Chapter 180: Tailed Beast Ball
Chakra cloaked his body once again, transforming him into a monster. He whispered, "When you do wrong, you must pay the price, and that price is your life!"
Rodney erupted instantly, and the others on the opposite side activated their Six Powers, launching attacks from different directions.
"Prepare to die!"
Chakra arms extended from his body, grabbing several of them and pinning them against the wall.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The walls bore nine large holes, and Rob Lucci lay amidst the rubble, coughing up blood. Having consumed the Animal-type Devil Fruit, his body was far stronger than his comrades', which made him more resilient.
He struggled to lift his head, feeling that countless bones in his body were broken. He winced in pain. "Is the difference in strength really this vast? Is this the power of the Shichibukai?"
He had expected a difference, but this level of oppression and power differential was beyond his imagination.
"People who make foolish choices are never worthy of sympathy, Rob Lucci. CP9, or whoever the mastermind is, tell me!" Rodney emerged, revealing his face.
Rob Lucci smirked, disdain in his eyes. If he revealed the mastermind, it would be a betrayal of the justice he had always upheld.
"You will," Rodney asserted, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan. Normally, Rob Lucci's mental strength would resist Sharingan's control, but with the upgraded Mangekyō, it easily subdued him.
"Who ordered you to capture Robin?"
"It was Spandam, the leader of CP9," Rob Lucci replied listlessly.
Spandam, a ruthless man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, was the son of the former leader of CP9, Spandine. Interestingly, Spandine was responsible for initiating the Buster Call on Ohara, and now his son had set his sights on Robin. The connection was uncanny.
"Where is he?"
"He's in the top office of the Tower of Justice."
Rodney raised an eyebrow and grinned wickedly. "Up there? Well then, let him stay up there. Robin, let's go back."
"Understood, Captain," Robin replied obediently.
"Oh, what about the person you captured?" Rodney inquired, referring to Franky.
"He's being held in a certain location."
"Release him."
"As you wish."
Despite his severe injuries, Franky, under the influence of illusions, had left uncontrolled at lightning speed.
"Tell me, why did you leave? Was it because you didn't trust my abilities? Or was it because you couldn't handle CP9?" Rodney asked.
"No, Captain, I trust you completely. You are the most trustworthy person in this world," Robin said, placing her hand on her chest.
"Then why?"
"The Buster Call!" Robin replied.
"Buster Call? You're quite foolish. You're usually so intelligent, but now you suddenly act foolish," Rodney said, shaking his head and lightly tapping Robin's forehead.
He released her from his grasp and spoke gently, "I'm not afraid of the so-called Buster Call anymore. I can single-handedly destroy an entire fleet, so there's no need to worry about Avileon being destroyed by the Buster Call. Trust me, Robin, I won't let that happen."
"But your eyes..."
Robin began, expressing her concerns. Excessive use of the Mangekyō Sharingan could lead to blindness, and Rodney had used it during the battle.
"Just a brief use won't hurt. Don't worry, be at ease. I have some control over the Mangekyō Sharingan now, and I won't go blind. When the time comes, the power of the Tailed Beast and the Mangekyō Sharingan will make me unstoppable. I won't fear any Marine Admiral or Emperors!"
"Really?" Robin asked, her worries persisting.
"Of course. It just requires obtaining a certain individual's cells. It will come at a cost," Rodney said, deep in thought. He had found a suitable candidate for that purpose but needed the right opportunity.
As they chatted while walking, they reached the seaside, where Rob Lucci was waiting with the unconscious Franky. Rodney faced the Judicial Tower and smiled at Robin. "Robin, the son of the man who destroyed Ohara is in there. Although his father isn't here, it's a bit of interest on the debt. What do you say?"
"It's up to you, Captain."
"Alright then. Let me show you my newly acquired power."
Rodney's blood-red Tailed Beast Cloak enveloped him, transforming him into a giant turtle with three tails.
"Captain?" Robin blinked, feeling puzzled.
Rodney lay down on the ground, using his single eye to observe. "It's me."
His voice had grown deeper but was still recognizable as Rodney's.
"Tailed Beast Ball!"
Before him, a sphere of red and blue chakra formed—a combination of Yin and Yang chakra compressed in a ratio of 8:2 within his mouth, creating an extremely dense chakra sphere.
Normally, learning to freely use and release a Tailed Beast Sphere would require lengthy training for a perfect Jinchuriki. Although Rodney wasn't one, he directly controlled the Three-Tails, allowing him to condense and launch the Tailed Beast Sphere with ease.
A Tailed Beast Ball, the size of a house, was complete and immediately unleashed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Tailed Beast Ball shot out, obliterating the entire Judicial Tower in an instant. Following the terrifying explosion, the entire Enies Lobby was consumed.
A tremendous shockwave accompanied by scorching heat swept through, blowing Rob Lucci and Franky away.
A colossal chakra hand reached out, grabbing Franky, while Robin sought shelter beneath Rodney's massive form. The deafening wind roared in her ears, and she shouted, "Captain, isn't this too excessive?"
"They captured you, so they must pay the price," Rodney replied.
With that, Rodney and Robin stepped onto the ocean, leaving the destruction behind.