One Piece: Heaven-Defying Talent

Chapter 126: Sabo vs. Vista and Bartolomeo

Sabo was momentarily stunned. Just a moment ago, Vista and Bartolomeo had been bickering like kids. So why were they suddenly teaming up to attack him?

Guess I can't take it easy after all, he thought with a sigh.

Without hesitation, Sabo coated his left hand in Armament Haki and caught Vista's sword mid-swing.

"So fast… and that Armament Haki is insanely strong," Vista thought, shocked by Sabo's sheer power. Ace had warned him, but now Vista understood firsthand just how formidable Sabo was. The younger generation truly was as powerful as monsters.

While Vista was still processing Sabo's strength, Bartolomeo launched his attack.

Using his Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Bartolomeo created a massive, cube-shaped barrier and hurled it straight at Sabo.

"Oh? Interesting. So this is how he uses the Barrier Fruit," Sabo remarked with curiosity. His right hand transformed into a claw, reaching out to seize Bartolomeo's barrier.

"Got him!" Vista thought with excitement, swinging his blade again—this time aiming for Sabo's unguarded ribs.

With one hand gripping Vista's sword and the other intercepting Bartolomeo's barrier, Sabo seemed to have no way to block Vista's second strike.

"This teamwork is impressive," Sabo said, unfazed. Suddenly, he unleashed a shockwave from the Shock-Shock Fruit, creating cracks in the air. The tremor disoriented Vista, causing his sword to veer off course and miss Sabo by inches.

Taking advantage of the moment, Sabo focused the power of the Shock-Shock Fruit on Bartolomeo's barrier. His powerful dragon claw shredded the barrier into pieces and struck Bartolomeo square in the chest.

"Impossible!" Bartolomeo's face twisted in shock. His supposedly "unbreakable" barrier had been torn apart!

As he tried to retreat, Sabo appeared directly in front of him. Bartolomeo's eyes widened—there was no escape.

"Down you go!" Sabo roared, his claw morphing into a palm. With a single strike, he sent Bartolomeo hurtling into the audience.

Jozu stepped forward to catch Bartolomeo, grinning. "Looks like your Barrier Fruit isn't so invincible after all, eh? My Diamond-Diamond Fruit could withstand that better."

"Shut up, Jozu!" Bartolomeo yelled, feeling humiliated. Cavendish joined in, smirking as he approached.

"Tsk, tsk. Who was it that said their barrier couldn't be broken? Getting a taste of your own medicine now?" Cavendish taunted.

Feeling defeated, Bartolomeo muttered, "That guy's attack was just… too powerful. Didn't you see it? It's like he has the Shock Fruit or something."

In the arena, Vista was equally stunned. "Wait… you… you really have the power of the Shock Fruit?"

"Hm? So you figured it out," Sabo said with a grin. "I guess Ace must have mentioned it to you. No point in hiding it now." He waved his hand, and a shockwave sent Vista flying out of the ring.

Now, only Sabo and Rebecca remained in the arena.

The entire audience fell silent, awestruck by what they'd just witnessed. They had all seen Vista and Bartolomeo's strength firsthand, especially Vista, who had swept through the earlier rounds with ease. And yet, neither of them had lasted more than a few moves against Sabo.

Slowly, the silence transformed into thunderous cheers.

"Champion! Sabo! Champion Sabo!"

The crowd was certain Sabo would take the title.

Even the host assumed the victory was his, with the strange, artificial Devil Fruit—blood-red and laced with white streaks—awaiting him in the center of the arena. Sabo approached the fruit, his expression calm.

Vista sighed from the sidelines. "It seems that Devil Fruit wasn't meant to be mine."

Suddenly, a low voice echoed through the arena. "Now!"

Boom!

A gunshot rang out, and a bullet struck Sabo square in the forehead. But the bullet didn't penetrate. Unharmed, Sabo turned toward the direction of the shot, locking eyes with Van Augur, one of Blackbeard's snipers.

Van Augur's face twisted in surprise. His bullet hadn't even scratched Sabo.

Simultaneously, Burgess and Shiryu of the Rain charged into the arena, aiming to seize the artificial Devil Fruit—the Mera-Mera Fruit in its Golden Crow form.

Quick on his feet, Sabo grabbed the fruit, dodging Shiryu's blade. Without hesitation, he tossed the fruit to Rebecca. "Eat it!" he commanded.

Rebecca froze in shock as Burgess lunged toward her, eyes fixed on the fruit.

Rebecca remembered Chiba's promise that someone would help her claim the fruit, though she hadn't expected it to be Sabo. Knowing this was her one chance to gain the power needed to take down Doflamingo, she made a decision. No matter what, she couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

To the shock of the crowd, Rebecca swallowed the Mera-Mera Fruit in one gulp.

A surge of overwhelming energy erupted within her, as her body began to transform, every bone and muscle restructuring from the inside out. Rebecca screamed, blood streaming from her eyes, nose, and mouth, the intense agony tearing through her.

The brutal transformation forced even Burgess and Shiryu to pause, unsure if the fruit was empowering her or killing her.

"What's happening? Could it be that the artificial Devil Fruit has too many side effects? Is she going to die?" someone whispered in the crowd.

Artificial Devil Fruits were infamous for their instability and high mortality rates, and for a moment, it seemed as if Rebecca might be the latest victim.

Even Blackbeard, watching from a distance, looked concerned. Could it be that Chiba's artificial Devil Fruits have defects? he wondered.

For five agonizing minutes, Rebecca writhed in pain, her screams piercing the air as blood seeped from every pore.

Finally, her voice weakened, and she collapsed on the arena floor, her body still twitching slightly.

Seeing her collapse, Sabo rushed over, retrieving a pill from his pocket and placing it in Rebecca's mouth. Slowly, her breathing steadied, and her strength began to return.

Moments later, Rebecca's aura flared to life, growing stronger with each passing second.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.