Even with his right arm engulfed in flames, the monster didn't flinch.
Instead, it calmly patted its burning arm with its left hand to extinguish the fire.
"You use some... annoying techniques, don't you...?"
The monster looked at Rengoku with interest and took up a fighting stance again.
"Let's see you block this...!!"
This time, the monster switched strategies to an all-out flurry of punches.
The attacks were wildly varied in length and brute force, but Rengoku, standing in mid-air with Geppo, evaded them with ease.
Still, one question lingered in his mind—how could such a massive body move so fast?
Given normal muscle mass and body structure, it was impossible for something that huge to move with such speed.
But this monster could.
This wasn't an ordinary "resurrection."
It wasn't just reuniting the body and soul.
Soul?
A flash of Ryuma's figure passed through Rengoku's mind.
A man who looked every bit the samurai, yet wielded fencing-style swordsmanship.
Rengoku understood now—the abnormal resurrection involved a key medium.
They were placing someone else's soul into a dead body!
"To make a single zombie, you sacrifice two human lives?!"
"Flame Breathing, Fifth Form—Flame Tiger!"
Once more, a massive flaming tiger surged forth and blocked the monster's barrage of punches.
Then Rengoku used Geppo to soar up to the monster's face and stabbed at its eyes.
He didn't know the exact way to deal with these zombies.
So he would try every method he could.
They say the eyes are the window to the soul.
Fwoosh!
As Enrin Kitetsu pierced into the monster's eye, it instantly erupted into flames.
Rengoku rotated the blade sideways and tightened his grip with both hands.
"Flame Breathing, Third Form—Blazing Universe!"
A sweeping horizontal slash engulfed both of the monster's eyes in searing flame.
"GRAAAAAHH—MY EYES!!"
Even if the zombie lacked pain perception, the human soul inside would be sensitive—especially the eyes.
Judging by the monster's shouted techniques and its constant blabbering about being a "champion," Rengoku guessed it was likely a one-on-one specialist—a martial artist. This technique was perfect.
And if the medium of this "resurrection" was through the eyes, perhaps this could set the soul free.
He used Geppo to retreat and create distance.
But contrary to his expectation, the monster rubbed its eyes and resumed its stance as if nothing had happened.
"I can't see... You tell me where he is."
Rengoku had a solid idea who that line was meant for.
The monster hadn't shouted—it said "you tell me."
Which meant...
The one who resurrected him—very likely Moria—was nearby!
"Flame Breathing, First Form—Unknowing Fire!"
He charged again—this time, aiming for the neck.
Just like slaying a demon, severing the neck might bring release.
But as Rengoku's blade approached the monster's neck, the monster's body suddenly contorted, and its neck pulled back several meters.
Seeing the grotesquely transforming body, Rengoku hesitated for a moment.
A resurrection technique that alters the body?
He had assumed the stretching arms were like the Straw Hat boy's powers.
But not even that boy could morph his body so grotesquely without some external force.
There had to be another medium!
He was in a rush to slay the creature, but discovering its weakness took priority. Rengoku widened the gap between them again.
He used Geppo to hover and analyze the monster's movements from above, trying to find a weak point.
At least, until they arrived.
"Vice Admiral!"
In the middle of his standoff with the monster, a familiar voice echoed from below.
"Vivi?"
Down on the ground, Vivi had arrived.
Not only her, but Jose and numerous Marines had come too.
This was bad.
He'd allowed for ample time.
Why were they here so early?
And how did they even know his location...?!
Rengoku realized—the pillar of flame he'd unleashed earlier must have acted like a beacon for them.
Damn...
He could handle this monster alone.
But protecting this many Marines while fighting a monster like this would be no easy task.
"Champion—HEADBUTT!!!"
The monster's neck suddenly transformed into a heavy, circular weight and swung straight at Rengoku.
No blunt weapon could compare to this.
Rengoku barely blocked the attack with his flat blade, but couldn't maintain Geppo and was slammed to the ground.
"Vice Admiral!"
The Marines rushed toward the fallen Rengoku.
"Huff..."
His hand tingled from gripping the sword.
That impact was tremendous—possibly stronger than the full-power strikes from the Marine HQ's own giant vice admirals.
"Vice Admiral, are you alright?!"
Vivi reached him first.
"I gave you an hour. I ordered you not to come and to guard the ship!"
For once, Rengoku raised his voice at Vivi, Jose, and the gathered Marines.
"S-sorry! B-but once we saw that monster and your flames... we had no choice!"
Jose also apologized—he had never seen Rengoku this angry.
In truth, the other Marines had all felt it too: the moment they saw that giant, they instinctively knew they shouldn't approach.
And yet, they came. Disobeying Rengoku's orders.
Rengoku got to his feet and gave new orders without hesitation.
"All of you—return to the ship immediately! Guard it closely, especially against that troublesome prisoner we captured!"
Gripping Enrin Kitetsu again, Rengoku turned back toward the monster.
"All of you disobeyed orders and will face disciplinary action when we return! But given the situation, I'll let it slide this time. Now get back—this place is mine to handle!"
Flames surged once again from Enrin Kitetsu.
Watching Rengoku stand alone with unwavering determination against the colossal monster, the Marines hesitated, unsure of what to do.
Seeing his subordinates falter, Rengoku raised his voice once again.
"Do you all want to be thrown in the brig for insubordination? Get moving!"
"I refuse!"
The one who shouted back was none other than Vivi.
Her face had reddened with anger, and tears welled in her eyes.
"It's only natural for a subordinate to worry about their superior! Don't try to shoulder everything by yourself! We haven't been just idling around in the Navy either!"
Vivi unsheathed her sword and activated her Devil Fruit ability.
Beautiful peacock feathers erupted from her waist.
"She's right! Please allow us to assist you, Vice Admiral!"
Following Vivi's lead, one by one, the Marines stepped forward to face the monster beside Rengoku.
"You all..."
"We're sorry for disobeying orders. We'll accept any punishment you give us!"
Vivi raised her sword and faced the monster alongside Rengoku.
"We may be expendable, but you are not, sir. If something happened to you, it would be a tremendous loss—not only to the Navy, but to the world. Please let us fight with you!"
Her eyes shone with a resolve completely different from when they had first met.
Even amidst extreme fear, she had summoned her courage and stood firm before him.
Worthy of praise.
She had grown.
Rengoku was proud.
"Heh—how touching. That's some next-level camaraderie."
The monster sneered, glancing at the mass of Marines gathering below.
"But so what—?! Actually, perfect timing. I'll crush you all at once—!!!"
"CHAMPION—ELBOW DROP!!!!!!!"
The monster's elbow suddenly enlarged massively, and then came crashing down toward the Marines.
"Aahhh!"
Despite their fear, the Marines gritted their teeth and fired their rifles at the descending elbow.
"Everyone, get down!!"
At Rengoku's command, every Marine—including Jose and Vivi—instinctively ducked down.
CLANG!!
The elbow landed.
Right atop Rengoku's blade.
He held his sword in both hands, pouring every ounce of his strength into stopping the massive blow.
"I've been entrusted with your lives by your families! As long as I draw breath, I won't let a single one of you die so easily!!"
The Marines—collapsed on the ground—could only look up at the back of Rengoku, who had blocked the vicious elbow with his body to shield them.
The pressure of the elbow intensified with each passing second.
Even Rengoku couldn't easily endure a 60-meter giant slamming over 100 tons of weight into a single crushing strike.
"I'LL GRIND YOU TO PULP——!!!"
The monster roared, pressing its elbow down even harder.
"Gghhh!!"
"Vice Admiral!!"
Rengoku grit his teeth and bore the increasing weight.
To the Marines, there seemed no way to overcome this monster.
Until they noticed something—
Rengoku's blade was starting to glow red.
----------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass