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Chapter 69 - Chapter 66: The Thousand-Hand Clay Buddha

​Location: Skies above Banaro Island

​Banaro Island. A rugged landscape dominated by massive, banana-shaped rock pillars.

​The Blue-Eyes White Dragon descended slowly.

​"What an enviable ability," Robin stroked the dragon's scales. "They say there are only five Devil Fruits in the world that grant true flight."

​"That's a myth," Storm replied casually. "Your Hana Hana no Mi has potential. If you grow wings made of arms, you could glide."

​Robin's eyes lit up. "Wings?"

​"Why not? Or grow giant legs to jump." Storm handed her a clay propeller. "Compared to that, turning your fruit into just an 'Arm Fruit' is a waste."

​Storm looked down at the island.

​According to Crocodile's dossier:

Hanafuda (The Lizard King).

User of the Ancient Zoan: Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Tyrannosaurus.

He loves collecting Ancient Zoan fruits. His aesthetic is prehistoric brutality.

​'This guy feels like he belongs in the Beasts Pirates, not the Warlords,' Storm thought. 'Ancient Zoan? Obsessed with strength? He fits right in with King, Queen, and Jack.'

​"Let's go say hello."

​Storm jumped off the dragon.

​WHOOSH!

​He plummeted from the clouds, free-falling toward the town square.

​BOOM!

​He crashed into the center of the town like a meteor. The impact turned the ground into liquid clay, sending a massive white wave washing over the buildings.

​"This new boss..." Robin watched from the sky, rubbing her forehead. "His style is completely different from Crocodile's subtle manipulation."

​The pirates of Banaro Island swarmed out like ants. They surrounded the crater, weapons drawn.

​"What happened?"

"Is it an attack?"

​The crowd parted. A massive figure walked through the clay without sinking. He wore a dark hood and carried a giant scythe connected to a spiked flail.

​Hanafuda. The King of Lizards.

​"White Dragon?" Hanafuda's voice was raspy. "Are you the rookie who took down Crocodile?"

​He looked at Storm with interest.

​"I heard rumors. Are you an Ancient Zoan user too? A Mythical Zoan?"

​"Sorry to disappoint," Storm stood up, dusting off his coat. "I'm just a guy who plays with mud."

​He looked around at the scrappy pirates.

​'Trash mobs. Not worth recruiting.'

​"But you... you look valuable."

​Storm snapped his fingers.

​RUMBLE!

​The white clay surged. Massive arms erupted from the ground, grabbing at Hanafuda.

​"Hmph!"

​Hanafuda swung his scythe. The blade tore through the clay like paper.

​"Is that all?" Hanafuda sneered. "Then die!"

​He charged.

​"Impatience is a bad habit," Storm whispered.

​The clay in the square gathered behind him. It rose higher and higher, solidifying into a colossal shape.

​A White Buddha Statue, fifty meters tall.

And from its back, hundreds of arms bloomed like a lotus flower.

​[Ability: Clay-Clay Fruit Awakening - True Thousand-Hand Buddha]!

​The pirates dropped their weapons. Their jaws hit the floor.

​"A Buddha?!"

"Is he a god?!"

​Storm sat cross-legged on the Buddha's head.

​"Let's see if your lizard skin is thicker than my palms."

​"ATTACK!"

​BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

​Hundreds of giant clay fists rained down on Hanafuda. It was a bombardment. An avalanche of violence.

​"ROAR!"

​Hanafuda transformed.

​[Zoan Form: Ancient Tyrannosaurus Rex]!

​He grew to twenty meters, his skin turning to scaly armor. He tried to bite, to slash, to endure.

​But the Buddha had too many hands.

​Storm narrowed his eyes.

​[Armament Haki: Hardening]

​The clay fists turned jet-black.

​CRASH!

​A Haki-infused giant fist slammed Hanafuda into the bedrock. Then another. And another.

​The island shook. The town was leveled.

​When the dust settled, Hanafuda lay in a deep crater, reverted to human form, unconscious.

​[System Alert: Target Defeated]

​[Diamond Trophy: Hanafuda]

​[Star Rating: ★★★★★★ (6-Stars)]

​The remaining pirates tried to flee.

​Storm waved his hand. The clay wave swept over the island, swallowing them whole. He didn't need witnesses.

​"Robin. You're up."

​Storm summoned a group of small clay golems. "Go loot the place. Prioritize Devil Fruits."

​"Yes, Boss."

​Robin led her army of cute clay helpers into the ruins of Hanafuda's mansion.

​Minutes later, she returned, her face pale. She was holding a black flag.

​"Boss... I have bad news."

​She unfurled the flag.

​A skull with massive horns, flanked by crossbones.

​"I found this in his treasure room. It's the flag of the Beasts Pirates."

​"The Beasts Pirates?"

​Storm looked at the unconscious Warlord.

​"You mean this little lizard was a double agent for Kaido?"

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