Chapter 428: Gear Four: Snake Man!

Accompanied by Akin’s low hum, countless blade-like bone spines erupted from his body, blooming like flowers—ferocious and sinister.

“What… is this?!”

“A Devil Fruit user?!”

Luffy raised a hand, pressing down his hat; his gaze beneath the brim never left Akin.

Since debuting in the East Blue, he had faced countless strong opponents; the War of the Summit made him famous, and later Jia Ba was likewise a supreme force who ruled the seas.

But facing a Emperor-level opponent face-to-face—this was his first time. The pressure Akin exuded was nearly suffocating.

Creak—creak—creak—!

The bone spines wrapped around Akin, shattering him into powder.

Scattered by the wind.

The massive figure hidden within the spines now appeared before everyone.

Three heads, six arms; his upper body resembled a knight clad in pitch-black armor, his lower body that of a horse, its shoulder height exceeding ten meters.

“What is this?!”

“A monster?! Or some unheard-of rare species?!”

“No!”

In the spectator seats.

After their initial shock, the crowd gradually regained composure.

They widened their eyes, staring at Akin in the arena center—still stunned.

Some thought of rare species, but others thought of Devil Fruits.

“No, he’s a Devil Fruit user—likely a Mythical Zoan type. Only a Mythical Zoan could manifest such a bizarre form.”

“It must be!”

“Never thought we’d see one here—no wonder he’s a general under General Gao Wen!”

…

In the spectator seats.

Kaido’s gaze settled on Akin, his pupils contracting slightly.

He had some knowledge of Britannias; information on Akin, Gao Wen’s right hand, was especially critical.

“I recall he wasn’t an Animal-type—he’s a Paramecia user who ate the Bone-Bone Fruit, the Bone Man.”

“This bizarre form… a secondary development built on a Paramecia foundation?!”

“No!”

Leidefield crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Akin—he saw more than Kaido did:

“Not only that. Though he hasn’t shown the Paramecia hallmark of environmental domination, there’s no doubt—he’s awakened.”

“And this Armament Haki that dyes every black hair on his body black… I’ve only seen it on one man.”

“Black Arm—Zefa!”

“He opens with his ultimate move?!”

Leidefield’s eyes narrowed slightly:

“Luffy kid…”

Leidefield held some fondness for Luffy.

After all, he was the man Brook, his former mentor, had approved of—and had risked angering the World Government to free him from Impel Down.

Though there was a transaction involved, he still owed him that favor.

Moreover, Leidefield had begun to suspect that the remnants of Roger’s crew were waiting for Luffy.

Or rather, for some dormant ability within Luffy.

“If he has no stronger trump card, Luffy has no chance in this fight.”

Their conversation was not concealed.

Kid, standing nearby, heard every word clearly.

Originally, he didn’t want Luffy to win—after all, to a man like him, being subordinate was no different from humiliation.

But now, watching Akin stand before Luffy, displaying such overwhelming dominance, Kid didn’t want this battle to end so hastily.

“At least…”

“Live up to your own bold words!”

“Luffy!”

“Huh?!”

Suddenly,

Kid noticed a faint, almost imperceptible gaze resting on him.

He turned—only to see Sabo, one hand holding a pipe, the other steadying his hat, quickly turning away.

“You…”

Kid was about to call out when a thunderous roar erupted from the distant arena!

Boom—!

A spiraling bone spear shot past Luffy’s face, skidded across the arena floor, and plunged completely into the surrounding wall.

The entire arena shook from the blow, trembling violently, causing countless spectators to lose their seats and erupt in panic.

“Monster!”

“That guy just shook the whole arena!”

“The spectator seats… aren’t safe anymore!”

Akin’s fighting style was brutal and expansive, unleashing his power freely through the Bone-Bone Fruit’s bodily modifications.

In raw physical strength alone, he surpassed even the current Gao Wen.

In his Death Knight form, his thrown bone spears could pierce through multiple mountain peaks in an instant.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

The Death Knight’s hooves stomped restlessly on the ground; Akin loomed above Luffy, radiating the arrogance of an Emperor-level warrior.

That strike shattered the last trace of Luffy’s playful expression.

This was no ordinary opponent—he was a legendary ruler of the seas, one of the strongest near the King.

Realizing this, Luffy’s face lost all traces of amusement—only gravity, gravity, and more gravity remained:

“This guy… is strong!”

“Stronger than imaginable—unmatched!”

Even Akin before him reminded Luffy of the pressure he’d felt facing a Marine Admiral on Sabaody Archipelago.

Because the strength was identical.

Yet Luffy’s confidence showed not the slightest dimming.

“But…”

“I’ve transformed too!”

“Ssshh—!”

Luffy drew a deep breath, bit his fingertip, then forcefully blew a massive volume of air into his body.

His arms swelled like balloons, expanding within seconds to the size of a house—larger even than a giant’s limbs!

“Gear Third—Bone Balloon!”

Black Haki coiled around it, amplifying its power.

Months ago, he’d used this move to punch open the gates of Impel Down.

But now his opponent was Akin!

Emperor-level Akin!

“If this clownish ability is your trump card, then I’m sorry—your journey ends here!”

“Gao Wen… is the savior!”

Creak—creak—creak—!

Bones ground together, emitting a grating screech.

Akin raised all six arms; bone spines extended from his palms, intertwining instantly into six spiraling bone spears.

“Six?!”

“This guy’s insane!”

From the spectator seats directly facing Akin came a chorus of panicked cries.

Many were nearly terrified into urinating themselves!

A single bone spear had already shaken the entire arena—six fired at once…

“He’s going to destroy the Round Table Arena!”

Amid the crowd’s panic, Akin launched all six bone spears.

Hssss—!

Even with all four hooves planted, the recoil sent Akin sliding backward nearly a hundred meters before he finally stopped.

Such immense kinetic energy yielded power capable of shaking heaven and earth.

Luffy, at the center of the assault, turned pale instantly!

For six bone spears hurtling toward him had completely sealed off every possible escape route.

In other words, this move... could only be braced head-on!

This was a clash of pure raw power!

Akin’s dominance and fighting style had been evident from the very start!