The energy, or zhenqi, within Chiba surged, causing his physical strength to increase rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, Chiba had transformed into a towering giant over ten meters tall.
A fierce light burst from his eyes as he reached his right hand out towards Fujitora.
Reacting swiftly, Fujitora unleashed the power of his Devil Fruit, and the ground beneath Chiba split open, causing him to plummet into an abyss.
"What a troublesome ability," Chiba muttered. He could tell that Fujitora's raw strength was inferior to his own, yet he found himself unable to easily overcome the Admiral's gravity-based powers.
As he continued to fall, Chiba mentally cycled through the techniques he had learned, searching for a solution. Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and he slapped his forehead in realization. He had forgotten about his Demon Immune Body technique!
Activating the Demon Immune Body training method, Chiba channeled his energy along a unique pathway within his body, causing the technique to take effect.
In an instant, he felt the oppressive gravity vanish, his body becoming as light as a feather.
Simultaneously, Chiba invoked his Heavenly Transformation ability, growing over 30 meters tall. Planting his feet against the cliffs on either side of the chasm, he launched himself up and out, his giant hand sweeping toward Fujitora.
"Hm? Impressive," Fujitora murmured, drawing his blade. With a flick of his sword, a dark wave of energy sliced horizontally toward Chiba.
The powerful gravitational force pushed rocks and trees in every direction, but Chiba was unaffected. Raising his arms to shield himself, he brushed aside the oncoming debris, then drove his fist toward the Admiral.
"Did he just… resist it?" Fujitora's expression changed, stunned to find someone unaffected by his Devil Fruit powers.
Could it be that his mastery of Haki has reached such heights that he's immune to Devil Fruit effects? Fujitora wondered, grasping for an explanation.
Steeling himself, Fujitora swung his blade again and propelled himself backward with his gravity power, narrowly dodging Chiba's blow.
"Hmph, you're pretty quick on your feet," Chiba remarked, leaping forward to continue his pursuit.
Fujitora continued waving his sword, sending trees and boulders hurtling toward Chiba from all directions.
Chiba's massive form glowed with white light, and each punch or kick he delivered pulverized the obstacles into dust.
The more they clashed, the more alarmed Fujitora became, finding himself forced back repeatedly.
Finally, Chiba closed the distance and raised a massive hand to bring down on the Admiral.
Fujitora attempted his usual escape, using his gravity powers to propel himself out of reach. But in a flash, Chiba activated his Lightning Dragon Flash technique, positioning himself behind Fujitora.
With no time to evade, Fujitora instinctively activated his ability again, forcing himself back just in time to avoid Chiba's grasp.
At that moment, the ground began to tremble. In the distance, Peacock wielded her whip, cracking it against the earth to create tremors that rippled toward Fujitora like tidal waves.
Fujitora deflected Peacock's attack with another burst of gravity, pushing back the shifting ground.
Immediately after, iron bars erupted from the earth as Hina joined the fray, her Cage-Cage Fruit abilities attempting to ensnare him. Fujitora leaped to avoid the incoming restraints.
"Damn it, what a frustrating ability," Hina muttered, just as a figure shot past her.
It was Hancock, her leg raised to deliver a powerful Perfume Femur kick. She wore a weapon forged by Chiba himself—the "Broken Incense"—which, paired with her Armament Haki, gave her kick a devastating impact akin to Chiba's own iron fist.
Fujitora's expression shifted as he quickly raised his sword in defense, preparing to counter her. But before he could activate his Devil Fruit powers, Hancock's gaze locked onto him, and her eyes emitted a strange, dazzling light.
Despite being blind, Fujitora sensed an uncanny, almost paralyzing force emanating from her. His Observation Haki alerted him to the danger, but the sensation made his body feel restrained, slowing his reactions.
In that moment of vulnerability, Hancock's leg descended onto his sword with crushing force.
"Prepare to die at the hands of a true empress."
Boom!
With a dull thud, Fujitora's blade shattered under the impact, and Hancock's powerful kick struck his chest, sending him hurtling hundreds of meters back. He skidded across the surface of the sea before finally sinking beneath the waves.
As a Devil Fruit user, Fujitora lost his strength upon contact with seawater, leaving him helpless and awaiting his fate beneath the ocean's surface.
Hancock withdrew her leg, flicked her hair back with a proud smile, and declared, "Anyone who dares challenge me courts death."
The onlookers stared, stunned by Hancock's display of strength. Many had underestimated her in the past, assuming Chiba was the strongest among them due to his frequent displays of power.
But now, they saw Hancock's true strength for the first time.
Even Chiba was momentarily taken aback. He knew how formidable Fujitora was, particularly with the versatility of his gravity powers, which had made it difficult for Chiba himself to close the distance. Yet Hancock had effortlessly kicked him into the sea.
Chiba sighed. "I didn't expect this, Hancock. Your strength has improved so quickly… I'm starting to think I might not be able to keep up."
Hancock's cheeks flushed slightly as she replied modestly, "It's only because of you, Chiba, and the support from everyone else. Without your help distracting him, I doubt I'd have been able to get close. His Observation Haki is incredibly powerful, and his Devil Fruit abilities are almost too much to handle. Alone, I might not have succeeded."
"So, what are we going to do with Fujitora?" someone asked as crew members hauled the Admiral up from the water, binding him with seastone handcuffs and bringing him to shore.
Kneeling in defeat, Fujitora looked up at Hancock with curiosity. "What was that power you used earlier? It felt as though my entire body was restrained. What kind of ability is that?"
Hancock looked down at him haughtily. "You don't need to know. That's for me to know and you to fear."
She had been cultivating the Queen Medusa technique, a bloodline-based method that was only now reaching its true potential. As her mastery grew, so too would her ability to petrify her enemies.