In the smoke and dust, Kid lay on his back in the deep crater smashed out by the flail, using both his hands and feet to prop open the two rows of fangs that the weapon was fiercely biting down with.
Kid clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. A trail of blood flowed slowly down the corner of his eye as purple electrical sparks sputtered from his hands.
*Bzz— Bzz—!*
As the magnetism was released, the upper and lower rows of sharp fangs on the flail were gradually forced apart.
A Devil Fruit weapon was still a weapon; it didn't change its metallic nature. As long as it was metal, it couldn't escape being manipulated by his power!
"Don't get too carried away, you bastard!"
*Boom!!*
Kid shouted angrily, his power erupting from his palms. A ring of impact rippled through the air, and the powerful magnetic force catapulted the massive flail high into the sky!
"What a troublesome ability," Rakuyo muttered. His eyes grew solemn as he yanked the iron chain in his hands, pulling back the blown-away flail.
Kid leaped up from the ground with a kip-up. Glaring fiercely at Rakuyo, he extended his palm toward the flail and released his magnetism across the distance!
The flail suddenly accelerated while being pulled back. Rakuyo's expression shifted in shock, and he hastily threw up his hands to block!
*Bang!!*
The flying flail smashed heavily into him, pushing his body backward continuously. His feet plowed two trenches into the ground, and he only managed to stop when his back slammed against the wall.
However.
"Die, you idiot!!"
Kid roared furiously, thrusting his palm toward the flail from afar. His magnetism concentrated on a single point and erupted with full force!
"Magnetism: Reflect!!"
*Boom!!!*
The just-halted flail suddenly launched forward! It smashed violently into Rakuyo's face, pushing his body through several walls in succession before crashing heavily into a room deep within the mansion!
Kid curled his lips into a sinister grin, but before he could start gloating...
The next second.
*Swish!*
A figure tore through the air at extreme speed!
"You left yourself wide open, rookie!"
Vista charged up to Kid with a grin, wielding his twin rapiers, both coated in pitch-black Armament Haki!
"Twin Thorn Rose!!"
A cold gleam flashed! Vista held his twin swords parallel, bringing the tips together, and thrust forward swiftly with all his power concentrated on a single point!
Kid's pupils shrank in shock; it was already too late to defend.
Right at this critical moment, a pair of rapidly spinning scythes suddenly appeared in front of him!
*Clang!!*
Intense sparks flew as the blades clashed. Killer descended from the sky in an upside-down posture, his high-speed spinning twin scythes successfully striking the sword tips and deflecting them!
Flipping to land on his feet, Killer quickly swung his scythes to force Vista back, saying without turning his head, "Our opponents are the former overlords of the sea, the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates. Don't be too careless, Kid."
"Tch, I know that!" Kid scoffed impatiently in response.
Vista tapped his toes on the ground and hopped back a few steps. He fixed his gaze on the suddenly appearing Killer and said with interest, "Demon-level executive, 'Massacre Soldier' Killer, with a bounty of 420 million Berries. I shouldn't be mistaken, right?"
"It's rare to be remembered by one of the top swordsmen on the sea. I should be qualified enough to be your opponent," Killer said in a deep voice.
Simultaneously, his body rapidly morphed an exoskeleton. Sharp barbs pierced through his clothes and grew out, and his arms transformed into scythe-like forelimbs with sharp serrations.
Bug-Bug Fruit, Ancient Type, Model: Prehistoric Devil Flower Mantis!!
In the blink of an eye, Killer transformed into a highly aggressive and ferocious mantis-man. The translucent membranous wings on his back spread open and vibrated at a high frequency, and his figure shot forward at extreme speed like a streak of green light!
"What a terrifying form! Then let me experience it for myself!" Vista shouted deeply, charging forward to meet him with his twin swords in hand!
On the other side.
The fierce battle between Kid and the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders also continued to unfold.
In an instant, the spacious banquet hall was filled with the flashing of swords and shadows of blades. Metal objects of all sizes flew through the air, and violent explosions filled the entire space.
"Punk Rotten!!"
Kid shouted, releasing magnetism in all directions to pull in countless surrounding pieces of metal, performing precise deformations and assemblies in midair.
*Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!*
Under everyone's shocked gazes, the metal finally fused into a steel demon over ten meters tall, its entire body covered in sharp cones and long spikes!
The metallic skull looked ferocious and sinister. Kid leaped up into the cockpit on the back of Punk Rotten, piloting it into the air.
Seeing this scene, the people below widened their eyes.
"This is...!!"
"A... A mechanical behemoth!!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates revealed shock in their eyes, mixed with a fanatical envy.
Izo rolled his eyes and glared at them, baring his teeth as he yelled angrily, "Snap out of it, you idiots!!"
After reaching the vicinity of the ceiling, Kid controlled Punk Rotten to turn and face downward. It extended its mechanical arms, and the covers on the tips of its ten fingers flipped open to reveal pitch-black gun barrels.
"Electromagnetic Catapult: Shotgun Bombardment!!"
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
All ten barrels fired simultaneously! Head-sized metal projectiles blasted out one after another, frantically bombarding the entire hall below!!
Empowered by electromagnetic force, the metal projectiles erupted with astonishing speed, falling like meteors with terrifying kinetic energy!
*Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!*
"Uwaaah—!!"
"No good! The power is too great, we can't block it at all!!"
"Dodge quickly!!"
In an instant, wails filled the banquet hall. Holes were continuously smashed into the floor, creating massive cracks that rapidly spread across the entire hall!
"Is this idiot planning to collapse this place?!" Izo gritted his teeth and cursed, jumping back to dodge a falling metal projectile while raising his twin guns to fire continuously at the sky!
A barrage of bullets poured from the muzzles, shooting straight toward Kid, who was piloting the mechanical demon floating near the ceiling.
"Magnetic Barrier!!"
Kid ceased the bombardment and controlled the mechanical demon to open its palms, releasing an invisible magnetic barrier!
The incoming bullets suddenly stopped in front of the barrier, hovering in midair one by one.
"Reflect!!"
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Countless bullets were reflected back at an even faster speed!
At the same time, with a thought, Kid activated his ability again. Under his control, the mechanical demon's arms rapidly transformed.
"Anyone who doesn't want to die, get the hell out of the way!!"
Kid roared at the people below as Punk Rotten's hands reconfigured into two high-speed spinning steel drills.
Seeing this, all the subordinates reacted and quickly retreated to flee.
Plummeting!
"Magnetism: Star Drill Rocket!!"
*Whoosh— Whoosh—!*
Following his furious roar, the two spiral drills were launched directly. Trailing spring-like electromagnetic halos, they howled with ear-piercing shrieks as they tore through the air, crashing down at extreme speed like comets!!!
"Aaaagh—!!"
"Run! This place is going to collapse!"
"Uwaaah—!!"
The massive spiral drills violently smashed down and pierced through the floor! The already heavily damaged ground collapsed with a loud crash. Accompanied by wails, countless figures plummeted to the lower level along with giant boulders!
"This reckless bastard!"
"Stop him quickly!"
Several Whitebeard Pirates division commanders hurriedly shouted. Using the surrounding pillars, stone platforms, and other structures, they wielded their swords and guns, leaping high into the air.
It was right at this moment.
Kid suddenly leaped out from Punk Rotten's back, leaving the massive machine to free-fall.
Just as the Whitebeard Pirates division commanders passed by the mechanical demon...
With a thought, Kid reversed the magnetic force. The mechanical demon suddenly sparked with electricity and, under the panicked gazes of the commanders, violently exploded!
*Boom!!!*
The terrifying explosive shockwave instantly swept through the entire space. Mixed with a massive amount of metal, it blasted out in all directions, knocking the division commanders out of the air on the spot.
"Idiots...!"
Kid curled his lips into a sinister grin. Bringing his arms together and pointing them downward, a large amount of metal attached to his arms, rapidly transforming and assembling.
In the blink of an eye, the machinery formed a massive, boxy cannon that gleamed with a metallic luster and looked full of high-tech flair!
He immediately activated his ability, releasing magnetism to charge the giant cannon. Streaks of light rapidly crawled across the cannon's surface, extending until the entire barrel glowed with purple light.
"Rail! Gun!!"
Kid roared loudly. The muzzle bloomed with dazzling purple light, and a thick laser beam containing terrifying power shot straight out!
At this moment, all anyone could see was a sea of white. The intense light was incredibly blinding, and the apocalyptic energy pierced through the entire mansion, detonating violently!
*Rumble!!*
Meanwhile, on the streets outside, countless people were startled by the deafening sound of the explosion.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads to look, only to see the magnificent Shogun's Palace—which had stood in the center of the Flower Capital for hundreds of years—collapsing and crumbling amidst waves of violent explosions and flames!