Onigumo did not know why he was always targeting Morito or why he hated him. Logically speaking, even among the Reserve Navy in the Training Camp and Naval Academy, there were not many people who could definitely beat him.
It was not that he was being arrogant. In his eyes, most people were trash.
But why, among all that trash, did he hate Morito in particular?
Could it be his smell?
Perhaps it was because Morito had no talent and refused to work hard, loafing around all day without the slightest awareness that he was part of the Naval Academy!
And yet, this person whom he looked down on the most was valued by the person he respected most, Vice Admiral Garp.
Many people in the Navy had joined because of Garp.
Garp's prestige in the Navy far surpassed that of the Admirals. Even Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong was inferior to him. He was like a banner for the Navy.
As long as Garp did not fall, the Navy would not fall!
Because of Garp, Morito had known Gion since childhood. In the Naval Academy, unless one was impotent, no one could resist Gion's charm.
Onigumo was no exception.
Every now and then, a thought would flash through his mind: what if he and Morito's identities were switched?
How wonderful would that be!
Perhaps this was jealousy?
"It won't be long now. I'll be ending all this with my own hands soon."
A piece of trash like Ōtsutsuki Morito had no right to remain in the Naval Academy!
Onigumo entered the forest expressionlessly. In his eyes, there was no need to make his battle with Morito so complicated.
One move!
One move was all he needed to deal with that piece of trash!
With that move, he would make Morito a true blind man!
In the forest, the wind rustled through the trees.
Onigumo entered the designated battle area, but his footsteps suddenly halted. He immediately raised his head and looked at the large tree directly ahead.
There stood Morito, arms folded, watching him from the trunk!
The pirate side had taken the hostages and entered the forest first, giving them time to prepare. That preparation time was also their chance to seize the initiative.
A sneak attack, if successful, could very well produce unexpected results.
Onigumo had been cautious when entering the forest. In his opinion, this was the only opportunity Morito had to attack first.
But what was going on now?
Was that kid an idiot?
He had abandoned his only advantage, his only opportunity, just like that?
He was standing right in front of him so carelessly?
A mid-lane solo?
A head-on clash?
"I take back what I said earlier. You aren't trash."
You were simply brainless!
Onigumo slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, calming the turmoil in his heart.
A trace of pity appeared in his eyes as he looked at Morito. His eyesight was bad enough, yet he could still walk with a cane. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with his brain too.
What a pity!
Morito stared blankly at the expression that kept changing between clear skies and storms on Onigumo's face.
Was he feeling sorry for me?
"If you surrender now and leave the academy voluntarily, I can let you leave on your own two feet," Onigumo suddenly said.
Morito raised an eyebrow. This was rather interesting.
He was actually going to let him leave standing!
But to Morito, this scene looked like an ant raising its head and arrogantly yelling at an elephant: Kneel down and call me Daddy right now, or Daddy will bite your toes off!
"Do you think you're Three-Cornered Pants? All you do every day is put on airs."
Morito expressionlessly raised his right hand and pointed beneath Onigumo's feet.
Since this was a practical battle, weapons were naturally allowed.
That included firearms and artillery. The bullets for the flintlock guns had been replaced with rubber rounds, but the cannonballs were genuine.
After all, the cannonballs in the pirate world could only blow up splashes of water for fun.
In nearly a thousand episodes of Pirate King, Morito had never seen a cannonball blow anyone up!
Morito was on the pirate side, so entering the forest first gave him the advantage of arranging the battlefield in advance.
He followed the timeless principle that one was a fool not to take advantage of an opportunity.
Morito had buried more than two hundred cannonballs throughout the forest!
That was also why he had been standing in the tree from the very beginning!
Onigumo instinctively lowered his head and looked at the ground beneath his feet. He saw a lit fuse shoot into the earth with a whoosh.
The pungent smell of gunpowder entered his nostrils.
Onigumo's expression changed dramatically, and he hurriedly tried to retreat!
"Too late!"
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion rang out, and the entire Back Mountain shook with it. Did they think that was the end? This was only the beginning!
The more than two hundred cannonballs set off a chain reaction. Mushroom clouds rose one after another into the sky throughout the Back Mountain Forest!
The image from the Den Den Mushi was enveloped in smoke, making it impossible to see anything.
"Why are weapons like cannonballs allowed in the examination?"
Zephyr's expression darkened as he sat before the monitor and rebuked them in a deep voice.
That kid was far too underhanded!
He had thought Morito would have a hard-boiled showdown with Onigumo, man against man!
Lieutenant Majo, the chief examiner, also twitched violently at the corner of his eye, but he still explained solemnly, "Weapons such as guns and cannons are permitted. They do not violate the rules."
After all, this was practical combat. If nothing could be used, how could it be called practical combat?
Moreover, to prevent accidents, the bullets had been replaced with rubber rounds, and the standard Navy blades had been ground relatively blunt.
But the cannonballs were the real deal.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry to the site and get the Den Den Mushi working again!"
"Yes!"
Lieutenant Majo hurriedly turned and left.
Garp's mouth was full of doughnuts, which he chewed with loud crunching sounds.
If he had not seen the dark expression on Zephyr's face, he probably would have laughed without restraint, slapped the table, and praised it with, "Beautiful explosion!"
"Garp, get out!"
The veins at Zephyr's temples bulged as he roared in exasperation.
In the forest, the smoke and dust gradually dispersed.
As expected, this proved the setting of Pirate King: cannonballs could not kill people.
Onigumo crawled out, covered in dust.
"I'll butcher you!"
"Oh."
Morito patted the dust from his clothes as if something filthy had gotten on them.
The corner of Onigumo's eye twitched, and his entire face grew even darker.
Pfft, pfft, pfft!!
A series of explosions mixed with tearing sounds rang out. The clothes on Onigumo's upper body instantly became a pile of shredded rags.
His upper body was exposed, and eight enormous black claws had grown from his back!
Four on each side, each made up of seven segments and ending in a claw. A clump of stiff hair grew beneath each claw, and every one of them held a three-foot-long greatsword.
"An eight-clawed spider monster?" Morito cried out in surprise.
Onigumo: "..."
You're the spider monster, damn it!
Ignorant fool!
This was the Hybrid Form of a Zoan Devil Fruit user!
Zoan Devil Fruits generally had three forms.
The first was the human form in an ordinary state: two shoulders supporting a head, with eyes, nose, ears, and mouth no different from an ordinary person's. From the outside, there was no abnormality whatsoever.
The second was the Hybrid Form, in which parts of the body underwent animal-like changes. The most obvious changes were usually in the hands and feet, which gained some of the animal's physical characteristics.
The third was the beast form, in which the user completely transformed into a wild beast.
Before you continue