As Vice Admiral Onigumo’s trembling finger slammed down on the red activation button, the entire battlefield underwent a qualitative change in an instant.
“Buzz——”
A deep, heavy mechanical roar emanated from the massive metal hatch on the main ship’s forward deck.
The sound was so loud it drowned out the roaring waves and the wails of the wounded, causing everyone’s hearts to resonate with it.
“Clack… hiss——!”
Accompanied by the crisp sound of hydraulic locks disengaging, the thick armored hatch slowly slid open to both sides.
Rolling clouds of high-pressure white steam instantly obscured the entire forward deck of the flagship.
Within the mist, heavy footsteps echoed.
Thud!
Thud!
With every step, the several-thousand-ton Marine Headquarters flagship groaned under the strain, the steel deck trembling.
A sea breeze howled past, dispersing the steam.
When the colossus fully revealed itself under the sunlight, both the Kuja Pirates’ female warriors and the surviving Marines had their breath stolen away.
It was a moving steel fortress.
Standing nearly seven meters tall, it bore a striking resemblance to the legendary “Tyrant” Bartholomew Kuma.
However, unlike him, this PX-0 (Modified) test model had no synthetic skin.
Its silver-gray alloy skeleton was exposed, with countless thick black hydraulic tubes wrapped around its metallic torso like blood vessels.
A thick transparent armor plate covered its chest, through which blue energy fluid could be seen surging wildly.
Its eyes were not human pupils but two high-precision electronic lenses glowing with scarlet light.
They were currently scanning the entire battlefield with the faint whir of servo motors.
Cold.
Silent.
And filled with destructive, violent aesthetics.
“What… is that monster?”
In the distance, Boa Hancock’s beautiful eyes widened.
Even from far away, she could sense an aura from that iron lump that instinctively disgusted strong beings — a pure technological creation built solely for slaughter.
It had no soul, yet possessed a weight capable of crushing life.
On the command platform, Onigumo’s face was pale as paper.
His hand clutching his severed arm was still trembling, but his eyes burned with a mad resolve.
“Codename PX-0 (Modified), an unfinished masterpiece from Dr.
Vegapunk,” Onigumo’s voice was hoarse.
“Although it doesn’t have that destructive laser, its skeleton uses high-purity memory alloy to test the limits of physical strength, and its power source is three times that of ordinary Pacifistas!”
“Target locked.”
An emotionless electronic synthetic voice resonated from PX-0’s chest speaker, echoing across the sea.
“Hostile lifeform: Giant serpent species.
Threat level: A.
Executing extermination protocol.”
Thud!
PX-0’s knee hydraulic systems compressed violently before releasing.
The specially reinforced steel plate beneath its feet instantly caved in and shattered like paper.
The next second, this seven-ton steel behemoth launched forward like a cannonball!
It crossed dozens of meters of sea in an instant, carrying suffocating wind pressure, and smashed down onto the already sinking, battered left wing warship’s deck!
At that moment, Zane was coiled amidst the deck wreckage.
He had just finished digesting the delicious Vice Admiral flesh and was basking in the pleasure of his increased power.
“A big one has arrived.”
Zane slowly raised his head.
His dark-golden vertical pupils reflected PX-0’s overwhelming shadow.
Facing this steel titan, he showed no fear.
Instead, he flicked his tongue, feeling an unprecedented… appetite.
Yes, appetite.
To ordinary creatures, this was an unbeatable pile of steel.
But to Zane, who possessed the Infinite Devouring System, this was a walking collection of high-purity rare metals and high-energy batteries!
“Not only delivering meat, but also iron?” Zane grinned, revealing two rows of sharp fangs.
“The Marines are surprisingly considerate.”
“Eliminate.”
PX-0 didn’t give Zane much time to think.
Its red electronic eyes instantly locked onto Zane’s vital spot.
It raised a palm larger than a millstone.
High-pressure air blasted from the exhaust ports as it slammed down viciously!
“Pressure Cannon · Crush!”
Although it lacked the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi’s abilities, this strike powered purely by mechanical force and air compression was no weaker than a heavy artillery shell.
“Treating me like a fly?”
Zane snorted coldly and advanced instead of retreating.
The newly comprehended Iron Body · Snake Scale Version activated instantly!
Buzz!
His dark-golden scales suddenly tightened and locked together perfectly.
Every gap sealed shut as subcutaneous muscles hardened at high frequency into steel.
CLANG—!!!
The metal palm slammed into his body.
Instead of the sound of flesh tearing, it produced a resounding temple-bell-like clash.
Terrifying shockwaves swept outward, sparks raining like fireworks.
The already fragile deck beneath Zane instantly shattered, but his coiled body remained rooted like it was welded in place!
“Hardness… acceptable.”
Zane shook his slightly dizzy head, greed growing stronger in his eyes.
“This iron shell is pretty good — even harder than Onigumo’s blade.
If I swallow it, my scale defense will definitely rise another level.
Then I could even take Hawk Eyes’ slashes head-on!”
PX-0’s simple logic core seemed unprepared for this “low-threat creature” to withstand its palm strike directly.
Its electronic eyes flickered rapidly, recalculating Zane’s defense values.
“Threat level upgraded.
Switching to melee mode.
Power output: 100%.”
Clank clank clank!
Internal gears whirred in PX-0’s arm.
Its other hand clenched into a fist.
Hydraulic tubes roared as dark-red heat built up, preparing a barrage of brutal strikes.
“No chance, you iron lump.
I prefer binding over head-on clashes.”
Zane moved.
He no longer chose to take hits passively.
Using a snake’s extreme flexibility, he shot up PX-0’s still-extended arm like black lightning and coiled around it!
One loop.
Two loops.
Three loops!
In the blink of an eye, Zane’s ten-meter-long terrifying body wrapped around the Pacifista’s neck, torso, and limbs like a black chain, turning it into a giant black cocoon.
“Death Coiling · Hydraulic Strangulation!”
Zane exerted full force.
Every inch of muscle roared.
Creeeeak—!!!
The teeth-grinding sound of twisting metal echoed across the battlefield.
Although PX-0’s strength could lift giants, under Zane’s specially evolved muscle density and system-enhanced ancient python constriction, its proud alloy skeleton began to deform, letting out overwhelmed groans.
“Warning!
Structural damage!
External armor deformation at 30%…”
“Warning!
Left arm hydraulic line ruptured… Power transmission obstructed…”
PX-0 began struggling wildly.
It swung its still-mobile arm, trying to rip Zane off.
Metal fingers dug into the gaps between his scales, creating sparks, but Zane’s body was slippery yet incredibly tough.
Every pull only made the coils tighter.
“Is this all you’ve got?”
Zane opened his massive jaws.
His golden vertical pupils locked onto the drive shaft at PX-0’s neck.
“Let me taste you!”
Crunch!
The external armor that could withstand ordinary cannon fire was brutally bitten through by Zane’s armor-piercing, fire-venom-infused fangs!
Although the venom was ineffective against machines, Zane’s teeth directly clamped onto its critical neck circuitry.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
Sparks flew everywhere.
PX-0’s movements froze instantly.
Its red electronic eyes began flickering on and off.
On the main ship’s command platform.
Onigumo watched this scene, his face twisted in utter despair.
“Even PX-0 is no match… Just what kind of monster is this snake?”
He knew the cost of PX-0 — enough to equal an entire warship!
Its strength and defense were nearly invincible in the first half of the Grand Line.
Yet under this monster snake’s constriction, it was as fragile as a cheap toy.
“I can’t let this thing fall into the pirates’ hands.
The technology inside is an absolute World Government secret.”
A ruthless, decisive glint flashed in Onigumo’s eyes.
With his remaining right hand, he pulled out a black remote control.
His thumb trembled as it hovered over the button marked with a blood-red skull.
“If I can’t win, then we’ll go to hell together.”
“Self-destruct sequence, activate.”
The moment he pressed the button.
In the center of the battlefield.
Zane, who was about to feast and dismantle this big guy, suddenly sensed the iron lump beneath him rapidly increasing in temperature.
The originally cold metal shell was now scorching hot and beginning to glow red.
[Alert!
Alert!] [Detected extreme high-energy reaction!
Radiation levels rising exponentially!] [Core power source in extremely unstable state!
Imminent micro nuclear fusion-level explosion!] [Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
Self-destruct countdown: 3… 2…]
PX-0’s originally scarlet eyes suddenly turned blinding white.
The transparent chest armor began melting.
The blue energy fluid inside boiled and vaporized.
A destructive white light was building.
“Trying to self-destruct?!”
Zane’s pupils contracted sharply.
At this close range, it was practically a point-blank explosion.
Even with Iron Body · Snake Scale Version and his regenerative abilities, he might survive, but the already damaged warship would be blown to pieces.
More importantly…
Such a massive high-energy battery!
Such advanced technological crystallization!
If it exploded into fireworks, that would be such a waste!
That was key material for his evolution!
“Give it to me… NOW!!!”
One second before the countdown reached zero.
Zane did something that left everyone watching utterly stunned.
He didn’t release his coils and flee.
Instead, he tightened every muscle, forcibly crushing the already glowing red and softened chest armor plate!
Splurt!
Scorching high-pressure steam mixed with coolant sprayed out, sizzling against Zane’s scales, but he didn’t even blink.
Deep within the steam, a fist-sized core power source glowing with dazzling blue light — already at the critical point of explosion — was exposed.
It was like an unstable miniature sun, radiating terrifying energy that made hearts palpitate.
“This is the flavor!”
Zane lunged forward, opened his abyssal maw, and swallowed the power core that was on the verge of destruction in one gulp!
Gulp.
The scene seemed to freeze at that moment.
There was no earth-shaking explosion.
No mushroom cloud.
Only Zane’s originally black abdomen suddenly lit up with a blinding blue glow, as if he had swallowed a flashbang.
His body swelled dramatically like an overinflated balloon.
Countless blue electric arcs shot out from the gaps between his scales.
“Burp~”
Two seconds later, Zane burped.
A puff of black smoke mixed with electric sparks and heavy machine oil smell escaped his mouth.
He released the now powerless pile of scrap metal that was once PX-0 and looked toward the distant Onigumo, who was still holding the remote with his jaw on the floor.
Zane grinned with wicked amusement.
“Hiss— (A bit strong.
Next time, remember to add some cumin.)”