Chapter 138: String-String Fruit Awakening Form

"Cockscomb-head, stop right there! You already have the Barrier-Barrier Fruit; what more do you need?" Cavendish shouted as he sprinted after Bartolomeo.

"No way I'm letting that rooster-head get the String-String Fruit awakening form! If he hides inside his barrier and starts using this Devil Fruit, he'll be able to torment me endlessly!"

"No, I won't allow that to happen." Cavendish quickened his pace, determined to keep Bartolomeo in sight. He couldn't let him find Kaido's location first. Ideally, Cavendish wanted to find it himself and claim the String-String Fruit awakening form.

Everyone from the former Whitebeard Pirates crew was equally motivated. Even Jozu slipped away quietly, setting off in search of any traces of Kaido.

As a user of the Diamond-Diamond Fruit, Jozu had immense defensive power, but his movements were somewhat slow. With the String-String Fruit awakening form, he could gain flexibility and further enhance his strength.

Watching his crewmates dash off, Ace sighed helplessly. "These guys really have no shame."

They laughed together, but suddenly a rough, weathered voice broke in. "Monkey D. Chiba, your reputation is well-deserved. You've actually managed to create such powerful Devil Fruits."

Chiba turned toward the voice and saw a blind man in a Marine Admiral's cloak approaching. Everyone's expressions grew tense at the sight.

"The Marine's new Admiral… Fujitora?" Koby exclaimed.

Though Koby was now strong enough to be considered at the level of a Marine Admiral, he was still no match for a veteran powerhouse like Fujitora. The current Fujitora likely possessed combat strength on par with the Four Emperors.

Perhaps only Hancock, Ace, or Chiba himself could stand against Fujitora.

Chiba looked at Fujitora with a slight smile. "Ah, Admiral Fujitora. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Fujitora turned his sightless eyes toward Chiba. "This old man would like to make a wager with you."

"A wager? What sort of wager?" Chiba asked, intrigued by the Admiral's fruit ability, the Gravity-Gravity Fruit.

If used well, gravity manipulation could be incredibly powerful—especially Fujitora's ability to summon meteors.

Fujitora smiled slowly. "It's simple. We'll play a game of coin toss. If I lose, I'll do as you wish. If you lose, you'll come with me."

Hina interjected, worried. "Chiba, don't accept! He's just one man, and there are many of us. Even if it comes to a fight, we're not afraid."

Chiba chuckled. "You hear that, Admiral? I've got numbers on my side. Why should I gamble with you?"

"Because, despite the numbers, their lives are in my hands."

"In your hands?" Chiba raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed."

"Heh. Go on, show me what you mean. Prove that you're holding their lives in your hands."

"If you insist…" Fujitora sighed. "Then I'll have to demonstrate."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fujitora's right hand gripped the hilt of his sword. Chiba tensed, dashing forward to intercept him.

Fujitora drew his sword, and in an instant, a dark aura surrounded Chiba, who was suddenly forced to the ground by an overwhelming gravitational force, pushing him backward by thousands of meters.

Pinned by the intense gravity, Chiba couldn't move.

Fujitora sheathed his sword again, and waves of black energy rippled into the sky.

"Damn it, he's actually going to do it," Chiba muttered, then shouted toward Hina and the others. "Get out of here!"

But Hina and the others, unfamiliar with Fujitora's powers, hesitated. A moment later, they sensed something off and looked up.

A massive meteor was plummeting from the sky, blazing as it tore through the atmosphere, hurtling straight for them.

Realizing they couldn't escape in time, Chiba activated his Lightning Dragon Flash technique. He gathered a concentrated energy in his fingertip, forming a white light that he directed toward the falling meteor. With a powerful strike, the meteor shattered into countless fragments, raining down like scattered stars.

"Impressive," Fujitora murmured. And then, he summoned a second meteor. Then a third. And a fourth.

"I can keep calling down meteors, Monkey D. Chiba," Fujitora said, smiling. "How many of them can you block?"

"Blind fool!" Ace shouted, rushing at Fujitora. Koby and Helmeppo followed, charging at the Admiral.

But Fujitora drew his sword, unleashing a powerful gravitational force that sent them all flying, preventing them from getting close.

Meteor after meteor continued to fall, crashing into the sea with deafening booms.

Chiba clenched his jaw. "Fine. I accept your wager."

Hearing this, Fujitora stopped summoning meteors.

"I trust you're a man of honor and will keep your word. Don't make things difficult for me," Fujitora said lightly, though his tone carried an unmistakable threat.

Chiba glared at him. "I don't break my promises. But if you try to cheat, don't think I'll let you get away with it."

Fujitora nodded. "In that case, I'll leave my sword as collateral."

"Your sword as collateral?" Chiba echoed, surprised. Fujitora seemed willing to risk his weapon, likely due to his Devil Fruit powers making the sword itself secondary.

These Admirals really are a handful, Chiba thought.

"Alright." Chiba reached out to take Fujitora's sword. But as soon as he touched the blade, a powerful gravitational force pressed down on him.

The ground beneath Chiba's feet cracked under the pressure as Fujitora pressed down with his right hand. The earth shattered, and Chiba's expression darkened. "You tricked me?"

"I didn't expect the mighty Monkey D. Chiba to be so easily fooled. Now, come with me," Fujitora said, exerting more pressure. Chiba felt as if his entire body was weighed down, his bones straining under the force.

Chiba let out a defiant roar as the powerful energy within him surged, his muscles hardening as he began to push back against Fujitora's gravitational power. His body started to rise, defying the overwhelming force pressing down on him.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.