"The hunt begins!" Luffy roared, his rubber arm lashing out like a whip, instantly sending several " Glutton Gang " members who were channeling energy flying. The containers in their hands shattered, and the released life energy slowly returned to the surrounding plants.
"What disgusting behavior!" Sanji moved like lightning, his Diable Jambe fueled by burning righteous fury, precisely striking the enemies trying to approach the weakened contestants. "To squander ingredients and lives in front of the chef, that's an even greater sin!"
Although Zoro had gotten lost, he happened to be blocking a point where energy was converging. Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Dragon Twister! The violent sword energy storm not only tore apart the enemy in front of him, but also forcibly severed the invisible energy extraction channel.
" Usopp Pound!" Under Chopper's cover, Usopp used his slingshot to snipe at the guys holding containers from a distance. The shockwave from the explosion of the special ammunition effectively disrupted the ritual.
Chopper quickly transformed, carrying the weakened contestants to safety and using his medical skills to provide emergency treatment.
Nami used the Clima-Tact to create localized fog, disrupting the enemy's vision and formation, while simultaneously using thunderclouds to strike obvious energy guiding points.
Robin blooms in Mil Fleur throughout the forest, snapping the wrists of her enemies, seizing their containers, and meticulously recording the runes and layout of the rituals.
General Franky aimed his cannon at the area deep in the forest where energy was most concentrated and fired a " Franky Laser Beam!", forcefully bombarding the core of the ritual.
Brook's Soul Departure left his body and swiftly traversed to scout enemy positions, freezing an enemy attempting to ambush his comrades from behind with "Song of Plunder: Blizzard Slash".
Jinbe used Fish-Man Karate to manipulate the water flow on the ground to form a barrier, protecting an area from energy extraction, and then blasted away a large number of enemies with a single " Five Thousand Brick Fist ".
The Straw Hat Pirates's all-out counterattack, like Boulder thrown into a still lake, instantly shattered the ritual rhythm of the " Glutton Gang "! With clear division of labor and perfect teamwork, they not only effectively curbed the extraction of energy but also began to quickly eliminate the " Glutton Gang " members in the forest.
Ace moved through the forest like a fiery meteor, flames erupting wherever he went, burning the evil vessels and runes to ashes. "Want to host a dark feast? Ask my flames for permission first!"
Allen didn't directly participate in clearing out the minions. His figure was like a ghost, appearing each time at a crucial node in the forest's ley lines. With a light tap of his fingertips, a faint light imbued with the power of spacetime seeped into the earth, forcibly smoothing the distorted ley lines and severing the deeper energy supply. He was more like repairing the "scars" that had been torn apart in this forest.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" From the depths of the forest came Balo's furious roar. His meticulously planned ritual was being disrupted by the Straw Hat Pirates at an astonishing speed. "Looks like we'll have to invite 'that person' to enjoy the main course ahead of schedule!"
Balo's massive body emerged from the shadows, his aura even more violent and chaotic than before, surrounded by a blackish-red aura that seemed to be formed from countless greedy desires. He ignored the ritual, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Luffy and Ace, who were rapidly eliminating his men.
" Straw Hat Kid! Fire Fist! Your 'scent'... I want it!" Balo roared, charging towards Luffy and Ace like a runaway mountain of flesh. Wherever he passed, vegetation withered, as if he had devoured even life itself.
"Perfect timing!" Luffy was fearless. He activated Gear Second, steam billowed, and his rubber fist, imbued with Armament Haki, slammed towards Balo.
Ace's eyes narrowed, and flames gathered on his fist. "Looks like you're the main course!"
However, Balo's power far exceeded expectations. He neither dodged nor evaded, but opened his Maw, and a terrifying suction force erupted from it, like a black hole! Luffy and Ace's attacks, and even the surrounding light, sound, and energy, were pulled and distorted by that suction force, as if they were about to be swallowed whole!
" Black Hole?" Ace exclaimed in surprise, but then immediately denied it, "No! This is..."
"A distorted rule of devouring..." Allen's voice echoed in Ace and Luffy's minds, "His ability is essentially a manifestation of the concept of 'gluttony,' capable of forcibly plundering and digesting everything 'tangible' and 'intangible.' Don't try to fight him head-on with pure energy attacks!"
Just as Luffy and Ace were being held back by that suction force, Balo grinned maliciously as he approached, preparing to devour them—
A figure in azure blue, like a precise Scalpel, sliced into the battlefield!
" Collier Shoot!" Sanji's Diable Jambe, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, didn't kick Balo directly, but rather struck a precise point on Balo's jaw!
"Ugh!" Balo groaned as his massive head was kicked upwards, momentarily halting the terrifying suction.
It is this precious moment!
" Gum-Gum Elephant Gun Barrage!" Luffy seized the opportunity, and countless huge black fists slammed into Balo's chest like a storm.
" Mirror Flame!" Ace's flames transformed into a massive wall of fire, blocking Balo's vision and preventing him from making any further moves.
The brothers' combined attack landed squarely on Balo!
For the first time Balo's massive body was knocked back, carving a deep furrow in the ground. He angrily steadied himself, a sharp pain shooting through his chest.
"Damn cook... and you all..." Balo's eyes grew even more crazed and dangerous.
In the first round of combat, the Straw Hat Pirates gained the upper hand temporarily thanks to their teamwork and precise strikes. However, everyone could sense that the dark and immense power within Balo was far from being fully unleashed. Although the ritual deep in the forest was disrupted, it did not completely cease, and that ominous premonition still lingered in their hearts.
The real battle has only just begun.