The Giant Wooden Man

"Strange, no guards are chasing us anymore."

Zoro glanced behind him, a hint of doubt appearing in his eyes.

Has the enemy given up?

Just then, Xi Yan suddenly stopped, clearly having sensed something.

"What's wrong?"

"They've arrived."

As soon as Xi Yan finished speaking, all the candles in the corridor went out, and then... the earth began to shake.

"Boom!!"

As Luffy felt the earth tremble, several question marks immediately popped into his head.

What happened?

Why is the earth shaking?

Was there an earthquake?

Xi Yan did not answer the question, but instead stared warily at the wall.

He felt a slight tremor; perhaps... it was from the Stone-Stone Devil Fruit User?

Thinking of this, Xi Yan said, "It should be the Devil Fruit User."

"Devil Fruit User the Stone-Stone Fruit?"

Luffy asked doubtfully, "One of Mingo's men?"

Violet's expression turned somewhat grim; she had finally alerted Pica.

The next moment...

"Boom!!"

The wall suddenly trembled, and then a humanoid stone statue gradually emerged from the wall, looking incredibly huge.

"Be careful, everyone!"

Violet shouted, "He is the Top Executive of the Donquixote Family — Pica, the Devil Fruit User!"

"Is my opponent such a huge guy?"

Zoro scrutinized Pica from head to toe, then turned to Xi Yan and asked, "Are you sure this guy is a swordsman?"

Will the swordsman immediately use his Devil Fruit ability to intimidate them?

It doesn't look like it at all.

"That's what their subordinates say anyway," Xi Yan shrugged. "And he did indeed carry a knife with him."

As for whether the other party was a true swordsman, he didn't know, since he had never fought against him.

"Let's try it out first," Zoro said.

What if the enemy feels they are not qualified to make the other side draw their sword?

So Zoro decided to cut the opponent a few times first to force him out of the statue.

"Hey, big guy!"

Luffy looked up and asked, "Where's Mingo?"

Upon hearing this, Pica turned to look at Luffy, a cold killing intent gradually appearing in her eyes.

How dare this guy ask such a question?

Are you looking for death?

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Luffy shouted again, "At least say something!"

"They just won't say..."

Before Luffy could finish speaking, Pica raised his enormous stone fist and slammed it down on the people below.

Upon seeing this, the group quickly retreated, dodging Pica's attack.

The next moment...

"Boom!!"

Pica's fist slammed into the ground, creating a huge crater!

"This power..."

Zoro glanced at the ground and frowned, saying, "If we get hit head-on by that thing, we're done for."

Although he can slice through stone statues with his slashing strikes, his body might not be able to withstand that level of impact.

"As long as we don't get hit, it'll be fine," Xi Yan said.

"That's true."

Zoro smirked and said, "Watch me cut him down!"

After saying that, Zoro rushed over and launched an attack on Pica, who was high up.

"720 Pound Cannon!"

"Whoosh~"

The next moment, an incredibly terrifying slash flew high into the air and slammed into the huge stone statue, cutting it into pieces!

"Boom!!"

"They killed him already?"

Perona was taken aback. Was this the enemy's Top Executive?

That's incredibly bad.

Zoro frowned as he looked at the rubble. If the enemy was really that weak, then there was no point in fighting.

"They probably won't kill him so easily, after all, this guy is Top Executive of the Donquixote Family," Xi Yan said. "But... something's strange."

"Something's strange?"

"Um."

Xi Yan carefully examined the rubble in front of him and said, "Because I can't sense his location."

"Is the Stone-Stone Fruit special, or is this thing's true form hidden somewhere else?"

As he spoke, Xi Yan used his Observation Haki to sense the rubble in front of him and the surrounding rocks, but he still couldn't detect Pica's presence.

This is what piqued his curiosity: is the Stone-Stone Fruit's ability to assimilate stones particularly overpowered, or is the true form of the creature hidden somewhere else?

If it's the former, Zoro has no problem fighting the opponent, but if it's the latter... Zoro will have to compete with the opponent to see who has more stamina.

"The Stone-Stone Fruit is indeed a rather unique ability," Violet said. "Not only can he turn his body into stone, but he can also manipulate rocks to attack."

"In other words... this Royal Palace made of rock is now completely under his control!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three people present all changed.

If that's really the case, then this guy deserves the title of Top Executive.

"Then I..."

Before Zoro could finish speaking, the ground shook again, and then an enormous Rock Hand grew out of the ground and slammed down on the group without mercy.

"Boom!"

With one strike, it created another large crater in the ground.

The group that had successfully dodged the attack frowned as they looked at the arm; it seemed the attacker really hadn't been killed.

"What a troublesome guy," Luffy said, annoyed.

"Defeating the family's Top Executive is no easy task," Violet said.

Otherwise, the other party wouldn't be referred to as the Top Executive.

"It seems that defeating the enemy here is not very realistic."

Xi Yan carefully surveyed his surroundings, then turned to Zoro and said, "Zoro, why don't we go to Doflamingo's side first? That way, we'll have a chance to force his true form out."

Zoro would only have a chance to kill his opponent if he forced them to reveal their true form, so he thought it would be better to go to Doflamingo's side first.

"Good."

Zoro didn't waste any words and nodded in agreement.

Just like Xi Yan said, there's no point in cutting down the opponent's stone statue clones here, so it's better to go to the Royal Palace to find Doflamingo first.

Pica clearly overheard their conversation, which immediately enraged him.

Looking for the young master?

These guys are asking for it!

With that in mind, Pica unhesitatingly used the power of his Devil Fruit to manipulate the walls on both sides, causing them to slam into the middle.

'Go to hell!'

"Not good!"

As the wall drew ever closer, their expressions changed drastically. If they were caught in it, they'd be turned into meat patties!

The next moment...

"Get up!"

"Boom!"

A giant wooden figure suddenly appeared beside them, stretching out its hands to support the rocks on either side.

"Huh?"

Violet stared in astonishment at the wooden figure protecting them below. What was that thing?

Devil Fruit powers?

Wood?

Moku Moku no Mi?

Pica frowned as he looked at the wooden figure below, clearly not expecting it to use such an ability to block his attack.

"As expected of you," Perona exclaimed.

That Wood Style is truly impressive.

Xi Yan simply smiled and said nothing.

Then, he turned to Violet and said, "I am a wooden person who ate the Moku Moku no Mi, and I can freely create wood."

This statement was naturally intended to mislead others and prevent them from overthinking.

Violet's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

Although the opponent needs to produce wood himself, the fact that he can produce wood of this quality means that he can fight against Pica!

Thinking of this, Violet said, "So, are you planning to have you deal with him this time?"

"No, that's not it," Xi Yan said.

"Ha?"

Violet paused, then asked, "What do you mean, 'not really'?"

The opponent's abilities are so perfectly suited to dealing with Pica, why not send him?

"His opponent is me," Zoro said.

"Ha???"

Violet was even more puzzled. Was it really appropriate to send a swordsman to deal with a Devil Fruit User?

"I have an even more important task," Xi Yan said.

"What?" Violet asked instinctively.

"Madam," Xi Yan said, "Our opponents are not just the Donquixote Family. Don't forget, the navy is also here!"

As he spoke, Xi Yan manipulated the wooden figure to move, and with a slap, he knocked away the rock fist that was coming at him.

"Boom!!"

With a single blow, a huge crater was punched into the wall next to it!

However, Violet paid no attention to the commotion, because an even more shocking thought surfaced in her mind.

'Could it be... that this man's mission is to stop Marine Admiral Fujitora?!'

Are you kidding me?

Does he have that kind of ability?

That's Marine Admiral!

But looking at the man's confident expression, Violet became somewhat unsure.

Does he really have that ability?

Just then, Pica activated his Devil Fruit power again, creating an enormous stone monument, which he slammed down on the group.

Upon seeing this, Zoro rushed forward without hesitation and cleaved the massive stone monument into pieces with just two strikes.

After finishing this task, Zoro landed on the wooden doll's shoulder.

"Hey, you guys go first," Zoro said without turning his head. "I'll handle this guy."

"Go ahead and beat up Doflamingo and the Marine Admiral."

"Profound!"

Since Zoro had said so, Luffy and Xi Yan didn't waste any more words and immediately left with the still-surprised Violet.

Stop spacing out and let's go.

"Good..."

A surprised Violet turned to look at Xi Yan. This guy really intended to go against Marine Admiral?

Pica glanced at Xi Yan's retreating figure, thinking to herself, 'What Highland brat!'

How could a nobody like you possibly stand a chance against the Navy Headquarters' Greatest Battle Power?

Do you really think he's someone important?

Thinking of this, Pica sneered, then activated his Devil Fruit ability, creating a gigantic rock snake that charged towards Luffy and his companions.

Clearly, he had no intention of letting Luffy, as that would disturb the young master.

"Your opponent is me!"

Zoro shouted, "Three Sword Style - Black Rope - Great Tornado!"

"Whoosh~"

"Boom!!"

The terrifying Flying Slash flew towards the rock serpent behind at a speed invisible to the naked eye, and almost in the blink of an eye, it sliced the enormous rock serpent into pieces.

Seeing this, Pica temporarily abandoned his pursuit and instead turned his attention to Zoro.

Since this guy is determined to die, I'll just send him on his way first.

With that thought in mind, Pica manipulated the giant to raise its fist and punch Zoro hard.

Unfortunately... before his fist even touched the ground, Zoro's Flying Slash shredded his body.

"Boom!!"

As the rubble fell to the ground, the area fell completely silent.

"Gone?"

Perona glanced around, her eyes wary, and asked, "Are they going after Luffy?"

If this guy were to chase Luffy and his crew from underground, Zoro really wouldn't be able to stop him.

As for why she didn't go with them?

What if Zoro gets lost without her by his side?

Furthermore, neither Xi Yan nor Luffy needs her help, so it's better for her to stay by Zoro's side.

"I don't know."

Zoro scanned his surroundings but didn't see anything unusual.

After thinking for a moment, Zoro closed his eyes, intending to use his Observation Haki to carefully sense the surroundings.

After a moment, he murmured, "As expected, I can't sense any aura..."

No wonder Xi Yan said he couldn't detect the enemy's location; his Devil Fruit ability is indeed special.

After realizing that his Observation Haki couldn't detect the opponent's location, Zoro abandoned the idea of using Observation Haki to find the opponent's true form and instead used Observation Haki to sense the location of the opponent's attack.

The next moment...

"Boom!"

A gigantic Rock Giant burst out of the wall and punched Zoro.

Sensing the opponent's movements, Zoro drew his sword and attacked without hesitation.

"One Sword Style: Iai - Death - Lion's Song!"

"Puff!"

The terrifying slash struck the Rock Giant, splitting its body in two with a single blow!

"Boom!!"

"Another clone?"

Perona glanced at the shattered rocks, then turned her attention to the rest of the area, saying, "It seems we need to find his true form to defeat him."

Do you have a solution?

If Perona can find the opponent's location, then he will be able to defeat him.

"I'll give it a try."

As she spoke, Perona focused her gaze on the stone head that had reappeared on the ground, then quickly rushed over, intending to enter the statue to search for the enemy's true form.

'Um?'

Upon seeing Perona's actions, Pica instantly recalled information about this Ghost Princess.

The Devil Fruit User possesses the ability to ignore objects that collide with them.

In other words... this guy can find his way through rocks!

Although after assimilating into the stone, his body was no different from a rock, but... who knows if the other party's ability might possess some kind of special effect?

With this in mind, Pica cautiously moved his main body to the bottom to prevent the opponent's Devil Fruit ability from touching him.

Now, it all comes down to who is more cautious!