Baboon King, the Strongest Zoan

Baboon King: "Follow me..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Baboon King pushed off with both legs and leaped into the air, soaring skyward... before landing in the fighting arena nearby.

Moke followed close behind and entered the arena as well.

Their arrival made the competitors still fighting in the ring automatically retreat. Those were the arena's rules: whenever the champion entered, regardless of whether a match was underway—

Everyone had to leave the ring and yield the arena.

One of those who withdrew was none other than Jesus Burgess. Moke noticed him too and could not help glancing at him.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

It seemed Champion Island was his lucky island. Not only had it led him to Jesus Burgess, it might also let him encounter someone even stronger.

He then turned his attention back to Baboon King.

Baboon King: "Here we go!"

After saying that, he crooked a finger at Moke. "The challenge rules say the challenger attacks first."

"Shave..."

Moke vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already before Baboon King. With another burst of strength, he sprang into the air.

He then kicked at Baboon King.

Baboon King did not move. He merely raised an arm and easily blocked the kick. Then he chuckled at Moke. "If that is all you have in hand-to-hand combat, you may have to stay behind and guard my island."

As his words fell, power erupted from him and sent Moke flying.

He immediately threw a punch through the air at Moke. "Hasshoken!"

Boom!

A powerful shockwave burst from his fist and shot toward the airborne Moke.

"Tch... you are looking down on me too much."

Moke crossed both arms before his chest and just as easily blocked the attack.

Then, while still in the air, he swung his right leg, instantly forming a powerful Tempest Kick Slash that flew toward Baboon King.

Baboon King's expression changed slightly. The Tempest Kick Slash carried considerable force, enough that he had no choice but to take it seriously.

He looked at Moke and said solemnly, "I underestimated you."

He threw another punch, but this one was already coated in Armament Haki.

Bang!

Moke's Tempest Kick Slash was blasted apart in an instant, showing just how powerful that punch was.

At the same time, Moke took several steps through the air and charged at the Baboon King below with terrifying speed.

"Finger Pistol—Dragon Claw!"

Moke shaped his hand into a dragon claw. It too was already coated in Armament Haki.

"You still want to clash head-on with me?"

Baboon King smiled calmly, then threw another punch to meet Moke's Dragon Claw.

Boom...

Claw and fist collided fiercely. Their immense power continuously crashed against each other, sending waves of powerful force sweeping outward.

The surrounding area looked as though it had been struck by a Category 7 or 8 typhoon. The people in the stands had to hunch low just to remain seated safely against the violent winds.

One claw, then another, then another.

One punch, then another, then another.

The two continuously exchanged blows... yet neither could gain the upper hand.

In the end, they pulled apart and faced each other from seven or eight meters away. The way Baboon King looked at Moke had completely changed. "I have to admit, your hand-to-hand combat is impressive. You already possess the strength of an ordinary fighting champion. But..."

At that, he rolled his neck, his bones and joints cracking audibly.

"That was only a warm-up. Now the real fight begins!"

As soon as he spoke, his body began to change. Long fur sprouted across him, until he transformed into a human-beast baboon form.

Then he said with a trace of pride, "I am a Zoan—Baboon-Baboon Fruit user. Do not be too surprised by what comes next!"

Moke: "..."

What was there to be surprised about with a Zoan—Baboon-Baboon Fruit user?

And was he not forbidden from using Devil Fruit powers?

Was this not outright cheating?

Baboon King seemed to see through Moke's thoughts. "The arena rules allow Zoan Fruits that enhance the body. Too bad you do not have one... so you are destined to lose... huh???!!!!"

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes widened enormously. Moke had transformed into a state similar to the Dice-Dice Fruit.

The sides of Moke's arms and legs had turned into blades, while his body had become an incomparably hard metal blade.

Moke smiled. "Mine may be a Paramecia, but it also enhances my body. That means I should be allowed to use it too, right?"

"Uh..."

Baboon King was dumbfounded. Then he started laughing again. "Even if you have one too, so what? You will soon understand the power of the Zoan—Baboon King-Baboon Fruit. You should know that I call it the strongest Zoan!"

"The strongest Zoan? Baboon King?"

Moke was deeply puzzled. No matter how one put it, this Fruit was merely the most ordinary kind of animal Devil Fruit. Forget a Mythical Zoan—even an Ancient Zoan surpassed it.

It was not even particularly good among ordinary Zoans.

Tigers, lions, rhinos, elephants... which one was not stronger than it?

But puzzled or not, Moke did not stop attacking.

"Shave..."

Moke vanished from the spot again. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Baboon King.

"Finger Pistol—Dragon Claw!"

A blade-shaped Dragon Claw was undoubtedly even more powerful.

But in the next instant, Baboon King vanished from the spot as well. Moke's attack struck empty air, leaving him greatly stunned. If he had not seen wrong, Baboon King had used Shave too!

The next second, Moke felt a fierce wind coming from behind him. His expression changed drastically, and he struck backward with a finger!

But what met him was an enormous "Dragon Claw"!

Finger and claw collided once more, and the tremendous force sent both of them staggering back seven or eight steps.

Moke's pupils had shrunk to pinpoints.

An idea formed in his mind.

But he needed to confirm it, so he immediately swung out a flying kick from afar, releasing a massive Tempest Kick Slash straight at Baboon King in the distance.

"Shave..."

Baboon King vanished again. When he reappeared, he was already on Moke's left. He swung out a leg as well, sending a slightly faster Tempest Kick Slash at Moke.

"Holy shit... a One Piece version of Kakashi???"

Moke was utterly shocked, because he had now confirmed it. This guy could copy his techniques. That was seriously insane.

But this Zoan—Baboon-Baboon Fruit, no, as he called it, the Zoan—Baboon King—

How could it possibly possess such an ability?

Could it be that baboons in One Piece were different from ordinary animals?

Wait, they really did seem different. He could not help thinking of those baboons from Taka's island... right, those baboons could copy their opponents' techniques.

Just like how one baboon had learned Roronoa Zoro's techniques in an instant.

So, did someone who ate the Zoan—Baboon-Baboon Fruit gain that ability too?

Holy shit!

Then calling it the strongest Zoan was barely acceptable.