Hawkins glanced at the Tarot Cards plastered with straw, "My survival rate is still 100%. I'm not someone who willingly submits to others."
"Is that so..."
Sage grinned, "Then I'll make you submit through combat. It's better that way. On my ship, you'll need to demonstrate your worth. Besides fortune-telling, let's see what other skills you have."
Hawkins narrowed his eyes slightly and stood there as his face became densely covered in straw.
"You seem very confident..."
His body suddenly expanded, transforming into a gigantic scarecrow. His straw-like hands even coiled around several coffin nails, exuding a terrifying demeanor.
"Demon-Subduing Aspect!"
"I am the 'Scarecrow' who ate the 'Straw-Straw Fruit.' Show me the source of your confidence."
The giant scarecrow suddenly rushed over, the coffin nails on its straw hands directly descending towards Sage.
Sage glanced at the swiftly descending nails and shook his head slightly, "Just a simple ability?"
Ding!
The sharp nails struck Sage's body, but they couldn't pierce his skin, seemingly blocked by something.
The terrifying scarecrow face wore an expression of surprise, not because the nails couldn't penetrate Sage's defense, but rather because while attacking, he had also cast a curse that would plant a Straw Doll substitute through contact. This ability usually worked without fail.
But now, Hawkins didn't feel his ability succeeding; something was blocking it.
"Haki, huh..."
Hawkins muttered to himself. He didn't possess Haki but understood the concept.
Ability Users couldn't resist his ability. Only someone whose mastery of Haki surpassed his could resist the release of his ability.
Although Hawkins couldn't see it, Lily, watching from the deck of the Death Star, saw everything clearly.
The positions where the coffin nails descended were covered with a layer of Armament by Sage, defending against the attack.
Seeing that the first strike had little effect, several straw arms extended from the back of Hawkins' massive scarecrow body, attacking Sage from all directions with a multitude of coffin nails.
At the same time, his mouth opened, spewing out more nails, targeting Sage's body.
Ding ding ding ding!
The nails he spit bounced off Sage's body as if encountering a hard object, while the nails attacking from all directions merely touched his skin without penetrating.
"Hmm..."
Sage seemed to ponder, nodding, "Not bad, the power is there, and the force is decent. Try again."
Ability applied?
He didn't feel it himself. Mastery of Haki was only used to resist abilities without knowing the extent of the Ability User's development.
Especially such strange curse-related abilities.
But the Observation didn't sense danger, so it must be fine.
Ding ding ding ding!
The scarecrow continued its attack, the nails on its straw arms relentlessly jabbing towards Sage.
Shoulders, neck, chest, arms, abdomen... Even the eyes!
Ding! Sage subtly closed his eyes, eyelids blocking the nails' attack.
"I'll let you show your other skills..."
He said impatiently, "Stop using those feeble nails!"
The scarecrow didn't respond, still attacking continuously.
This caused Sage to pause slightly. He glanced at the scarecrow and asked, "Is this your full strength? No new tricks?"
"Of course not."
Hawkins retreated a few steps, his scarecrow face visibly sweating. He extended his arm and pulled out a set of Tarot Cards, the straw arm splitting into two strands, quickly shuffling.
The ability of the Straw-Straw Fruit wasn't about damage. Its greatest function was divination and curses, with the real core being its ability to affect both parties' psychology, strength, and situation to obtain strength beyond one's limits.
Of course, it carries significant risk. If the draw fails, it can weaken oneself instead.
But to surpass a certain situation, it's essential to take risks.
"Draw the card!"
The straw arm drew the top card, and its posture made Sage's eye twitch.
It felt like this guy was about to say something like 'Blue Eyes White Dragon' or 'Crush and Shatter'...
Hawkins turned the Tarot Card to show Sage, and the terrifying scarecrow face showed a confident smile, "It's the 'Magician.' If in reverse, it weakens willpower, slows actions, and leads to errors—an overall debilitation."
"If upright... it signifies change in action, skillful techniques, powerful will, and twice the results with half the effort, enhancing all my abilities. Now, it's upright. I've won!"
The scarecrow's body once again expanded at that moment, becoming a giant scarecrow eight meters high. He drew the sword from his waist, its cold sword blade transformed into a bundle of straw. As he raised it, the straw straightened and spread like a giant needle umbrella, fiercely descending.
Boom!
The needle umbrella-like straw sword pierced rapidly into the deck, smashing everything it covered, even extending into the cabin and penetrating the ship, causing it to noticeably sink.
It's leaking!
"I thought you wouldn't dodge..." Hawkins whispered as he looked at Sage, who had moved aside and now stood at the corner of the ship, "Are you afraid of my ability?"
"Not quite."