Barrett wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but he was certain that the current situation was caused by the wooden dragon that had just wrapped around him.
"I'll absorb you!"
Barrett immediately activated his ability, attempting to fuse with the wooden dragon. Having eaten the Fusion-Fusion Fruit, he could rearrange and combine any object with himself.
He believed he could restructure the wooden dragon and absorb it into his body.
But to his surprise, even after activating his ability, the wooden dragon showed no signs of being affected or rearranged—it simply continued to wrap tightly around him.
"What kind of plant is this?"
His power being ineffective startled Barrett. Until now, he hadn't taken Jon too seriously. Even if Jon was somewhat strong, Barrett thought he could easily overpower him.
But now the tables had turned, and he found himself being suppressed. This was a result he couldn't accept.
Furious, Barrett unleashed his full strength. The previously stagnant form of the Launcher began to struggle violently again. The immense force caused cracks to appear along the wooden dragon's body—as though just a bit more strength would shatter it.
Bang!
Just as Barrett was about to break free, a massive fist came down, slamming hard on the head of the armored giant, sending a shock through Barrett inside.
The power he had painstakingly gathered was instantly dispersed by that punch.
"I want to see just how tough this turtle shell of yours really is."
Jon infused the wooden giant's fist with Armament Haki and began raining down punches. The heavy armor began to dent under the pressure.
If he kept going, it wouldn't take long before the armor shattered—even Armament Haki wouldn't be enough to protect it.
Realizing he was in a losing position, Barrett knew he couldn't let this continue or he'd be worn out.
Acting quickly, he decided to abandon his current form and used his ability again.
Thump!
Barrett shot out like an arrow, and the now lifeless Launcher form collapsed, no longer resisting.
"Hmm?"
Jon noticed immediately and turned the giant body to find Barrett had changed tactics, now fully coated in Armament Haki and charging at him like a cannonball.
"I've found your position."
Before reaching the giant, Barrett leapt at high speed, landing on its knee and launching himself upward toward Jon's location at the nape of the wooden giant's neck.
Jon's expression changed. Having eaten the Plant-Plant Fruit, his control over plants was even better suited than Hashirama's Wood Release from the Naruto world. This allowed him to mimic Wood Release combat styles effectively.
Not only could Jon create enormous wooden constructs, but he could also control them precisely.
However, remote control wasn't as smooth as moving his own body. So Jon had devised another method.
If remote control was inefficient—why not control it directly? By fusing with the wooden giant, he could operate it as naturally as his own limbs.
If achieved, he wouldn't just move the giant more fluidly—he could also utilize martial arts, Haki, and abilities through it.
Jon might not be the strongest in every area, but his imagination was unparalleled. After watching countless anime, he had plenty of references to draw from.
And so, he thought of Attack on Titan—it was a perfect fit.
Just like a Titan, Jon hid himself in the nape of the wooden giant, fusing with it.
After several experiments, he successfully developed this self-operated wooden giant form.
It was powerful, but it had a flaw: if someone discovered his location, it could be exploited.
However, since his body was also plant-based, blending in with the wood, it was nearly impossible to detect.
At least, until now—Barrett had somehow spotted his weak point.
Jon didn't hesitate. He swung his right arm and slammed it into the approaching Barrett, hitting both Barrett and his own chest. The result was a huge dent in the giant's torso, and the wooden giant staggered.
Despite the heavy hit, Barrett seemed unfazed and climbed through the gaps, charging higher.
Vines and branches burst from the wooden giant's body, lashing out at Barrett in an attempt to stop him.
But Barrett laughed, undeterred, tearing through the branches and vines like a juggernaut.
He was like an unstoppable warrior tank—even the massive fists of the giant couldn't take him down; these vines were nothing.
Seeing Barrett reach the left shoulder, Jon stopped hesitating. He used his ability to detach from the back of the wooden giant's neck and burst out.
"I was waiting for this moment."
Barrett's eyes lit up. With a roar, he charged at Jon.
But Jon suddenly extended vines from his hands, shooting them toward the giant's waist. Using them to swing himself to the opposite side, he evaded the attack and landed safely on the ground.
Barrett had missed and slammed into the earth, creating a massive crater.
Jon, now on the ground, watched Barrett carefully. He knew his own strengths and weaknesses. If it came down to brute force, he couldn't win against someone like Barrett, who was raised on the battlefield.
So Jon's strategy was simple: avoid direct confrontation and play to his advantages.
"If only I had developed Sage Mode—I wouldn't need to be so cautious."
Sage Mode would greatly enhance his physical prowess. With it, he wouldn't need to dodge heavy-hitters like Barrett.
Boom!
Without Jon's control, the wooden giant collapsed like a falling mountain, raising dust clouds and shaking the earth.
Smoke and dust filled the air. Combined with flames and rising black smoke, visibility dropped to nearly zero—even from close range, it was hard to see.
For most, this would be a problem. But Jon was barely affected.
He relied on his ears and Observation Haki.
Suddenly, he leapt backward—fast.
Bang!
With a loud explosion, Barrett burst from the ground, having attempted a sneak attack.
Foiled, he now stood still, ready for the next round.
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