Chapter 137: Pandemonium (4)

From the first glance, the battle seemed one-sided.

Senor Pink raised his guard and charged at Gong Zhu in a reckless manner. However, Gong Zhu, truly befitting the title of 'Weightless', weaved around Senor Pink as he landed punches, kicks, and all sorts of attacks that martial arts could deal.

'Just what is it that you're after?'

However, that didn't mean that Gong Zhu let his guard down. Shrewdly gazing Senor Pink who relentlessly stood back up and charged at him, Gong Zhu continued his caution-filled dodge-and-attack tactic against Senor Pink.

"RAH!!"

Senor Pink sent forth a jab, which Gong Zhu easily dodged by hopping backward. Not stopping there, Senor Pink took one step further to swing a straight after, which Gong Zhu also dodged by leaning backward such that he was facing up.

"Hi-ya!"

In this state, Gong Zhu's foot smashed Senor Pink's chin, knocking him up. Nimbly, Gong Zhu flipped his body and jumped before smashing a follow-up kick at Senor Pink's face, cracking the latter's sunglasses into pieces.

BOOM!

From the impact of the strike, Senor Pink was sent crashing into the wooden wall of the ship. The dust arose, and beyond, there was Senor Pink who stood back up once more—like a zombie.

"...This isn't going to end well for you."

Gong Zhu exclaimed with his hands behind his hunched back.

"Save my speed being faster than you... you aren't making any effort to dodge a single attack of mine."

Though it seemed as if Gong Zhu was giving a shred of grace to his foe, it was more of a statement for himself—to assure that Senor Pink wasn't scheming.

"Though you're persistent, the end is now clear."

From all sides, the ships of Beast Pirates rushed in. The numerous pirates, swarming in toward Senor Pink, were about to assault him until his death was guaranteed.

Senor Pink, whose stoic eyes were now revealed, talked in this state as Gong Zhu landed some distance away from him.

"I'll tell you a story of one man."

"...In the middle of the fight?"

Gong Zhu frowned, wondering what was wrong with Senor Pink. Of course, his reaction was ignored.

"He, from the moment when he was born, was strong. By saying 'strong', I mean not only physically, but also mentally."

One pirate reached Senor Pink, and with a crazed grin, stabbed his knife at the latter.

The second pirate shot his pistol at Senor Pink's chest, point-blank range.

The third pirate swung his club at Senor Pink's head.

The blood spilled and Senor Pink's state continued to worsen. However, his eyes didn't yield. He didn't reveal a single flinch or wince of pain, which brought shivers down Gong Zhu's spine.

'How is he still alive?!'

Gong Zhu's eyes widened as he looked at Senor Pink.

'Wait, his wounds... they aren't as deep as I expected... but how?'

"This strength of his was his greatest ally and enemy at the same time. It was because he was strong that he reached far, but it was for that same reason that he couldn't get stronger."

Senor Pink lowered his head while grinning. His eyes became shaded, and his entire body dripped blood—he seemed like a madman who won't go down no matter how many times he was hit.

"Haki. Seimei Kikan. The potential of humanity reaches far, but how can one reach that next level when it's hard to break through?"

"And what's the point of telling me all this?!"

The pirates, fearing the unknown named Senor Pink in front of them, backed off.

Gong Zhu, growling as he observed Senor Pink's casual demeanour, dashed at the latter.

"Crane Dance!!"

Gong Zhu's fist landed straight at Senor Pink's wounded abdomen. However, unlike the last time, the latter didn't budge.

CLANG!

And resounded, the metallic noise.

"...What?"

"That man decided not to dodge—never again. Take all hits like a true man, endure it, and reach the next step! If it is impossible to awaken the dormant power by standard means, then put himself in a handicap to do so!"

Gong Zhu expressed confusion, and in contrast, Senor Pink revealed delight.

"And voila... the Armament Haki. At last, after years of training and enduring, it has come at the perfect moment possible."

Then came in an abrupt punch from Senor Pink, which woke Gong Zhu up from his trance and caused him to back away.

"Come, you old cooger."

Senor Pink raised his fists. As he did so, the metallic black spread over his body, indicating the full body Armament Haki: Hardening.

"I'll teach you where you belong... a coffin, that is."

"Don't talk as if you've won, you live corpse!!"

Gong Zhu jumped into the sky, and his body began to morph. For the first time in this fight, Gong Zhu decided to use the devil fruit power that he was hiding up until now.

His arms became the feathered wings. His face turned into that of a bird—with a huge beak and grim-filled eyes. His legs, now turned into sharp-looking talons, seemed ready to tear apart whatever it came in contact with.

Bird Bird fruit, model: Phorusrhacid, also known as the terror bird. That was the name of the ancient Zoan devil fruit that Gong Zhu ate.

And currently, Gong Zhu at his Zoan form towered over Senor Pink at a size that was far greater than him. The pirates all ran back into different ships, afraid of the impact that was about to rise.

Subsequently, the terror bird fell onto the ship, causing it to shake.

"Unfortunately, I am unable to fly. However..."

Gong Zhu then dashed at a speed far faster than before, straight at Senor Pink who was waiting for him.

"My running speed is far faster!! Light Step Kick!!"

"NYAN COUNTER!!"

Gong Zhu's talon managed to land on Senor Pink's Haki-coated chest. However, at the same time, Senor Pink's Haki-coated fist rammed right into Gong Zhu's bird-face. Together with the momentum brought by Gong Zhu's speed, the damage that was generated from Senor Pink's attack just now was tremendous.

With a horrified shriek, Gong Zhu was flown back in a pitiful manner, rolling on the ship deck until he crashed into the railing.

"How...?!"

Shrinking back into his human form, Gong Zhu shouted. Holding his bloody nose which was distorted in an unsightly manner, Gong Zhu forcibly pulled it out such that he would be able to breathe without hindrance.

Senor Pink simply smirked while taunting Gong Zhu to come at him with his hand.

"Grrrr..."

Growling in anger, Gong Zhu's form morphed back into his Zoan form as he proceeded to launch himself at Senor Pink again.

Senor Pink stared at the split-second dash of Gong Zhu right at him.

'Listen, Pink. How do you think a man with the lack of Observation Haki should deal with an enemy faster than him?'

His mind resonated Smoker's advice in the past.

'Really, there is one single answer. You must transcend your limits. Simply speaking...'

'Seimei Kikan.' / 'Seimei Kikan,'

Senor Pink's Haki-coated body began to enlarge. The wounds were suppressed as muscles expanded and covered them up.

He now stood at a size that was approximately 1.5 times greater than his original size.

'Iron Defense.'

"W-What is happening to him?!"

"Don't tell me..."

One pirate whispered,

"That he too is a devil fruit user...?"

Ignoring their words, Senor Pink closed his eyes and felt the rumble of the wooden deck. He felt the slightest movement of the air that ticked his skin. His sense of sound warned him that an enemy of incredibly fast speed was moving at him.

'...Now!'

Senor Pink opened his eyes and instinctively sent his prepared fist forth.

"Weightless Strike!!"

"NYAN COUNTER!!"

And for the second time, as Gong Zhu's talon slashed through his Haki-coated face, his fist successfully landed again—at the exact same place on Gong Zhu's bird-face.

This time around, the blood splattered as Gong Zhu's form again shrank back. His nose, having gone completely inverted, seemed to be blocking his breathing pathway. Generating a choking noise, he rolled on the wooden deck and generated a trail of blood along the way.

"You sure are fast... and thanks to that, both my body and mind managed to grow."

Senor Pink in this state finally moved. Leaving drips of blood as he slowly walked, numerous bullets were fired from everywhere by the other pirates. They, upon the collision with his skin, bounced off with clanging noises and failed to prevent his approach at Gong Zhu who was struggling to stand back up.

BOOM!

A cannon was fired straight at Senor Pink's face, creating an explosion along with a cloud of smoke. Senor Pink briefly stopped, before continuing his movement.

"W-WAIT!!"

Gong Zhu hurriedly cried as a huge hand reached out at him from the cloud of smoke.

"NYANNYAN,"

Yanking Gong Zhu by the neck, Senor Pink slammed the former down on the wooden deck with his utmost strength,

"GROUND KISS!!"

The entire ship crumbled down as Senor Pink's attack bulldozed him and Gong Zhu into the sea below.

"G-Gong Zhu is down!!"

Pirates cried as they watched the pile of ship ruins that were sinking in the middle.

A hand arose from the sea and gripped onto a wooden plank. Slowly, Senor Pink appeared back in sight and stood back up.

"Heh... fuck."

Looking around at the number of pirates that surrounded him, Senor Pink cursed with a grin.

Among Beast Pirates, one pirate, who seemed to be a 'Shinuchi' in terms of rank, stood up and ordered.

"He's exhausted!! Fire whatever you got and get him down—"

Before the order was completed, said pirate's decapitated head flew in the air.

"...Huh?"

The pirates turned and came to see X Drake who was standing among them.

BOOM!

Another pirate ship exploded as a cannonball landed. Said cannon ball came from the ship led by Doll, Robin, and marines, who now had cannons that they seized from other ships of Beast Pirates.

"Not so shabby, eh?"

Slicking back his hair, Senor Pink who was drenched and wounded also joined, jumping at the enemies' ships and slaying them.

__________

The metallic sparks rose again as Maynard and Canasta's blades failed to cut through each other.

No one knew how many times they met blade-by-blade. However, judging by the sweat on both Maynard and Canasta, it seemed that they were slowly reaching the limit of their stamina; the end of the fight wasn't that far off.

"It seemed that a quite few of your friends are down."

Maynard smirked as his eyes continued glaring at Canasta.

"...It seems that you got remarkable people as your allies, dear stranger."

Canasta calmly responded. His grip over his sword didn't shake; his mind was as hard as a boulder.

"However, I tell you that I am different from them..."

A pitch-black colour began to spread from his hands, onto the sword that he held.

Armament Haki: Hardening.

Maynard grimaced as he too replicated the action with his sword.

"Neither will I let my guard down nor underestimate you."

Canasta's form then began to wriggle, before the transformation initiated. His body became bigger and thicker. His arms and face grew furs and above his head appeared a pair of animal's ears.

Bear Bear fruit, model: Arctodus Simus. What Canasta was showcasing, at the current moment, was the complete hybrid form of this Ancient Zoan devil fruit.

"..."

Maynard's grip over his sword tightened before the two of them dashed and met blade-by-blade yet again.

CLANG!