The air was thick with tension as the crew pressed forward against the earthshaker's relentless stone golems. The air crackled with energy from Franco's Thunder-Thunder Fruit, his hammer glowing with lightning as he lunged toward the mysterious figure controlling the battlefield. Meanwhile, Kael, Lynara, and Taro fought to hold the golems at bay, determined not to let the figure regain control.
The stone guardians, despite being massive and slow, were remarkably strong, their stone bodies resistant to most attacks. But Franco's strikes, imbued with the raw force of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, were beginning to crack their outer shells, revealing the inner workings of the golems. The crew had learned that precision and strategy were key—raw strength alone wouldn't be enough to break through the golems' tough exteriors.
Franco's eyes locked on the earthshaker, a cold fire burning within them. The mysterious figure had been pulling the strings from the shadows, manipulating the terrain and summoning these golems to overwhelm them. But no more. It was time to end this.
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Franco vs. The Earthshaker
The figure raised his arms once again, summoning another wave of stone to surge toward Franco, but this time, Franco was ready. He swung his hammer with incredible force, releasing a powerful bolt of lightning that split the wave of earth in two. The figure's eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure, summoning more stone from the ground.
"You're persistent," the figure sneered, his voice laced with disdain. "But that won't save you. The power I control is far beyond what you can imagine."
Franco's grip tightened on his hammer. "I don't care about your power. I'm going to stop you, no matter what."
With a deafening crack, Franco swung his hammer down, unleashing another surge of lightning. The bolt shot through the air, striking the earthshaker directly. The figure staggered back, his cloak flaring in the wind. For a moment, Franco thought he had landed a decisive blow. But to his shock, the figure's body was beginning to reform, his wounds healing rapidly as the earth around him seemed to bend to his will.
"I've grown far beyond human limitations," the figure said, his voice taking on an eerie, hollow quality. "The relics you seek will only hasten your doom."
Franco's mind raced. If the figure could heal so quickly, it meant that he wasn't just manipulating the earth—he was connected to it, drawing power from something much deeper. This battle would require more than just strength. Franco had to find a way to cut off the figure's source of power, or they would never defeat him.
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Kael, Lynara, and Taro's Fight
Meanwhile, Kael, Lynara, and Taro were still engaged in their own battle with the golems. The stone giants were relentless, each one more durable than the last. But with each strike, the crew was making progress.
Kael was on the offensive, his sword flashing with each movement as he cut through the legs and arms of one of the golems. His precision was unparalleled—each strike was aimed at the joints, the weak points in the golem's stone body. But even as he sliced through one of the golem's limbs, another would rise to take its place.
Lynara danced around the golems, her daggers flashing in the dim light. She struck with incredible speed, aiming for the cracks in their bodies that Kael had exposed. Her agility allowed her to avoid the golems' massive fists, but the sheer numbers were overwhelming. There were just too many of them.
Taro, on the other hand, used his brute strength to hold the line. His trident struck with powerful force, sending shockwaves through the golems' bodies. With each strike, another golem crumbled, but for every one that fell, two more seemed to take its place.
"Kael, Lynara, Taro!" Franco called, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to take out the source. He's healing himself. I'll handle the golems. You focus on the earthshaker!"
Kael gritted his teeth but nodded. "Understood. Let's finish this."
The trio refocused their efforts, moving with even more precision and coordination. Kael and Lynara targeted the weak spots of the remaining golems, while Taro took the brunt of their attacks, keeping them occupied.
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Franco's Strategy
Franco wasn't about to let the earthshaker escape. He could feel the power of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit surging through his veins, but even that wasn't enough to take down this mysterious figure. He had to get closer, find the source of the figure's power.
He charged forward, ignoring the falling stone debris and golems that attempted to block his path. With every step, the ground beneath him trembled as if protesting his advance. The earthshaker raised his arms, summoning yet another wave of stone, but Franco was faster. He leapt into the air, his hammer crackling with energy as he aimed for the earthshaker.
The figure's eyes widened in realization. "You—"
But before he could react, Franco swung his hammer down with incredible force, releasing a torrent of lightning that surged through the stone beneath the earthshaker's feet. The bolt struck the ground, and the figure was momentarily blinded by the sheer intensity of the attack.
Franco landed with a heavy thud, his eyes narrowed as he focused on the figure's weakening form. The lightning had disrupted the earthshaker's connection to the ground, but it wasn't enough to defeat him. Not yet.
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The Final Blow
The earthshaker's form flickered, and for a moment, Franco saw a brief glimpse of the man beneath the cloak—his features were sharp and angular, his eyes glowing with a red light. But before Franco could fully comprehend the figure's appearance, the stone golems surged forward again, attempting to block his path.
With a roar, Franco swung his hammer once more, sending a blast of lightning into the golems. The shockwave shattered the stone titans, sending pieces of rubble flying through the air. As the last golem crumbled, Franco turned his attention back to the earthshaker.
"Enough games," Franco growled. He raised his hammer one final time, his body glowing with lightning. He could feel the power building, the storm within him reaching its peak. He was ready to end this.
The earthshaker raised his hands in a final attempt to protect himself, but Franco was already moving. With a mighty swing, he sent a massive bolt of lightning surging toward the figure, the raw power of the storm overwhelming him.
The figure's last words were lost in the roar of the thunder as the lightning consumed him entirely. The earthshaker screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the deafening crack of thunder. In the blink of an eye, he was gone, reduced to nothing but smoldering ruins.
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The Aftermath
The chamber fell silent as the dust settled. The stone golems were nothing more than piles of rubble, and the earthshaker was no more. Franco stood at the center of the destruction, his hammer still crackling with residual lightning. His crew slowly regrouped around him, their breathing heavy but their expressions triumphant.
"Well, that was intense," Kael said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You really brought the storm down on him."
Franco nodded, his expression grim. "It wasn't easy. But we couldn't let him keep controlling the battlefield. Now, we need to figure out what he was after."
Lynara surveyed the ruins around them, her sharp eyes scanning the remnants of the earthshaker's power. "I think we've only seen a small part of his plan. This place feels like a nexus of power. There might be more to this than just defeating him."
Taro grunted, his trident held loosely in his hand. "Let's be ready for whatever comes next. We've made a lot of noise, and the World Government won't stay silent forever."
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Bounty Update:
After the battle with the earthshaker, the crew's notoriety spread like wildfire. The destruction they had caused in the ancient chamber was noticed by both pirates and the World Government alike. Their bounties surged once more, reflecting the escalating danger they represented.
Franco's Bounty: 700,000,000 Berries
Franco's triumph over the earthshaker and the devastation he wrought had raised his bounty to an all-time high. His strength, leadership, and the raw power of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit made him a serious threat in the eyes of the World Government.
Kael's Bounty: 500,000,000 Berries
Kael's role in taking down the stone guardians and his leadership during the battle had earned him a significant increase in his bounty. He was now one of the most sought-after pirates on the seas.
Lynara's Bounty: 400,000,000 Berries
Lynara's agility and deadly precision had made her an even bigger target for bounty hunters. Her role in the fight had pushed her bounty to new heights.
Taro's Bounty: 350,000,000 Berries
Taro's raw strength and determination had earned him a well-deserved rise in bounty, cementing his status as one of the most feared warriors in the crew.
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End of Chapter 38
In this chapter, Franco and his crew face off against the earthshaker, defeating his stone golems and ultimately