Chapter 148: Hitsujii: You Are Already Dead!
Every living creature in this world feels pain.
Every living creature in this world dies if killed.
So all living creatures should respect and fear death and pain, and yield to them.
Therefore, it is natural that the weak fear the strong, and the strong can trample on the weak.
Just as World Government member nations trample non-member nations, and Celestial Dragons enslave anyone at will—it's not oppression or torture, but natural order.
"Only this way can the world be reassuring."
This was the twisted value system of the monster named 'Aramaki'.
But now, he found a group of monsters that didn't follow this 'Order'.
That was...
BOOM!
The group of incredible monsters called Mythical Beast Lords.
From the start, their attacks were like the oldest drumbeats in this forest.
Flowing earth and freezing frost formed 'Control' and 'Support'.
Roaring flames, gales, lightning, and high-speed piercing formed 'Assault' and 'Assassination'.
Finally, the silent, mountain-like giant rock formed 'Defense'.
Six Mythical Beast Lords operated like a perfect war machine, constantly attacking Aramaki.
Of course, Aramaki didn't think he feared them.
Every slash of his massive blade could level a large area of the forest. With terrifying Armament Haki, the bodies of the Mythical Beast Lords were often shattered.
Yes—Mythical Beast Lords were powerful, true 'Powerhouses' on the sea.
But Aramaki believed he was stronger.
The only problem was...
He didn't see 'Fear' in these creatures as he usually did.
Even though his attacks were effective, and these monsters were real living beings, not painless illusions.
Even when their flesh, bones, fur, and claws were shattered, these creatures would immediately attack with their broken bodies after roaring in pain.
When pierced by branches, deprived of vitality and moisture, unable to move, they would even choose to kill themselves without hesitation, then 'Reborn' in a burst of blue and gold brilliance.
"Monsters transcending 'Order'?"
Gritting his teeth, Aramaki finally admitted.
These 'Mythical Beast Lords'... no, everyone on this island, were the type he disliked most.
Just then...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He heard roaring sounds from outside the island.
The sound of countless cannons firing.
Aramaki knew what this meant—fleets of various nations approached Neverland and seemed to engage someone.
Likely that swordsman named 'Issho'.
"This won't... do."
Aramaki's expression grew crueler.
"I promised the King to retrieve the Fountain of Youth before other nations' fleets arrive."
"I've decided to offer it to the Celestial Dragons for pardon."
He ignored the attacks of the Mythical Beast Lords, letting them tear his body.
Pain stimulated his nerves, making him angrier and more excited.
Excitement for the impending destruction.
Powerful aura gathered around him.
His gaze locked onto Hitsujii, still sitting leisurely in the distance.
"Hey."
His voice became hoarse and low.
"Do you really know what a 'Forest' is?"
As he spoke, the surrounding 'Forest of Rage' seemed to become an extension of his body—overlapping voices echoed in the forest.
"Vibrant? Flowers everywhere? Abundant resources? Or like the so-called 'Fairytale Forest' on this island?"
"Utterly foolish."
In this moment, Aramaki didn't seem human anymore.
The Mythical Beast Lords stopped attacking for the first time.
They retreated silently, guarding Hitsujii like loyal soldiers, wary of the impending terror.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The earth seemed to have a heartbeat.
All trees summoned by Aramaki rushed toward him madly.
Massive trees were uprooted, withering and decomposing rapidly as they flew toward him.
Shattered wood and broken roots merged into his body.
As if grabbed by giant tentacles, then... Devoured.
Aramaki began to 'Grow'.
"Forest is the source of life equal to the sea, the embodiment of 'Nature'."
"And Nature is... 'Cruel'."
As he spoke, his body grew to an incredible size.
After devouring the entire 'Forest of Rage', his form was no longer a humanoid treant, but a towering, pitch-black Giant Tree reaching the sky!
Branches were his arms, canopy his head; the entire island seemed under his feet.
The canopy blocked the sun; the mountain-thick trunk was covered in hideous, twisted patterns.
BOOM!
A casual lash of a branch contained power enough to shatter mountains.
Every part of his tree body was composed of countless small trees, as if massive 'Forests' grew on him.
Under his feet, extremely thick roots breathed something from the earth—the source of Aramaki's growing power.
The source of all life hidden deep beneath this island.
Moisture, vitality—or collectively, Nutrients.
"Green grass plunders nutrients from soil."
"Giant trees devour corpses of beasts."
"The weak offer everything to the strong, becoming nutrients... that is the rule of nature itself."
Atop the colossal giant tree reaching beyond the sky, Aramaki's eyes looked down at the tiny 'Mythical Beast Lords' and the so-called 'Island Spirit'.
"And I am the Forest Human who ate the 'Woods-Woods Fruit' (Mori Mori no Mi)."
"The order I follow is the rule of the forest."
Yes.
Aramaki was a Logia 'Woods-Woods Fruit' user.
His ability was unique among Logia.
Unlike normal Logia users, his elementalization didn't grant immunity to physical damage—trees weren't elements but had tangible bodies; he felt pain.
This made every battle incredibly 'Angry' and 'Painful' for him.
But in return, he gained abilities far stronger than ordinary Logia elementalization.
As 'Forest', he could create needed trees at will.
His trees could photosynthesize or draw nutrients from the earth to sustain him.
Even under Haki attacks, he could heal rapidly with this ability.
He accepted the offering of the entire forest, just as the masses offered to the World Government and Celestial Dragons.
That was the 'Order' he revered.
[Fruit Awakening · Endless Woods · World Tree]
His current state was the ultimate manifestation of this ability.
Under the constant suction of his roots.
Neverland's vegetation and earth dried up visibly.
Streams dried up, ground cracked, even moss withered.
But he didn't care.
That was his goal.
This annoying island was filled with destruction of his 'Order'.
"Neverland, and you monsters—should all be destroyed without a trace!"
This was his resolve.
He would take the Fountain of Youth and destroy 'Neverland'.
He raised the branch on his right—the massive branch looked like a terrifying giant sword capable of splitting the island.
He raised the 'branch', ready to strike.
But moments later, he froze.
"..."
He discovered—a figure appeared in front of him unnoticed.
It was 'Hitsujii'.
His appearance was no longer casual.
Golden, blue, and white Flame Clouds surrounded him.
A beautiful single horn grew on his head, colorful ribbons drifting around him.
Most importantly...
Aramaki saw faint, dreamlike rainbow light emanating from Hitsujii.
Countless illusory figures floated within the rainbow light.
Most notably, the figures of the six Mythical Beast Lords.
Besides them, countless other dream creatures existed within.
That appearance, as if—the existence named 'Hitsujii' was also a dream creature not belonging to reality.
No, even that wasn't accurate enough.
He was like the Lord of All Dreams.
[Extra Fusion Effect - King of Dreams]
[Dream Qilin is the King of all Dream Creatures. Can merge all nearby Dream Creatures with self, entering 'True Qilin Form'.]
[In this form, combat power greatly enhanced. User becomes a 'Dream Creature', immune to damage until merged dream creatures are exhausted.]
"World Tree · Branch of Destruction!"
Sensing something wrong instinctively, Aramaki struck immediately.
The tree body, having absorbed almost all nutrients of the island, erupted with immense power—the massive branch swung, its shockwave dispersing the clouds above the island instantly, gales churning the surrounding sea into massive waves.
But...
"..."
Aramaki was horrified to find.
After this strike, Hitsujii remained floating calmly in the air before him.
Yes—let alone damage, he wasn't even sure if he hit the target.
"Illusion!?"
Aramaki instinctively thought Hitsujii might be an illusion.
But the next moment... he knew this guess was wrong.
Because he saw Hitsujii slowly extend his hand.
VMMM!
A massive sword appeared out of thin air in his hand.
Aramaki recognized it—the sword held in Yazi's mouth.
But now, the sword burned not only with Yazi's flames.
Frost, earth, rock, lightning, gale... powers of the Mythical Beast Lords entwined on it.
"Dream Slash · Six Beast Sword!"
The next instant, Hitsujii slashed.
Accompanied by intense pain, Aramaki saw the massive branch blocking him and Hitsujii being easily sliced apart.
Pain transmitted, Aramaki looked at Hitsujii incredulously.
He thought Hitsujii wasn't good at fighting personally, hence hiding far away earlier.
But clearly, that wasn't the case.
This guy was strong, stronger than the Mythical Beast Lords—no, completely different level!
"This form... so those Mythical Beast Lords were indeed created by his ability, not naturally born?"
Aramaki thought.
But he didn't panic.
SQUELCH!
His severed branch grew back instantly.
"Finally willing to fight personally?"
He laughed hideously. "But useless—whatever your ability is, facing me as 'Nature'... it's ineffective!"
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"Mr. Issho was right."
But then, he heard Hitsujii's voice.
Unexpectedly, there was no fighting spirit or tension.
"You really... aren't likable."
On the contrary, his tone was calm and indifferent.
"Strong trampling weak makes people reassured? Hey, hey... there's a limit to being disgusting. I'm about to vomit."
Hearing this, Aramaki's expression turned colder.
"You..."
He wanted to attack again immediately—regardless of the opponent's ability or how he dodged, it didn't matter.
He believed continuous attacks would exhaust the opponent.
Rooted in the earth, he was invincible!
But before he could raise his branch.
The next moment...
"!!!"
His expression changed drastically.
The confident, angry, berserk expression turned into incredulous shock and...
Unprecedented Fear.
"Feel it?"
Hitsujii's voice rang in his ear.
"You made two big mistakes, Mr. Aramaki."
This time, Aramaki heard icy chill in the voice.
"First, you shouldn't fight me here, or even stay here."
He paused, then repeated what he told Issho at the start. "I don't like boasting, but few existences here can defeat me."
"Second, it's not that I'm willing to fight you now."
"But the battle—"
He chuckled.
"Is already over."
As the words fell.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Aramaki let out an unprecedented, despairing, agonizing scream.