23 Chapter 22 (1/2)
My control over my Rubber fruit skyrocketed, and the power that came with it was intoxifying. It felt like my rubber body advanced one step further, I don't know what exactly changed, but I knew I was now capable of doing a lot more things with my rubber abilities.
Since I didn't have time to contemplate over the various possible ways to use my new powers, I used them in the way I was most comfortable. I no longer needed to bite my finger and to blow air in it to enlarge it, and I no longer was limited to just one limb. Expanding my whole body, I was able to reach five meters in height, before I felt I couldn't go any further. That could be my limit, but I was also speeding my blood flow, and I had to focus on doing both at the same time.
When Alarick saw me becoming larger, he threw Aisha away. She had a big hole in her abdomen area, but she looked alive, judging by her chest area movement.
Leaping at Alarick, I left a giant crater behind me. I was able to land a devastating hit on his chest area, and I heard his bone snapping. Alarick got sent flying from my punch and destroyed a few more buildings in the process.
”I will kill you, you puny monkey.” He howled out in pain and looked enraged, but I didn't even give him a chance to get up, as I was already upon him smashing him in the ground again. I got a few hits in before he swiped me away and sent me flying in the air with one of his claws.
Using Geppo, I was able to recover, but that allowed Alarick to cut off his tail an eat it.
”With the power of my Sacrifice Fruit, I offer my tail for a boost of strength.” He howled out, and more red stripes grew on his body, making his fur half black half red.
Alarick was stronger and sturdier after that action, but I was still faster than him. His defense increased a lot, so I decided to focus all my hits on a single limb, to try and cripple him. I started with his right arm, and I was able to disable it after a dozen hits.
”From sacrifice, my strength rises!” Alarick seeing that he is unable to use his arm, ate it and his fur completely turned red. His strength grew ever further, especially his speed. I was able to land only one hit on him before he managed to swipe me away.
I went flying towards a building, but I didn't destroy it in the process. The building caved in and sent me flying back towards Alarick. The ability to give something else rubber properties when I am in touch with it was another thing I am now capable of doing.
Smashing into him, Alarick went flying straight towards the Royal Palace, destroying a large part of in the process. Given a moment of freedom, I created four clones, who each grew to my size. Together, Alarick stood no chance against us. We were passing him around like a hot potato until he was left twitching on the floor.
”Spare my life, please.” I was barely able to hear him mutter that. I dissipated the clones, and for a moment, I hesitated and was thinking of sparing him, but I remembered what he did to Aisha, and what he was planning to do. My vision turned red again after those thoughts, and before I knew it, I was on top of him smashing at him with all my strength.There was nothing but a crater, with pieces of meat and blood left, but I continued pounding until the palace came down and buried us.
Removing the rubble, I was able to leave the now destroyed Royal Palace. My crew already had helped Aisha, and she had a makeshift bandage on her abdomen. She was even standing, despite the injury she sustained. Sanji and Ahmya had come here as well at some point, and everyone had a relieved expression when they saw me coming out of the rubble.
The moment I was out, Nami was already upon me and brought me in for a deep kiss. After breaking the kiss, she started inspecting my body. I had quite a few wounds left from Alarick since his claws were extremely sharp.
”Don't you dare scare me like that again! And since when are you a giant? How were you able to do that?” Nami started questioning me immediately after checking out my wounds.