Chapter 279: Gravity Descends!
Facing that overwhelming pressure and killing intent, Leo and Kyros exchanged a glance.
They didn't need words; a single look was enough to convey their shared resolve—
"We absolutely cannot let him near Princess Mansherry!"
"Right! We fight together!"
Leo struck first!
He was as agile as a cat, leaping into the air, his hands flying rapidly, his ten fingers weaving like a loom.
"Nui Nui (Stitch-Stitch): THOUSAND-STITCH THORN WALL!!!"
Accompanying his roar, the bricks and stones of the ground were forcefully stitched and twisted together into sharp stone blades. Like a giant mechanical wall, it rose layer by layer, blocking Hanafuda's path forward!
Kyros followed closely behind!
The legendary gladiator of Dressrosa stomped down hard, shattering the stone bricks of the plaza!
Moving like sudden thunder, he thrust his sword straight at Hanafuda's abdomen, the blade howling as it pierced the wind!
However, Hanafuda merely raised his eyes slowly. His iron-framed gauntlets emitted a clack-clack sound, and he whispered like rumbling thunder: "Too slow."
He lifted his right foot slightly—
"BOOM!!!"
The earth exploded. Terrifying power erupted along the ground, shattering tiles and kicking up billowing dust!
His figure moved like teleportation, flashing horizontally several meters away to dodge the pincer attack!
"CLANG!!!"
The giant scythe in his hand swept out violently, Armament Haki coating the blade like a fire of black iron!
The "Thorn Wall" Leo had stitched together was instantly swept into pieces, shattered bricks flying everywhere!
"SWISH!!!"
Hanafuda's left hand violently flung the morning star, the long chain rattling loudly! The spiked head shot out like an obsidian meteor, carrying a howling whistle as it tore through the air!
"BANG!!!"
Kyros reacted extremely fast, raising his sword to block—
But he was directly smashed flying several meters, crashing heavily into the wall behind him and bringing it down!
Rubble flew, his blade cracked inch by inch. Kyros dropped to his knees, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Cough... this guy, this isn't human strength at all..."
Hanafuda advanced step by step!
THUD— THUD— THUD—
His footsteps were steady, every step feeling as if it were trampling on their hearts!
The scythe dragged across the ground, splashing sparks, while the dragon-tail morning star writhed behind him like a snake. Relying purely on physical stats and his weapons, he easily suppressed two of Dressrosa's top powerhouses.
Leo forced himself up, gritting his teeth as he threaded needles. Crossing his hands to guide the threads, he put in every last ounce of his strength.
"Nui Nui: FINAL BINDING THREAD!"
SNAP! The thread broke!
Hanafuda delivered a kick, sending Leo flying instantly, like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito!
"BANG!!!"
Leo crashed into a vendor's stall like a ragdoll, splintered wood flying everywhere.
Hanafuda's morning star dragged across the ground, letting out an ear-piercing screech. He looked down condescendingly at the fallen Leo and Kyros, his eyes full of contempt.
"A little Tontatta bug... A human gladiator..."
"With just this little bit of skill, you dare to block me?"
Leo gritted his teeth and propped himself up. The threads of the Stitch-Stitch Fruit trembled at his fingertips, but his arms were already numb from the shock.
Kyros knelt on one knee, the webbing between his fingers split open, blood dripping down his blade.
Up on the High Platform
"HANAFUDA!!!"
Riku Dold III stood up abruptly, his red and gold cape snapping in the wind, his eyes full of anger and disbelief!
"As a Royal Shichibukai, burdened with the responsibility of maintaining peace, how dare you attack the royal family of an affiliated nation?!!"
Hanafuda slowly raised his head, a cold, mocking sneer curving his lips:
"Peace... that is a fantasy among you weaklings."
"As for me—"
"I only believe in power."
He closed in step by step. The scythe dragged across the ground, emitting a screeching Zzzzt and scattering sparks!
"Hand over the 'Heal-Heal Fruit user'..."
"Or else! You all die!"
Following Hanafuda's command, from the shadows of the buildings surrounding the plaza, over a dozen dark figures suddenly lunged out!
Every single one of them possessed an impressive aura. They were elite assassins from the Underworld, moving like phantoms straight for the high platform!
The Kingdom's Royal Guard and the Tontatta warriors immediately engaged them, but under the enemy's intense pressure, they began to lose ground rapidly!
Viola shielded Mansherry tightly, cold sweat beading on her forehead as her Senrigan ability constantly predicted the enemy's movements.
Rebecca held her sword high, gritting her teeth as she desperately guarded the stairs to the platform!
"Don't be afraid, I'm here!"
"Fools who don't know what's good for them."
Hanafuda's eyes suddenly turned icy. Killing intent surged like a tidal wave. His figure turned into a ghostly afterimage, crossing dozens of meters in a flash of lightning!
"SWISH!!!"
The giant scythe howled out, triggering ear-piercing sonic booms. Carrying a biting edge that tore through the air, it slashed straight toward the high platform where the royal family stood!
Right at that very moment—
"JIGOKU TABITE (HELL'S JOURNEY)!"
"BOOM!!!"
Like a thunderbolt falling from the ninth heaven, invisible gravity poured down like divine punishment! It instantly crushed the air, condensing into an unfathomable weight that enveloped the space above Hanafuda!
Hanafuda was just about to leap up when he suddenly felt his body sink violently, as if an entire mountain had instantly pressed down on his shoulders!
"CRACK!!"
His knees plummeted, crashing heavily into the hard stone slabs. The ground immediately cracked with dense spiderweb patterns!
"Who?!"
Hanafuda's eyes contracted sharply. The muscles all over his body trembled violently, his veins bulging like horned dragons!
He gritted his teeth to hold on, plunging his giant scythe into the ground just to barely maintain a kneeling posture!
At the edge of the plaza, the crowd parted, and a figure slowly stepped forward.
The man wore a light purple kimono and held a shikomizue (cane sword). His expression was gentle, his steps as light as clouds and a gentle breeze.
But this very man, simply standing there, felt like a towering mountain, pressing down so hard that both friend and foe held their breath!
It was none other than Issho (Fujitora)!
Using his Observation Haki and precise gravity control, he had just quietly transferred hundreds of civilians and children to a safe zone, ensuring not a single casualty.
Now, having finally freed his hands, he faced Hanafuda directly.
He lowered his head and spoke softly. His tone was gentle, yet it rolled like thunder, intimidating the entire venue: "As a Royal Shichibukai, daring to attack the royal family of an affiliated nation..."
"Your actions, sir, have already violated Justice."
Hanafuda gritted his teeth, his eyes glaring wide, his killing intent surging madly!
"An ability user?!"
"Where did you come from, you bastard?! Stop meddling in my business!!!"
Fujitora's expression was indifferent. He slowly rested his blade in its scabbard, the smile fading from his lips.
"It is precisely because you are a Shichibukai—"
"That this old man can even less afford to sit back and ignore this."
Before his voice faded, he stepped forward lightly with his right foot and flicked his cane sword upward!
"GRAVITO: MOKO (GRAVITY BLADE: FIERCE TIGER)."
"RUMBLE-RUMBLE—!!!"
Like a fierce tiger released from its cage, a terrifying wave of gravity erupted abruptly!
The invisible, crushing pressure roared and galloped like an enraged beast, sweeping across the entire venue. Wherever it passed, the earth collapsed, and shattered stones flew!
A bottomless chasm was forcibly crushed into the ground of the plaza, cutting across the battlefield like a heavenly moat!
"ROAR—!!!"
Amidst Hanafuda's furious roar, his aura skyrocketed!
He threw his arms wide. His bones cracked explosively, his blood roaring like the sea, surging endlessly!
His figure ballooned with a boom! His muscles churned and mutated, instantly shedding his human form! Heavy dragon scales burst out from beneath his skin, covering his entire body. His arms turned into claws, his tailbone extended, and his height soared past ten meters!
His head completely transformed into the massive skull of a dinosaur, its fangs ghastly, its eyes like blood torches, overflowing with towering rage!
This was—The Ryu Ryu no Mi (Dragon-Dragon Fruit), Ancient Model: Tyrannosaurus Rex!!!
"ROAR!!!"
His roar was like thunder, a bloody wind rushing at their faces! He swung his claws furiously, forcibly tearing apart the wave of gravity!
"BOOM!!!"
The heavy pressure exploded. A wave of dust shot into the sky, kicking up a violent shockwave within a hundred meters of the plaza!
The surrounding buildings trembled with it, stone pillars tilting, rubble flying everywhere!
The center of the plaza had already been turned into scorched earth!
Fujitora furrowed his brow slightly, his footsteps not moving an inch, his expression cold and focused. "An Ancient Zoan... and a rare pure-power type at that?"
Using Observation Haki to sense Hanafuda's life fluctuations, he made a silent judgment in his heart.
Meanwhile, all around the plaza, the crowd's faces were deathly pale. Not a single person dared to breathe, as if the very air had been compressed and solidified!
In his Tyrannosaurus Rex form, Hanafuda let out a low, rumbling growl. As he stomped his feet heavily on the ground, the earth sank several feet deeper, the stone bricks exploding inch by inch!
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