Chapter 30: "William's Hybrid Form"

 ----------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading. If you like this story please consider leaving an honest review.

 -----------------------------------------------

As the battlefield blazed with molten rock and scorched earth, the clash between William and Akainu reached a boiling point. The air was thick with heat and smoke, as the magma from Akainu's attacks continued to simmer around them, forming a hellish landscape. The sisters stood at a distance, their expressions tense as they watched the titanic struggle unfold.

William's full dragon form, while powerful, began to feel like a hindrance. He could sense that his massive size, though devastating in strength, made him too slow to capitalize on Akainu's weaker moments. For all his ferocity and the magma that coursed through his veins, Akainu remained nimble enough to dodge William's deadliest attacks. 

"I need to change tactics," William muttered to himself, his voice a deep growl, resonating from the belly of the dragon.

And then, with a mighty sweep of his wings, he halted his assault, pulling back as Akainu, already battered and bruised, looked at him with wary eyes. For a moment, there was a stillness between them—like the calm before a storm. 

With a snarl, William's massive dragon body began to shift. The overwhelming presence of the western dragon shrank down, morphing, transforming into something new. The golden and black scales that once covered his enormous frame condensed around him, molding into a new, terrifying form—a humanoid dragon. 

Standing now at five meters tall, William's new form was something out of a nightmare. His body still carried the gleaming black scales, streaked with golden highlights along his chest and wings. His wings, no longer massive, were now leaner, more efficient, their golden membranes glowing with an inner fire. His long tail swayed with the dangerous grace of a serpent, and his razor-sharp claws looked ready to tear apart anything in his path. His dragon head, with two sharp horns emerging from his skull, bore a row of gleaming, razor-sharp teeth. His glowing red eyes fixed on Akainu, burning with a terrifying, unrelenting hatred.

The ground cracked under William's feet as he flexed his new form. "This… is more fitting," he growled, his voice deep and menacing.

Akainu's face twisted in grim realization. Though William's size had shrunk, there was no doubt that this new form was even more dangerous. The aura William exuded was sharper, more refined. His dragon form had been a force of nature, but this… this was precision. This was speed. This was a predator ready to kill.

Without hesitation, William shot forward, his speed a blur. Akainu barely had time to react before William was upon him. The dragon's claws slashed through the air, faster than before, and Akainu was forced to harden his body with Haki, barely deflecting the deadly strikes. But he could feel the difference. William was stronger in this form—each blow was calculated, each strike deadly. There was no wasted movement.

Akainu growled in frustration as magma dripped from his fists, launching punch after punch at William. But William danced around them, dodging with an agility Akainu hadn't expected. And every time William's claws connected with Akainu, they left deep gashes, even through the admiral's Haki hardened skin.

The battlefield became a whirlwind of fire, magma, and Haki-infused blows. Akainu tried to land a solid hit, but William was relentless. He no longer simply overpowered Akainu with brute force. Now, he was picking him apart. Akainu's clothes were tattered, his body scorched and torn from the onslaught of claws and flames.

William was relentless. He moved in and out of range, striking Akainu from every angle. Every punch from Akainu was dodged or deflected. The magma that once threatened to melt through anything it touched now seemed almost ineffective. William's scales were tough, his Haki strong, and the heat was nothing to him.

As the battle raged on, William landed a powerful punch to Akainu's gut, sending him flying across the battlefield. Akainu crashed into the ground, coughing up blood. He struggled to his feet, glaring at William with fury and disbelief. His pride had taken a hit—he had never faced an opponent who could withstand his magma and attack him with such precision.

Akainu clenched his fists, magma bubbling from his arms. "I am the will of **justice**," he snarled, his voice filled with venom. "I will erase you from this world!"

But William only laughed, his voice deep and mocking. "Justice? You mean the justice that burns innocent children and destroys whole civilizations?" His glowing eyes narrowed as he stalked forward, his movements fluid and dangerous. "You're nothing more than a dog for the Celestial Dragons. A murderer. And now, you're just prey."

Akainu roared in anger, throwing his molten fists at William again. But this time, William didn't dodge. He caught Akainu's fist in his clawed hand, and though the magma seared at his scales, he gripped it tightly, refusing to let go. Akainu's eyes widened as William sneered, his strength overwhelming the admiral's.

"You've lost, Akainu," William said coldly. "Your Haki can't reach me. You're not strong enough."

With a sudden, brutal twist, William hurled Akainu into the air, sending him crashing back into the ground. Akainu struggled to rise, his body now riddled with deep wounds. He staggered to his feet, panting, blood dripping from his mouth. His once pristine uniform was in tatters, and his body was covered in burns and claw marks.

William, towering over him in his hybrid form, looked down at the admiral with disdain. Akainu had always been a symbol of absolute power, of unyielding authority. But now, standing before this monstrous dragon hybrid, Akainu looked almost fragile.

Akainu's fists tightened, magma dripping from his clenched knuckles. He knew that William was right. His Haki wasn't enough. He could harden his body, but without the ability to use internal destruction-level Haki, he couldn't pierce William's dragon hide. And that realization burned more than any physical wound.

But Akainu wasn't one to give up. He was a symbol of the Marines' unyielding justice, and even in the face of a dragon, he would not back down.

"You think you've won?" Akainu spat, blood mixed with magma dripping from his mouth. "I am Admiral Akainu. I will bring you down, even if it costs me everything!"

William tilted his head, a dark smile curling on his dragon lips. "You can try," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

The two clashed again, but this time, it was different. William's hybrid form gave him a terrifying advantage. He was as strong as before, but now, he was **fast**. Faster than Akainu could anticipate. Every time Akainu threw a punch, William was there, dodging and countering with devastating precision.

Akainu landed a few hits, but they did little to slow William down. The magma that had once melted steel barely fazed the dragon's armored body. William's Haki was strong, his scales tougher than ever. And every blow he landed on Akainu pushed the admiral closer to defeat.

Akainu's injuries piled up—his left side still burned from earlier, and now his body was covered in fresh gashes from William's claws. He was struggling to keep up. Every time he tried to mount an offense, William would counter with a brutal attack that left him more battered and bruised.

By the end of the clash, Akainu was on his knees, panting heavily, his clothes in tatters, his body beaten and bloodied. He looked up at William, who stood over him, seemingly unscathed.

Both combatants knew that the real fight was far from over. Akainu's pride would not allow him to retreat, and William's thirst for revenge had only grown stronger.