As the dust settled, a green giant stood tall amidst the ruins.
That foot, several times larger than a normal person's, was still unconsciously grinding down. Barry, beneath his heel, had long since turned into a blurred mess of flesh and blood, unable to even let out a final scream.
The entire field was deathly silent. Only the whimpering sound of the sea breeze blowing through the ruins could be heard, along with the heavy, bellows-like breathing of the green monster.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard. In this silence where every sound was infinitely magnified, the noise seemed exceptionally piercing.
Those pirate lackeys who had been clamoring to teach the "four-eyed brat" a lesson were now ashen-faced, their legs shaking like leaves. The blades, spears, swords, and halberds in their hands clattered to the ground.
A monster! This is definitely a monster!
Although there are as many Devil Fruit users with transformation abilities as there are hairs on a cow in these seas—especially Zoan-types, where transforming into various beasts, birds of prey, or even dinosaurs isn't unusual—this thing in front of them felt completely different!
It didn't have that unique ripple characteristic of a Devil Fruit. Nor did it have any animal traits, except for that eerie green skin.
He just stood there. Just the pure, tyrannical aura of destructive desire he emitted made everyone present feel a shudder from the depths of their souls! It was as if they were facing a ferocious beast that had stepped out of the primordial wilderness!
"This is... that frail scientist?" A Gifter's lips trembled, his face full of disbelief. "You... you've got to be kidding me!"
"That guy with the glasses just now clearly wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken!"
The massive contrast shocked everyone's nerves.
In mid-air, the playful smile on Kizaru's face faded slightly. He pushed up his amber-tinted sunglasses, his brow arching slightly. A sharp glint flashed in his seemingly lazy eyes.
"Oh my~"
"Is this the person Dr. Vegapunk specifically asked for?"
"I thought he was just a smart scholar... I didn't expect him to be hiding such a trump card."
Kizaru tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over Hulk's exaggerated muscle lines. As a Marine Admiral, he had seen countless powerful figures.
But he keenly noticed that this big green guy in front of him didn't have Haki flowing within his body. He didn't even have a martial arts stance. All he had was power pure to the extreme, and an anger that seemed as if it would smash the entire world to pieces!
"This transformation... doesn't look like a Devil Fruit ability."
"Could this be the mutation caused by gamma rays? How... scary~"
Although he said it was scary, Kizaru's tone still carried that punchable leisure. Clearly, in his eyes, while this green giant looked intimidating, as long as he didn't have Haki, he was nothing more than a sitting duck in front of a Logia.
However, on the other side, "Drought" Jack's reaction was completely different.
Boom!
Jack's massive body shook violently, crushing the surrounding rubble beneath his feet. He stared intently at Hulk. There was no fear in those bloodshot eyes; instead, an even more violent fighting spirit ignited!
As a Lead Performer of the Beasts Pirates, Jack believed in only one thing: power is everything! In this monster, he smelled the scent of his own kind! It was the scent of an apex predator!
"Is this your true face, scientist?" Jack gave a sinister laugh, his voice exploding like muffled thunder.
"I didn't expect that you would also be a Zoan-type user!"
"Looking at this form... is it the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Green Giant Model?!"
Jack naturally categorized Hulk as a Devil Fruit user. After all, in this world, it was hard to explain this phenomenon of instantaneous size and power surges without Devil Fruits.
"Roar..."
Hearing Jack's voice, Hulk slowly turned his head. Those irrational, deep green eyes locked onto Jack.
For this beast that only knew destruction, whoever spoke the loudest and whoever had the strongest aura was the next target to be smashed!
"Hulk... hate... ELEPHANT!!!"
A roar!
Boom!
The ground beneath Hulk's feet instantly collapsed! The massive reaction force propelled his huge body forward like a green cannonball. Accompanied by a piercing sonic boom, he arrived in front of Jack in an instant!
There were no fancy moves. No techniques. Just a simple punch aimed straight at Jack's face!
"Humph! Bring it on!"
Jack was delighted rather than surprised. Facing this heavy punch, he had no intention of dodging. As an Ancient Zoan, Mammoth Model user, he had absolute confidence in his own strength and defense!
Even against a Marine Admiral, he would dare to face them head-on! Could the transformation of a mere nobody possibly suppress him in strength?!
"Get lost!!!"
Jack roared. His arm, as thick as a stone pillar, was instantly covered in a layer of pitch-black Armament Haki! He also threw a punch. Head-to-head! This was a contest of strength between monsters!
The next second, two fists, one large and one small, collided fiercely in mid-air!
Thud—!!!
A dull, heavy thud instantly echoed throughout the entire island!
Immediately after, a visible, terrifying shockwave radiated wildly from the two of them as the center!
Crack! Crack!
The ground within a radius of several hundred meters shattered inch by inch like a cracker! Wild winds howled! Sand and stones flew! The pirate lackeys standing nearby were sent flying by the air current.
Even Kizaru in mid-air had to elementalize to avoid the dust.
"What incredible power..." Kizaru's figure materialized in the distance, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
And at the center of the battlefield, the outcome was decided in an instant!
"What?!"
Jack's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinheads! The moment the fists made contact, he felt an indescribable, terrifying force coming from the other's fist!
That power was vast! Violent! Endless! It was as if an erupting volcano had slammed into him!
His proud mammoth strength seemed so fragile in the face of this pure, monstrous strength!
Crack!
The crisp sound of a bone fracturing rang out. Jack's arm, covered in Armament Haki, actually twisted in an eerie way!
Then... Whoosh—!
Jack's mountain-like body was actually sent flying by that single punch!
Rumble!!!
Like a broken kite, Jack smashed through three small hills in succession. Finally, he slammed hard into the cliff face at the edge of the island!
Rubble fell. Dust filled the air. The entire field fell into a deathly silence once more.
Everyone's mouths hung open, their jaws nearly hitting the ground. Their eyes were practically popping out!
Who was that? That was "Drought" Jack! One of the Three Disasters of the Beasts Pirates! A super pirate with a bounty as high as one billion Berries! An Ancient Zoan user known for his thick skin and terrifying strength!
And yet, in a direct clash of strength, he was sent flying by a single punch?! And it was a complete, crushing blow?!
How is this possible?!
Gulp...
A pirate swallowed hard in despair. "Just... just what kind of monster is this..."
[Ding! Astonishment value from Pirate A +199!]
[Ding! Astonishment value from Pirate B +188!]
[Ding! Astonishment value from Jack +666!]