Chapter 515 - 355

Chapter 356: The birdcage Decisive Battle (Part 6)The eastern coast of Dressrosa.Fujitora Issho stood there on the deck of a massive warship, letting the sea breeze flutter his purple kimono.His eyes were closed, but his Observation Hakiacted like a top-tier radar, projecting every wail and tragedy within the birdcage clearly into his mind.The desperate cries of the citizens, the roar of collapsing buildings, the sound of threads slicing through flesh... this living hell caused the veins on the hand gripping his Cane Sword to bulge.His lips trembled, and an uncontrollable rage surged from his heart to the top of his head, nearly incinerating his reason."Is this... what they call justice?"Fujitora's voice was incredibly raspy, as if he were asking himself or questioning the heavens above."To allow an evil criminal to use the title of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to enslave a nation for ten long years!""To watch with open eyes as he turns an entire country into a cage, treating hundreds of thousands of lives as funeral offerings for his final carnival!""And we, the Marine who claim to represent world justice, can only stand here and watch it all happen!"His voice grew louder, finally turning into a roar."This is the true face of the World Government! These are the broken rules set by the Celestial Dragons! This is the nonsensical order we protect at all costs!!!"Anger, resentment, sympathy, and helplessness... various emotions exploded at this moment, igniting the Admiral's heart."Hey, hey... Issho, I'm still right here, you know."A lazy voice drifted over from the side.Green Bull Aramaki lay on the other end of the deck, a sprout he'd found somewhere dangling from his mouth, legs crossed, looking like he couldn't care less."You're always like this, saying things that upset the higher-ups. No wonder Fleet Admiral Akainudoesn't think much of you."He spat out the sprout, sat up slowly, and patted the dust off himself."If those old geezers in the World Governmenthappen to hear you and I get dragged into it, that would really suck."These words were less a reminder and more of a warning.However, Fujitora didn't even turn his head."Everything this old man does is only to carry out the justice in my heart!"He turned around, his closed eyes 'looking' toward Aramaki, his tone carrying a decisiveness that left no room for argument."Besides, can't you just pretend you didn't hear?"Aramaki was stunned for a moment, then helplessly threw up his hands."Ah, seriously, you..."Fujitora didn't bother with him anymore.He drew his Cane Sword, revealing the cold, glinting blade within.Immediately after, an invisible, mountain-heavy air pressure erupted with him at the center!Gravity Fruit, activate!He held the Cane Sword horizontally across his chest and took a deep breath. Pitch-black Armament Haki, like ink, instantly coated the entire blade!"Gravity Blade..."He swung the sword fiercely toward the massive birdcage!"Raging Tiger!!!"Roar—!!!A roar sounded as if it came from the throat of an ancient beast.A massive tiger slash, purely compressed from gravity and glowing an eerie purple-black, roared from his sword tip. It tore through the atmosphere with a world-destroying momentum and slammed hard into the birdcage's threads!In an instant, all of Dressrosa and the surrounding waters shook violently!At the point where the slash met the birdcage, a visible shockwave of distorted space exploded outward!However—The terrifying slash, capable of splitting an island in two, hit those seemingly thin threads and only caused the birdcage to emit a buzzing sound as if it were about to fall apart.The purple-black tiger roared frantically, yet it couldn't cut a single thread. Finally, its energy exhausted, it vanished unwillingly into the air.The birdcage remained unmoved."As expected..."Fujitora sheathed his sword, his expression darkening further."This birdcage isn't just pure power. It has a special rule. Unless the person who cast the skill is taken down from the inside, no attack from the outside will work to destroy it."He paused and added."Other than that, perhaps only the kind of top-tier Haoshoku that is unreasonably strong could possibly break the laws of this fruit ability by force.""Oh dear, what a troublesome ability."Aramaki stood up and stretched, his bones popping and cracking."In that case, I'll just have to go inside and take a look."A playful smile curled on his lips as he pointed his right index finger toward the birdcage.In the next second, the fancy tricks began.The tip of his index finger turned into a lush green vine, extending forward at an incredible speed. It easily passed through the small gaps between the birdcage threads and took root in the island's soil.Then, the vine began to grow, twist, and expand frantically.In just a few breaths, the figure of Aramakireformed inside the birdcage.Mori Mori no Mi, Awakening!As long as there was ground beneath his feet, he could ignore distance and teleport at will."Don't worry, Issho."Inside the birdcage, Aramaki turned his head and grinned at Fujitora, showing a row of white teeth."Leave the matters inside to me!"With his hands behind his back, he began walking toward the Kings Plateau with an arrogant stride.However, he had only taken two steps before he stopped.Because a figure wearing a black trench coat and a top hat, with a steel pipe slung over his shoulder, had appeared before him like a ghost at some unknown time.Sabo."Oh?"Aramaki raised an eyebrow, eyeing the man before him with great interest."The Revolutionary Army's number two... Sabo. What a rare guest. Even you guys are interested in Dressrosa?"Sabo's gaze was like ice. He could clearly feel the vitality within this man, as vast as a forest or an ocean, along with the suffocating pressure belonging to the Marine's highest combat power.He knew Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon, a 'legal pirate' protected by the World Government.Anyone could guess why a Marine Admiral would appear here.They would absolutely never stand on his side."Marine Admiral, Aramaki."Sabo slowly raised his steel pipe, pointing it at the other man, his voice devoid of emotion."Doflamingo's crimes have already plunged this country into hell. Are you Marines here to protect him instead of punishing evil?""Protect? Hahahaha, you've misunderstood."Aramaki laughed exaggeratedly, as if he had heard a massive joke."We are just here to 'maintain order,' understand? As for Doflamingo... after we deal with you troublemakers, someone will naturally come to handle him."He stopped laughing, his gaze becoming contemptuous, as if looking at a novice who didn't know his place."In the end, this is just a mess between a member nation and a pirate. What right does your Revolutionary Army have to interfere?""Furthermore..."A flash of fanatical worship appeared in Aramaki's eyes."Joker is a noble person through whose veins the blood of 'God' flows! You lower beings daring to disrespect him is a capital offense in itself!!!""Then there's nothing more to say."Sabo didn't bother wasting any more words.He knew there was no reasoning with a fanatical bootlicker of the Celestial Dragons.Buzz—A white halo of vibration lit up on his fist!"Air Quake!!!"A massive shockwave blasted straight toward Aramaki's face!"A trivial trick!"Aramaki gave a disdainful click of his tongue, not even bothering to dodge.He simply raised his right hand and spread his fingers.Countless thick vines burst from the ground at his feet, instantly weaving into a massive wall of plants before him!Boom!!!"Is this all you've got? The number two of the Revolutionary Army?"Aramaki's face was full of mockery.However, before he could finish his sentence, his expression changed instantly.Because Sabo's figure had already vanished from the spot!"Dragons Claw!"A cold voice rang out from behind him!Sabo had ghosted behind him at some point, his right hand formed into a claw, his fingertips wrapped in pitch-black Armament Ryuo. Like a blade tearing through space, he struck straight for Aramaki's heart!Aramaki was startled. Without thinking, his body instinctively transformed into countless vines and scattered to dodge.But he was still a step too late.Rip!Sabo's dragon claw accurately caught one of his arms and tore it fiercely!One of Aramaki's arms was torn off on the spot, turning into wood chips that flew everywhere!"You bastard!!!"Aramaki reformed his body in the distance, looking at his empty right shoulder, his face filled with fury.He could feel that the opponent's Armament Hakicould actually effectively suppress his regeneration!What shocked him even more was Sabo's speed and power just now... why did it feel so taxing?He knew that it was due to Luffy's residual Haoshoku; although he appeared to have recovered on the surface, his strength was far from its peak."It seems I can't underestimate you too much..."Aramaki's gaze turned completely dark."Then let me show you the true power of an Admiral!"He slammed both hands onto the ground!"Shinra Bansho!"Rumble—!!!The eastern part of Dressrosa seemed to come alive at this moment!Countless hideous trees, man-eating flowers, and sharp vines surged frantically from the earth, turning into a green forest of death that swept toward Sabo with overwhelming force!Faced with this world-destroying display, Sabo's expression remained calm.He simply thrust his steel pipe into the ground, clenched his fists, and took a stance."Just in time."He took a deep breath, and on his fists, the white halo glowed to its limit!"I'll let you see it too... this power that is enough to destroy the world!!!"