His entire right arm suddenly transformed into a brilliant, transparent, glass-like state.
Bones and veins were clearly visible.
Streaks of crimson-gold light, like nighttime highway traffic, flowed within the veins and muscles.
Boom…!!!
In that moment, Bazel's body swelled up once again.
Growing at a speed visible to around three meters tall.
His bulging muscles were distinct and well-defined.
His entire aura shifted from the sinister and ghostly nature of his Venom Body to something as bright and domineering as the sun.
'So this is it, this is the true form of the Blazing Molten Body.'
A sense of enlightenment arose in Bazel's heart.
The Blazing Molten Body was a second level that transcended the Fire Flow Body, possessing a truth-form closer to the scorching sun.
Before, he had always viewed this form as a more direct, violent attack mode.
He hadn't thought about it in a more profound direction.
But today, perhaps because he was on a Sky Island, closer to the sun, or perhaps because his innate talent broke through under the pressure of life and death, Bazel suddenly gained a deeper understanding of the true form of the Blazing Molten Body.
Be as righteous and majestic as the sun, using the most domineering attacks to crush all enemies!
"Byrnndi World, this is my strongest attack. If you can still survive this, remember to come find me for revenge in the future."
"My name is Bazel."
"Blazing Molten Body First Form: Solar Mirage!"
A fist condensed with the will of the sun and Conqueror's Haki shot out at extreme speed, smashing into Byrnndi World's heart.
The clouds in the higher sky were dispersed by an invisible force.
"Barororo~~~!!!"
Tilting his head back, Byrnndi World's laughter refused to stop.
Even as tears of laughter streamed out, he didn't want to stop.
"To think my journey would end here. The seas these days are truly terrifying."
Byrnndi World's expression suddenly returned to normal, but his pupils visibly darkened at a rapid pace.
"You bastard… you will definitely become a scourge of the seas. Definitely."
Bazel forcefully resisted the urge to blurt out that he was a marine, and retracted his fist.
Byrnndi World lowered his head and looked at his own chest.
There was no heart there anymore.
His skin began to weather and scatter, followed by his muscles, ribs, heart-protecting muscle…
That single punch, concentrated with high temperature and Conqueror's Haki, had blown a hole clear through his chest.
Byrnndi World sighed as he looked at the hollow in his chest.
"Really… unwilling… If I had chosen to go all out from the very beginning, I definitely wouldn't have been worn down by your serpent venom."
"Bazel, you viper, just what…"
Bang!
Before he could finish his words, Byrnndi World fell backward, his eyes wide with utter unwillingness, staring straight at the sky.
"It's finally over. This grudge is completely settled."
Reverting to his human form, Bazel slightly closed his eyes, adjusting his muscles and breathing.
"Bazel-kun, congratulations~"
Toki flew over, rushing into the man's arms like a young swallow returning to its nest.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Toki pushed against the man's chest to put some distance between them, constantly using her hands to measure the difference in their height.
"Bazel-kun, did you get taller? I used to be able to hug you perfectly, why can't I now?"
Bazel looked down at his trouser legs, confirmed his ankles were showing, and nodded with a smile.
"It's probably because my Devil Fruit power had a bit of a breakthrough, and my body is getting stronger too."
"Besides, I'm only 19, it's the time when my body is still growing. It's not strange to get taller."
"Is that so~"
Toki tilted her head and pouted, hesitated for a moment, then stopped thinking about it, and giggled as she threw herself back into the man's arms to snuggle.
"Aniki!!"
"That punch just now was super~ cool!!"
Enel, who had run over a step later, kept running circles around Bazel, his right hand occasionally making punching motions.
"Blazing Molten Body First Form: Solar Mirage!!"
"That's weird, why can't I throw a punch like that?"
"It took me many years of training to achieve that punch. You still have a long road ahead, kid."
Bazel picked up Toki and used his other hand to ruffle the golden afro.
"Kaido-san, isn't it about time you came out after watching the show for so long?"
"Kaido-san?" Toki looked around curiously, "Did you get it wrong? I don't see him."
"Worororo..."
An azure dragon poked its head out from the clouds in the higher sky.
"D-dragon?!"
Enel fell backward onto his butt, pointing a trembling finger at the sky, his face full of terror:
"Aniki, run away, quick! Dragons actually exist!!!"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to position himself in front of Bazel.
"I'll repay Aneki's life-saving grace right here! You guys run, I'll hold off that dragon!"
Bazel and Toki exchanged a look, both finding it both funny and exasperating.
"What an interesting little brat. To think he actually dares to stop me?"
The dragon swooped down from the island cloud, transforming into Kaido's appearance.
"Bazel, who is this kid?"
Bazel briefly explained Enel's origins in a few sentences.
"Life-saving grace, huh? Not a bad kid. Follow Bazel from now on. If you have any questions about training, you can come ask me anytime!"
Picking up Enel and tossing him aside, Kaido walked up to Bazel. His Observation Haki scanned every muscle on the man's body.
"You've transformed. It seems you've made your choice."
"The path of Yamata no Orochi is vast, but your aura has changed. Bright, domineering, and scorching."
"Are you planning to abandon the path of poison?"
Bazel shook his head, "No. I'll advance both. I just comprehended a tiny bit of the sun's true meaning during my fight with Byrnndi World."
"As long as I continue in this direction, if things go smoothly, I might reach a Semi-Awakened state within a few years."
"Semi-Awakened?"
Kaido's eyes showed confusion. He had heard of successful or failed Awakenings, but this was the first time he'd heard of a 'Semi-Awakened' state.
"I can feel that the Awakening of the Yamata no Orochi seems different from other Zoan-type Devil Fruit Awakenings."
Putting Toki down, Bazel placed his hand over his heart, feeling the powerful thumping within.
"The eight serpent heads represent eight different powers. If I want to fully awaken, I must, like flame, comprehend a deeper domain."
The flame moving closer to the sun… this is only the change happening to one of the serpent heads.
The abilities of poison and body manipulation still have traces to follow.
But Bazel has no idea how to proceed with the two abilities of eight lives and soul.
Not to mention, there are still three head abilities that haven't appeared.
Bazel even suspects that the abilities of those three heads might only be obtainable after Awakening or upon meeting certain conditions.
Just like the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, which is closely related to the Yamata no Orochi.
The Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, also known as the Kusanagi Sword, is the divine sword hidden within the Yamata no Orochi in mythological stories.
But no matter how Bazel searched his body, he could never find this legendary divine sword.
'The sun…'
'Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi...'
'God…'
Bazel felt his thoughts were a tangled mess. He shook his head, dispelling those ideas without beginning or end.
Thinking about future things prematurely will only make him anxious.
Making himself anxious = committing suicide early.
He didn't cross over to this world to make himself anxious. Enjoying life is the main point.
You only live once, why make it so hard?
As for Awakening...
That kind of thing will happen naturally when it's time to awaken. If it hasn't awakened yet, it just means the time hasn't arrived.
"Speaking of which~"
Bazel snatched the gourd hanging from Kaido's waist, sat down cross-legged, and took large, hearty gulps.
"Hey, kid, save some for me! The drink in my gourd is all good stuff!!"
Seeing Bazel take several large gulps without stopping, Kaido hurriedly snatched the gourd back, his face pained.
"This liquor isn't for you to chug like a cow! You have to savor it slowly!"
"Savor it slowly?"
Wiping the liquor from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, Bazel looked strange.
"Kaido-san, since when do you savor wine slowly?"
"Half the gourd is gone..."
Kaido stoppered the gourd and tucked it behind his back, acting protective and stingy.
"Stingy~"
Bazel muttered, then remembered the serious matter he had intended to bring up.
"Right, Kaido!"
"Do you know about the Poneglyphs? And the City of Gold!"
"Poneglyphs? City of Gold?"
Kaido looked suspiciously at Bazel, "Why are you asking about that? Of course I know about those things."
"They're here."
Pointing towards the sky island from whence they came, Bazel grinned, "The natives of this place possess a trace of Lunarian bloodline. I think Arber would really like it."
Kaido raised an eyebrow. Before he could ask for details, Bazel continued, "As for the City of Gold and the Poneglyph, they're on the so-called God Island, Upper Yard!"
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