...
Sphinx Island, center.
Shano watched Whitebeard departing in the distance, then glanced at the Phoenix swiftly flying through the sky to rescue the villagers, and finally set his mind at ease.
Marco is not only the captain of the first division but also the best ship doctor on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship.
With him left behind, there's no need for me to worry about the rescue efforts.
Kizaru naturally noticed Whitebeard's departure and instinctively wanted to spring into the sky to stop him.
But Shano's gaze suddenly turned cold, his right thumb lightly pushing the hilt, revealing a chilling and sharp blade.
"Try taking a step and see what happens."
The calm voice made Kizaru's whole body stiffen, his back hair stood upright, and for a moment, he really didn't dare to move.
Hey, hey, hey, you must be joking…
This guy, the intensity of his aura has risen again!
Although it was already difficult for me to win against him in a solo fight back in the North Sea, at least I had the confidence that I could leave if I wanted, and he couldn't stop me.
But this time…
Kizaru felt that even if he left using his fruit ability, he would have to pay an extremely heavy price.
Has he gotten stronger?
It can't be wrong, this sense of oppression.
Fate is really unfair, this kid, even though he's already strong to that extent, still has room to go further…
"You still haven't answered my question from earlier."
Shano's cold voice rang out again, "Let's put aside the grievances between you and me for the moment. Why are you still determined to stay in the Navy at this point? I don't care much, but… destroying a civilian town here, even going so far as to harm children and the elderly?"
"Borsalino, do you really still have the nerve to wear those words of justice on your back?!"
Kizaru was silent.
After a long time, he finally sighed softly and spoke:
"Don't impose your thoughts on others, you punk, not everyone on this sea can be as free as you. There are always some people who have to bear the burdens called helplessness and do things against their will…"
Boom!
The ground in front exploded abruptly, the figure disappeared, Kizaru's pupils contracted sharply, and before he could even elementalize, his jaw was already hit with the piercing pain of bones shattering!
"Stop using such self-contradictory nonsense to deal with me!"
Shano's fist smashed into Kizaru's jaw fiercely, sending him flying hundreds of meters, crashing through several mountains along the way before finally embedding in a cliffside.
"Cough, cough…"
Kizaru struggled to crawl out of the rubble, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, he hadn't even wiped it off before being grabbed by the collar and hoisted up by a large hand.
"Helpless?"
Shano sneered, "Clearly the fastest person in the world, yet you insist on being the most loyal lapdog! If you're truly disgusted by this and really want to defy the World Government's orders, then leave the Navy. Who could possibly force you?"
What ambiguous justice!
At this point.
After knowing so many dark secrets and witnessing so many innocent people slaughtered by the World Government…
Can a person with a conscience truly remain ambiguous!
Must it be like in the original timeline, five years later, waiting for the knife to fall on your most intimate friends, yet you have to personally act as the executioner to feel the pain, to know how to cry in anger and scold your superiors?!
"In the end, it's just an excuse for your own weakness."
Shano's tone grew more sinister, his right fist entwined again with black and red lightning, "Since you chose this path, you should have been prepared for it long ago, the resolve to pay the price!"
With all his might, he punched Kizaru in the abdomen!
"Whoa!"
Kizaru was blasted into a deep crater, painfully arching his body, and a torrent of blood spurted from his mouth.
"This punch is for those innocent villagers!"
Shano said coldly, raising his fist again.
Boom!
Another punch slammed heavily into Kizaru's chest, ribs gave a crisp crack, then he flew backward several hundred meters, plowing a deep furrow into the ground.
"This punch is for what you almost did to Newgate!"
Kizaru clutched his chest, staggering, barely standing up, looking at Shano, who seemed like a Demon God, approaching step by step, he gritted his teeth.
Killing intent!
He felt an unabashed killing intent!
Kizaru had no doubt, remaining here and entangling with this guy any further, he'd really be beaten to death, one punch after another, today!
Must escape!
No matter the cost, he must escape!
But just then…
Boom!!!
A streak of purple lightning suddenly tore through the sky, descending from above!
Immediately afterward, a purple-black pentagram array with a diameter of over a hundred meters rapidly unfolded behind Kizaru.
In the swirling black mist, a graceful figure wearing a veil stepped out of the array, dressed simply in a modest maid outfit.
Maid?
Kizaru was taken aback; with the sudden appearance of the pentagram array, he thought one of the Five Elders had finally come to support him.
But who is this who arrived...?
"Withdraw for now, Borsalino."
This mysterious and lovely maid sighed lightly at Kizaru, speaking expressionlessly:
"The task entrusted to you by the master was messed up in this manner, leaving Him very disappointed. All He wanted was to enjoy an interesting cricket fighting match, yet you couldn't even satisfy that... You Navy folks are all achievements undone by excess."
Master?
Kizaru's eyes narrowed slightly; the order he received was given directly by Marshal Kong.
But he wasn't a complete fool, either.
From a series of major events recently, and from the occasional mentions by the Five Elders, he vaguely sensed something amiss, guessing that behind the Five Elders, there might be an actual ruler of the world.
Could it be...
But the mysterious maid ignored him, having already turned her attention toward Shano.
Shano was also gazing at her.
"Speaking of which, I killed a woman from the Divine Knight Order before, named Ikuko."
Shano raised an eyebrow, "She also seemed to have served as a maid to that guy. Hey, is your situation similar? Who among you two has older qualifications?"
The maid frowned slightly.
"The King of the End, the most notorious rebellious figure in the Lower Realm today."
The maid shook her head and said casually, "You are indeed as the master said, born as an ordinary commoner from the East Sea, yet you seem to know many things you shouldn't know. Coupled with how your actions have grown increasingly rampant over the past half year, even one as noble as the master has gradually taken substantial interest in you."
"Oh?"
Shano grinned, "Substantial interest? Should I feel honored then?"
"That is not necessary, because what you should truly feel honored about is what happens next."
The maid lifted her eyelids, looking toward the sky:
"Have you not realized that this time, the master has decided to descend personally to see just how much weight you, this defiant figure, truly carry."
Buzz!
It was almost the very next moment!
Endless black fog surged from all directions, causing the entire Sphinx Island to tremble violently, cracking the ground with countless purple-black patterns.
And the maid's eyes suddenly turned white, her body tightened, floating upwards.
The aura around her began to surge, as if her body was taken over by some supreme existence!
Crack!
Another black lightning flashed.
Not just the aura, but her body underwent a huge transformation!
A pair of large, black wings suddenly sprouted from the maid's back, a long arrow-tailed tail extended behind her, and in her hand appeared a pitch-black trident taller than a person!
From the ground looking up, it was like a...
Truly descending Demon!
Kizaru gasped, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Hey, he really should have left earlier.
Now, it seems he's encountered some secrets he absolutely shouldn't have seen, doesn't it?
Hoo~
The thunder and black fog gradually dissipated, but that terrifying oppressive feeling that descended remained.
The "maid" possessed and taken over, or rather Imu herself, finally opened her eyes and began to speak slowly.
Her voice became layered and ethereal, indistinguishable as male or female, like thousands of people whispering at once:
"Mu, I've finally come to see you, mortal, you..."
Bang!
Before Imu could finish her opening line, she was struck on the face by an incoming punch, making her face dent inward.
With great force, the punch instantly distorted her formerly delicate and proud face, her nose collapsed, blood spurted from the corners of her mouth, and she flew backward like a kite with a broken string!
Kizaru stood by, mouth agape, stupefied.
"Screw your mortal narrative!"
Shano retracted his fist, coldly stating, "If you want to fight, then fight, or spout nonsense, but opening with that pompous tone just gets on my nerves. What god or demon are you trying to fake?"