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All living things in this world can feel pain.
All living things in this world will die if they are killed.
Therefore, all living things should respect death and pain, fear them, and retreat before them.
And so, naturally, the weak fear the strong, while the strong trample upon the weak.
Just as the member nations of the World Government trample non-member nations, and the Celestial Dragons casually enslave anyone they please… That was not oppression or cruelty.
It was simply the natural order of things.
"Only that kind of world is reassuring."
That was the worldview of the twisted monster known as Aramaki, but now, he had encountered a group of monsters that did not follow this "order."
Those monsters were…
"Bang!"
The unbelievable creatures known as the Phantom Beast Lords.
From the moment they appeared, their attacks had resembled the ancient rhythm of war drums echoing through the forest.
Flowing mud and freezing frost formed "control" and "support."
Raging flames, violent winds, and thunder combined with high-speed assaults and piercing strikes to form 'offense' and 'assassination' and finally, the silent mountain-like stone giant formed the "guardian shield."
The six Phantom Beast Lords operated like a perfectly coordinated war machine, endlessly attacking Aramaki from every direction.
Naturally, Aramaki did not believe he feared them.
Every swing of the gigantic blade in his hands flattened huge sections of forest, and with the support of his terrifying Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), the bodies of the Phantom Beast Lords were frequently shattered apart.
Yes…
The Phantom Beast Lords were unquestionably powerful, true "strong" beings even by the standards of the sea itself.
But Aramaki still believed that he was the stronger one.
The only problem was… Unlike in the past, he could not see "fear" within them.
Even though he was certain every strike he landed was effective, and certain these monsters were genuine living beings rather than illusions incapable of pain…
The reality was that even after their flesh, bones, fur, and claws were torn apart, these creatures would only howl in pain before immediately launching another attack with their ruined bodies.
When pierced by branches and completely immobilized as their life force and moisture were drained away, they would even choose to kill themselves without hesitation—
Then be "reborn" amid a mixture of blue and golden radiance.
"Monsters that have transcended the 'order,' huh…"
Grinding his teeth, Aramaki was finally forced to admit it.
These "Phantom Beast Lords". no, everyone on this island were exactly the type he hated the most.
And it was precisely at that moment…
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
He heard explosions echoing from beyond the distant island.
It was the sound of countless cannons firing in unison, cannon shells blasting from their barrels.
Naturally, Aramaki understood what that meant.
The fleets of the various kingdoms had already approached Dreamland Island and had apparently begun battling someone.
If nothing unexpected had happened, their opponent should be that swordsman from earlier… Issho.
"That… won't do." Aramaki's expression became even crueler. "I promised the king that I would retrieve the Fountain of Youth before the fleets of the other nations arrived. I already planned to present it to the Celestial Dragons in exchange for forgiveness."
At this moment, he no longer bothered defending against the Phantom Beast Lords' attacks.
Instead, he simply allowed them to tear apart his body.
The pain stimulated his nerves, making him increasingly furious… and increasingly excited.
Excited for the destruction that was about to arrive.
A terrifying aura began gathering around him and his gaze locked firmly onto Hitsuji, who still sat leisurely in the distance.
"Hey…" His voice had become hoarse and low. "You bastard… do you actually know what a 'forest' truly is?"
As he spoke, the entire "Forest of Wrath" surrounding him seemed to become an extension of his own body.
The overlapping rumbling sounds echoed throughout the forest.
"Thriving vitality? Fields of flowers? Abundant resources? Or maybe something like that so-called 'Fairy Tale Forest' on your island?"
"How laughably foolish."
At this moment, Aramaki no longer even resembled a human being and for the first time since their appearance, the Phantom Beast Lords ceased their attacks. They silently retreated, standing guard before Hitsuji like loyal sentinels, warily watching the terrifying thing about to descend upon this place.
Because at this moment…
"Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!"
The earth itself seemed to have gained a heartbeat as every tree summoned by Aramaki began surging wildly toward him.
The gigantic trees were uprooted one after another, rapidly withering and decomposing as they flew toward him.
The shattered wood and broken roots were all absorbed into his body.
It was as though some enormous tentacle had seized them, and devoured them whole.
Thus, Aramaki began to "grow."
"A forest is the very source of life itself, equal to the sea, its an incarnation of 'nature.'"
"And nature… is cruelty."
As he spoke, his body expanded to an unbelievable size. After devouring the entire Forest of Wrath, his form no longer resembled a humanoid tree giant. Instead, he transformed completely into a colossal black world tree that towered into the heavens.
Its branches were his arms.
Its canopy was his head.
The entire island seemed to lie beneath his feet.
The crown of the giant tree blotted out the sky itself, while its mountain-like trunk was covered in twisted, grotesque patterns.
"Bang!"
A casual swing of one branch carried enough force to shatter mountains.
Every part of his body was formed from countless smaller trees, as though entire forests were growing upon him, and beneath his feet, roots so massive they bordered on absurdity continued pulsing through the earth, constantly devouring something…
The very source of Aramaki's increasingly terrifying aura.
Those things were the origins of all life hidden deep beneath the island.
Water.
Vitality.
Or collectively…
Nutrients.
"The so-called green grass steals nutrients from the soil."
"The so-called giant trees feed upon the corpses of beasts."
"The weak offering everything to the strong and becoming nourishment, that is the true law of nature itself."
From atop the enormous tree that stretched nearly beyond the heavens, Aramaki gazed downward at the now tiny-looking Phantom Beast Lords and the so-called "Island Spirit."
"And I am the Forest Man who consumed the Woods-Woods Devil Fruit. The order I obey… is the law of the forest."
Indeed.
The man known as Aramaki was the user of the Logia-type Woods-Woods Devil Fruit.
And among Logia powers, his ability was particularly unique.
Unlike ordinary Logia users, his elemental transformation did not grant immunity to physical damage.
Wood was not a pure element. It possessed a tangible body and he could still feel pain.
Thus, every battle left him consumed with immense "rage" and "pain."
But in exchange, he had gained abilities far superior to the elementalization of ordinary Logias.
As a "forest," he could freely create whatever trees he desired. The trees he created could perform photosynthesis or absorb nutrients from deep underground to nourish him.
Even injuries caused by Haki could rapidly heal through this ability.
He accepted the nourishment of entire forests… Just as the masses of the world nourished the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
That was the "order" he worshipped.
[Devil Fruit Awakening · Endless Forest · World Tree]
And the state he was currently in was the ultimate manifestation of that power.
At this moment, beneath the endless devouring of his roots, the vegetation and land across all of Dreamland Island visibly began drying out before the naked eye.
Streams dried up and ceased flowing.
The earth cracked apart inch by inch.
Even the moss began to wither and die.
Yet Aramaki did not care in the slightest, because that was precisely his objective. This island that disgusted him was filled with things that violated the "order" he believed in.
"Dreamland Island, and all you monsters should be completely exterminated!"
That was his resolve.
He would seize the Fountain of Youth and destroy all of Dreamland Island in the process.
In the next moment, he raised the branch that formed his right arm.
That enormous branch resembled a terrifying divine blade capable of splitting the island apart.
He lifted the "branch"... And prepared to bring it crashing down.
But only moments later, his movement froze.
"…"
Because he suddenly realized that at some point, a figure had already appeared before him.
It was Hitsuji.
And now, his appearance was no longer as casual as before.
Golden, blue, and white flame-clouds surrounded his body and a beautiful horn had emerged from his forehead, while multicolored ribbons drifted around him.
But most importantly… Aramaki could see seven-colored rainbow light radiating faintly from Hitsuji's body, looking dreamlike and unreal.
Countless illusory figures floated within that rainbow glow, and among them, the clearest were the six Phantom Beast Lords. Beyond them, countless other Dreamland creatures could also be seen within the light.
That posture made it seem as though, the being known as Hitsuji was himself a Dreamland creature that did not belong to reality.
No…
Even that description was insufficient.
He looked like the sovereign of all dreams.
[Additional Fusion Effect - King of Illusory Dreams]
[The Phantom Dream Qilin is the ruler of all Dreamland creatures. It can fuse together with every Dreamland creature within the surrounding area, entering the "True Qilin Form."]
[In this state, combat power is greatly enhanced, and the user themselves becomes a "Dreamland Creature." Until all fused Dreamland creatures are exhausted, the user cannot be harmed.]
["World Tree · Extinction Branch!"]
Sensing instinctively that something was wrong, Aramaki immediately chose to attack. His gigantic tree body, empowered by nearly all the nutrients absorbed from the island, erupted with overwhelming force.
The massive branch swung downward, and the shockwave alone instantly scattered every cloud above the island while violent winds churned the surrounding sea into towering waves.
However…
"…"
Aramaki was horrified to discover that after the attack, Hitsuji was still calmly floating in the air before him.
Yes…
Forget about injuring him, Aramaki was not even certain whether his strike had connected at all.
"An illusion?!"
Thus, Aramaki instinctively concluded that the Hitsuji before him might merely be a phantom, but in the very next moment, he realized that guess was wrong.
Because he saw Hitsuji slowly raise a hand.
"Buzz!!"
A gigantic sword materialized out of thin air within his grasp, and naturally, Aramaki recognized that giant blade…
It was the sword previously clenched within Yazi's jaws.
Only now, the flames burning upon it were no longer merely Yazi's.
Frost, earth, stone, lightning, and raging winds…
The powers of all the Phantom Beast Lords intertwined around the blade.
"Phantom Dream Slash · Six-Beast Sword!"
In the next instant, Hitsuji's sword descended and along with an explosion of intense pain, Aramaki saw that the gigantic branch standing between himself and Hitsuji had been effortlessly severed in a single strike.
The pain coursed through him as Aramaki stared at Hitsuji in disbelief.
He had originally assumed Hitsuji was the type incapable of fighting personally, which was why he had remained in the distance throughout the earlier battle.
But now, the truth was clearly otherwise.
This man was strong.
Stronger than the Phantom Beast Lords… No, he is on a completely different level altogether!
"So this form… those Phantom Beast Lords really were creatures he created through his ability, and they were not naturally born beings?"
Aramaki rapidly analyzed the situation in his mind.
Even so, he still did not panic.
"Slash!"
At this moment, the severed branch had already regenerated.
"So you're finally willing to fight personally?" He grinned savagely. "But it's useless! No matter what your ability is, it's meaningless before me, the embodiment of 'nature' itself!"
His words carried absolute confidence.
"Issho-san really was right." But the next moment, he heard Hitsuji's voice.
Unexpectedly, there was no battle intent or tension within it.
"You really are the kind of guy people can't stand."
On the contrary, his tone contained only calmness and indifference.
"The strong trampling the weak brings peace of mind? Seriously, there should be a limit to how disgusting someone can be. You're making me sick."
Hearing those words, Aramaki's expression turned even colder.
"You…"
He immediately prepared to attack again.
Whatever Hitsuji's ability was, however, he had evaded that previous strike, it did not matter.
Aramaki firmly believed that if he continued attacking relentlessly, Hitsuji's stamina would eventually run out.
As long as his roots remained planted in the earth, he was invincible!
However…
Before he could even raise his branch once more,
The next instant…
"!!!"
His expression underwent a dramatic transformation.
That confidence, rage, and savagery vanished in mere moments, replaced by utter disbelief… And unprecedented terror.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Hitsuji's voice still echoed beside him. "You made two very serious mistakes, Mr. Aramaki."
And this time, Aramaki could hear an icy chill within that voice.
"First, you never should have fought me here. In fact, you never should have remained here at all."
After a brief pause, Hitsuji repeated the very words he had once spoken to Issho at the beginning of the battle:
"I don't like boasting, but there are indeed very few beings here capable of defeating me."
"Second, it isn't that I'm finally willing to fight you now."
"But rather…"
At this point, he gave a soft chuckle.
"The battle… is already ended."
The moment those words fell…
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Aramaki let out the most despair-filled and agonized scream of his life.
(End of Chapter)