Black Transformation: Domination

"Saint Saturn... how did you become like that?!"

"Is it some kind of ability?"

The Marines were terrified. One of the Five Elders, the most exalted figure they were supposed to protect, had suddenly transformed into a gigantic Ushi-oni. A tall, thin shadow stretched from its back like spilled ink, resembling some fiendish deity.

"What an eyesore..."

The deep voice seemed to echo from beneath the earth. The monster spoke in human words, startling everyone.

As soon as the voice faded, the monster Rocks had called "the world" raised one of its enormous spider legs. The black patterns on that leg stretched out eerily, splitting into dozens of black spider legs.

The nearby Marines felt a sense of foreboding rise within them, but before they could dodge, those eerie black spider legs pierced through their bodies.

"Why is it attacking Marines? Aren't they on that monster's side?" The pirates were dumbfounded as well, unable to make sense of the situation.

That monster had clearly been transformed from a Celestial Dragon, so why was it attacking the Marines?

But the pirates quickly realized that the monster's attacks were completely indiscriminate!

Those spider legs seemed to track their targets, repeatedly stabbing down at the nearby Marines and pirates. Someone died every second!

The pirates fled with treasure in their arms, and the Marines retreated in terror, but neither was fast enough.

In just a few seconds, every nearby Marine and pirate who had failed to escape had become a corpse...

The monster displayed terrifying strength the instant it appeared, clearing out the surrounding battlefield!

But that also drew Roger and Garp's attention...

"That bastard monster! How dare it hurt my companions!"

"What? That's one of the Five Elders? The maggots' leader really does look disgusting!"

However, the monster's target was clearly not that fodder, but Rocks. After clearing away the humans that offended its eyes, it ceased its attacks.

Its abyss-like eyes stared fixedly at Rocks, who stood with sword in hand.

Rocks grinned. "You came to kill me, didn't you? Hey! King of the gutter rats!!"

The gutter rats he referred to were naturally the Celestial Dragons. Rocks had never thought highly of them.

In his eyes, the Celestial Dragons hiding on the Red Line were basically no different from rats in a sewer, and their king, who could not stand the light, was merely the largest rat in that sewer.

Having seen him once in the Room of Flowers, Rocks recognized him at a glance... that was the very "Master" mentioned by God's Knights and the Five Elders!

"To think it was you... Davy Jones!!" The monster's terrifying eyes glared viciously at Rocks.

"You've got the wrong person... I've never met that guy." A hysterical smile appeared on Rocks's face. "But the 'promise' ought to be fulfilled!"

The ancestors of the Davy Clan had passed down a tale from generation to generation: in the distant past, their forefather Davy Jones had once made a promise with a certain king. But that king later betrayed their forefather and seized the world...

"So you must be erased! Erased from 'history'!!"

"'Imu's' world is not yet complete!!"

The monster's terrifying eyes suddenly erupted with inexplicable fury. Its horrifying voice, as though rising from the depths of the earth, grew shrill as a pale spider leg stabbed down at Rocks!

But Rocks was not some weakling. Though already exhausted, he still severed that pale spider leg with a single slash, showering himself in black blood.

Annus silently watched the battle between Rocks and Imu from behind.

After observing them, he came to several conclusions.

First, Imu, possessing Saturn's body, seemed unable to wield his full strength. His display looked overwhelming, but his attacks were actually soft and powerless, incapable of threatening a truly strong opponent.

Perhaps Saturn himself was too weak, or perhaps there was another reason. In any case, Imu in this state was nothing to fear.

Second, this monster's regenerative ability far surpassed that of God's Knights.

The wounds cut open by Rocks's slashes coated in Conqueror's Haki quickly healed again, as though it had never been injured.

Third...

This area was about to become extremely dangerous!

Just as Annus reached those conclusions, Garp, Roger, Rocks, and Whitebeard unleashed powerful attacks at Imu simultaneously.

"Galaxy Impact!"

"Kamusari!"

"Abyssal Curse!"

"Sky Splitter!"

Several powerful attacks coated in Conqueror's Haki collided together. The immense shockwaves shattered the clouds above God Valley, as though the end of the world had arrived.

Facing such a terrifying onslaught head-on, Imu's monstrous body shattered inch by inch, like a fading afterimage being dispersed.

Annus narrowed his eyes. After taking an attack of that magnitude, it was still not dead?

Within the range of his Observation Haki, Imu's aura had not weakened. Only Saturn's aura had diminished!

The shattered afterimage twisted and swayed like flames. The next second, an ominous Conqueror's Haki more powerful than anything Annus had ever felt erupted and engulfed all of God Valley!!

Black lightning burst forth. In a single instant, the sounds detectable by Mantra sharply decreased.

There was no need to think about it. Countless weak Marines, pirates, and natives had fainted beneath that ominous Conqueror's Haki!

At the center of the battlefield, the snake-like liquid afterimage and Saturn's slowly regenerating Ushi-oni body looked utterly bizarre.

"I saw it... ships anchored in the nearby waters, winged Skypieans, and the 'harmful lives' that must never be freed—the women and children of the Davy Clan..."

"You bastard!!"

Rocks flew into a rage and rushed forward with his sword. Anyone who set their sights on his wife and children had to die!!

Though his sharp blade, coated in Conqueror's Haki, cut the snake-like liquid afterimage into several pieces, the tentacles extending from that afterimage pierced through Rocks's body as well.

Annus's expression immediately turned serious.

"What is this? An attack that doesn't hurt or itch..." Rocks looked down. The black tentacles piercing his body seemed like nothing more than shadows of light, as though they possessed no physical form.

"'Imu' will do nothing. You will personally exterminate your entire clan, kill your wife and children... as well as those meddlesome Skypieans..."

"Are you an idiot?! I would never do something like that!!"

"That is not up to you... Black Transformation Domination!!"

"Ah!!!"

Rocks suddenly groaned in agony. His body curled up as every bone in his body emitted a series of cracking sounds.

Only then did Whitebeard, Roger, and Garp realize that something was wrong with Rocks.

"Hey! What's wrong with you, Rocks?"

"Did that attack not work? That spider monster!"

"You are quite tenacious... 'Imu' is surprised..."

Black Transformation Domination had not taken effect immediately. Rocks resisted Imu's corruption with astonishing willpower, but once Black Transformation Domination was activated, it could not be reversed.

"Don't underestimate humanity, monster! Davy D. Jones was the name of the former King of the World!"

Though he was already at the end of his strength, Rocks still wore a mocking smile, driving Imu into a furious rage.

"Do not speak nonsense!! That man never sat upon the throne of the world for even an instant!! The bond between Imu and Davy has nothing to do with you!!"

"Wahaha! Then don't be afraid! Afraid of the mere name 'Davy'!!"

Having successfully broken through Imu's composure, the battered Rocks let out one final triumphant laugh.

"You've always been afraid, haven't you? Afraid that Davy's will would be inherited! That one day, someone would fulfill the 'promise'! Which is more terrifying? Davy D. Jones, or Joy Boy?"

"Stop dreaming!! Those people will never appear again!! As long as you are eliminated!!"

After his outburst, Imu gradually calmed down and resumed that lofty tone.

"Davy... Imu has found 'excellent soldiers,' a 'giant' yet 'harmless' race filled with 'confusion'..."

Rocks was startled. "The Giants? You bastard! Don't lay a hand on Harald! They have always hoped for peace!!"

"Indeed, Davy. An opportunity that comes once in a century. Such a 'king,' so easily controlled, will never appear again...

Just like you now, hurry and bring it to an end... end 'Davy's dream'!!"

"Gwahhh!!!"

As Imu increased the force of Black Transformation Domination, Rocks's consciousness was gradually stripped away.

"Bang!"

The black tentacles withdrew, and Rocks crashed heavily onto the ground. Annus immediately approached and observed him from close range.

"Can you still hear me, Rocks? What happened? How were you controlled?"

Black Transformation Domination had clearly been completed. Annus's Observation Haki told him that Rocks was now filled with something "abnormal"—his pounding heartbeat, his involuntarily trembling body, his mouthful of fangs, and those eyes that had lost their pupils...

Damn it... am I going to disappear?

The last trace of Rocks's weak consciousness could no longer control his body enough to speak.

"Personally exterminate Davy, Rocks! Erase every living thing connected to God Valley completely! And those meddlesome 'Skypieans'..."

Imu looked down at the demonized Rocks, greed, madness, and killing intent flowing from those terrifying eyes.

"Hey! Rocks! What's wrong with you?" Whitebeard shouted.

Rocks did not respond to anyone, because he could no longer do so. His trembling body gradually steadied as he slowly rose from the ground, his posture already that of a demon.

Pitch-black bat wings, swollen muscles, veins crawling across his entire body like snakes, hyena-like fangs...

"That guy... did he get bigger?!" Roger took a step back.

"Move aside... You all possess bloodlines that must be erased from 'history'!!"

The demonized Rocks spoke in a low voice, making Annus's expression turn grave.