Chapter 28: Earthquake Dragon Form
“Roar————!!!”
Another roar that shook the atmosphere and Vast Sea.
The dinosaur, like a small hill, simply blew away the incoming cannonballs with its exhaled breath. It strode across the Land on legs as thick and powerful as pillars, each step triggering a small earthquake. Mushroom-shaped rocks that had stood for hundreds or even thousands of years were crushed to pieces like chocolate biscuits under one foot.
Flat head, long neck, sturdy and powerful limbs, and a tail that accounted for three-fifths of its body length.
Dragon Dragon Fruit · Earthquake Dragon Form.
This was the Devil Fruit that Eschbach had eaten.
However,
This was not a purchased Devil Fruit. With the Pirate Emperor “Beasts” in the New World intent on assembling a legion entirely composed of Zoan Devil Fruit Users, it was basically impossible to buy Zoan Devil Fruits on the market, whether through legitimate channels or the underground Black Market. Few people dared to offend “Beasts”.
Not to mention Ancient Zoan, even ordinary Zoan Devil Fruits were hard to obtain.
Elus had originally only selected an ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit from the family treasury to eat, but later the Hogyoku evolved it into a never-before-seen Mythical Zoan — Black-Winged Great Demon Form. It was precisely because of his own precedent that he had more ideas.
He retrieved another ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit from the family treasury, Lizard Fruit · Komodo Dragon Form, and had his aide-de-camp Eschbach eat this Devil Fruit while infusing it with the power of the Hogyoku.
Thus,
Ordinary species · Lizard Fruit · Komodo Dragon Form,
It evolved.
Ancient Zoan · Dragon Dragon Fruit · Earthquake Dragon Form — this was the new power that Eschbach possessed.
Eschbach was just the beginning. The other aide-de-camps also gradually received new powers one after another. Dick’s Ancient Zoan Giant Leopard Form was also the result of the same process. Otherwise, where would Elus get so many Ancient Zoan fruits?
Even Kaido, this mad Emperor, had not collected many Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits over the years.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have cooperated with Doflamingo for the trade of Artificial Devil Fruits. Well, but now it was only Marineford Era 1517, M·Caesar·Clown was still a member of the Navy Science Unit, and the research base on Punk Hazard was still under the Navy’s strict protection. One of the Three Admirals, “Kizaru”, was permanently stationed there, ensuring they had the power to fight even if the Four Emperors attacked.
Without the joining of this mad scientist who had always fantasized about surpassing Vegapunk,
Kaido and Doflamingo’s Artificial Devil Fruit trade was still nowhere in sight!
Hmm,
Got off track!
In short, the Ancient Zoan Zoan Devil Fruits that Eschbach and Dick ate were all the result of Elus’s interference with the Hogyoku.
Now,
Eschbach was using this power to clear the enemies in front of Elus.
“If you don’t want to die, obediently put down your weapons.”
Eschbach, transformed into a Giant Dragon, issued the final ultimatum with a thunderous voice.
He was still so kind.
Because he was unwilling to cause too much killing, he chose to act first, even resorting directly to his Devil Fruit ability and revealing the true form of the Earthquake Dragon to crush the morale of Umit’s army opposite them, thereby achieving the goal of minimizing unnecessary casualties.
“Tch, Eschbach the rotten good guy.”
Dick, who had been preempted, muttered. He looked up at the colossal behemoth in front of him, somewhat regretting that he had no chance to shine. Although both were Ancient Zoan Ability Users, he had to admit that Eschbach’s Earthquake Dragon Form was far more eye-catching than his Giant Leopard Form.
Moreover, Eschbach’s strength was rightfully the number one among the four aide-de-camps.
As long as Eschbach made a move, it meant the other three could only become background-like existences.
However,
It was just a regret.
They were not only colleagues but also friends who had grown up with Elus since childhood. Jealousy is human nature, but this nature had not developed in a bad direction under the constraint of the friendship nurtured later. Elus also did not allow his aide-de-camps to fracture internally.
“Eschbach is going to waste his effort this time.”
Kappas yawned, forcing open his sleepy eyes to gaze at the scene in the distance. “I’ve told him many times already, but this guy just won’t listen. Not everyone will accept his kindness… In some people’s eyes, his goodness is no different from mockery. Doing this will only enrage them.”
“Huh?”
Dick blinked, his face showing an expression of “What the hell are you saying that’s all profound and stuff, explain it clearly! Bastard!”
Kappas yawned again.
He slightly lowered his head to look at Dick. His height was 237 centimeters, 15 centimeters taller than Dick. He looked at Dick, his face showing an annoyed expression of hating trouble, somewhat regretting his earlier loose talk that had drawn the attention of this brain-deficient idiot. “I mean Dick, couldn’t you have used your brain more back then and listened properly to the teachers’ lessons?”
“Why bring up old scores now? Hey, Kappas, are you picking a fight?”
“Yeah, I must be sleep-confused too.”
Kappas patted his forehead. Talking to Dick would only waste his energy in vain. He straightforwardly asked, “Dick, if someone were to make a move on Your Highness, what would you do?”
“Do I even need to say? Of course, beat the crap out of him.”
“Even if it means dying, it doesn’t matter?”
“Of course.”
Dick answered without thinking.
“The enemies standing opposite us now have the same mindset as you. Though the wills they hold may not be the same, for them, Umit is like Your Highness to us — an existence that must be protected with their lives… Eschbach’s kindness is misplaced.”
At this point, Kappas raised his chin, pointing ahead. “See? Our enemies have been pissed off by Eschbach.”
Just as Kappas said,
The subordinates that Umit had summoned were all true confidants. They were die-hard subordinates cultivated by Umit over many years. Not only were they loyal to Umit in thought, their own vital interests were entirely built upon Umit’s identity as the King of Maritime Transport. If Umit fell, they would lose everything.
And as long as Umit continued to dominate the New World, even if they died, it would only bring a better future to their families and loved ones.
So,
Facing Eschbach’s good intentions, they felt it as condescending charity, a deep humiliation.
“Bang!!”
The cannon fired again in response.
Even though the previous scene had already proven that cannonballs had no effect on Eschbach, they still fired resolutely.
“I see! It was my oversight!”
Eschbach seemed to understand their choice.
He stopped sharing his kindness. Although Dick muttered that he was a rotten good guy, his kindness was not cheap enough to give away for free. Also, he respected enemies who stuck to their beliefs.
And his way of showing respect,
Was to give the enemy a decent funeral with the strongest Violence.
“Smack!!!”
That 30-meter-long tail whipped the ground.
The Land by the Seaside was shaken once more.
Winding ground fissures spread rapidly like a spider web. The tight formation was instantly broken. The opened fissures were like the bloody maws of ferocious beasts, devouring fresh lives one after another.
“Hey, big guy, here it comes!”
At that moment,
A man’s frivolous voice entered Eschbach’s ears.
