Chereads / One Piece: Rise of Valoria / Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: "Dragonfire"

Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: "Dragonfire"

Akainu stared at his seared flesh, realizing the gravity of his mistake. His carelessness had allowed the beast in front of him to fully transform. Now, towering over him was not a mere boy with a Demon Fruit, but a monstrous western dragon. William's transformation was both awe-inspiring and terrifying—his massive frame, 30 meters in height and 50 meters in length, loomed over the battlefield. His body was covered in sleek black scales, and his chest and wings glimmered with golden accents. The two long horns protruding from his head made him look like something straight out of a nightmare.

The ground beneath him cracked as he shifted his weight, his claws digging deep into the earth. His tail swayed menacingly, knocking over rubble like mere toys. When William let out a deafening roar, the entire area quaked with his power. The roar was primal, filled with fury, vengeance, and an overwhelming sense of superiority.

The sisters, standing not far from the battle, were in complete shock. Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold had seen powerful Demon Fruits before, but this… this was something entirely different. They had never imagined William could turn into such a colossal beast. His mythical Zoan fruit had granted him the powers of a dragon—an ancient and mythical creature feared by all.

Hancock whispered, almost to herself, "Is that really William?"

Sandersonia, her eyes wide, added, "He's… magnificent." 

Even Marigold, usually composed, found herself at a loss for words. "We knew he was strong, but this…"

Akainu, who had prided himself on his overwhelming strength and Logia abilities, was stunned. The sheer size of William in his dragon form was enough to make even the most seasoned warriors hesitate. And what made it worse was the realization that William's Demon Fruit was not just any Zoan—this was a **mythical** Zoan. The kind that granted powers beyond anything most Demon Fruit users could dream of.

'He's too dangerous,' Akainu thought to himself, gritting his teeth. He couldn't allow someone with this much power to roam free. If William were to escape and grow stronger, it would be catastrophic. The world government had made a mistake with Ohara, and now that mistake stood before him, seeking revenge. He had to end it here and now.

"I won't let you live, monster!" Akainu growled as he launched a series of magma fists toward William. The molten attacks shot forward with immense heat, intending to melt the dragon down to nothing.

But William simply stood there, unmoved, as the magma splashed against his scales. His deep, rumbling voice echoed across the battlefield as he sneered, "Akainu, are you really that stupid?" His glowing red eyes glinted with malice as he spread his wings wide. "I am a **dragon.** Lava is nothing more than a hot bath for me."

Akainu's eyes widened, and the realization hit Akainu like a punch to the gut. His magma—his greatest weapon—was utterly useless against William in his dragon form. The temperature that had melted countless enemies before now did nothing but roll harmlessly off William's black scales.

William's lips curled into a cruel smile. He could feel the overwhelming strength surging through him—the sheer destructive power of his new form. "Let me show you," he said in a voice that was both deep and beastly, "what real fire feels like."

With a sudden inhale, William's massive chest expanded, and flames began to gather in his throat. Then, in one swift motion, he unleashed a torrent of dragonfire that scorched the air around them. The fire breath was immense, larger and faster than anything Akainu had anticipated. It blazed forward with such intensity that the very air seemed to burn.

Akainu, confident in his ability to withstand any flame, stood his ground. "There's no fire that can harm me!" he declared proudly, bracing for the impact. But as the dragonfire came closer, something shifted in his expression. He realized, too late, that this fire was different. It wasn't just heat—it was a pure, destructive force, unlike anything he had encountered before.

By the time he tried to turn his body into magma, it was already too late. The fire engulfed him, and Akainu screamed in pain as his left hand and part of his left side were severely burned. His skin sizzled, and the molten flesh clung to his body as the force of the blow sent him skidding backward. Akainu clenched his teeth, refusing to scream further, but the pain was unbearable.

He had been careless—again. His pride as a magma user, his belief that fire could never harm him, had been his downfall. Akainu hadn't just underestimated William; he had underestimated the raw power of a dragon.

But Akainu wasn't one to back down. Though his left side was burned, he wasn't out of the fight. Glaring up at the massive dragon in front of him, Akainu's eyes blazed with fury. "You think you've won?" he snarled, his voice filled with both pain and rage. "You're nothing but a beast. I will **erase** you just like I did your precious Ohara!"

William, standing tall and unbothered, let out a low, rumbling laugh. "You should've finished me when you had the chance, Akainu. Now, you'll burn like the monster you are."

With that, William charged, and Akainu did the same, his magma body reforming as he readied another attack. The battlefield became a storm of fire and molten rock as the dragon and the admiral clashed. William's massive claws swiped through the air, each strike infused with Haki as he tried to tear Akainu apart. Akainu countered with magma fists, aiming to melt through the dragon's scales.

The ground beneath them melted into molten rock as their battle intensified. William's size and strength were overwhelming, but Akainu wasn't without his own advantages. Each blow from William, though devastating, was countered by Akainu's molten defenses. Neither of them could gain a clear upper hand. 

But William soon realized something—while his full dragon form granted him immense power, it came at a cost. He wasn't as fast as before. His movements, while powerful, were slower and more deliberate. Akainu, though injured, was able to keep up, dodging some of William's more deadly strikes.

The two combatants stood at a stalemate. Akainu, now taking the fight seriously, eyed William with a renewed sense of caution. He knew he couldn't let this dragon escape. Not after what he had witnessed. But at the same time, William, though filled with hatred, knew that his strength alone wasn't enough to win this battle outright.

They stared each other down, their bodies tense, preparing for the next clash. The battlefield was silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. Both combatants realized that this fight—this battle of wills and power—was far from over.

And as the smoke and molten debris settled around them, the real war between the dragon and the admiral had only just begun.