C34 The Town of Bounty Hunters

Australovenator cast a cold gaze upon the surrounding crowd and let out a roar as he strode into the town's marketplace.

Despite being nearly overrun by bounty hunters, the market still had essentials for sale; after all, everyone needed to make a living.

Gaimon accompanied Australovenator on a shopping trip.

Meanwhile, Esaki, with little Robin and the small gorilla in tow, meandered down the street.

"See anything you'd like to buy?" he inquired, turning to little Robin.

"Ah…" Little Robin was caught off guard by the question and hesitated.

"Is there something you want?" he prodded once more.

"I…I'd like to buy some clothes," little Robin murmured, her head bowed.

"Well, let's go get them," Esaki encouraged gently.

With that, he guided her toward a children's clothing store.

The garments little Robin wore were worn and ragged, resembling those of a beggar—filthy and forlorn.

"Thank you!" she whispered, her head still lowered, eyes brimming with tears she fought to hold back.

Since her mother had set sail, life had been harsh; new clothes were a luxury she'd never experienced, and she was no stranger to being bullied.

"Roar…"

The little gorilla perched on Esaki's shoulder turned and snarled fiercely at the encroaching crowd, then leaped down to stand protectively by little Robin.

Esaki came to a halt.

Thud.

Distracted, little Robin bumped into his leg, which jolted her back to the present.

Lifting her head, she saw the crowd closing in, her small face washed with alarm.

"It seems we won't be shopping after all," Esaki said, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

A short distance away, Australovenator picked up on its master's intent and unleashed a thunderous roar.

In an instant, its massive form gleamed with a lethal light, transforming into a weapon that surged toward the bounty hunters.

"Dodge it, quick!"

"Damn it."

"Take my tranquilizer darts!"

Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, the bounty hunters cursed and charged, their anger fueling their advance toward Australovenator.

"Puff, puff, puff..."

Australovenator barreled into the throng, and those unfortunate enough to be struck burst apart, their blood spraying in all directions.

A thick scent of blood wafted through the air, permeating the surroundings.

Suddenly, the Australovenator's tail whipped around like a celestial scythe.

"Puff, puff, puff..."

Those struck by the tail were cleaved in two, silenced before they could even scream.

"This... this..." Some onlookers were petrified by the sight.

"It's a monster, let's get out of here..."

Terrified, some bounty hunters lost their nerve and fled in panic.

They had never witnessed a tail severing people in half—it was no mere tail, but the grim reaper's scythe itself!

But the Australovenator wouldn't let them escape; anyone harboring thoughts against its master was marked for death.

Buzz!

The Australovenator charged forward, morphing rapidly as it ran.

The ground trembled fiercely, houses around crumbled, and chaos reigned.

In mere seconds, it transformed into a fifteen-meter-tall bronze colossus.

Clang!

Its arms became massive bronze blades, several meters in length, radiating a chilling luminescence that seemed to solidify the air itself.

"It's... a Devil Fruit Power user!"

"Damn, a Devil Fruit Power user? Playing possum to catch a tiger, huh?"

Some of the fleeing bounty hunters spat out curses upon witnessing the transformation.

If they'd known about the Devil Fruit Power, would they have engaged? Perhaps... but certainly not like this.

Those encircling Esaki were dumbfounded. Snapping back to reality, they collectively retreated.