Speaking from the Heart

"The Celestial Dragons' slaves, are still their dogs..."

"You think you've turned the tables and become the master, but in reality... you haven't changed a bit since then."

Douglas Bare walked step by step toward Gild Tesoro. As he spoke, objects in the surrounding area drew closer to him, as if he had become a super-strong magnet. And as these inorganic substances merged, Bare's body began to rapidly grow larger.

This is his ability, the Clank-Clank Fruit.

"While some of what you have now is due to your intelligence, your greatest asset is still the Celestial Dragons... everything they have given you."

"Even your master is a lamb to the slaughter to us, let alone you?"

Bare's mocking voice made Gild Tesoro's pupils dilate and his hair stand on end.

Because of the power he had awakened, the golden giant he transformed into thought he was tall enough... However, faced with the power and catalyst of the Clank-Clank Fruit, he realized how ridiculous he was. Before him appeared a body that defied description; its exaggerated size and area were comparable to some small islands.

His golden giant was almost like a child facing an adult when confronted by Bare's Clank-Clank Fruit.

Moreover, when the Clank-Clank Fruit activated... terrifying waves surged around the entire giant ship, because the increased weight of Bare caused the ship to sink several meters. Not only in the city center, but almost everyone in Gran Tesoro could now see the gigantic 'creature' standing proudly in the night sky.

Even from a distance in the venue, Oboro could see the entire upper body of the combined torso at the edge of the venue's dome.

"Sky!"

What is that?

Many government agents were utterly astonished upon seeing this.

Furthermore, they discovered that all inorganic matter within the entire Gran Tesoro seemed to be drawn by a gravitational force, flowing towards the giant like a torrent—a truly terrifying scene. Bare's awakened fruit power alone could almost cover the entire giant ship.

"Douglas Bare!"

The CP captain, already covered in blood and still fighting Dom, noticed the strange phenomenon within the Gran Tesoro and was horrified.

He was panting heavily; his left arm had been severed by his opponent.

There's almost no chance of winning.

It's a foregone conclusion that the Gran Tesoro will be destroyed by the Hell Pirates... They can't stop it with their power.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Within the Golden Giant, Gild Tesoro himself let out a furious roar of resentment, his once meticulously combed hair now completely disheveled.

As the giant, fused with all inorganic matter, One-Punch Man him, the astonishing height and power even caused the fist to rub against the air, producing sparks, like a meteorite falling from the sky.

Gild Tesoro gave it his all, unleashing his ultimate move, the Golden Divine Punishment.

The pillars cast from gold were bundled together to form a giant missile warhead, imbued with all the Armament Haki he could unleash, and soared into the sky.

It slammed into Bare's fist and exploded.

However, the result is already quite obvious.

In his combined form, Bare's Haki could cover an entire arm, and the size of that arm alone was several times larger than the Golden Giant's physique. This showed that the opponent's Haki strength and flesh strength were simply not on the same level as his.

Boom! As expected, Bare's punch shattered the Golden Divine Punishment and slammed relentlessly into the Golden Giant's body.

The next second, a thunderous roar resounded within the Gran Tesoro.

Centered on the battle between the two, a terrifying storm instantly swept in all directions.

The surrounding buildings and structures instantly crumbled into dust, and the storm spread out in concentric circles like ripples on water.

Even those several kilometers or tens of kilometers away, including government agents still engaged in battle, surviving tourists, and One Piece, were all affected and directly blown into the sky by the astonishing wind curtain, resembling pieces of paper.

Oboro, who was in the venue, also heard the deafening noise and felt the earth tremble violently.

Even the seawater inside the venue seemed to 'boil'.

Bare's One-Punch Man caused the buildings surrounding the venue to collapse.

"Hehe."

Long smiled, stopped waving her hands, and ceased manipulating the airflow.

Under his Observation Haki 'attention', Bare's One-Punch Man... forcefully pierced through the entire giant ship, cutting it in two.

This... is the power of Yonko).

Looking around, the interior of the venue was a scene of devastation, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

The members of the Hell Pirates also stopped.

Perhaps there are still survivors Gran Tesoro, but at least... there are none left inside the venue.

Everyone died in different ways, including some whose remains were never found...

The spotlight that had been shining on him had long since been turned off. Like a dutiful performer, Oboro bowed slightly to the scattered remains as far as the eye could see, and chuckled softly, "The performance is over. Thank you for watching."

"..."

At the entrance to the passageway, in the audience area, Rob Lucci looked pale.

He was the only member of the Hell Pirates who was asked by Oboro to come to the venue without participating in the operation. This already spoke volumes... Back in Dressrosa, Rob Lucci had already discerned from the Donquixote Family members' 'monitoring' of his behavior that his identity was likely exposed. The God Slayer was intentionally severing his ties with the government, denying him any freedom. The plan for the Gran Tesoro ... hadn't been disclosed to him beforehand.

He tried several times to participate in the meeting between Oboro and Doflamingo... but failed each time.

As he carefully recalled everything that had happened since he boarded the ship, Rob Lucci felt a chill run down his spine, because he was unsure... when his secret had been discovered.

He felt he had disguised himself very well.

In his eyes, Oboro slowly turned around from the platform and walked down towards him.

Rob Lucci clenched his fists... He realized what awaited him.

Traitors never have a good end, especially when the person they're dealing with is this guy.

But he also knew that resistance was futile... The God Slayer could kill him with ease.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Rob Lucci expression, Long asked with a knowing smile, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Don't you think this performance was wonderful?"

"..."

Rob Lucci's gaze was low as he stared at Long. "When... when did you discover my identity?"

"Ah."

Long looked enlightened and said calmly, "You mean the Five Elders sent you to infiltrate? I knew that the first time I saw you..." After saying that, Long walked up to him, raised his hand and patted Rob Lucci's shoulder, "Don't be nervous. Even if you are a government agent, it doesn't matter to me. Once you're on the ship, you're one of my people."

"Impossible. My identity and the level of secrecy surrounding this mission are so high that, apart from a handful of people in the core high-ranking positions of the World Government, no one else could possibly know!"

Rob Lucci didn't believe it, his body trembling slightly. "You've been using me all along?"

"I wouldn't call it using them; I just don't mind teasing the Five Elders..."

Looking at Rob Lucci's face, Long said softly, "I'm not lying to you. Even if it wasn't you... the Five Elders would have sent someone else. I guessed that a long time ago."

"I know everything about your background, your upbringing, including the missions you carried out in Water 7, and your CP9 companions..."

"Don't worry, if I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't be alive now... I told you, once you're on board, you're a member of the Hell Pirates... But once you're on board, getting off won't be so easy."

Oboro's words Rob Lucci's pupils to shrink instantly.

"Besides, there are secrets on this ship, and you're not the only one... Hehe, I'm very tolerant."

"Besides, you have nowhere else to go but to stay on the ship now. So many Celestial Dragons have died... Do you think the government will still believe you?"

"No matter how you explain it... you are one of the murderers, and the target that the Five Elders most want to eliminate. They have already labeled you a traitor."

"To me, you're just a partner who's used a few clever tricks... See, I'm a pretty good guy, aren't I..."

After saying that, Oboro walked past Rob Lucci and said, "Don't just stand there, let's go wander around somewhere else."

"Oh, right... you don't need to hide your strength anymore. Whether it's the Navy Six Powers physical techniques or your Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability, you can use them all..."

"From this moment on, you are truly free."

Rob Lucci turned around and watched Long's retreating figure disappear into the passage, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

He... had always been manipulated by this man.

With a casual and simple plan, he thwarted the Five Elders' and his intentions... How could he win? Furthermore, given the current situation... he truly had no way out.

This man...