Chapter 306: Hana-fuza's Life Belongs to Me

Paradise, the western side of Guya Island.

As the Drought of the Beasts Pirates and a current Warlord of the Sea, Hanafuza, though it took some effort, finally obtained the Yamata no Orochi form as he wished.

"If Big Brother Kaido knew, he would surely be overjoyed."

The reason Hanafuza loved collecting Zoan-type Devil Fruits was precisely to realize Big Brother Kaido's dream of the Beasts, even going so far as to leave the Beasts Pirates to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Now having regained the Yamata no Orochi form, Hanafuza could not wait to bring it before Big Brother Kaido immediately.

However, a proud and arrogant laugh suddenly rang out, interrupting Hanafuza's reverie.

"Keh heh heh heh heh~"

"I don't know if Big Brother Kaido is happy, but I am very happy right now."

Moria grinned, with Brook and Cat Fushe flanking him like the two heavenly generals, striding in grandly.

This sudden turn of events not only made Hanafuza's expression change drastically, but even Zephyr and Enel, the master and disciple hiding in the shadows, had faces filled with astonishment.

"Hana-fuza, your time to die has come."

The smile on Moria's face was as brilliant as the galaxy; Hanafuza's strength was merely so-so,

and with three against one, the advantage is mine.

"It's you, the stray dog." Hanafuza knew the principle that one must not show weakness in momentum.

If it were anyone else, he would likely be able to escape safely and leave empty-handed just by handing over the Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi form.

But it happened to be Moria who appeared.

Four years ago, the Beasts Pirates nearly annihilated Moria's Pirates in Wano Country's Suzu, with only Moria himself escaping by a miracle.

Between them could be said to be a deep blood feud.

"Stray dog?"

Moria picked his ear and mocked, "What, have you forgotten so quickly who was driven out of Wano Country by the Morning Star Pirates? Wasn't it you?"

In any case,

Moria had personally participated in the great battle to reclaim Wano Country, belonging to the side of the victors.

And the Beasts Pirates were the losers who fled in disgrace.

The victors must humiliate the losers severely.

The master and disciple Zephyr, hiding in the shadows, watched the drama unfold: Warlord Hanafuza is Kaido's man?

Those fools in the World Government! Actually inviting someone from an Emperor's crew to become a Warlord of the Sea.

It is simply beyond stupid.

Hanafuza had nothing to say; facing a man like Barzab Seven, even Big Brother Kaido, strong as he was, had his defenses broken.

What could he do!?

"Captain, stop wasting words with him."

Coinciding with the full moon, Cat Fushe switched to the Mink Tribe's Sulong form; furthermore, since Oden died by Kaido's hand, Cat Fushe hated Hanafuza to the point of grinding his teeth.

"Get him."

Sensing that Moria's trio held all the advantages—

Zephyr knew they could wait no longer; if Hanafuza were defeated, he and Enel would have to face Moria's trio alone.

It would be better to act now, first uniting with the weaker side to repel the strongest side on the field.

"Everyone certainly has good tastes."

Seeing Zephyr appear and walk toward Hanafuza, Moria's eyelids twitched incessantly.

As the saying goes, a man's name is like the shadow of a tree.

Zephyr was after all a former Fleet Admiral, one of the top-tier experts on the seas; even if the three of them could win, they would likely suffer heavy losses.

Moria always valued his comrades, naturally not allowing such a thing to happen.

Brook and Cat Fushe were the core of his core; missing any one of them would be unacceptable... yet missing such a heaven-sent opportunity for revenge left him unwilling.

Exchanging a glance with Cat Fushe and seeing the determination in Cat Fushe's eyes, Moria immediately shouted at Zephyr.

"The fruit is yours; Hana-fuza's life is mine."

"Eh?" Zephyr stopped in his tracks, his facial expression suddenly becoming extremely dramatic, half confusion and half surprise.

Zephyr never expected that Moria's hatred for Hanafuza was so great that it could override the value of a Mythical Zoan.

What grudge, what resentment?

Or was it Moria's delaying tactic?

First resolve Hanafuza, then target the two of them, master and disciple... Zephyr fell into deep thought.

The three sides faced off strangely; no one took another step forward, thus breaking this brief and fragile balance.

With his eyes darting, Hanafuza gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble: he would bet that Moria would not miss this Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

The moment Hanafuza threw the Devil Fruit into the air, Moria's trio moved, their eyes seeing nothing but Hanafuza turning to flee.

"Hana-fuza, where do you think you're going!"

Watching Moria and the others chase after Hanafuza, Zephyr quickly stepped on Moon Walk and caught the Yamata no Orochi Fruit.

"Enel, eat it quickly."

"Master, you eat it; I am still young..."

"Foolish." Zephyr cut him off: "Precisely because you are still young and your combat habits have not yet solidified, you need to consume the Devil Fruit as soon as possible."

"I am already fifty-five; rashly consuming a Devil Fruit would instead hinder the exertion of my strength."

Zephyr joined the Marine Academy at fourteen, became an Admiral at thirty-eight, and was called Black Arm for his mastery of Armament Haki; his fighting style had long been set.

Enel stopped trying to decline, holding the Yamata no Orochi form and munching away with muffled sounds.

Seeing this, Zephyr's eye twitched wildly.

"It's enough, it's enough. You only need to take one bite of a Devil Fruit to gain its power."

"Old Lion..." Enel puffed out his cheeks: "I heard eating the whole thing makes awakening the fruit easier... whoa..."

As he spoke, the stench of rot shot straight to the crown of Enel's head, nearly making him vomit, but for the sake of fruit awakening, he still forced himself to endure the nauseating smell and devoured it all in one go.

Zephyr savored those words just spoken.

"Eat the whole thing... makes awakening easier?"

For anyone who knew this news, whether it was true or false actually no longer mattered.

Except for Saint Seven, Zephyr had not seen anyone else able to possess two Devil Fruit powers simultaneously.

In short, you only get one chance in a lifetime to eat a Devil Fruit; do you bet or not?

This is a blatant scheme!

"Hah~ hiss~" Enel stuck out his tongue, as if only that could quickly disperse the rotting smell in his mouth.

"Teacher, I didn't expect it to be this easy."

Zephyr nodded in deep agreement: "Warlord Moria... is actually an honest man who keeps his promises."

Having plotted for a long time before coming, and even stationed in Mock Town for over a month, he never expected to obtain the Yamata no Orochi form so easily.

"Let's withdraw first; we'll test the abilities of this Mythical Zoan type after returning to headquarters."

The master and disciple left without looking back; as for whether Hanafusa was dead or alive, who cared?

"Enel, keep today's events secret."

If Moria and the other two really killed Hanafusa, Zephyr was willing to keep this secret for Moria to avoid retaliation from Kaido of the Beasts.

"Teacher, I understand."

"Warlord Moria is a High Pirate, the two of us are High Marines, and Hanafusa is a Low Pirate..."

Perhaps because his wish had been granted, Zephyr was in an excellent mood and, unusually, did not criticize the High Pirate/High Marine theory.

With the Mythical Zoan type: Yamata no Orochi form, given Enel's talent and physique, he could absolutely become the next Marine Admiral.

The New Navy finally has hope.