Chapter 35: A Strange Move
"Damn bastard! Cough cough!"
From within the thick cloud of smoke, a massive figure emerged — Queen, who had entered his Hybrid Form.
Though partially transformed into his ancient Brachiosaurus-human hybrid, his left mechanical arm had been completely destroyed in the explosion. Since Queen's cybernetic enhancements were integrated into his body, the internal damage was severe.
Queen's expression darkened. Not only had he underestimated his opponent, but he also realized that this man's Devil Fruit ability was a natural counter to his own technological enhancements.
His normally near-invincible body — made durable by both his Brachio Brachio no Mi, Model: Brachiosaurus (Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Brachiosaurus) and cyborg augmentations — had lost its advantage. Any mechanical part swallowed and converted by the Baku Baku no Mi was rendered useless.
The Baku Baku no Mi had little effect on living tissue unless the target was fully engulfed or caught off guard. But machines lacked resistance, and Ayaan didn't need to understand complex mechanics to dismantle or warp them completely through transformation.
"Damn it. I can't believe a fruit like that exists — one that totally counters my tech!" Queen growled, then smirked maniacally. "Fine! Let me show you my ultimate weapon — the most powerful Virus Bomb I've ever created!"
With a click, a small missile shot from Queen's mouth. It exploded mid-air, releasing thick dark green gas that rapidly spread across the battlefield.
"Yahahaha! This isn't just any poison. It's a custom-engineered biochemical virus! Once it touches the moisture in your body, it spreads like wildfire — evaporating everything inside you. You'll become a dried-up mummy in minutes!"
Ayaan watched as mildew-like spots began forming on his body, but he remained calm. Instead of retreating, he pulled out a sealed scroll and swallowed a large number of weapons in one go.
As the weapons were assimilated via the Baku Baku no Mi, Ayaan's body began to gleam with a semi-metallic sheen. The viral infection's rate of spread slowed dramatically.
"Not completely immune, huh? Makes sense. My body's still flesh and blood underneath the steel," Ayaan muttered.
Then he raised his hand, glowing faintly with blue chakra.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Fine Disease Extraction Technique!"
In an instant, the virus was expelled from his body. Queen's smug grin vanished.
Queen's pride rested on two things: his cybernetics and his plagues. Now both were countered — his tech destroyed by the Baku Baku no Mi, and his virus negated by medical ninjutsu.
Worse still, Ayaan was getting fired up.
Though Ace and Yamato pushed him in sparring, they weren't true enemies. Queen, however, was an opponent he could unleash everything against.
Ayaan's fist, coated in Armament Haki, smashed toward Queen. He never bothered naming his moves — but his raw power spoke for itself.
After just a few blows, Queen's massive body was riddled with dents and torn plating. His tech weaponry, once his greatest advantage, was reduced to junk.
Queen, lacking agility and relying too much on gadgets, was in trouble. He had the toughness of an Ancient Zoan, yes — but even that had limits. Ayaan's precision and pressure were relentless.
Still, Queen wasn't finished. Without his toys, he was still a Yonko Commander — and Ancient Zoans were known for their resilience and endurance. Unless Ayaan could end it quickly, the battle would drag for hours, even days.
And Queen had a few surprises left.
"Let's see how you like my Bomb Brachio Headbutt!"
His dinosaur head reared up, armored with Haki, and came crashing down. Ayaan blocked, but the force pushed him several steps back.
Blood trickled from Queen's forehead, but for a beast like him, that meant nothing. If anything, it awakened something primal.
"Not bad, kid. Haven't had this much fun in years."
"But if you think I'm just some tech junkie with viruses—"
Ayaan's smirk deepened. He interrupted:
"Hey, Piqiu... ever heard this saying?"
> 'Villains always die because they talk too much.'
"Doton: Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu! (Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!)"
A basic jutsu in the ninja world, simple and low-rank. Any experienced shinobi would've seen through it — but in the world of pirates, no one expected it.
Earlier in the battle, Ayaan had secretly created an Earth Clone. And now, using the broken terrain and Queen's overconfidence, the clone dragged Queen into the ground, burying him chest-deep in an instant.
Unfortunately, Queen was too massive. Even with loose soil and the surprise element, Ayaan could only pull him in up to his chest.