Chapter 513: Chapter 513: Phantasm Rob Lucci
Ben, Zala, Alvida, Rubis and Emeraude walked down and saw an altar with a shiny orb. There were some markings on the floor. The floor around the altar was concrete.
"Looks like we found one," Zala said.
"I wonder who it will be?" Emeraude thought out loud.
"Let's go and find out," Ben said. As they stepped onto the concrete, the orb started to glow.
From the bright light a figure started to form. They saw an old man with a crescent-shaped mustache. He was an abnormally large man with a long face, with many wrinkles around his eyes, and many scars running along his chest, and was very muscular. His eyes were brown.
He wore a black bandanna around his head and adorned himself with a white captain's coat, which hung loosely from his broad shoulders. He wore light, loose pants tucked inside his large black boots, and a dark pirate sash around his waist. He had a gigantic naginata in his hand. "Phantasm Whitebeard," Phantasm Whitebeard said.
"Whitebeard," Ben remarked.
"A Yonko of the sea," Zala added.
"A fake one," Alvida said. She looked at him. "My love, we should go," Alvida said.
"We should Alvida but give me a minute, I want to see how his power is," Ben said. "You all stay back," Ben ordered.
"My love, we should go together," Alvida said.
"Yeah, it's not smart to go by yourself," Rubis added.
"Please Ben," Emeraude said.
"Girls, I know you are worried but I will be quick. I am not going to stay long. I want to get a feel of what we will face," Ben said. "Trust me," he added.
The girls nodded. "We do," Zala responded.
"Okay my love," Alvida said as she smiled at him.
Ben nodded and transformed into his beast form. His hands changed to sharp black claws. His back sprouted black wings, a black tail, and two small horns on his head. Ben`s eyes turned red and had no pupils.
Ben looked at Whitebeard. He was definitely the old Whitebeard and not his prime version. "Demon Beam," Ben said as he focused his energy in his hand. He raised his hand and shot a : one -handed attack. The beam went through the air. Phantasm Whitebeard raised his naginata and directed the beam to the ground. The beam hit the ground and there was a small explosion and black smoke cloud could be seen.
"He is fast," Zala remarked.
"He can use his weapon as well," Alvida said, holding Seraphina.
As the smoke cleared Phantasm Whitebeard stood there. Ben knew he was going to be tough.
"Demon Barrage," Ben roared, his wings unfurling as dark energy swirled around his body. Small, crackling projectiles formed around him, glowing with an ominous light. With a flick of his hand, the projectiles shot forward, streaking toward Phantasm Whitebeard in a deadly swarm.
Phantasm Whitebeard stood tall, his eyes flicked. Then he dodged each projectile and went towards Ben. There were explosions behind him as he moved forward. None of the projectiles touched his body.
Ben's eyes widened. He thought observation Haki. Alvida looked to see Phantasm Whitebeard moving. "Is that observation haki?" she muttered to herself.
"It might be," Zala agreed.
"For someone so big he can sure move," Rubis remarked.
Phantasm Whitebeard raised his massive naginata, as it arced through the air. Ben reacted just in time, twisting his body to avoid the swing. The blade sliced through the air with a deafening whoosh, carving a deep gouge into the ground where Ben had just stood.
"Demon Fist," Ben said as he channeled his energy into his right hand. His fist glowed with raw power as he lunged forward, delivering a powerful strike directly to Whitebeard's face. The impact echoed like a thunderclap.
Phantasm Whitebeard stared at Ben. His face showed no sign of injury.
"Gekishin," Phantasm Whitebeard said. With a single swing of his massive fist, the very air in front of him cracked and shattered, creating a cataclysmic shockwave. The invisible force tore through Ben's body, sending a ripple of agony through every nerve.
Ben gasped, blood spurting from his mouth as the force flung him backward into a massive trunk outside the zone. The impact shook the tree, leaves raining down around him as he slumped to the ground, groaning in pain. He could feel his body hurting.
"My love," Alvida cried out.
"Ben," Emeraude shouted, her face stricken with fear.
"Ben," Zala echoed.
"Ben," Rubis added.
The four women rushed towards him. Phantasm Whitebeard turned to light and went back into the orb.
"Let me check you now," Emeraude said as she pulled his shirt up.
"Emeraude, there is no need, I will take a Heal Drink," Ben said. "Besides, I am fine," he added.
"He sent you flying back," Zala said as she crossed her arms.
"I know but the real one would have broken my bones and knocked me out," Ben said.
"Take it my love," Alvida said as opened her can and put it to his mouth. Ben nodded and drank it all down. He felt the injuries go away instantly.
"This does wonders," Ben said.
"Don't do that," Emeraude said as she looked at Ben.
"My sister gets worried," Rubis said.
"I won't take unnecessary risks but I will always protect you all," Ben stated. "But I know, if we work together, we can defeat him," he added.
"That we will move love," Alvida said.
"We will for sure," Zala confirmed.
"He is gone," Rubis noted.
"If you are out of the area they go back into the orb," Zala said.
"What should we do now, my love?" Alvida asked.
"We should get going, there is some daylight left," Ben responded.
They all nodded and headed forward. Eventually they came across another altar with a shiny orb.
"We have found another one," Rubis said.
"I don't want to know who it will be," Emeraude said as she held Ben`s hand.
"We will never know until we try," Ben responded.
"Are you going to challenge them to a 1v1 again?" Zala asked.
"Maybe, just to test them," Ben responded.
"I will come this time my love," Alvida said. She looked Ben in the eye.
"Alvida, we are going to need you later so let's see," Ben responded.
They stepped onto the concrete, and the orb started to glow. From the bright light a figure started to form. They saw a tall and slim, yet muscular man with arched eyebrows and a close-shaved goatee. He has shoulder length wavy black hair. He wore a large black top hat and a two-piece black suit with the sleeves normally rolled up, complete with black leather shoes and a white tie and handkerchief in the breast pocket. "Phantasm Rob Lucci," Phantasm Rob Lucci remarked.
"Rob Lucci," Alvida said as she tightened her grip on Seraphina.
"This cat," Zala said.
"Sis, he may be fake but we can beat him now," Rubis said as she held her spear.
"Yes, he hurt our sister," Emeraude said.
Ben looked at the girls and saw a fire to them. He was not expecting to see a round two so quickly. "Let's all defeat him," Ben stated.
"Shave," Phantasm Lucci said as he vanished in a blur of motion as he darted toward the girls with blinding speed. His figure reappeared inches from Rubis. "Finger Pistol," he added, thrusting his index finger forward like a deadly spear, aimed straight at Rubis's heart.
"Shave," Alvida responded as own figure disappearing and reappearing between Rubis and Phantasm Lucci. Her kanabo glinted menacingly as she gripped it tightly.
"Kanabo Swing," Alvida added as she twisted her body and brought the massive mace down in a sweeping arc. The air cracked with the force of her swing as she hit his finger. Phantasm Lucci got thrown back from the attack. He quickly landed on his feet with cat-like agility.
"Rouge Devastating," Rubis said as she gripped her spear tightly and lunged forward with a powerful stab aimed directly at Phantasm Lucci.
"Iron Body," Phantasm Lucci said as he hardened his muscles like steel. His arms and legs extended in a defensive stance. He absorbed the impact of Rubis's spear. The weapon struck his chest with force, but it failed to penetrate.
Rubis kissed her teeth, looking at him.
"Demon's Inferno Fist," Ben said as he channeled his energy into his fist. It had black smoke and then ignited. There were dark flames in his hand. He slammed his burning fist into Phantasm Lucci's chest.
Phantasm Lucci's body jerked back from the impact. He spat blood as scorch marks appeared on his chest, the intense heat searing his skin. The force of the blow sent him sliding back several feet.
Gritting his teeth, Phantasm Lucci quickly recovered. He leapt into the air as his predatory eyes locked onto Ben. "Storm Leg," he said as he delivered a powerful, high-speed kick that released a razor-sharp blade of compressed wind. The attack tore through the air, aiming for Ben with devastating force.
"Storm Leg," Zala countered, appearing in a blur of motion. Her own leg lashed out with equal speed and strength, unleashing a compressed wind blade of her own. The two attacks collided mid-air, the resulting clash generating a sharp crack and a burst of energy. The compressed wind blades disintegrated upon impact, leaving the air filled with residual turbulence.
"Great job Zala and Alvida," Ben said. He thought both of them had gotten much better with using the Six Power Techniques.
"Vert Thrust," Emeraude said as she leapt toward Phantasm Lucci. She thrust it forward with incredible power.
"Paper Art," Lucci responded as his body instantly relaxed and became unnaturally fluid. He shifted to the right with a motion as light and graceful as a piece of paper drifting in the wind, narrowly avoiding Emeraude's attack.
Emeraude didn't let up. She kept thrusting, her spear darting forward like a striking serpent. However, each attack missed as Lucci effortlessly dodged.
Before he could counterattack, Rubis joined the fray. "Rouge Blaze Thrust," Rubis cried, her spear engulfed in red flames. She lunged forward, her strikes creating arcs of flame that illuminated the area. Emeraude and Rubis synchronized their movements, their spears continuously attacked
Phantasm Lucci, overwhelmed by the dual assault, leapt backward. His breath came heavier.
Before he could regain his composure, Ben took the opportunity to strike.
"Demon Abyssal Shackles," Ben said as he channeled dark energy through his hands. Black, chains materialised and shot towards Phantasm Lucci, clamped tightly around his wrists and ankles.
Alvida and Zala looked at each and nodded. "Stinger Finger," Zala called out as she charged in. Her fingers elongated into razor-sharp spikes. She slashed at Phantasm Lucci, the metallic claws leaving jagged streaks across his chest.
"Kanabo Smash," Alvida said as she swung Seraphina overhead, the sheer weight of the weapon creating a gust of wind as it descended. The mace slammed down on Lucci's shoulder with devastating force, the ground beneath him cracking from the impact.
The combined attacks struck Phantasm Lucci, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. He was forced to his knees. Phantasm Lucci looked around and then began his transformation. His muscular frame expanded, and a sleek golden leopard fur adorned his form, marked with dark black rosettes. His face elongated into a predatory feline visage. His teeth changed into sharp fangs. His eyes narrowed. He had sharp claws and a long, sinuous tail flicked behind him. He broke out of the chains which Ben had created. He jumped back and looked at everyone.
"He has finally transformed," Rubis said.
"He must have felt threatened," Alvida remarked.
"We are strong," Rubis remarked.
"That we are," Ben agreed. He thought it was a hard battle before but with numbers, it makes all the difference. He knew that would not be that case all the time.
Zala smiled. "I am going to transform as well," Zala said as she turned into her beast form. Her body elongated. Her skin darkened and hardened into rough, scaly armor. Her arms shrank slightly and had sharp claws. Her legs bulked up. Her feet had become large, claws. Her head morphed, stretching into a long, ferocious snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. There were two small horns just out from above her eyes. Zala stood tall as a Carnotaurus, her massive tail swaying behind her.
"Wow," Emeraude commented.
"Let's go," Ben said.