Chapter 26 — Moon Step
Slash!
Drake's X-shaped attack crashed directly into the half-dragon, half-human body of Thakri.
But the result shocked him.
The strike only shattered the mechanical armor covering Thakri's body.
Beneath it—
Perfect dragon scales covered his skin.
Not a single wound appeared.
Thakri smiled strangely as he looked at the stunned Drake.
"Surprised?"
"I've improved the power serum again and again."
"What I really need is an even stronger version."
"But even this is enough to keep trash like you far away!"
He spread his arms.
His claws gleamed sharply.
"Now witness the true form of my dragon army!"
Below him—
The pirates who had taken the red serum were completing their transformation.
They turned into smaller dragons.
Above them—
The fully formed dragon continued circling in the sky.
WHOOSH!
Thakri beat his wings and rose into the air.
Looking down at Drake, he sneered.
"See that?"
"Those failed dragons running across the ground are enough to destroy your pirate crew—and the Navy."
"And we will lead the complete dragons to the next island."
"This is the power of science."
"And it's the power that proves I surpassed Vegapunk!"
"In this age… you're still playing with ordinary dinosaurs?"
Thakri grinned proudly.
In his mind, he had already surpassed every former colleague.
Vegapunk.
Queen.
Judge.
Caesar.
All of them would be beneath him.
"You're incredibly narrow-minded," Drake replied coldly.
"In this world, there are countless strong people."
"Devil Fruits. Strength beyond imagination."
"You're not even comparable to Vegapunk."
"Because you've already stopped being human."
As he spoke—
Drake transformed into his hybrid form.
With explosive power, he leapt upward.
His axe and sword aimed straight at Thakri.
One strike—
And it would be fatal.
"Hahaha!"
"You think you can sneak attack me?"
Thakri waved his hand.
More than a dozen dragons immediately flew toward Drake—
Blocking his path.
Meanwhile, Thakri flew higher into the air.
Then he pulled out a detonation device.
"Go to hell, Shinji!"
"Go to hell, Drake!"
He pressed the button.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The explosion shook the entire island.
The massive Hidden Dragon Mountain—
Which covered nearly one-fifth of the island—
Was instantly swallowed by a sea of fire.
The blast thundered across the sky.
Drake ran desperately toward the mountain exit.
In his hybrid form, his speed reached its limit.
He barely escaped the collapsing rocks.
When he finally landed outside—
A massive stone smashed down behind him.
If he had been even a little slower—
He would have died inside the mountain.
Looking back—
The cave had been completely reduced to rubble.
Flames still burned across the ruins.
Drake clenched his fists.
"Damn it…"
"I could've killed him with one more strike."
"If I hadn't hesitated…"
Regret filled his voice.
He had planned to defeat Thakri and steal the research results.
But now—
Everything had collapsed.
And the young Marine who had entered the cave—
Shinji Ikari—
Was almost certainly dead.
Across the battlefield—
The abandoned dragons roared and charged toward the coast.
They attacked the Navy ships.
Cannons roared in response.
Explosions filled the air.
Between the bombardment and the detonated explosives—
Hidden Dragon Island was slowly being torn apart.
Drake looked toward the sky.
Could he still defeat Thakri?
Perhaps.
He had once been a Rear Admiral.
He had mastered several techniques of the Six Powers.
But over the years he had relied more and more on his Devil Fruit.
Facing an army of dragons—
Even he felt uncertain.
Still—
If he could reach Thakri directly—
He believed one strike would be enough.
Drake leapt into the air again.
He decided to try one last time.
As for Shinji Ikari…
The Marine supernova had probably died in the explosion.
Drake could only wish him better luck in another life.
But beneath the ruined mountain—
Something moved.
A blackened figure crawled out of the rubble.
Covered in blood.
"Damn… that explosion nearly killed me."
The young man spat out dust.
His white teeth flashed in the smoke.
"Good thing my Iron Body training paid off."
"I've been blown up so many times my body is used to it."
Shinji wiped blood from his face.
"Actually…"
"The real credit goes to you."
He held up three small vials.
Green.
Dark blue.
And blood-red.
"My Life Fruit saved me again."
"I probably died at least twice just now."
Inside his hand were the remaining serum samples he had grabbed during the explosion.
"Iron Body really is incredible," he muttered.
Unfortunately, the scientist had taken most of the research with him.
Only these samples remained.
Still—
It was something.
Shinji shook his head.
Then he noticed something nearby.
A Tyrannosaurus Rex was hiding behind a rock.
On its back were the simple reins and saddle made from leaves and vines.
Shinji laughed.
"Hey, little guy."
"You actually came back to check on me?"
He placed the three serum bottles onto the dinosaur's back.
"Take these to Koby at the coast."
"I already warned him."
"Don't worry."
"I'll leave half this island for you."
The Tyrannosaurus roared.
Then it ran toward the shore.
Shinji picked up his Den Den Mushi.
"Koby," he said.
"The dinosaur should reach you soon."
"I recovered some serum samples."
"But I'm not sure if they're real."
On the other end—
Koby shouted anxiously.
"Shinji! You're alive?!"
"The whole mountain just exploded!"
"Drake's pirate ship even escaped during the chaos!"
"Vice Admiral Garp says you must evacuate immediately!"
"He's preparing to bomb the dragons himself!"
Shinji smiled faintly.
He touched the Storm Shell strapped to his back.
"Let me borrow a little strength."
"Whether I can learn it or not… depends on luck."
"Koby—"
Before Koby could respond—
The last remaining wind stored in the Storm Shell erupted.
WHOOSH!
Shinji shot into the sky.
Using Shave for explosive speed—
He began kicking the air itself.
At first—
It resembled the rapid movement of Shave.
Then—
His kicks created compressed bursts of air.
The technique allowed him to remain suspended in the sky.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Each step exploded in the air beneath his feet.
At last—
Shinji truly stood in the sky.
"Thank you…"
He whispered softly.
"To the man who couldn't return to the sky."
"Moon Step."
High above the battlefield—
Drake was still fighting desperately.
Suddenly—
A figure appeared beside him.
Walking through the sky itself.
Drake stared in disbelief.
"You're alive?!"
Shinji tilted his head.
"Didn't you know?"
"I'm a Devil Fruit user."
Drake frowned.
"You're Zoan type?"
"Paramecia," Shinji replied.
"Our vitality is stronger than yours."
"That's only natural."
Then he walked calmly past Drake.
Heading directly toward the massive Flame Dragon.
Drake watched him, stunned.
Shinji didn't attack.
Instead—
He approached the dragon like a man approaching a wild beast.
Just like when he had tamed the Tyrannosaurus earlier.
Shinji smiled slightly.
"How to train a dragon…"
"I think I've got the idea."
(End of Chapter)
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