The chamber was a battlefield of destruction. The stone golems, summoned by the mysterious earthshaker, moved with a sense of purpose. Their massive, rocky bodies were nearly indestructible, and they towered over Franco and his crew, casting long shadows as they slowly advanced. The air was thick with tension, and the once-imposing ruins now seemed like a maze of rubble and impending doom.
Franco's crew had no time to rest. The sudden onslaught of these massive stone guardians had pushed them into a corner. Every move had to be calculated, every strike had to count.
The mysterious figure stood in the background, his hands still raised, controlling the stone titans like puppets. His face remained obscured beneath the tattered cloak, but his chilling presence was undeniable. His calm, methodical movements spoke of a man who had done this countless times before—one who knew exactly how to manipulate the environment to his will.
Franco's muscles tensed as he sized up the stone golems. They were slow but powerful, and their durability was unmatched. The battle would not be easy, but Franco had faced worse. He glanced at his crew and gave them a nod, signaling that they would need to work together to take these foes down.
"Stay on your toes. These guys are tough, but we've got the power to take them down," Franco said, his voice steady, despite the growing pressure.
Kael drew his sword and flashed a grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's see what they're made of."
Lynara, ever the tactician, stayed close to the shadows, observing the movements of the golems. "I'll find a way in. These things may be slow, but they have weak spots."
Taro gripped his trident tightly, his expression serious. "I'll hold them back. You focus on breaking them down."
Franco nodded, raising his hammer. The moment he did, electricity crackled across the weapon's surface, the storm within him ready to be unleashed. He could feel the connection between himself and the Thunder-Thunder Fruit growing stronger with each passing moment. With this power, he was more than just a fighter—he was a force of nature.
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The Battle Begins
As the first golem lunged forward, its massive fists crashing into the ground, Franco was already in motion. With a mighty swing of his hammer, he sent a surge of electricity through the ground, creating a small tremor that momentarily destabilized the golem. It staggered but quickly recovered, raising its fists to strike again.
"Not today," Franco muttered, his voice filled with determination. He charged forward, lightning arcing from his hammer as he collided with the golem's chest. The crackling energy surged through its body, causing cracks to form in the stone surface. The golem let out a low growl, but it was still standing.
"That didn't take it down?" Kael shouted in disbelief, his sword flashing as he cut at one of the golem's legs. "It's tougher than it looks!"
Franco gritted his teeth. "These things are made of stone, and they're probably immune to most attacks. We'll have to use our abilities more strategically."
Taro was already charging at another golem, his trident raised high. The sheer force of his attack created shockwaves that rattled the stone guardian's body, but it didn't fall. Instead, the golem responded by swinging its fist downward, narrowly missing Taro as he leaped out of the way.
Lynara, using her agility and speed, darted between the golems, searching for a weak point. She darted past the slow-moving titans, her daggers flashing as she targeted the joints and cracks in the golems' armor. Her precision was unmatched, but the golems were relentless, and for every strike she landed, they seemed to adapt.
"These things just don't stop," Lynara hissed, her breathing heavy as she narrowly avoided a crushing blow.
Franco could see it—the golems were relentless, but they had no real strategy. They were simply reacting to the crew's movements. It was up to them to outsmart the golems, not just overpower them.
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The Earthshaker's Final Move
The earthshaker figure observed the battle from afar, his eyes glowing a faint red as he manipulated the ground beneath his feet. He muttered something under his breath, and the entire chamber seemed to rumble in response. The stone golems paused for a moment, as if waiting for his command. Then, with a sudden burst of power, the figure raised both arms, and the floor cracked open. A massive wave of stone surged toward the crew, as if the entire ruin were coming alive.
The crew scrambled to dodge the incoming tidal wave of stone, with Taro being the first to react. He slammed his trident into the ground, creating a shockwave that shattered the oncoming wave of earth, but more kept coming. The earthshaker was far from finished.
"Franco!" Kael shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "He's controlling everything down here. If we don't take him out, we'll never stop these golems!"
Franco nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I know. I'll handle the golems. You take care of the figure!"
With a powerful burst of energy, Franco leaped into the air, his hammer crackling with lightning as he soared toward the earthshaker. As he neared, the ground around him began to rise, but with a roar, he slammed his hammer down into the stone, sending a wave of electricity through the ground and disrupting the figure's control.
The earthshaker staggered slightly, his concentration broken, but he quickly recovered, raising his arms to defend himself.
"You'll regret that," the figure hissed, his eyes flashing with fury. The ground beneath Franco began to shift again, but Franco wasn't about to let this chance slip by. He swung his hammer with all his might, sending another surge of lightning toward the figure.
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A Desperate Struggle
Kael, Lynara, and Taro worked in unison to hold off the golems, their attacks synchronized to create openings for each other. Kael used his sword to cut through the stone giants' limbs, while Lynara darted in to strike at their joints. Taro fought with brute strength, pushing the golems back with powerful thrusts of his trident. They were fighting on multiple fronts, and every move had to count.
Lynara, narrowly avoiding a crushing fist, found an opening—a crack in the golem's shoulder. With a swift movement, she leaped up, her daggers flashing as they buried themselves into the golem's weak point. A massive crack spread across its body, and the golem faltered, its movements slowing as the stone began to crumble.
"It's working!" Lynara shouted. "Keep hitting the weak points!"
But the golem was not finished yet. With a final roar, it swung its massive fist toward Taro, who was already on the move. Taro ducked and countered with a blow from his trident, striking the golem's chest. The golem staggered backward, its body crumbling into a pile of rubble.
"One down," Kael grinned, his sword covered in cracks from his battle. "How many more of these things do we have to take down?"
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Bounty Update:
As Franco and his crew continued their battle against the earthshaker and the stone golems, their reputations were already spreading across the seas. Their rise to fame had not gone unnoticed, and the World Government was keeping close tabs on their every move. The crew's bounties had already seen another significant increase as their threat level escalated.
Franco's Bounty: 600,000,000 Berries
With the defeat of multiple guardians and his ever-growing power, Franco's bounty had reached a new high. His ability to control lightning with the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, combined with his strength and leadership, made him one of the most dangerous figures in the world.
Kael's Bounty: 450,000,000 Berries
Kael's incredible swordsmanship and his strategic mind had made him one of the most feared fighters among the crew. His growing reputation as a master swordsman had caused his bounty to rise even higher.
Lynara's Bounty: 350,000,000 Berries
Lynara's ability to strike with precision and her uncanny agility had earned her a considerable bounty increase. Her growing infamy as a deadly assassin was starting to gain the attention of the government and bounty hunters alike.
Taro's Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries
Taro's strength and relentless fighting style had made him a significant threat in the eyes of the World Government. His ability to hold his ground in battles with enemies far stronger than him had pushed his bounty even higher.
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End of Chapter 37
In this chapter, Franco and his crew face the earthshaker's stone golems in a fierce battle. The crew fights together, targeting the golems' weak points, but the mysterious figure controlling them continues to manipulate the earth itself, making it difficult for the crew to gain the upper hand. As the battle intensifies, Franco prepares to confront the figure directly, and the crew's bounties continue to rise, reflecting their growing power and infamy.
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