028 Complete Beast Form...

"Courting death." The constant jeers of "mangy dog" had finally pushed Akainu past his breaking point. Magma erupted from his entire body, his right fist surging with terrifying energy. Even before the match officially began, he launched his attack.

"Dog Devour."

The air trembled, heat radiated, and the ground quaked as Akainu appeared beside Xuanye. His right fist, blazing red like a locomotive, crashed toward Xuanye's chest with a mighty shockwave.

Xuanye narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. If Akainu hadn't provoked him, Xuanye might have admired him in some ways. For instance, Akainu's mastery of magma: instead of focusing on temperature, he'd emulated a volcano's eruption, explosive force, and devouring nature. In this respect, perhaps Akainu was the most suited to the Magma Fruit. Unfortunately, Akainu had to die.

Without warning, Xuanye vanished just as the attack was about to land.

Seeing a fresh crater where Xuanye had stood, Akainu’s heart sank.

Sure enough, a voice as chilling as ice resounded the next instant.

"Mangy dog, your speed is far too slow."

Every muscle tensed, Akainu's hairs stood on end. Trusting his instincts, he ducked.

No sooner had he crouched than space above his head roared—a jet-black whip-like kick swept past, so swift it split the air with a piercing sound.

After delivering the kick, Xuanye twisted in midair, the corner of his mouth curling upward. A flaming spear materialized in his right hand, its tip as black as ever, clearly imbued with Haki.

Without hesitation, Xuanye hurled the spear with force. Like an arrow, it tore through the air, flying straight at Akainu.

Detecting the whistle of the spear above, Akainu's face twisted. He could only roll aside in a desperate dodge. Even though his Observation Haki had sensed Xuanye's attack, his body couldn't keep up.

"Flame Ray." Hovering in the air, Xuanye pressed his advantage, not giving Akainu a moment's respite.

"Whoosh... whoosh..." Ten searing beams of flame erupted one after another, unrelenting as they surged toward Akainu.

"Enough!" Akainu roared, his face contorted with rage at this humiliation.

"Crimson Lotus Fang."

Magma burst forth, soaring skyward amid curling smoke.

"Boom... boom rumble..."

Smoke and fire filled the air, sand and stones flew, and whirling shockwaves plunged the battlefield into chaos.

"You think it's over just because you say so?"

The voice, laced with loathing, echoed at Akainu's ear. He turned, pupils contracting—an enormous, flaming talon was swinging at his head.

Without question, Xuanye had shifted into his half-beast form.

Gulping, Akainu had no time to counter. He could only raise his magma-wreathed right arm to shield his head.

"Bang..." The collision sent a shockwave rippling outward, the ground beneath their feet shattering and spiderweb cracks racing in all directions.

"Guh..." Akainu grunted, stumbling back, his right arm trembling violently.

He barely had time to catch his breath before his body tensed again.

"God of Fire Spear!"

Across from him, Xuanye spread his arms, gazing skyward as flames swirled thickly. Before the naked eye, fire twisted and coiled. In an instant, a massive weapon, a hundred meters long, formed and plummeted toward Akainu like a meteor, tearing space as it fell.

"Great Eruption!"

Akainu raised both hands high, unleashing a deluge of magma balls that soared heavenward.

"Boom... boom..." The titanic clash sent shockwaves rippling, the battlefield spiraling out of control.

"Endless Arrows!"

Flames blotted out the sky in a golden-red haze, and a host of blades, spears, swords, and halberds appeared at Xuanye's back. Xuanye reached out, a wicked smile on his lips. Under Akainu's horrified gaze, he flicked a finger, loosing a barrage of attacks that burst forth like streaks of light.

"Hellhound!"

The world shuddered as magma streamed from Akainu’s hands into the earth. In a flash, the ground quaked, a colossal beast roared, and lunged forward.

"Extreme Speed." Xuanye bent his knees, his legs transformed into golden crow claws, thundering against the ground, shattering it beneath him.

Seeing this, Kizaru, watching from the sidelines, wore a stormy expression, fists clenched, his face livid.

"Is he finally going all-out?" Kong and the others watched, eyes grave. They knew this madman Xuanye was about to unleash his true power.

"Bang..." The ground detonated, stones scattering as Xuanye vanished from his spot, reappearing above Akainu in the blink of an eye.

"Finger Gun: Golden Crow Claw!"

One talon struck, air exploding, the tremendous force twisting Akainu's features.

"Hellhound!"

Fire and magma erupted, Akainu’s feet sank deep into the ground, the surroundings left in chaos.

"Finger Gun: Feathered Wings!"

A burst of flame, a spread of golden wings—black as ink, hard as iron—swept down.

"Magma Shield!"

Magma spiraled upward, forming a towering wall armored with Haki, standing unyielding.

"Endless Arrows!"

"Great Eruption!"

"Extreme Speed!"

"Ugh..." Akainu's face went pale, blood spraying as he was hurled backward, skidding and gouging a long trench in the earth.

"Whoosh..." Xuanye's form blurred, vanishing and reappearing as he seized the opportunity for relentless attacks.

Because Xuanye moved so swiftly, Akainu could only defend, battered in seconds—bruises blooming across his body, blood at the corner of his mouth, his state dire.

Had he not relied on elementalization to dodge at key moments, he would already be gravely wounded.

"Huff... huff..." The sustained, furious assault left Xuanye slightly winded.

"Mangy dog, you really are like a dog—clinging to life by a thread." His chest heaved, his shoulder-length hair falling loose, lending him a rebellious air. Yet no one dared underestimate him in this form.

"Hmph... What can you do to me?" Akainu stood, disheveled, his uniform torn, face mottled with bruises.

"What can I do? Let’s see how much longer you last. One careless move, and it’ll be your death." Xuanye shook his hands, flexed his feet, and gave a cold smile, his eyes burning gold and red.

"Release: Full Beast Form!"

"Boom... boom boom... fwoosh..."

Scorching heat bathed the sky in gold and red. Countless flames surged upward like a river in flood.

A chilling screech rang out as, in the boundless flames, a massive beast arched its neck to the heavens and howled.

Majestic, violent, cruel, ferocious—an overwhelming, terrifying aura swept across the entire island.

"This... this..." On the high platform, feeling the searing heatwaves, Tsuru stood, staring fixedly at the giant bird in its complete form aloft in the sky.

"Is this the Flame Bird?" The crowd was astonished—so powerful, so savage.

"Tsuru, are you sure this is an Ancient Zoan?" Garp frowned. The ancient aura was simply immense.

"Tsuru, of all the Navy, you’ve seen the most Devil Fruit records. What exactly is this animal-type Devil Fruit?" Kong asked gravely, gazing at the giant bird spreading its wings in fire, at a loss for words.

"I've never seen this Devil Fruit before. But Xuanye says it’s an ancient type—whatever the truth, I believe it is. In fact, it might not just be an ancient type but a mythical Zoan, rarer even than Logia." Tsuru drew a deep breath, her tone excited. Xuanye might have consumed a mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

The Red Line, World Government, the seat of power—the same unadorned office. Five elders stared intently at the den-den mushi broadcast of the fight.

"What Devil Fruit is this?"

"Interesting. Very interesting."

"To go toe-to-toe with a Logia... that kid’s developed the fruit well."

"Has this fruit ever appeared in history?"

"No..."

"Then something new is emerging there once again?"

A heavy silence fell, the five wore grim expressions.

"What about Gol D. Roger?"

"Currently unaccounted for."

"We must find him—he must die. If he’s been there, he must know everything. We cannot allow those people to enter this world again."

"Don’t worry. As one of the D's and someone who’s been there, Gol D. Roger surely knows how terrifying the Dragon’s Descendants are. Even if we’re not from here, we were born in this world. Compared to them, those born of this world are more trustworthy."

"Hmph. To the D clan, perhaps the current World Government is their greatest enemy. After all, we once betrayed—"

"Enough. Regardless, Gol D. Roger must die, and now is not the time for this discussion."

"Agreed. Perhaps we should increase our power. If so, neither of them can be allowed to die." One pointed at Xuanye and Akainu in the broadcast.

"Let’s leave it at that. The final battle is about to be decided."

...