Chapter Thirty: The Mad Tiger Emperor?

Slapped in the face... My cheeks burn with pain! Just moments ago, I was muttering that the platinum awakening material I obtained was useless, that its enhancement after awakening was even less than the bronze material of the Cat Fruit's leopard form. I had no idea that, in my most dire moment, it was actually the power of the Visualization Fruit that saved me. Now, I can't help but blush, secretly thinking to myself:

"Platinum awakening material is indeed platinum awakening material. I was naïve before..."

The reason I could confirm that the Asura demon statue appearing behind me was the power of the Visualization Fruit is because of my previous encounter with Hammock.

I clearly remember that when Hammock used the power of the Visualization Fruit, a phantom appeared behind him just like the one behind me now. The difference between Hammock's fruit ability and mine is that Hammock visualized a divine beast—the Black Tortoise as I saw it—whereas I visualized the Asura demon statue looming behind me!

Meanwhile, as the Asura demon statue suddenly materialized behind me, resisting the power of Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit, Aokiji, a little distracted, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that this kid before him had given him too many surprises.

He had the courage to slay the world noble Celestial Dragon, he possessed the potential to dominate the world. After his moment of distraction, Aokiji had only one thought: under no circumstances could he let this kid grow.

Otherwise, one day...

The structure of the world would be changed by this very child!

So, with utmost seriousness, Aokiji knew he couldn't hold back at all. He needed to use one hundred, or even two hundred percent of his power to deal with the boy before him.

To avoid any mishap, killing intent slowly surfaced in Aokiji's eyes!

He must be killed here!

If he were allowed to escape, unforeseen consequences were bound to occur!

A rumble echoed.

As a few strands of killing intent flickered within Aokiji's eyes, he unleashed the power of the Ice-Ice Fruit without reservation. One of his ultimate moves, "Ice Age," was used directly!

Crack... crack...

Frost spread everywhere!

In an instant, under the protection of the Asura demon statue, I had just shattered the "Frozen Moment" that had restricted my movements. No sooner had I broken free than Aokiji's ultimate move, "Ice Age," came suddenly crashing down.

At that moment, endless cold surged from Aokiji's body. The soil, trees, even flowers and grass nearby were instantly transformed into ice sculptures by that chill. Even more terrifying, as the cold intensified, not only I—but even the Asura demon statue behind me—began to show signs of frosting.

Yet, as I anxiously wondered whether the Asura demon statue behind me could withstand the admiral-level ultimate move of Aokiji...

The power of the Visualization Fruit, or rather, the Asura demon statue behind me, revealed a terrifying defensive ability so formidable that even I was awed!

Aokiji's "Ice Age" was no joke. Even though he had narrowed its scope, under its aura, I felt that Aokiji needed only a thought to turn the entire Sabaody Archipelago into a glistening ice sculpture.

But this move, which could freeze even the air and contained endless power, was actually resisted—held back by the Asura demon statue behind me!

Apart from a thin layer of frost, my body could still move freely, and my strength wasn't affected in the slightest. Looking at the Asura demon statue behind me, it seemed to disdain confronting someone as insignificant as Aokiji. Regardless of the frost that covered it, it stood silently behind me, guarding its master from any harm.

"How... How is this possible!"

Seeing firsthand the exceptional defensive power of the Asura demon statue, Aokiji gritted his teeth, his fists coated in Armament Haki, and immediately struck with a punch!

He refused to believe that absolute defense could exist in this world.

So what if it was Hammock's divine beast, the Black Tortoise?

If Akainu used Armament Haki, couldn't he still break through it at will?

For the first time before me, Aokiji used Haki, his fists enveloped in immense Armament Haki, turning them black. But when his mighty punch landed before me, not only did it fail to hurt me in the slightest, the Asura demon statue suddenly extended its palm to block Aokiji's attack, sending him reeling backward.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Aokiji launched punch after punch, each one imbued with even greater Armament Haki, but the outcome was exactly the same as the first.

Three minutes...

Five minutes...

Eight minutes!

Seeing the awakening task for the material was about to be completed, and watching Aokiji panting before me, I felt immensely grateful that the Asura demon statue appeared at the most crucial moment, and that the Visualization Fruit could come to my rescue in a life-or-death crisis.

The corners of my mouth lifted into a faint smile. Even though I still hadn't figured out whether the Asura demon statue had other functions beyond its formidable defense, or how to control it in the future to deploy this defense for myself, as long as I could hold out for another two minutes, I would obtain the Ice-Ice Fruit material. I felt as if, in front of the exhausted Aokiji, I could escape using my leopard-like speed after my fourth awakening.

But I never expected that, just ten seconds before Aokiji's material awakening task would be completed, an accident occurred!

During the fight, Aokiji had wasted far too much time. Now, Tiger had already joined up with Hancock and the captured Lucci—showing that Aokiji's personal visit would ultimately result in mission failure.

So, realizing he might have to bear the blame for me, becoming the target of the Celestial Dragons' wrath, he suddenly unleashed Armament Haki without any reservation!

Then...

Boom!

That punch landed on the Asura demon statue protecting me. Even I, shielded by the statue, felt the force ripple through my body, a trickle of blood slowly flowing from the corner of my mouth.

But what made me rejoice—and drove Aokiji to despair—was that the defense of the Asura demon statue remained unscathed!

In other words, even if a terrifying enemy at admiral level went all out, the defense of the Asura demon statue could not be broken—it was absolute!

But not long after I secretly became excited, thinking that if I could control the Asura demon statue, I would be free to roam the seas, the violent aura emanating from the Asura demon statue began to surge, its killing intent growing ever stronger!

Without needing to look, I knew the Asura demon statue behind me had been enraged!

And an enraged Asura demon statue was truly terrifying!

Because, as its killing intent locked onto Aokiji—even if Aokiji was exhausted and somewhat fatigued—the murderous aura emanating from the statue actually rendered Aokiji unable to move freely. He even felt a sense of fear in his heart, which was enough to testify to the statue's terrifying power.

What made Aokiji even more frightened was what happened next!

In an instant, Aokiji heard the furious roar of the Asura demon statue!

"Roar!"

With the statue's roar, Aokiji saw the Asura demon statue suddenly throw a punch, followed by a golden leopard shadow leaping out with its strike, smashing directly into Aokiji!

As for me, seeing the Asura demon statue attack for the first time and witnessing Aokiji collapse under its blow, his life or death unclear, my mind froze for a moment!

Because the move the Asura demon statue just used...

It looked exactly like the Fierce Tiger Earthquake from DNF's Emperor Wild Tiger!

"Could it be... Is my Asura demon statue the male Qi Master, after a job change?"