It's probably more or less the same thing.
Anyway, it's not that mystical. Sage is also rumored to be the Lord of Storms.
"However, just because they can't use it doesn't mean you can't. This distance is enough."
Hawkins glanced at Treasure and extended a few strands of straw from his body, quickly weaving them into a straw doll. A cut appeared on his skin, and he stuffed the straw doll inside.
Without Haki, how could anyone possibly resist his ability?
Out on the sea, those who aren't proficient in Haki are extremely weak in front of an Ability User, no matter how strong their physique or how skilled their techniques.
Especially someone like Hawkins, who's reached a certain level in Ability Development, supposedly the strongest Treasure Hunter, capable of crushing someone with a single step.
He didn't even bother to do it himself.
"Urouge, let me handle this."
He stopped Urouge's actions, took a step forward, and waited for those resurrected Tengu to attack.
At that moment, Treasure, watching Hawkins stuff the straw doll in his skin, broke into a sinister smile, "Yes, that's exactly how it should be!"
Whoosh!
A whirlwind whipped up around the tree trunk where he stood, revealing an old man holding a wooden staff. He raised two fingers and showed Hawkins an insidious smile, releasing a purple light from his fingers.
"Curse: Damage Transfer!"
The purple light entered Treasure's body and also shimmered on Hawkins's body.
"Sha la la la la!"
Treasure quickly jumped off the tree trunk, and upon touching the ground, slapped both hands down, "Madman's Chain!"
The broken chains knocked down by Urouge began to tremble one by one, quickly merging on the ground like a spider's web. As soon as they merged and tightened, they bound his body and formed a shackle around his neck.
"This is..."
Urouge instinctively wanted to break free, but the more force he applied, the tighter the chains became. The shackle around his neck was embedding into his flesh, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Abilities can become stronger through continuous development! My chains aren't just about hardness; I also have chains specifically designed to bind large beasts!"
"The more you struggle, the tighter the chains become, preventing the use of force. I've used these chains to capture Sea Kings and dinosaurs before!"
Treasure sneered, "I told you, don't underestimate me!"
The strongest Treasure Hunter, able to roam the New World, is naturally extraordinary.
The less proficient in Haki someone is, the more their ability development level implies strength.
"Oh, ho ho ho ho, did it succeed?"
The old man holding the wooden staff laughed shrilly, completely out of character with his frail body, and descended lightly, bowing to them.
"Hello, my name is Fried, I was specially invited by Jekai..."
He raised his head and flashed them an insidious smile, "To deal with you!"
"Sha la la la la, not only do you know my information, but I know yours even better."
Treasure smiled, "Hawkins, Straw-Straw Fruit Ability User, can curse remotely, causing others to die in your place. Urouge, Karma-Karma Fruit Ability User, can enhance physique upon receiving attacks."
"Do you think appearing here is just a coincidence? No, it's because we can counter you! For each member of the Disaster Pirates, we have a method to counteract them!"
He stretched out his hand, letting the chains sway across his palm, "My chains can bind those with strong physiques. Although specialized chains consume a lot of my energy, they are enough for one target. As for you..."
Treasure looked at Hawkins and then at Fried, "He's the one who specially counters your abilities."
"Oh, ho ho ho ho, I ate the Curse-Curse Fruit and became a Cursed Person, somewhat similar to your abilities."
Fried laughed shrilly, "Although I don't have the passive ability for others to die in my place, my ability lets those willing bear my curse. Treasure willingly accepted my curse..."
"The curse within him will exist forever, making him a perpetual stand-in for the curse bearer, enduring the curse bearer's suffering! But consequently, only the person who placed the curse can kill him; any other damage inflicted on him will be reflected back to the curse bearer!"
"Hmm?"
Hawkins frowned, wanting to undo the ability placed on Treasure, but at this moment, he realized his curse seemed to be solidified, unable to be removed.
Fried opened his arms and laughed maniacally, "Finally, I am useful!"
As an Ability User, his ability had always been useless. Since eating this fruit, he had been ostracized in the area, treated as a 'Wizard' and shunned.
Because this ability was too weak, he needed someone willing to endure his curse, and all of them were negative states; if others were unwilling, the ability couldn't be activated at all.
The so-called curse always demands a negative price to forcibly reach a certain goal.
For example, if someone wants to cure heart disease, they must curse others to lose their hearts...
Without a heart, where would heart disease be?
But who in their right mind would willingly lose a heart...
Even if one survives, they won't last long.
Throughout his life, Fried had been destitute, even his herbal remedies were disregarded because of this ability.
Yet deep down, he always had an ambitious goal: to prove his value as an Ability User!