A Body of Steel?
23: Momousagi: A Cheat?
A Body of Steel?
The moment Ren Mori said that, Momousagi immediately grew tense.
Every nerve in her body tightened.
So this battle…
really can’t be avoided?
Momousagi muttered inwardly.
Her emotions were complicated, and the hand gripping her sword hilt tightened even further, almost as though she wanted to crush it in her grasp.
Seeing her reaction, Ren Mori developed a headache of his own.
He interpreted Momousagi’s posture as proof that there was no room left for negotiation.
If there had been a narrator standing nearby to explain the misunderstanding, Momousagi would probably have cursed and demanded: You bastard, where exactly did you get the idea that I wanted to fight you?!
Since avoiding battle seemed impossible, Ren Mori stopped wasting time.
He attacked first.
With a wave of his hand, something surged beneath the ground.
The earth split apart.
Countless enormous tree roots erupted like a tidal wave and rushed toward Momousagi and the Marines.
“It’s coming!
Everyone, be careful!” “He’s a Devil Fruit user just like those other two!” Momousagi warned them before swiftly drawing the sword at her waist.
Armament Haki coated the blade.
She swung.
A powerful flying slash tore through the air.
Bang!
The slash collided with the enormous roots.
A violent impact erupted, and thick smoke immediately rose into the air.
“B-Blocked!” “I thought that attack was going to be something terrifying.
Vice Admiral Momousagi stopped it easily!” The Marine had barely finished speaking when Momousagi suddenly shouted, “Watch out!” The soldier froze.
Before he could react— a tree root pierced straight through his body.
It continued rising vertically before rapidly growing into a large tree.
Another Marine standing beside him witnessed the scene and collapsed onto the ground.
He swallowed hard.
Dense beads of sweat covered his forehead.
“You’re facing an enemy like this, and you still dare let your guard down?!” Momousagi roared furiously.
Her expression was filled with frustration at their carelessness.
From within the smoke, Ren Mori’s voice rang out.
“Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!” The ground immediately began trembling.
Momousagi tightened her grip on her sword.
Even now, she did not forget to warn the Marines around her.
“Everyone, be careful!
Another one is—” Before she could finish her warning— a gigantic wooden dragon burst directly out of the smoke.
It had a long hooked nose, and its entire body was covered in spikes.
Its enormous jaws opened— and snapped directly around Momousagi.
“Vice Admiral Momousagi!” The surrounding Marines shouted in alarm and immediately tried to rush over to help.
But the Wood Dragon suddenly swept its tail.
Bang!
Most of the Marines were sent flying.
Creaaak!
Naturally, Momousagi had not simply allowed herself to be swallowed.
At this moment, she was bracing her sword firmly between the Wood Dragon’s jaws, preventing them from closing around her.
Whoosh!
Suddenly— Ren Mori appeared behind Momousagi.
He swung his fist straight toward her.
But Momousagi was naturally no pushover.
Armament Haki burst outward from her body, forcibly breaking her free from the Wood Dragon’s jaws.
Her movements were extremely fast.
She spun around and immediately swung her Armament Haki-coated sword toward Ren Mori.
Ren Mori had not expected this outcome.
And at this point— he could no longer pull back his punch.
Bang!
His fist collided directly with the blade coated in Armament Haki.
In an instant, Ren Mori was sent flying backward.
He scraped across the ground for dozens of meters before finally dispersing the force of the impact.
Ren Mori had assumed that taking such a blow would definitely injure his hand.
But the result…
was completely different.
There was no wound.
All he felt was a numb, aching sensation.
Compared to him, Momousagi’s reaction was far greater.
She frowned deeply and stared at Ren Mori in disbelief.
What exactly is going on with this guy?
I can clearly tell that he isn’t using Armament Haki.
And yet…
even a blade coated in Armament Haki couldn’t break through his defense.
Could this guy have been born with a body of steel?!
…
Meanwhile— Marine Headquarters had already received Momousagi’s request for reinforcements.
The Marines closest to her position had immediately been ordered to move out and provide support.
Inside a certain office— “Are you worried?” Sengoku asked when he noticed Tsuru’s expression.
Tsuru slowly raised her head and glanced at him.
Then she let out a soft breath.
“To say I’m not worried…
would be a lie.” “You know Momousagi’s strength as well as I do.” Sengoku replied.
“She’s only facing one division under the Whitebeard Pirates.” “If Garp were here, he’d probably start teasing you about getting old and losing your judgment, Tsuru.” Tsuru did not respond to the joke.
“We know at least something about all sixteen of Whitebeard’s established divisions.” “But this new 17th Division…” “The very first time it appeared before the world, it defeated Jack and his men.” Tsuru’s expression remained serious.
“Sengoku…
we can’t underestimate them.” “Besides, Momousagi is someone who has fought countless battles.” “If even she decided to request reinforcements, that means she believes she can’t handle them alone.” Hearing Tsuru’s explanation, Sengoku slowly nodded.
“Now that you put it that way…” “It really does seem serious.” ⚡ Support the Story & Unlock More Chapters!