The chamber trembled violently as Franco and his crew fought against the monstrous guardian and the mysterious figure controlling the environment. The air itself seemed to crackle with an oppressive energy as the figure, hidden beneath the tattered cloak, continued to manipulate the earth beneath them, reshaping the battlefield. Massive stone spikes erupted from the floor, creating new hazards and forcing the crew to constantly adjust their positions.
Franco's grip on his hammer tightened as he charged forward once more. Lightning crackled from the head of the weapon, arcing through the air as he swung it with all his strength, aiming for the guardian's massive, stone-encrusted fist. The crack of thunder sounded as the hammer collided with the guardian's arm, sending a shockwave through the chamber. For a brief moment, the guardian reeled back, staggering from the force of the strike, but it quickly regained its balance, swinging its other massive fist towards Franco.
"Franco, move!" Kael shouted from the side, his voice sharp. With a swift and fluid motion, Kael darted forward, cutting through the air with his sword, aiming to strike at the guardian's exposed side. He narrowly avoided another earth-shaking punch, his blade slicing through the guardian's stone armor with precision. Yet, the blow was only superficial—while it left a mark, the guardian remained unfazed.
Franco darted to the side, narrowly avoiding another of the guardian's powerful strikes. He could feel the pressure mounting—this was no ordinary fight. The guardian's durability was staggering, and the mysterious figure was only making things worse, creating new obstacles for them to overcome with each passing moment.
"Lynara!" Franco called out, signaling for her to take action.
Lynara, ever the quick thinker, moved in like a shadow, weaving through the battlefield and staying out of the way of the guardian's deadly strikes. She had already closed the gap and was now behind the guardian, her twin daggers gleaming in the dim light. Without hesitation, she darted forward, aiming for the joints in the guardian's stone armor, where the gaps were smallest. Her precision was unmatched, but the guardian's sheer size and strength made it difficult to land any significant blows.
Taro, meanwhile, was locked in a battle of his own with the earth-shaker. The ground around them shifted as the figure raised his hand once more, sending boulders and jagged stones hurtling toward Taro. With a growl, Taro swung his trident in a wide arc, deflecting the projectiles with ease, but the barrage didn't stop. Every time he blocked one, another took its place. The relentless assault was wearing him down, but he stood firm, unwilling to let the mysterious figure break his resolve.
The figure was calm, almost detached, as he manipulated the very ground beneath them. His focus was entirely on the fight, his every move calculating, as if he had done this a thousand times before. He wasn't just trying to wear them down physically—he was trying to break their spirits.
---
The Power of Thunder
Franco's mind raced as he adjusted his strategy. He couldn't keep playing defense—he had to end this fight, and fast. The lightning from his Thunder-Thunder Fruit crackled along his body, the power surging through him in waves. He could feel the energy flowing through his veins, the raw might of the storm at his fingertips. He had an idea, but it would require him to use the full force of his abilities.
The guardian, seemingly sensing Franco's determination, charged forward once more, raising both fists in an attempt to crush him. Franco's eyes gleamed with resolve. He charged toward the guardian, lightning surging around him as he summoned the full power of his Devil Fruit.
As the guardian's fists came crashing down, Franco leapt into the air, his body surrounded by a crackling aura of lightning. His hammer glowed brightly as he swung it down toward the guardian's exposed head, channeling all the energy into a single, devastating strike. The moment the hammer made contact, a brilliant explosion of lightning erupted, lighting up the entire chamber in a blinding flash.
The guardian's massive body was thrown back, its stone armor cracking and breaking apart from the sheer force of the attack. The ground beneath them shook violently, the air ionized by the overwhelming surge of electricity. For a moment, the chamber was silent, save for the faint crackling of the storm Franco had unleashed.
Franco landed gracefully on the ground, his hammer smoking slightly from the intense charge. He watched as the guardian slowly crumbled to the floor, its body breaking apart like fragile stone. A sense of satisfaction washed over him—the fight was over, but only for the moment.
---
The Final Confrontation
The mysterious figure, however, was far from defeated. He raised both hands, and the earth beneath him began to shift once more. The ground rumbled ominously as the figure muttered an incantation under his breath, his eyes narrowing with growing intensity. Franco could feel the energy building once again, and it was clear that this battle was far from over.
"You think you've won?" the figure's voice echoed, colder than before. "You've only just begun to understand the power at play here. The relics you seek are more than just tools—they are keys to forces far greater than you can imagine."
Franco tensed, his senses heightening. The figure's words hinted at something darker, something far more dangerous than what they had initially thought. They weren't just dealing with a guardian; they were dealing with a force that could reshape the world itself.
"I don't care about your 'keys'," Franco shot back, his voice full of defiance. "I've come too far to turn back now. You can try all you want, but you won't stop me."
With a roar, the figure raised his hand high, and the entire chamber shook violently. Massive stone golems began to rise from the ground, their eyes glowing with the same red energy as the figure's. Each one was a massive, hulking creature made of living stone, their arms raised in a constant state of attack.
Franco's crew was ready, though. Kael, Lynara, and Taro took their positions, ready to face the stone giants. The battle had just escalated to a new level.
---
Bounty Update:
The battle between Franco's crew and the guardian had reached its peak, and word had already begun to spread of their conflict. As their notoriety increased, so did their bounties. The bounty hunters were already closing in, aware that the crew was now at the center of something far larger than anyone had anticipated.
Franco's Bounty: 550,000,000 Berries
Franco's involvement in this conflict, his use of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, and his growing strength had caused his bounty to skyrocket. The government was starting to take him seriously, and the threat he posed had become undeniable.
Kael's Bounty: 400,000,000 Berries
Kael's skills in battle and his leadership during the fight against the stone guardians earned him an even greater bounty. His reputation as a swordsman and tactician had spread far and wide, and his name was becoming one to be feared.
Lynara's Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries
Lynara's role in the fight, using her agility and stealth to find weak points in the enemy's defenses, earned her a much higher bounty. Her deadly precision and ability to execute attacks with lethal force made her a highly valuable target.
Taro's Bounty: 250,000,000 Berries
Taro's raw strength, combined with his ability to hold his ground against overwhelming odds, had earned him a bounty that reflected his status as one of the crew's most formidable fighters.
As the crew's infamy grew, they began to realize that their ambitions were leading them toward even greater challenges. The more they pushed forward, the more the world took notice—and the more powerful their enemies would become.
---
End of Chapter 36
In this chapter, the crew battles a new, more powerful guardian and faces off against a mysterious figure with the ability to control the earth itself. As the fight escalates, Franco unleashes the full power of his Thunder-Thunder Fruit, bringing the guardian down. However, the mysterious figure's true plan is still unknown, and a new wave of enemies arrives in the form of stone golems. The crew's bounties continue to rise, reflecting their growing power and infamy.
Would you like to continue with Chapter 37?