Take Them Down

Caught off guard, Yota was actually forced back several steps by Zephyr. But that was all Zephyr’s all-out effort managed to achieve.

After steadying himself, Yota smiled faintly. "Old man, you’ve still got some strength in you!"

As he spoke, his fist coated in Armament Haki shot back at Zephyr. In barely a dozen seconds, he threw more than a thousand punches in succession!

This was the first time Yota had gone all out after analyzing the Mantis Shrimp Fruit and modifying his arms. Though it could not compare to the Sonic Punch that even an ordinary person could unleash after actually eating the Mantis Shrimp Fruit, it had still nearly tripled the speed and power of his punches.

The terrifying shockwaves erupted like a mountain flood, carrying an almost Supreme King Sea-like might. Zephyr managed to block only the first hundred or so punches before he could no longer hold on and was blasted away.

Under the bombardment of countless shockwaves, even Tree World Descent was punched through, leaving a massive fan-shaped passage. Zephyr lay at the very end of it, vomiting blood and sprawled limply on the ground.

After taking more than a thousand punches all over his body, even though the powerhouses of the Pirate World possessed tenacious vitality and were practically known as blood tanks, Zephyr was still a former Naval Admiral with exceptional stamina. Even so, he could barely get back up.

"Sure enough, when the abilities of certain animals are magnified in reality, their power is no weaker than a Mythical Zoan-type." Yota gently shook his arms, feeling a wave of soreness and numbness. He had not actually eaten the Mantis Shrimp Fruit, so even after the modifications, throwing punches came with some aftereffects. Under normal circumstances, he would need a minute or two to recover.

Of course, for Yota, who possessed a Sage Body, Medical Ninjutsu, and the Munch-Munch Fruit’s modification abilities, such aftereffects vanished in practically a single breath. Even another barrage of punches would be effortless.

He swept his gaze around. Because of Tree World Descent, the weaker Marine officers had long since been captured. A few Vice Admirals, along with Zephyr’s disciples, had escaped.

These people were quite loyal. Rather than following Zephyr’s instructions and fleeing immediately, they tried to approach the severely injured Zephyr, intending to take him away with them.

"Don’t even think about running!"

Ironhead Girl Ulti, at Yota’s side, was the first to charge over. The girl was hot-tempered and battle-hungry, and upon seeing opponents not much weaker than herself, she immediately rushed in.

The one who stopped her was the female Marine named Ain. Aside from being a Devil Fruit user, she seemed to be a female swordsman as well, her pair of short blades flashing through the air with sharp swishes.

But in a real fight, her physique was still somewhat inferior to Ulti’s. Don’t be fooled by the fact that Ulti did not even rank among the All-Stars in the Beasts Pirates. As an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit user proficient in both types of Haki, she was far stronger than an ordinary Vice Admiral.

"Are you scratching an itch for me?" Ulti, transformed into a half-dragon, laughed as she endured Ain’s attacks and repeatedly slammed her head toward Ain.

…Then she was struck by a pink flame from Ain and turned into a teenage girl.

"Huh?!" The girl was still staring in shock when another flame came flying at her. Her younger brother, Page One, sensed the danger and kicked her away, only to get hit himself.

Well, great. The moment they entered the fight, the two of them gave themselves away at light speed.

Ain’s ability was truly unfriendly toward youngsters like them. If it were one of the Four Emperors, even the youngest, Red Hair, could take at least two hits without losing his combat strength.

As for old-generation pirates like Whitebeard, it would be nothing more than a drizzle. It might even increase their fighting power.

Yota had now recalled Ain’s ability: the famous Rewind Fruit from the movie, capable of directly rewinding a person’s time by twelve years.

However, Ain’s Devil Fruit development might not yet have reached twelve years, though it had to be at least ten.

It sounded somewhat like an inferior version of a certain big-eating woman’s Age-Age Fruit, but it actually was not. The Rewind Fruit worked not only on humans and animals, but on inanimate objects as well. Furthermore, all it required was for her flames to strike the target, unlike the Age-Age Fruit, which required physical contact.

Seeing the two unlucky brats about to get GG’d, Kyros had no choice but to step in. Fortunately, he had already figured out Ain’s ability, and since he was no longer young, he was not too afraid of it.

The other Vice Admirals and Zephyr’s disciples had wanted to join forces and surround him, but Yota casually defeated them one by one. Within moments, they were all lying on the ground.

Seeing the situation turn bad, Vergo tried to flee, only for Yota to severely wound him with a long-range Finger Pistol.

Seeing her companions and teacher defeated one after another, Ain became anxious. Kyros seized the opportunity, taking a hit from the Rewind Fruit head-on, and immediately slashed her into severe injury, knocking her unconscious.

There was not much left to say after that. Yota first gave Vergo a Kotoamatsukami, planting a nail within the Marines. The others were temporarily locked up.

Naturally, they would not be denied treatment. In fact, Yota very much wanted to give Zephyr a Kotoamatsukami as well, but although Zephyr did not possess Conqueror’s Haki, his will had been tempered through countless trials.

Even if Yota used Kotoamatsukami on him, he would gradually regain clarity as time passed.

Besides, the Devil Fruit abilities in this world were endlessly varied and mysterious. To say nothing else, Tsuru’s Wash-Wash Fruit could very likely wash away the effects of Kotoamatsukami.

Vergo himself could be considered a spy, so Yota naturally was not worried about such issues with him. But he still had reservations regarding the other Vice Admirals and senior Marine officers.

Although Kotoamatsukami was powerful and convenient, it was also very easy to make others wary. Yota had no intention of exposing it yet. Otherwise, leaving aside the enemy’s reaction, every normal person would probably keep their distance from him.

So far, Yota had only used this ability on the Donquixote Family. Violet might have some suspicions, but she had no evidence.

Still, although he could not brainwash them directly, he was definitely going to extract their Devil Fruits.

The Rewind Fruit, the Shove-Shove Fruit… In addition, among the Vice Admirals who had come to support Vergo this time was someone Yota found very familiar: Dalmatian.

Honestly, Yota did not even know whether extracting that trash’s Dog-Dog Fruit would count as weakening Dalmatian.

With his current status and strength as a Vice Admiral, he could easily apply for a better Devil Fruit from the Marines. It would even be perfectly normal for him to obtain an Ancient Zoan.