annihilated, and exploded frantically!A visible spherical shockwave erupted outward, and wherever it passed, the masonry atop the clock tower was ground into powder as if by an invisible giant hand!At the center of the collision, space itself seemed to distort for a moment.Falcon only felt his golden claws hit a wall of destruction composed of lightning and flames!That drill-like spiral force not only possessed terrifying penetration but also carried strong vibration and burning effects!'How is this possible?! His power... can actually withstand the Hybrid Form's Golden Dive head-on?!'The shock in Falcon's heart was beyond measure.The Haki intensity, physical strength, and the destructive power of that strange dual-element fusion in this strike had completely reached the level of a "Calamity" or "Sweet Commander"!This is definitely not the strength a cook should have!And Sanji wasn't doing well either.The brute force from Falcon's Ancient Species Awakening was beyond imagination, and the sharpness and hardness of the Golden Armament also far exceeded his estimates.The fighting spirit in his eyes, like fire doused in oil, burned even more fiercely!The two temporarily separated amidst the dust of the explosion and the energy turbulence.Falcon hovered in mid-air, his wings flapping gently to maintain balance.He looked down at his slightly trembling golden claws, then at the even more dangerous Sanjibelow. In his golden vertical pupils, the last trace of contempt vanished completely.In its place was an unprecedented solemnity and a thoroughly ignited... killing intent.Serious intelligence failure!!No, it's a fundamental misassessment!!This Black Leg Sanji is definitely not a "relatively weak" combatant in the Straw Hat crew.He possesses terrifying strength capable of threatening a CP0 Top Commander, or even causing severe injuries!...