"Ding! Extracting two SSSS-level abilities at the same time requires the host to already have SSSS-level strength. Currently, you may only extract one ability. After extraction, you must wait half a month before extracting again. Please make your choice."
The system's reminder left Creed conflicted. Should he choose Armament Haki or Iron Skin?
And could he really hold off Big Mom for three hours?
Big Mom was a true monster. Born with giant blood, her natural strength was already overwhelming. On top of that, she commanded countless powerful Homies, including the sun Prometheus and the thundercloud Zeus. Especially terrifying was the longsword Napoleon, her bicorne hat transformed, which allowed her to unleash the Elbaf's spear: Hakoku!
Against such giant force, Creed wasn't sure even his Extremely Evil Sword could withstand it.
Fighting Big Mom was like fighting nature itself.
Though she had already displayed a fraction of her monstrous might, Creed decided to risk everything. With the Ope Ope no Mi and Pika Pika no Mi in hand, he should manage for three hours.
After all, a SSSS-level ability was too tempting. He was already an enemy of the World Government—becoming stronger was his only path forward.
"Extract SSSS Iron Skin! And Giant's Strength!"
Creed made his choice. He already possessed SSS+ Armament Haki, only slightly inferior to SSSS-. But Iron Skin was passive, making it far more valuable. When Big Mom was only five, she tore through the Giant Tribe. Blades couldn't cut her—swords snapped against her skin. Guns and cannons left no mark. She was like a steel balloon, monstrously durable.
With Iron Skin, his Endurance would also rise—a double gain.
"Ding! Giant's Strength successfully extracted. Your Strength has increased to SSS+. Iron Skin extraction has begun. It will complete in three hours. Please remain within 500 meters of the target during extraction, or progress will be interrupted."
"Five hundred meters is fine. My ROOM can cover that."
His thoughts flickered in an instant. As Big Mom swung her sword again, Creed turned into a flash of light and retreated.
"Gyuuu!"
Falkor on his shoulder squealed in protest. It didn't understand why its master was retreating. The enemy was strong, but together they could fight!
"Haha, fine! We'll fight together!"
Creed agreed.
Falkor had grown rapidly. Only months ago, it had been SS-level. Now, it had reached SSS. Its thunder breath was terrifying, enough to make most SSS-level foes flinch. With it at his side, Creed's burden lessened.
"Reiza! (Laser!)"
Creed pointed, firing dozens of golden beams toward the Queen Mama Chanter.
"Biscuit Soldiers, forward!"
Cracker had already created biscuit soldiers and ships. He had been preparing to storm G-K Branch, but Creed's attack came first. He ordered his soldiers to intercept.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the sky. Biscuit soldiers shattered into pieces, but Cracker instantly created more, flooding forward like a tide toward G-K Branch.
These biscuit soldiers were incredibly tough. Even Luffy would one day need Fourth Gear to break them. Their defense alone was at least SSS-.
If they reached G-K Branch, it would be a massacre. Allen and the others could never hold.
"ROOM: Slaughterhouse!"
Creed spread his ROOM, blade flashing. With a swing, he sliced the soldiers and ships apart.
"Haha! Useless! Even broken, my soldiers regenerate. And seawater doesn't affect them quickly!" Cracker laughed, summoning more soldiers. His ability was overwhelming—one man was an army.
But his grin froze. The soldiers Creed cut didn't recover. Limbs gone, they flailed helplessly, sinking beneath the sea.
"What… what Devil Fruit power is this?!"
Cracker roared, shocked beyond belief. His pride, his biscuit soldiers, had been undone.
At that moment—
A suffocating force exploded across the battlefield, freezing everyone in place.
The will of a sovereign!
"Hakoku! (Elbaf's Spear: Nation!)"
Big Mom unleashed her strongest strike. But her target wasn't Creed. It was G-K Branch, miles away. Her goal all along was to erase it, to restore her pride. Everything else was just dessert.
"No!"
Creed was too far. He could only grit his teeth, unleashing all he had. Lightning burst across his body.
"Rai'ei! (Thunder Welcome!)"
"Rairyuu! (Thunder Dragon!)"
"Banrai! (Ten Thousand Thunders!)"
"Gyuuu!"
Falkor unleashed its thunder breath alongside him.
Their target: Big Mom!
Even if G-K Branch fell, Creed would make sure she paid in blood.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sword light was like a mountain, tearing through miles in an instant. Its force split the sea, parting a canyon dozens of meters deep. G-K Branch was about to be cleaved in two.
"Ice Age!"
Crack! Crack!
A colossal iceberg surged upward, blocking the attack.
Aokiji had acted. And not with a half-measure like before—this was the true Ice Age. A thousand-meter mountain of ice rose from the sea, the might of the awakened Ice-Ice Fruit on full display.
Boom!
The sword light split hundreds of meters into the glacier, nearly reaching G-K Branch.
"Close!"
Aokiji appeared before the strike, clapping his hands together. The sundered ice closed instantly, the glacier transforming with a strange power.
In that moment, both Creed and Big Mom turned their eyes.
Aokiji had awakened his Devil Fruit.
And with it, he stopped Hakoku.
(End of Chapter)
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