One Piece Shadow Army - Chapter 69
Zoan-type! Ancient Model!
Hearing the surrounding Marines’s discussions, Curls’ expression grew serious.
Devil Fruits are categorized into three types: Paramecia, Zoan, and Logia. The rarity of Logia fruits is well known.
The most known Devil Fruits are Paramecia and Zoan. Among Zoan fruits, there are even rarer types than Logia, such as “Ancient Model” and “Mythical Model,” which grant the ability to transform into extinct or mythical creatures.
These rare abilities are immensely powerful, far beyond ordinary Zoan types.
Curls hadn’t expected Veroch to possess an Ancient Model Zoan Devil Fruit.
Zoan Devil Fruits allow users to transform into animals, with three forms: “human,” “beast,” and “hybrid.” Veroch was now displaying his hybrid form.
Veroch’s form had significantly increased in size and strength. His body was a third larger, and he stood three meters tall, covered in black fur.
His powerful and muscular frame appeared as though forged from black steel, unyielding and indestructible.
The black wool on his body, which looked soft and fluffy, was actually tough as iron if touched.
With his long black hair flowing down his back and a face full of hardened muscles, Veroch smirked menacingly.
“You’ve thoroughly angered me. Prepare to suffer.”
With that, Veroch bent his massive body slightly, his legs coiling with power.
But instead of charging forward, he leapt high into the air like a springing gazelle.
His black, muscular body was strikingly visible as he soared through the air, then he brought his right foot down in a powerful stomp.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as the ground beneath Curls shattered, sending debris flying and gray dust rising.
But as the dust settled, the onlookers were astonished to find that Curls was no longer in the impact zone.
Where did he go?
Veroch quickly turned and saw Curls ten meters behind him.
Without pause, Veroch charged again, his three-meter tall, muscular form rushing at Curls with even more force than before, his fist aimed to strike.
This time, Curls’ figure vanished, leaving only a fading afterimage.
Veroch’s punch hit empty air, and Curls reappeared unscathed some distance away.
Seeing this, the surrounding Marines personnel gasped.
“That’s ‘Soru’!”
“He knows Soru, one of the Rokushiki techniques? Isn’t that something taught at the elite training camp?”
A Headquarters officer among the onlookers explained.
“Indeed, the elite training camp teaches the Rokushiki techniques. Generally, most people struggle to master them without understanding the principles. However, there are always exceptional individuals who quickly grasp these combat techniques just by observing them.”
His implication was clear: Charlotte Curls was a combat genius.
At the center of the battlefield, Veroch, coming from the G-5 branch, also recognized Curls’ use of Soru, but he didn’t care.
All he focused on was attacking.
His muscular, black-furred arms hammered down relentlessly.
The ground cracked and broke under his assault, turning the previously smooth surface into a jagged mess.
After seven or eight missed attacks, Veroch roared in frustration.
“East Blue brat, is dodging all you can do? Face me head-on if you dare!”
In the distance, Curls appeared.
“If you want a direct fight, I’ll oblige.”
Curls unbuttoned the top of his shirt, preparing for battle.
He hadn’t engaged Veroch directly earlier because he wanted to gauge the power increase from his hybrid form. Now that he had, there was no need to dodge.
The next moment, Curls dashed forward, meeting Veroch’s incoming fist with his own.
Boom!
Their forces clashed, and both were pushed back by the impact.
Hmm?
Veroch was puzzled. How could this young man from the East Blue withstand his punch? Was Curls also a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Veroch didn’t stop. He swung his muscular arm again, launching another fierce attack.
Curls, relying on his strong physical skills, met Veroch’s blows with his own, matching him blow for blow.
Martial arts!
In the world of One Piece, martial arts are one of the most important powers.
Curls had understood this from a young age, so he maintained a rigorous training regimen to build a strong foundation for future growth.
After joining the Marines, he focused on swordsmanship and martial arts, in addition to developing his Devil Fruit abilities.
In previous battles, Curls often showcased his swordsmanship and Devil Fruit abilities. But that didn’t mean his martial arts were weak.
Since he started training, Curls had never relaxed his physical and martial arts training, even when it showed no immediate progress.
He persevered because martial arts are an indispensable power in the One Piece world.
Perhaps this accumulated training paid off, leading to a sudden increase in strength a few months ago, making his martial arts exceptionally strong.
Curls’ martial prowess was evident when he easily blocked Hachi’s Thousand Tile True Punch from the Arlong Pirates. On Krieg’s main ship, he even withstood a powerful iai strike from William, a swordsman of considerable skill, while maintaining his ability to fight.
To demonstrate the power of his martial arts, Curls developed techniques like “Shadow Rising Dragon Fist” and “Shadow Meteor Kick,” strong close-combat moves.
As a transmigrant, Curls had a better understanding and development strategy than the natives, capable of creating unique and effective skills.
However, he knew that these exotic techniques would not significantly enhance his combat power without complementing his natural abilities.
At this stage, Curls focused on developing skills that synergized with his strengths to improve his fighting capabilities steadily.
After the recruit training, he developed three main techniques: the offensive “Shadow Knight Lance,” the defensive “Shadow Shield,” and the supportive “Shadow Bind.”
This combination of skills allowed him to easily defeat Jurlong, a pirate with a bounty of ten million Berries, showcasing his strength.
Watching Curls face Veroch with martial arts and Devil Fruit powers, Tashigi was astonished.
“Major Curls’ martial arts… are they really this strong?”
Tashigi had always seen Curls as someone who excelled in swordsmanship and Devil Fruit abilities, never paying much attention to his martial prowess.
This was understandable. Most people believed Devil Fruit users were powerful mainly because of their unique abilities. Many relied too heavily on their Devil Fruit powers.
Few understood and avoided this pitfall.
Mode, however, wasn’t surprised by Curls’ display of martial strength.
To Mode, Curls was a tireless machine who trained relentlessly, only resting three hours a day, a cold, emotionless fighting machine.
What impressed Mode the most was Curls’ cold demeanor and the phrase, “I’m not interested in money.”
Although he didn’t think Curls was bragging, Mode couldn’t help but feel annoyed. Perhaps it was because he couldn’t say such things himself.
If he could say, “I’m not interested in money,” he would probably be just as happy to boast about it.
But he couldn’t. Not now, at least…
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