Chapter 17: Nika Form

Sabaody Archipelago·Square

“Is Kaido fake?”

“It’s the guy who was with Shanks before, the one with the ability similar to Kizaru—but isn’t his ability light?”

“It’s a complete mess—I can’t tell what’s going on anymore.”

“Even if he’s fake, that last strike was truly shocking.”

In Shiki’s bar

“I always said that brat Kaido wouldn’t become a teacher, hahaha!” Rayleigh choked on his drink and laughed: “But today’s youth are incredible, in every sense.”

“Hmm, has Luffy changed somehow?” Shiki said.

“Hm?”

The center of the World Government

In the meeting room where the Five Elders sat.

“What nonsense!”

“That fruit has awakened.”

“Cut the broadcast immediately!”

“Too late. Notify Sakazuki—eliminate the Straw Hat boy.”

“Send CP0. Karp will get in the way.”

“At all costs, eliminate the Straw Hat boy!”

On the Marineford battlefield.

“Is this thing really as useful as that guy claimed?” Buggy eyed the map in his hand suspiciously: “If he’s lying to me, I’ll make him regret it.”

Shortly after Buggy appeared on the live broadcast, Su Lin made a deal with him, trading a map that could automatically detect gold.

He was to redirect the broadcast entirely toward Luffy and his vicinity, and instantly switch the camera to him whenever he appeared.

After giving the surveillance insects to his subordinates, Buggy had been studying the map ever since.

“Even someone like that is making a deal with Lord Buggy...”

“No wonder he’s Lord Buggy!”

“Hm?” Buggy heard people talking about him, turned around—and found his subordinates staring at him with deep respect.

He naturally didn’t know that Su Lin’s recent commotion had not only elevated Su Lin’s status but also changed how these underlings viewed Buggy.

What’s happening?

“What’s going on with the Straw Hat boy?!”

Buggy stared in shock at the scene.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

People finally realized the drumming wasn’t coming from beyond the sky.

It was coming from the Straw Hat boy—Monkey D. Luffy.

All eyes converged again.

Some didn’t even notice their weapons had fallen to the ground.

That sight—

The Straw Hat boy had melted.

Thud-thud-thud!

As the Straw Hat boy melted, the drumming grew rapid, like war drums heralding an epic beginning across the furious battlefield!

The drumming abruptly stopped.

Scorching steam swirled around the Straw Hat boy; Ace and the Admirals nearby felt the temperature rising steadily.

Slowly, Marine soldiers began to retreat, unable to endure the heat.

“Too hot! Too hot! Too hot!”

Mr. 3, burned awake, sprinted in the opposite direction.

“Ice Ball!”

Aokiji struck first.

Ace melted it with fire.

“Luffy, what’s wrong?!” Ace cried anxiously.

“Ahahaha, Ace, don’t worry!” Luffy laughed loudly, clutching his head.

That joyful sound clashed absurdly with the battlefield.

As Akainu moved to return and assist,

Whitebeard unleashed combat power never before shown, appearing instantly beside Akainu and shattering him into molten lava.

The shattered Akainu reappeared nearby.

“Damn Whitebeard,” Akainu spat blood from his lips.

“Has the fruit awakened?!” Whitebeard ignored Akainu, his gaze fixed entirely on Luffy.

On the Red Hair Pirates’ ship, Red Hair, who had been following Kaido toward Marineford, spat out his drink—his meat fell from his hand.

“Boss... Luffy... he... he...”

“Awakened!” Red Hair grabbed the screen in delight: “Hurry! We must reach Marineford faster!”

“Ahahaha!”

“Ice Age!”

Aokiji’s feet spread ice, freezing Luffy’s body.

Kizaru teleported beside Luffy, delivering a kick glowing with light—the most serious kick he’d ever landed in battle.

Blocked by an arm.

Akainu Sakazuki pulled back from Whitebeard and hurled a fist of condensed magma toward Ace.

Luffy’s fist swelled with the wind, grabbing Ace.

“Gum-Gum Jump!”

Luffy’s leg stretched impossibly far, like in a cartoon, then he leapt upward—Kizaru arrived above him.

“You won’t escape, Straw Hat boy.”

Beams, fire, and ice attacked from above, below, and the sides.

“Gum-Gum Giant!”

The Straw Hat boy transformed into a giant larger than the Giants themselves, leaving everyone frozen in stunned silence.

“Gum-Gum Shield!”

Attacks rained down on the Straw Hat like drops of rain.

“This isn’t a joke,” Aokiji said grimly.

Seeing his attacks fail, Kizaru turned into light and returned near Sakazuki: “Mr. Sakazuki, this is a problem indeed~.”

In midair, Luffy saw Akainu, face twisted with malice, preparing a devastating technique.

“Akainu!”

A fist turned black as iron, striking toward Akainu.

“Sakazuki, get out of the way!” Sakazuki leapt up, his body swelling even larger as he slammed into Luffy: “Stop this, Straw Hat!”

“Ice Block—Razor Beak!” Aokiji’s right arm erupted with freezing cold, launching a colossal ice bird into Luffy’s chest.

The giant Luffy stomped downward—his massive feet crushed the flying ice bird to shards, along with the ground around it.

But Aokiji had already frozen Luffy’s feet solid.

Even as Luffy’s body continuously radiated heat, the frigid ice kept spreading over the giant’s feet, turning the battlefield into a mist of steam.

Tremors.

Everyone felt as if an earthquake had struck; those nearby were flung two meters into the air.

The ground erupted into a volcano; molten lava surged like a tornado toward Luffy’s fist.

For a moment, magma spread across the sky like a flat plane.

Marines and pirates scrambled to dodge, terrified of being caught in the blast.

Golden light flashed—and suddenly, two suns appeared in the sky.

The golden light detached from his feet.

A torrent of light followed.

In an instant, it pierced through Luffy’s shoulder.

Sakazuki’s golden fist, charged with Haki and unmatched power, struck Luffy’s back.

The battered giant Luffy collapsed, just like Oars before him.

But before falling, his other hand, still gripping Ace, reached Whitebeard and hurled Ace down.

Luffy’s goal had been to use his giant form to push Ace out of the battlefield’s center.

“Luffy!” Ace screamed.

“Disappear, Straw Hat boy!” Akainu had judged Luffy’s current threat and potential to exceed that of Ace the Fire Fist.

The Straw Hat must be executed here!