Earthquake Dragon Form

"Roar——!!!"

Another roar shook the sky and sea.

The dinosaur, as big as a small hill, blew away the incoming cannonballs with nothing but its breath. It strode across the land on pillar-thick, powerful legs, each step like a small earthquake. Mushroom Rocks that had stood for hundreds, even thousands, of years were crushed beneath its feet like chocolate cookies.

A flat head, a long neck, powerful limbs, and a tail that made up three-fifths of its body.

Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Earthquake Dragon Form.

That was the Devil Fruit Eschbach had eaten.

However,

This wasn't a Devil Fruit he'd bought. In the New World, with Kaido—the Beast—seeking to build an army made up entirely of Zoan users, it was basically impossible to buy a Zoan Devil Fruit on the market. No one dared offend the Beast, whether through legitimate channels or on the black market.

Forget Ancient Zoans—even ordinary Zoan Devil Fruits were hard to come by.

Aleus had originally just chosen an ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit from his family's treasury and eaten it. But later, the Hogyoku evolved it into an unprecedented Mythical Zoan—the Black Winged Great Demon Form. Having himself as an example gave him even more ideas.

He took another ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit from his family's treasury: the Lizard-Lizard Fruit: Komodo Dragon Form. He had his attendant, Eschbach, eat it, then infused it with the power of the Hogyoku.

And so,

The ordinary type, Lizard-Lizard Fruit: Komodo Dragon Form,

evolved.

Ancient Zoan, Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Earthquake Dragon Form—this was the new power Eschbach had gained.

Eschbach was only the beginning. The other attendants gradually received new powers as well. Dick's Ancient Zoan Giant Leopard Form was the result of the same process. Otherwise, where could Aleus have gotten so many Ancient Zoan Fruits?

Even Kaido, the Mad Emperor, hadn't managed to collect many Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits over all these years.

That was why he'd partnered with Doflamingo to trade Artificial Devil Fruits. Well, it was only Marineford Era 1517, and M. Caesar Clown was still a member of the Navy Science Unit. The research base on Punk Hazard was still under the Navy's tight protection, with Kizaru, one of the Three Admirals, stationed there long-term to ensure they could fight back even if one of the Four Emperors attacked.

Without that mad scientist, who was always dreaming of surpassing Vegapunk, joining them,

the Artificial Devil Fruit deal between Kaido and Doflamingo was still a long way off!

Ahem,

I digress!

In short, the Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits eaten by Eschbach and Dick were both the result of Aleus using the Hogyoku to alter them.

Now,

Eschbach was using this power to clear away the enemies in Aleus's path.

"If you don't want to die, drop your weapons!"

Eschbach, transformed into a giant dragon, issued his final warning in a voice like thunder.

He was still as kind as ever.

He didn't want to cause too much bloodshed, so he'd chosen to make the first move. He'd even used his Devil Fruit ability, revealing his true Earthquake Dragon form, hoping to crush Umit's army's fighting spirit and prevent unnecessary casualties.

"Tch, Eschbach the goody-goody."

Dick muttered after being beaten to the punch. He tilted his head back to look at the giant before him, disappointed that he'd lost his chance to steal the spotlight. Though they were both Ancient Zoan users, he had to admit that Eschbach's Earthquake Dragon Form drew far more attention than his Giant Leopard Form.

Eschbach was also, without a doubt, the strongest of the four attendants.

Whenever Eschbach made a move, the other three were reduced to mere background characters.

Still,

It was only a little disappointment.

They weren't just colleagues; they were friends who had grown up with Aleus. Jealousy was human nature, but the bonds they'd built over the years kept it from turning ugly. Aleus wouldn't allow his attendants to fall out with one another, either.

"Looks like Eschbach's effort will be wasted this time."

Kappas yawned, struggling to open his bleary eyes as he watched the scene in the distance. "I've told him plenty of times, but he never listens. Not everyone will accept his kindness... To some people, his kindness is no different from mockery. This will only make them angry."

"Huh?"

Dick blinked, his expression saying, "What the hell are you talking about? That sounds way too profound. Explain it to me, damn it!"

Kappas yawned again.

He looked down slightly at Dick. At 237 centimeters tall, he was fifteen centimeters taller than Dick. He gazed at him with an exasperated expression, regretting that he'd spoken up and drawn the attention of that dim-witted fool. "Dick, couldn't you have paid more attention in class back then?"

"Why are you bringing up the past now? Hey, Kappas, are you picking a fight?"

"Yeah, I'm still half asleep."

Kappas patted his forehead. Talking to Dick would only waste his energy, so he got straight to the point. "Dick, if someone tried to hurt His Highness, what would you do?"

"What do you think? I'd beat the crap out of them."

"Even if it meant you might die?"

"Of course."

Dick answered without hesitation.

"The enemies facing us now feel the same way you do. Their convictions may be different, but to them, Umit is what His Highness is to us—someone they have to protect with their lives... Eschbach's kindness is misplaced."

As he spoke, Casper raised his chin and pointed ahead. "Look! Our enemies are furious with Eschbach."

Just as Casper had said,

The men Umit had summoned were all trusted subordinates, loyal men he'd cultivated over many years. They were devoted to Umit, and their own livelihoods were tied to his status as the King of Maritime Transport. If Umit fell, they would lose everything.

As long as Umit continued to dominate the New World, even if they died, their families and loved ones would have a better future.

And so,

They saw Eschbach's kindness not as goodwill, but as condescending charity—a deep humiliation.

"Boom!!"

The cannon that fired again gave its answer.

Even though the previous scene had already proved that cannonballs were useless against Eschbach, they still opened fire without hesitation.

"I see! I hadn't considered that!"

Eschbach seemed to understand their choice.

He didn't keep offering his kindness. Dick might have called him a goody-goody, but his kindness wasn't so cheap that he'd give it away to anyone. Besides, he respected enemies who held fast to their convictions.

And his way of showing respect

was to give his enemies a dignified funeral with overwhelming force.

"Smack!!!"

His thirty-meter-long tail slammed into the ground.

The land by the sea shook once more.

Jagged cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb. The well-fortified position was shattered in an instant, and the widening fissures opened like a beast's gaping maw, swallowing one living soul after another.

"Hey, big guy, here it comes!"

Just then,

A man's taunting voice reached Eschbach's ears.