156Chapter 157 A Duel of Men! Luffy VS Usopp
Chapter 157 A Duel of Men! Luffy VS Usopp
Night falls.
Dinner time in a cabin on the Merry.
The dining table, usually a chaotic scene of people scrambling for meat, was eerily quiet today.
Although Sanji prepared the delicious meal as always, almost no one touched the food on the plate.
Luffy sat in the main seat, head bowed.
After a long while, he put down the meat in his hand, his voice low and hoarse, breaking the deathly silence:
"We've made our decision."
"We want to buy a new boat on this island."
Luffy raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on the empty chair:
"Then... goodbye to the Going Merry."
"Smack!"
Usopp slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly; the sound of the chair falling over was exceptionally clear in the quiet cabin.
"Stop joking, Luffy!"
Usopp trembled all over, not with anger, but with fear:
"The money is right here! You heard it yourself, it can be fixed with just a little repair!"
"Why change ships? The Merry is our partner!"
"It carried us up to an altitude of 10,000 meters and brought us down safely... How can you just replace it like that!"
"It can't be fixed!" Luffy shouted back, this was the last thing he wanted to accept.
"That old man said the keel is broken! If we continue sailing, the ship will sink, and everyone will die!"
"That's because their technique is lacking! I don't believe it!"
Usopp screamed hysterically, tears streaming down his face:
"Is it really because it can't be fixed, Luffy?"
"Or is it... because it's old? Or because it's not strong enough?"
Usopp pointed to his chest, where the wound from protecting Bailey was still wrapped around his arm:
"Just like me... I'm always a burden, always getting hurt, always needing you to save me..."
"If I hadn't been saved by you today, if I hadn't been so terrified when I faced Aokiji..."
"Will I end up like this ship, deemed 'useless' by you all, and then abandoned?!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Luffy was completely enraged. He stood up abruptly, grabbed Usopp by the collar, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
"This has nothing to do with your strength! It has nothing to do with whether you're useful or not! This is the captain's decision! I'm doing this for everyone's lives!"
"Don't confuse the Going Merry with you!"
"Is that what you really think?!"
Usopp didn't back down; instead, he became even more agitated. "You also think I'm a burden, right? Just like this wrecked ship!"
"You bastard... I'm feeling terrible too!!"
Luffy was trembling with rage. His reason snapped at that moment, and he roared without thinking:
"Since you're so unhappy with my decision... since you're so unwilling to listen to me..."
"Then let's disembark from this ship—"
"Bang!!!"
A muffled thud.
Just as that decisive word was about to be uttered.
Sanji, who had been silently smoking to the side, suddenly sprang into action and kicked Luffy hard in the face, sending him flying and crashing into the wall.
Hey! Luffy!
Sanji withdrew his foot, his face terribly grim, his eyes blazing with fury:
"Even if it's said in anger... there are some things you absolutely should never say! Wake up!"
Luffy covered his face, and for a moment, he was stunned.
He looked at his hands and realized he had almost made an irreparable mistake.
"I'm sorry... I..."
"No need to say anything more."
A mournful voice interrupted Luffy's apology.
Usopp stood up with a bitter smile, stiffly removing his goggles and bandana and placing them on the table.
"That kick interrupted your words... but I understood it."
"You've been thinking the same thing all along, haven't you, Monkey D. Luffy?"
Usopp turned around, his back to the crowd, his shoulders trembling violently:
"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Since I can't keep up with the pace of you monsters... then I'll go my own way."
"I want to quit."
"But! The Going Merry cannot be handed over to you!"
Usopp whirled around, his eyes burning with a resolute rage:
"Monkey D. Luffy! I challenge you to a duel!!!"
"Ten o'clock tonight, right here on this shore. If I win... the Going Merry is mine!!"
After saying that, Usopp grabbed his backpack and rushed out of the cabin without looking back.
Only the people in the room remained, listening to the fading footsteps in a suffocating silence.
...
The sea breeze howled at night.
The moonlight spilled onto the shore of the abandoned ship island, casting long shadows of two opposing figures.
Luffy and Usopp stood facing each other, with a distance of more than ten meters between them.
The waves crashed against the hull of the Merry, sounding a mournful wail.
"Victor!!"
Nami, tears streaming down her face, clung tightly to Viktor's arm, shaking it desperately.
"Go stop them! Please... We're all partners, why are you fighting?"
"You're the first mate, they'll definitely listen to you! Just say the word…"
"Waaaaah... Victor..." Chopper hugged Victor's leg, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, "Don't let them fight..."
Zoro stood to the side, holding his sword, watching the scene with a serious expression, without saying a word.
Sanji stood with his back to everyone, smoking incessantly.
Viktor. A flicker of pain crossed Viktor's eyes as he watched the two idiots locked in combat.
But he didn't move.
"Nami, Chopper."
Viktor reached out, but instead of trying to break up the fight, he grabbed Nami's shoulder, stopping her from rushing into the arena.
"I'm not going."
Viktor shook his head, his voice low:
"This is a duel between men."
"It was a challenge initiated by Usopp on the staking of his dignity, and it was also a test of Luffy's character as captain."
"Since both sides have accepted the duel... then, whatever the outcome, whether it's life or death."
"No one can interfere...including me."
Nami was stunned. She looked at Viktor's cold face and felt for the first time how unfamiliar this man who always doted on her was.
Viktor knew better than anyone else.
Usopp's heart was already filled with inferiority.
If we don't go through this painful process, if we don't vent all the dissatisfaction, fear, and pride in our hearts...
He will always just be that "coward" hiding behind others.
Only by overcoming this hurdle can he transform into a true "King of Snipers".
This is the price of growing up.
"Watch closely," Victor said softly. "Don't look away."
...
"Let's begin." Luffy lowered his straw hat.
"I'm the man who's been with you the longest... I know all your moves, your weaknesses!"
Usopp roared and launched the first attack.
"Ultimate Kill - Rotten Egg Star!"
Snap!
A foul-smelling egg exploded on Luffy's face, instantly interfering with his sense of smell and vision.
"It stinks!!" Luffy covered his nose.
"Ultimate Kill - Chili Star!"
Immediately following was a cloud of red chili powder mist.
Usopp displayed astonishing battle intelligence.
He knew he was no match for Luffy in terms of strength and speed.
Therefore, he made use of every available tool, trap, and psychological tactic.
He scattered barbed wire on the ground, used wind-blown shells to move at high speed in the air, and even used Luffy's straightforward personality to set a trap.
"Whoa!!"
Luffy lost his footing and fell into the pit that Usopp had dug beforehand.
"Take this! Shuriken Meteor Shower!"
This time, Usopp showed no mercy.
Countless sharp shurikens rained down on Luffy.
Luffy jumped out of the pit in a disheveled state, his body already covered in several bloody scratches.
"It's not over yet!!"
Usopp was panting heavily, his eyes filled with madness.
He suddenly pulled a strange seashell out of his bag.
That was a gift Viktor gave him specifically when distributing the spoils of war on the Skypiea—
Wasbei.
"Cough cough..."
A cloud of flammable gas instantly enveloped Luffy.
"Ultimate Move - Fiery Star!!!"
boom!!!!
The giant fireball engulfed Luffy's figure.
"Luffy!!" Chopper screamed.
As the smoke cleared, Luffy emerged, his body charred black. He gritted his teeth, clearly putting his true strength into it: "Gum-Gum—Pistol!"
"This is what I've been waiting for!"
Usopp didn't dodge; instead, he charged straight at Luffy's fist. In his hand, he held the most dangerous forbidden weapon.
Impact shell.
"It doesn't matter if this hand is broken..."
With tears in his eyes, Usopp aimed the Impact Deck at Luffy's unsuspecting abdomen:
"This is proof that I fought for you with my life on the Sky Island!!!"
"Impact!!"
Thump!!
A muffled thud, loud enough to shatter internal organs.
The powerful shockwave exploded at point-blank range in Luffy's abdomen.
"Pfft—!!!"
Luffy opened his mouth wide, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed to his knees in agony.
Due to the immense recoil, Usopp's entire right arm bones cracked with a sickening sound as he screamed and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Luffy!!"
Seeing Luffy cough up blood and collapse to the ground, Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword with a solemn expression.
Nami covered her mouth, unable to believe that Usopp could really push Luffy to such a desperate situation.
"Ha ha..."
Usopp, clutching his broken right arm, struggled to his feet:
"How about it... Luffy... this is... my way of fighting as a 'weakling'..."
Luffy lay on the ground, his body trembling violently.
The force of the impact caused his internal organs to shift.
But he slowly stood up, using his hands to support himself on the ground.
That look in his eyes was no longer one of confusion when facing a partner, but rather one of respect when facing an opponent.
"Rubber, rubber..."
Luffy took a deep breath and simply stretched his arm back.
"...bullet".
Bang!
A swift, accurate, and ruthless strike.
The fist released tremendous kinetic energy the instant it touched Usopp's abdomen.
"Well..."
Usopp's eyes rolled back, his body arched like a shrimp, and all his consciousness was severed in an instant.
He fell helplessly onto the shore where he had laughed countless times, like a withered leaf.
The outcome is decided.
Luffy withdrew his fist and stood still for a long time.
The night wind blew, stirring up dust from the ground.
Luffy slowly bent down, picked up the straw hat that had fallen to the ground, dusted it off, and put it back on his head.
His hat brim was pulled low, obscuring his expression; all that could be seen were large tears streaming down his cheeks, dripping onto the deck with a "plop" sound.
"Fool..."
Luffy's voice choked with emotion, filled with endless sorrow:
"Can you... beat me...?"
"We...we've come this far together..."
Luffy turned around, his back to the fallen Usopp, and announced the result in a trembling voice:
"The Merry... is yours."
"Fix it however you want."
"Let's go!"
After saying that, Luffy took heavy steps and walked away from the Going Merry.
With each step he took, his shoulders trembled violently, and his suppressed sobs broke apart in the wind.
Zoro silently followed. Sanji stubbed out his cigarette without looking back. Nami covered her mouth and ran away crying.
Viktor stayed until the end.
He walked over to the unconscious Usopp and looked at the man covered in wounds who had fought to the last moment for his dignity.
"The Art of Immortal Control".
Viktor crouched down, his hands glowing with green light as he healed Usopp's arm.
a long time.
He took a first-aid kit out of his pocket and gently placed it next to Usopp.
"Wow, that's amazing, the sniper king."
Viktor said something in a low voice and reached out to pat Usopp's dusty shoulder.
Then he stood up.
Victor didn't turn around and strode after Luffy.
Behind them, only the dilapidated little boat called the Going Merry stood silently in the moonlight, accompanying the fallen warriors as if bidding them a final farewell.157Chapter 158 A Broken Breakfast! The Vanished Archaeologist
Chapter 158 A Broken Breakfast! The Vanished Archaeologist
The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
It was generously poured into the suites of the most luxurious hotel in Water City.
Outside the window, the waterways rippled with clear blue water, and the cheerful calls of the bluebirds filled the air. The whole city seemed vibrant and alive under the bright sunshine.
However, the atmosphere inside the large suite was as cold as an icebox that had just been opened.
The dining table in the center of the room was laden with a sumptuous breakfast: golden-brown toast, fresh fruit, and sizzling bacon.
Luffy sat at the table, holding a piece of local specialty "watery meat" in his hand.
He mechanically stuffed the meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging as he chewed.
"..."
There was no signature "Delicious!" and no rubber arms stretched out to grab the meat.
His usually upturned lips were now pressed into a tight line, and the brim of his straw hat was pulled low, casting a shadow on his face.
Nami sat on the sofa by the window, holding a list in her hand.
Normally, this miserly little thief would have been happily spinning around with the list, or even rolling around on the bed.
But now, her eyes are empty.
Looking at the string of zeros above, she suddenly felt that these numbers had become meaningless.
She used to think that money could solve all problems, buy freedom in the village, and buy beautiful clothes.
But now, she sadly realizes—
No matter how much money you have, the Going Merry, which holds countless memories, can never be repaired.
No matter how much money you have, you can't buy back that partner who always boasted, who was cowardly but fought for his honor.
In the corner of the room.
Zoro sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the wall, holding three swords in his arms, and closing his eyes to rest.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Sanji's ashtray was piled high with ashtrays.
"Tsk."
Sanji paced back and forth in the room, his leather shoes making a "tap-tap" sound on the floor.
He disliked everyone and would occasionally shove his half-smoked cigarette butt into the ashtray with such force that it seemed as if he wanted to crush it.
Viktor sat by the window.
His gaze kept drifting to the bustling street scene outside the window, his eyes heavy.
"..."
This suffocating silence lasted for a long time.
finally.
"I can't take it anymore..."
Chopper stood at the door with his little blue backpack on his back.
His eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying all night without sleep.
"I...I want to go to Shipwreck Island."
Chopper sniffed, his voice trembling with tears, but he tried his best to express himself clearly:
"Usopp is badly injured... If his dressings aren't changed and disinfected promptly, he'll definitely get an infection and fever in this humid season! I'm a doctor... I can't ignore this!"
Zoro slowly opened one eye in the corner:
"You are not allowed to go."
Chopper was stunned, then burst into tears:
"Why! Zoro! Aren't we all comrades? Even though he left... but... but he'll die!!"
"Shut up."
Zoro's voice was cold and hard, yet carried an undeniable principle: "This is the path he chose."
"You cold-blooded bastards!!"
Chopper cried out and tried to rush out.
"Smack!"
A hand suddenly grabbed Chopper by the collar and lifted him up.
It's Sanji.
"Chopper! Calm down!!" Sanji shouted, a cigarette dangling from his lips and a furrowed brow.
Although his tone was fierce, if you looked closely, you would notice that the hand gripping Chopper's collar was trembling slightly.
"Do you think we don't want to go?! Do you think Luffy feels good about this?!"
Sanji gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead:
"But that was a duel initiated by that long-nosed idiot on the line of honor! It was a battle between men!"
"He was already prepared for this when he left!"
"Whether he died by the roadside or died in agony on the boat, it was the price he paid to uphold his dignity!"
"If you were to pity him or give him alms now because of a moment of weakness..."
"That's trampling on the resolve he finally made! It's an insult to Usopp as a man!!"
Sanji's words struck Chopper's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Chopper finally couldn't hold back his tears and burst into tears, with snot streaming down his face:
"What kind of enlightenment is this?! I don't understand! That's something only idiots have!!"
"I just want everyone to be together!! Why did it have to turn out like this!! Waaaaah..."
Chopper's cries echoed in the room.
Luffy paused in his chewing motion for a moment, then bit down on the meat in his mouth even harder.
"Alright, Sanji, let go."
Victor put down his knife and walked over.
He gently pressed down on Sanji's wrist, signaling him to release Chopper.
Sanji released his grip, took a deep breath, and turned away, not wanting anyone to see his expression.
Viktor crouched down, touched Chopper's hat, and said gently:
"Chopper, don't worry."
"I healed him before I left last night, and I left your first aid kit there."
"Usopp may be clumsy at times, but he knows basic first aid. He'll be fine."
"Really? Victor?" Chopper asked, sobbing.
"Yes, I promise."
After calming Chopper down, everyone's emotions subsided a bit.
At this moment, Nami looked around the room, then suddenly frowned and asked:
"By the way... where's Robin?"
Then everyone realized what had happened.
The archaeologist, who usually reads quietly, has been missing ever since everyone went out to look for Luffy and Usopp last night.
"Robin-chan?" Sanji looked around.
"So, the breakfast I prepared for her hasn't been touched... Could it be that she didn't come back all night?"
An ominous premonition hung over everyone's hearts.
"I'm going to find her!" Sanji immediately stubbed out his cigarette. "What if Robin runs into bad guys in this unfamiliar place!"
"Chopper, come with me! Stop crying here, use your nose to find people!"
"Yes! I'm going!" Chopper wiped away his tears.
The two hurriedly ran out of the hotel.
...
The streets of Water City are still bustling with people.
But Sanji and Chopper soon realized that something was off about the atmosphere today.
When they first entered the city yesterday, the locals were very hospitable and greeted them with smiles when they saw them riding their Blue bikes.
But today...
"Hey, look! Those are pirates..."
Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't make eye contact with them!
"It was those people who did it, wasn't it? That's terrifying..."
Pedestrians on the street avoided Sanji and Chopper as if they were plague gods.
The once bustling shops even closed their doors as they passed by.
The whispers lurking in the corners were filled with hostility and fear.
"What's going on?" Sanji frowned. "The way these people are looking at me...it's like they're looking at a murderer."
Just then.
"Gah—!"
A newsbird flew across the sky.
It seemed flustered, and instead of taking the money, it simply dropped off a special edition newspaper.
"Smack."
The newspaper hit Sanji squarely in the face.
"What the hell is going on, you stupid bird!"
Sanji grabbed the newspaper in frustration, about to crumple it up and throw it away.
However, the huge, bold black headline on the front page of the newspaper, along with the clear photograph, instantly froze him in his tracks.
[Breaking News! Breaking News!]
[Carrera Corporation President and Mayor of Water City, Iceberg, was shot last night! He is in critical condition!]
[The killer is at large! Witnesses claim the perpetrator is suspected to be Nicole Robin, the "Devil's Child"!]
Although the photo is blurry, the outline of the black-haired woman can still be vaguely discerned; it is their partner, Robin.
"..."
The cigarette that Sanji was holding fell to the ground with a "thud".
His pupils contracted sharply, and he gripped the newspaper so tightly that he almost tore it to shreds.
"Are you... are you kidding me?!"
Sanji suddenly lunged at a passerby who was reading a newspaper, grabbed the man by the collar, and roared with bloodshot eyes:
"Who wrote this?! Huh?!"
"How could Robin-chan do such a thing?! She's the gentlest and most refined lady! How could she possibly kill someone?!"
"Eek!! Pirates are hitting people!!" A passerby screamed in fright.
"Sanji! Calm down!" Chopper quickly grabbed Sanji's leg. "Let go!"
The surrounding chatter grew louder and louder:
"Mr. Iceberg was killed? The one who killed the devil's son?"
"As expected, pirates are all in cahoots! These people are accomplices!"
Just as Sanji and Chopper were in extreme confusion and shock.
"BOOM!!!!!"
A deafening explosion suddenly came from behind them.
Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed.
That direction is...
"That direction... is that a hotel?!" Sanji's expression changed drastically.
"Luffy and the others are still there!" Chopper exclaimed.
...
A few minutes earlier, inside the hotel suite.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Victor were huddled around a newspaper, each with an extremely serious expression on their face.
"Robin?! That's impossible!"
Nami covered her mouth, staring at the contents of the newspaper in disbelief:
Why would she kill Mr. Iceberg? There's absolutely no reason!
"And she was definitely with us yesterday... no, she really disappeared last night..."
"The reason is that she's a pirate, and the other party is a mayor with enormous wealth."
Zoro crossed his arms, his gaze serious and calm:
"And don't forget, she is the 'Child of the Devil,' an assassin from an assassination organization."
"Who knows what she used to do... Is it just that old habits die hard?"
"Bang!!"
Luffy slammed his hand on the table, and a crack instantly appeared in the solid wood table.
"Zoro!!"
Luffy looked up, glaring fiercely at Zoro: "Don't talk about Robin like that! She's our comrade!!"
"I'm just stating a possibility," Sauron said, not backing down. "Until she explains it clearly, everything is suspicious."
"I believe in Robin!" Luffy gritted his teeth. "There must be some misunderstanding here!"
Just then.
"BOOM—!!!!"
It wasn't a knock on the door, nor was it a greeting.
The wall of the suite facing the street was blasted to pieces with a loud bang.
Pebbles flew everywhere, and dust billowed.
"Cough cough cough! Enemy attack?!" Nami screamed and hid behind Victor.
Viktor's eyes narrowed, and he instantly drew his sword, standing in front of the crowd and waving his hand to clear away the dust.
Inside the blasted-open hole stood a group of strangely shaped people.
The leader was a blue-haired, muscular, perverted man wearing a floral shirt, sunglasses, and only a pair of briefs.
He struck an extremely embarrassing "super" pose, with the iconic square sisters standing on either side of him.
Frankie.
"SUPER————!!!"
After striking a pose, Franky pointed at everyone in the room and let out an angry roar:
"Where is Straw Hat Boy?!"
"You bastards! How dare you destroy my home! You severely injured my brother!!"
"Unforgivable!! I'm going to beat you all to a pulp!!!"
Luffy slowly stood up from the chair.
There was no nonsense, and no desire to explain.
Luffy lowered his head, and his fists turned as black as ink in an instant.
He looked up, his eyes filled with rage, staring intently at the blue-haired pervert:
"I am now..."
"I'm in a bad mood right now."
"Don't mess with me!!!"
The killing intent between the two sides clashed in the air, and a great battle was about to break out.158Chapter 15ained Dock One! Victor's "Indiscriminate Slaughter"
Chapter 159 Bloodstained Dock One! Victor's "Indiscriminate Slaughter"
"SUPER—!!"
Amidst the ruins of the hotel, Franky struck that shameful signature pose.
Immediately afterwards, his steel-forged arms suddenly opened wide, palms facing each other.
"Try this! The fury of Carrera Corporation's most powerful cyborg!!"
"Wind Cannon!!!"
boom--------!!!!
A visible white shockwave of air roared out, accompanied by a deafening explosion.
This is no ordinary air cannon; its power is comparable to that of heavy artillery.
"Whoa!!"
Luffy instinctively leaped upwards, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.
But the scene behind him was astonishing—
The wreckage of a massive pirate ship, moored in an abandoned port, crumbled and shattered instantly under the shockwave, turning into a rain of wood chips.
"Wow...what incredible power!"
Luffy landed on a rooftop in the distance, staring in shock at the pervert in his briefs:
"What's this guy's structure? Is he a robot? How can he spray air from his body?"
"Never mind! He's not our target right now!"
Luffy remembered being framed, and his eyes hardened again.
Using the momentum of his fall, he kicked his right leg high into the sky, stretching it for dozens of meters.
"Rubber rubber—Tomahawk!!"
The enormous foot fell like a meteorite, shattering the ground beneath Franky's feet and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Now's the time! Let's go! Let's go to Dock One and see Uncle Iceberg!"
Taking advantage of the moment when Franky was blocked by the smoke and dust, Luffy called to Zoro, Nami, and Victor, and rushed towards Shipyard No. 1 in the city center without looking back.
...
Water City, Dock Number One.
When the Straw Hat crew arrived at the gate, panting, they were not greeted with an opportunity for explanation.
Instead, it was hundreds of angry boatmen armed with saws, hammers, and muskets.
"That's them! The Straw Hat Pirates!"
"The murderer who killed Mr. Iceberg dares to come back!"
Leading the group were several of Carrera's foremen—Barry, who operated the ropes; Lulu, whose hair always stuck up; and the burly Thaleston.
"Surround them! Don't let them escape!"
Barry roared, and hundreds of strong boatmen instantly formed an impenetrable encirclement, completely surrounding the four men.
His murderous gaze seemed to want to devour these pirates alive.
"Wait a minute! Everyone, listen to me!"
Luffy stood in the center of the encirclement and loudly defended himself:
"We didn't kill Uncle Iceberg! We've been framed!"
"If it were for money or hatred, we would have no reason to do this!"
"Let me see Uncle Iceberg! I have something to ask him in person!"
However, the angry crowd refused to listen to any explanation.
Behind the crowd, in front of that luxurious office building.
Wearing a black suit, Lucci stood with his hands in his pockets, expressionless, blocking Luffy's path.
On the rooftop behind him, the long-nosed Kaku was crouching on a beam, looking down at the battlefield and blocking the airspace.
"Coo coo, the murderer is the murderer, there's no need to see Mr. Iceberg." Hadori, the pigeon on Lucci's shoulder, squawked. "Just surrender obediently."
"Damn it... since it doesn't make sense..."
Zoro drew his three swords, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "Then I'll have to force my way through."
"Zoro! Don't hurt anyone!" Nami anxiously warned.
"Know!"
A chaotic battle erupted instantly.
"Dual Sword Style: Rhinoceros Return!"
Zoro transformed into a whirlwind, striking the shipwrights' weapons with the back of his sword, repelling wave after wave of the charging crowd.
Luffy was entangled by Barry's life-like ropes.
"Heavy Coil!" Barry's rope coiled like a venomous snake, attempting to bind Luffy's hands and feet.
The scene was chaotic.
However, amidst the clamor of the battlefield, one person remained unusually quiet.
Victor.
He did not draw his sword, nor did he pay any attention to the boatmen around him who were waving hammers at him.
A red light quietly emerged in his deep black eyes, and three tomoe slowly rotated.
With the Sharingan's insight, the dynamics of the entire battlefield were slowed down countless times.
Victor's gaze pierced through the layers of people, ignoring Barry and Lucci.
Ultimately, they focused their attention on a seemingly harmless man on the outermost edge of the encirclement.
Bruno, the bar owner with the horn-like hairstyle.
Bruno was mingling in the crowd, pretending to be both angry and afraid.
But in Victor's eyes, this man posed an even greater threat than Lucci.
'Door-Door Fruit...'
A resolute killing intent flashed in Viktor's eyes.
'That's the most troublesome ability in CP9. As long as he's there, Robin can be teleported away through the door at any time.'
'This door must be closed here... forever.'
There were no warning signs whatsoever.
"Whoosh!!"
Viktor's figure vanished instantly, leaving only a lingering shadow torn apart by the raging wind.
He was like a black lightning bolt, breaking straight through the crowd, his chilling killing intent already locked onto Bruno.
Bruno was startled when he saw Victor suddenly rushing towards him.
But outwardly, she still feigned a look of terror, stumbling backward:
"Whoa!! Help! Pirates are coming at me!!"
He tried to use his "commoner" status to get the surrounding boatmen to stop Victor.
"Stop! Don't hurt Bruno!" Several boatmen nearby immediately tried to rush over to protect the "kind bar owner."
But Viktor was too fast.
"Clang!"
The black sword was drawn.
The jet-black Armament Haki instantly wrapped around the blade, transforming into a deadly black light.
This stab went straight for Bruno's heart.
That was an absolutely lethal move, without any hesitation or holding back.
'This man... he really wants to kill me!'
Bruno's pupils contracted sharply.
In that instant, his instincts as a spy told him: if he continued to pretend, this knife would definitely pierce his heart!
In this instant between life and death.
Bruno slammed his feet into the ground, his muscles tensing to their limit and his blood rushing.
"Iron block!!!"
when--!!!
A deafening roar, loud enough to shatter eardrums, exploded in the noisy dock.
That wasn't the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh, but the metallic clang of steel clashing violently against steel!
The loud noise instantly silenced the chaotic crowd.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene before them, incredulous.
Viktor's black dagger, powerful enough to cut through steel, pierced Bruno's left chest.
Bruno's apron and clothes ripped instantly, revealing his well-defined muscles.
"this..."
Barry, who was locked in combat with Luffy, froze, and the surrounding shipwrights were dumbfounded.
A bar owner who is usually kind and friendly.
How could I possibly block the full-force attack of that great pirate with a bounty of over 100 million with my chest?
"How is this possible..."
"Bruno...is his body made of steel?"
Victor maintained his thrusting stance, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips.
"These are the innocent civilians you speak of?"
"Does an ordinary bar owner have a body that's harder than steel?"
Victor's eyes flashed red as he stared at Bruno's gloomy face:
"Or is this... the'Six Styles' that the World Government's lackeys are so proud of?"
Now that he had been exposed, Bruno no longer pretended to be honest and simple.
His eyes instantly turned cold, the eyes of a killing machine.
"I never expected... that you, a newcomer, would see right through me."
Bruno's voice deepened:
"shave!"
Whoosh!
Bruno's figure vanished from the spot in an instant, so fast that even his afterimage was not visible.
The next second, he appeared out of thin air behind Viktor, his fingers pressed together like a gun, aimed straight at the back of Viktor's head:
"Now that we've been discovered, there's nothing we can do. Die for justice."
"Finger gun!!"
"Too slow."
Without turning his head, Viktor's Sharingan's dynamic vision had already captured that trajectory.
He turned the scabbard backward and held it upright.
"bite!!"
Bruno's fingers, long enough to pierce through a human body, slammed into the domineering scabbard, sparks flying everywhere.
The two engaged in a high-speed confrontation in the center of the dock.
For a moment, all that could be heard were the clanging sounds of collisions and the afterimages of the two people moving at high speed.
Ordinary boatmen couldn't see their movements at all; they could only see the constantly exploding air currents in the air.
"Damn it...this guy's swordsmanship and domineering aura..."
After exchanging blows for several rounds, Bruno was greatly alarmed.
He discovered that he was completely at a disadvantage in physical combat; his opponent's red eyes seemed to be able to predict all his movements.
'We can't afford to get bogged down in this; we must get the information out first.'
Bruno feinted, leaped backward, and pulled his hands sharply through the air.
"Door Door - Air Door!"
A green portal to another dimension slowly opened in the air.
Once he gets inside, no one can catch him.
"Trying to run?"
Viktor's eyes narrowed: "Too late."
Just as Bruno was about to step into the air portal, Victor suddenly formed several complex hand seals with his left hand, and his chest bulged out.
The chakra was highly compressed at the throat, transforming into an extremely thin, high-pressure water jet.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!!"
call out----!!
A razor-sharp blade of water shot out from Victor's mouth, instantly slicing through the edge of the "air door" that Bruno was about to open.
"What?!"
Bruno was forced to withdraw his hand; otherwise, his arm would have been severed by the water blade.
The pause that lasted for just a moment.
Victor had already closed in.
His right hand was not holding a knife, but rather his palm was open, from which a blinding blue-white lightning burst forth.
"Zzzzzzzzz!!!"
It was a sharp sound, as if a thousand birds were chirping at the same time.
"Chidori!!!"
Viktor's figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, piercing through space in that instant.
Bruno didn't even have time to activate the iron block again.
Or rather, ordinary iron blocks are simply no match for the high penetrating power of lightning release.
The two passed each other.
Time seemed to stand still.
Viktor stood with his back to Bruno, the lightning in his hand slowly dissipating, his pair of red Sharingan eyes appearing particularly eerie in the smoke and dust.
"Well..."
Bruno stood there, his eyes wide open, as if he wanted to say something.
But the next second...
A thin line of blood appeared on his neck.
"Pfft—"
Fresh blood gushed out like a fountain.
Bruno's head, with its horned hair, slowly slid off his neck, and his body fell heavily into a pool of blood with a dull thud.
CP9 member, Door-Door Fruit user, Bruno—
The death has been confirmed.
[A major plot twist has been detected]
[Cop 9 core member eliminated: Bruno]
[Reward: 4000 Ninja Points]
A deathly silence enveloped Dock No. 1.
In front of the office building.
Rob Lucci, who had been expressionless the whole time, suddenly clenched his fist in his pocket.
On the roof.
Kaku's half-closed eyes snapped open, and his long nose and the corner of his mouth twitched.
A strong killing intent emanated from him.
They never imagined that their honest and unassuming companion, Bruno, would be killed in an instant by a rookie pirate.
And it was such a swift and decisive kill.
However, the thousands of unsuspecting boatmen around them saw a completely different scene.
They couldn't understand what "iron block" or "shave" meant, nor did they recognize CP9.
All they saw was that the pirate had used cruel methods to kill a "warm and kind bar owner".
"Aaaaaaah!!"
Barry stared at Bruno lying in a pool of blood and let out a heart-wrenching roar:
"Bruno!!!"
His eyes instantly turned bloodshot as he pointed at Victor, his voice trembling with rage:
"Bastards!!! You actually killed Bruno!!! He was our comrade!!"
"Murderer!! Unforgivable!!"
"Kill them!! Avenge Bruno!!"
The enraged crowd completely lost control; what began as a simple arrest had now escalated into a relentless fight for revenge.
This time, the Straw Hat crew is truly in a situation where they can't clear their name at all.
Facing the thousands of furious boatmen charging at him, Victor expressionlessly wiped the blood off his sword and sheathed it.
He turned around and grabbed Luffy, who was still completely bewildered by the situation:
"Let's go! Luffy!"
"The objective has been achieved."
"But..." Luffy wanted to say something more.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Viktor gave him no chance to explain, pulled out several specially made smoke grenades from his pocket, and smashed them hard on the ground.
Thick purple smoke instantly filled the entire venue, obscuring everyone's vision.
"Cough cough cough! I can't see!"
"Stop them!"
Taking advantage of the chaos, Victor forcibly dragged Luffy, called out to Zoro and Nami, and used his Body Flicker Technique to smash through the dock's walls and disappear into the intricate alleyways.
...
On the run.
The four of them ran wildly through an empty back alley.
"Huff... huff..."
Luffy stopped and flung Viktor's hand away.
He lowered the brim of his hat, his voice filled with deep confusion and questioning:
"Victor!!"
"Why did you kill that horned uncle?!"
Luffy looked up, his eyes filled with complex emotions:
"Even if he is an enemy... is it necessary to kill him?"
"Everyone says he's a good person... but now we've really become murderers!"
Viktor stopped and turned around.
He looked at Luffy, and his red Sharingan eyes slowly faded, turning back into deep black.
"Luffy".
"He is a member of CP9, a lackey of the World Government."
"That man is a user of the 'Door-Door Fruit.' He can open doors anywhere, including in the air."
"If we don't kill him… when we go to rescue Robin, he only needs to open a door to move Robin away."
Victor stepped forward, placed his hands on Luffy's shoulders, and looked directly into the captain's eyes:
"I'm willing to bear the stigma of being a murderer for Robin's safety."
"And look at reality, Luffy."
"The real enemy... is that group of 'foremen' who have been lurking around us all along."
"The battles to come... will be even more dangerous than facing a general."159Chapter 1Crimson Eyes of Insight! The Unreachable "Shave"
Chapter 160 The Crimson Eyes of Insight! The Unreachable "Shave"
The night in the Water City was utterly torn apart by the raging storm.
A massive tsunami, dubbed the "Gods of Water," is approaching, and the entire city is tossed about in the wind and rain.
However, inside the Carrera Company's headquarters building at Dock One...
Inside the iceberg's room, the candlelight flickered wildly in the raging wind pouring in through the broken windows.
When Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Victor kicked open the door and rushed in.
What they saw was not the injured iceberg, but those familiar yet unfamiliar figures.
The main foremen of Carrera Corporation—Rob Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa—had now shed their disguises.
"I knew you would come."
Rob Lucci stood in the center of the room, the shadow of his top black hat obscuring the upper half of his face.
He slowly removed his mask and casually tossed it on the ground.
"Clatter".
The sound of the mask shattering was particularly jarring in the silent room.
Lucci raised his head, his emotionless black eyes fixed on Viktor, his voice like a beast's growl:
"Although I don't like Bruno, that good-for-nothing... he is, after all, a member of CP9."
"Kill Bruno… Crimson Victor, you must die."
Lucci took off his coat, revealing his muscular physique, and Hadori, the pigeon on his shoulder, flew to the windowsill:
"Originally, according to the commander's orders, we planned to take you to Enies Lobby and execute you publicly. But now… I've changed my mind."
"Right here, I will wipe you all out."
Before he could finish speaking...
"Whoosh!"
Lucci's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
There was no running start, no pre-movement sway, and not even the airflow was altered.
He simply vanished into thin air.
Naval Six Style - Shave.
This is a high-speed movement technique that involves stomping on the ground dozens of times in a short period of time to generate explosive reaction force.
On an ordinary person's retina, this would be equivalent to teleportation.
"Disappeared?!" Nami covered her mouth in horror.
The next second, Lucci appeared in front of Viktor, less than half a meter away.
He extended his right index finger, the tip gathering enough power to pierce through steel, aiming straight for Victor's heart.
"Finger gun!!"
This attack was too fast, so fast that there wasn't even time to think.
Unfortunately, his chosen opponent was Viktor, who possessed the Sharingan.
"Too slow."
Viktor's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly snapped open.
In that instant, his originally dark pupils were stained with an eerie blood red.
Three black magatama spun wildly in his pupils.
Under the Sharingan's almost abnormal dynamic vision, Lucci's movements, which were originally too fast to catch, seemed to be slowed down.
Viktor clearly saw the contraction of Lucci's leg muscles, the cracking of the ground, the trajectory of his body's forward thrust, and the angle at which the finger stabbed.
There is no need for extensive dodging.
Viktor merely shifted his body slightly, raising the black knife in its sheath.
It struck Lucci's wrist precisely at an extremely tricky angle.
"when--!!"
A crisp, metallic clang rang out.
Sparks flew everywhere.
Lucci's deadly strike was effortlessly deflected by Viktor using his scabbard.
The finger gun grazed the collar of Viktor's trench coat and pierced the wall behind him, creating a bottomless black hole in the stone wall.
"What?!"
For the first time, a look of shock appeared on Lucci's perpetually icy face:
"You can see the trajectory of the'shave'?!"
"I told you, it's too slow." Victor's eyes were icy. "Your movements are full of flaws in my eyes."
Just as Lucci was momentarily stunned by the block of his attack.
"Don't ignore me, you pigeon man!!"
A furious roar came from the side.
Luffy had already fully charged up, and he was not going to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by.
"Rubber, rubber—a stamp!!!"
Luffy landed on one foot, compressed the other leg like a spring, and then kicked out hard, hitting Lucci squarely in the abdomen.
"Iron block!!"
Lucci reacted extremely quickly, his abdominal muscles instantly tensing up like steel.
"Bang!!!"
A dull thud resounded.
Even with the use of iron blocks, Lucci was still kicked backward by Luffy's furious, monstrous attack.
His feet carved two deep furrows in the wooden floor, and he took five steps back before regaining his balance.
"Cough…" Lucci patted the dust off his abdomen, his eyes growing even more gloomy.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.
"Your opponent is me, Long Nose."
Zoro took off his bandana and tied it on his head. His three swords were already drawn, and he stared menacingly at Kaku on the roof beam.
"Hmph, arrogant swordsman."
Kaku, hands in his pockets, spun in the air, his legs whipping out like whips:
"Let me show you... Storm Kick: Chaos!!"
Swish swish swish swish!!
Dozens of blue vacuum slashes rained down from the sky like a storm, each powerful enough to cleave rocks.
Faced with this barrage of long-range slashes, Zoro advanced instead of retreating.
"Three-Sword Style: Gyūki - Heroic Claw!!"
Zoro's arm muscles bulged, and Armament Haki wrapped around the blade.
He swung his sword sharply, and three black sword energies met the attack head-on.
"Clang clang clang clang!!"
A series of cracking sounds erupted in the air.
Kaku's prized Vacuum Wave Slash was no match for Zoro's incredibly powerful strike.
It was like glass hitting a hammer, shattering instantly and dissipating into turbulent air currents.
"How is this possible... to actually shatter the Tempest Kick head-on?" Kaku landed, somewhat surprised.
Zoro, biting on the Wado Ichimonji, curled his lips into a wildly arrogant smile:
"Your swordsmanship... or rather your kicking technique, is too weak."
"A strike that is not carrying anything cannot hurt me."
Meanwhile, in a corner of the room, the only female agent, Kalifa, was attempting a sneak attack from the side.
She brandished a specially made thorny whip, a weapon covered in sharp spikes.
"That red-eyed man looks exhausted. Let's take care of him first."
Kalifa pushed up her glasses, and her long whip coiled like a venomous snake toward the back of Victor's neck.
Victor didn't even turn around.
He merely tilted his head slightly, his crimson Sharingan peering coldly at Kalifa through his lenses.
Their eyes met.
"Sharingan - Genjutsu".
Buzz—
Kalifa froze in place.
Viktor's figure disappeared from her sight.
Instead, countless huge, slippery black venomous snakes surged from the floor, walls, and ceiling, instantly coiling around her body.
"Ah...what is this?! Let me go!!"
Kalifa screamed in terror.
She felt her throat being tightened, her limbs unable to move, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back.
But to outsiders, Kalifa simply stood there dumbly, whip in hand, her eyes vacant and her body trembling.
"Don't waste your energy."
Victor withdrew his gaze and looked back at Lucci:
"A sneak attack is ineffective in front of my eyes."
The exchange lasted only one minute.
CP9's three main forces did not gain any advantage at all, and were even slightly at a disadvantage.
"..."
Lu Qi straightened up, gently moved his neck, and made a cracking sound.
"It seems... we underestimated you."
Lucci took off his cumbersome black suit jacket, revealing a scar on his back that resembled some kind of totem:
"You are not ordinary pirates. Since that's the case..."
"roar..."
Lucci's body began to undergo astonishing changes.
His bones cracked and his muscles expanded rapidly.
The human-like face began to elongate, grow fangs and whiskers, and its skin became covered with leopard spots.
Zoan type, Cat-Cat Fruit, Leopard form.
A terrifying aura, several times stronger than before, instantly filled the entire room.
"I will tear you to pieces."
After transforming, Lucci experienced a qualitative leap in both speed and strength.
"shave!"
This time, even with his Sharingan, Viktor felt a bit of pressure.
Just as both sides were preparing for a decisive battle, and the situation was about to spiral completely out of control.
"Enough!!!"
A sharp scream interrupted everyone's actions.
Robin, who had been standing silently in the corner, suddenly rushed out.
"A riot of flowers, a giant tree!!"
Robin crossed her arms, tears welling in her eyes.
Countless arms suddenly grew from Luffy and Victor's bodies, intertwining and locking together.
In an instant, a massive joint lock was formed, tightly binding the two men's hands and feet behind their backs and pinning them to the ground.
"Robin?! What are you doing?!"
Luffy was pinned to the ground, staring at Robin in shock, completely unable to comprehend what had happened.
"Leave me alone!!"
Robin looked at Luffy and Victor, who were being suppressed, and tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice was hoarse and desperate:
"I went with them voluntarily!!"
"I don't want to be with you guys anymore! You only bring me trouble!"
"I wanted to live, so I traded Mr. Iceberg for a ticket to the New World!"
"This is what I truly believe!!"
Robin's words were like sharp knives, piercing the hearts of the Straw Hat crew.
She looked at Lucci after his transformation, her heart filled with fear.
She knew that this was only a part of CP9's power, and that behind it lay the terrifying "Buster Call".
If the fight continues, Luffy and his crew will really die here.
To protect her only remaining companions, she chose to betray them.
Seeing this, Lucci deactivated his beastman form and sneered:
"It seems she understands the cruelty of reality better than you do. This is the choice of the 'Child of the Devil'."
"Let me go!! Robin!!" Luffy struggled desperately, but he couldn't bring himself to use Haki on Robin's arm.
Just then.
"Bang!"
A burst of smoke erupted.
"Victor," who had been pinned to the ground by Robin, turned into a wooden stake.
"Substitute Technique".
Viktor's true form had somehow already jumped onto the windowsill of the huge, broken French window in the room.
Behind him, the "gods of water" unleashed a raging storm.
Thunder roared and lightning flashed in the pitch-black night sky, and giant waves surged, as if it were the end of the world.
The strong wind tousled Victor's black hair and trench coat.
He stood on the edge of the stormy weather, looking down at the farce inside the house.
"Oh..."
Viktor's lips curled into a wild and arrogant smile.
Those scarlet Sharingan eyes, adorned with three tomoe, appeared incredibly eerie and dangerous in the reflection of the lightning behind them.
"I don't care whether you're willing or not, Robin."
Viktor's voice pierced through the thunder, carrying clearly throughout the entire arena:
"If you want to leave, then defeat us first."
"With such a lame lie, you can't even fool Luffy, that single-celled organism, let alone fool my eyes."
As he spoke, Viktor slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upwards.
"Lucci, did you think that was our limit?"
Viktor looked at Lucci's grave expression, a mad glint in his eyes:
"No... that was just a warm-up."
Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle!!!
Guided by Viktor's chakra, the originally raging natural lightning in the sky seemed to be summoned by something.
A dazzling bolt of lightning struck down, but instead of hitting the ground, it gathered on Viktor's raised right hand.
That wasn't ordinary ninjutsu; it was the power of natural disasters that harnessed the might of nature.
"Chirp chi...
A sharp, piercing electrical hum echoed through the night sky, like the simultaneous mournful cries of thousands of birds.
Bathed in lightning, Viktor, like a god who controls thunder, bared his fangs at the CP9 members:
"Watch closely... this is... the true power of the Straw Hat crew!"#160Chapter 1Descends from Heaven! Lightning Release: The Roar of the Kirin
Chapter 161 Heavenly Justice! Lightning Release: The Roar of the Kirin
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The night sky above Dock One seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand.
However, what is most unsettling at this moment is not the towering waves of the water gods.
Instead, it was the terrifying thundercloud that was gathering at the top of the Carrera headquarters building, spinning wildly, compressing, and changing color.
In front of the broken French windows.
Viktor's raised right hand resembled a lightning rod.
The blinding lightning chakra in his palm shot straight into the sky, creating a mysterious resonance with the raging lightning of nature.
His face was expressionless, except for his two scarlet Sharingan eyes with three tomoe.
Illuminated by the constantly flashing electric light, it flowed with an eerie and dangerous glow.
"What...what kind of power is this?!"
Inside the room, Rob Lucci, who had transformed into his leopard-man form, had his originally cold and ruthless beast eyes suddenly contract violently.
His carnivorous instincts were screaming alarm bells in his mind—
escape!
Run!
Staying here will kill you!
"With thunder... dissipate."
Viktor's voice was eerily calm, piercing through the howling wind and rain, and echoing clearly in everyone's ears.
"Zzzzzzzzz!!!"
Guided by the lightning, the dark clouds in the sky slowly twisted and deformed.
Amidst the intertwining of countless electric snakes, an enormous, ferocious, and terrifying lightning beast head emerged from the clouds.
It has the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, and its entire body is composed of the purest high-voltage blue-white lightning, exuding an aura of world destruction.
That is the legendary mythical beast—the Qilin.
"roar---!!!"
The Thunder Beast opened its massive jaws and let out a deafening roar.
This roar made all the glass in Water City tremble, as if it were the wrath of a god.
"The name of this technique is... Qilin."
Victor's arm swung down sharply, like a hammer of judgment:
"fall!!"
"Get out of the way!!"
Lucci let out a heart-wrenching roar, the first time in his life he had ever lost control like this:
"That's an attack on the scale of a natural disaster!! Humanity can't withstand it!! Everyone scatter!!"
However, it was too late.
The moment this technique was created, the outcome was already predetermined.
From the moment the Qilin poked its head out to its dramatic fall, only a fraction of a second elapsed.
This is a divine punishment that surpasses the limits of human reaction and even exceeds the predictive speed of "Observation Haki".
"BOOM—!!!!!"
There is no process.
Only results matter.
A blinding white light instantly engulfed the field of vision.
Immediately following was a deafening roar that seemed to shatter eardrums.
In that instant, the entire Carrera Corporation headquarters building was completely engulfed by this terrifying lightning bolt, which was tens of meters in diameter.
Solid stone walls, heavy oak floors, luxurious furniture...
Faced with this destructive force from nature, it was like paper, instantly collapsing, shattering, and vaporizing.
"Sizzle sizzle..."
The electric current surged wildly through the air, and the intense heat instantly evaporated the rainwater.
White steam mixed with black smoke, forming a small mushroom cloud that rose from Dock One.
...
a long time.
The smoke and dust gradually dissipated under the onslaught of the storm.
The once luxurious and grand president's office is no more; in its place lies a charred ruin.
Only a few broken load-bearing columns stood there forlornly, wisps of smoke rising from them.
"Cough cough..."
The ruins were in complete disarray.
Kalifa, the only female member of CP9, is currently lying on the edge of a huge pit.
Her once-proud black fishnet stockings and uniform were now tattered, revealing skin that was shockingly charred black.
Her eyes rolled back, and she had already lost consciousness. Even the thorn whip in her hand had been melted into a lump of scrap metal by the high temperature.
Not far away.
"Puwah—!!"
Kaku, with his long nose, knelt on one knee and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He braced himself on the ground with his two famous swords, which he used for defense.
But at this moment, the two sharp blades that had accompanied him for many years had broken cleanly in the middle, their blades charred and curled.
"What...what kind of sorcery is this...?"
Kaku was trembling violently. If he hadn't used the highest-strength "iron block" to protect himself at the last moment, he would probably be a charred corpse by now.
And in the heart of the ruins.
Rob Lucci was still standing.
But his once majestic leopard-man form now appeared incredibly miserable.
The leopard's beautiful fur was badly burned, emitting a foul, acrid smell.
His right arm hung limply at his side, clearly broken or with a torn muscle.
Blood streamed down his forehead, staining his eyes, which were filled with shock and fear.
Even he, who is known as "the strongest in CP9 history".
After taking a direct hit from this S-rank Lightning Release technique, it was already at its limit.
"Huff... huff..."
Not far away, on a pile of rubble, Viktor knelt on the ground, panting heavily.
His face was as pale as paper, and his right hand was still trembling slightly, a backlash from the overdraft of chakra and the guidance of natural lightning.
But the red light in his eyes had not yet gone out.
Viktor raised his head, looked at the shaky CP9 members, and roared:
"Luffy!! Zoro!!"
"Now!!!"
This roar awakened the Straw Hat crew's main force, who had just been stunned by the power of the Kirin.
"Ohhhhhhh!!!!"
From the shadows of the ruins, two figures burst forth like cheetahs.
Luffy was protected by Victor the whole time and was not affected by the lightning strike.
At this moment, his pent-up anger finally erupted.
"Rubber, rubber—"
Luffy stretched his arms back to their limit, his Armament Haki hardening instantly, his fists seemingly bearing all the anger of being wronged and the worry for his comrades.
He set his sights on Lucci, who, despite being severely injured, still exuded a threatening aura.
"Rocket launcher!!!"
"Nataru-ryu·Iai————"
On the other side, Zoro held his sword in a reverse grip, exuding a sinister aura.
Although he was missing a knife, his imposing presence remained undiminished.
He aimed at Kaku, who had just coughed up blood, and his body transformed into a streak of light.
"Rashomon: Demon Slash!!!"
"Damn it..."
Lucky's pupils contracted, as he tried to dodge.
But the lightning strike had fatally dulled his nerves, leaving his body paralyzed and unable to move.
"Bang!!!!"
"Pfft!!!!"
Two muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously.
Luffy's palms slammed solidly into Lucci's chest.
The immense impact shattered Lucci's last iron-clad defense, and the sound of his sternum cracking was clearly audible.
Zoro's blade mercilessly slashed at Kaku's back, splattering blood—a wound so deep it revealed bone.
"Ughhhhh!!"
Lucci and Kaku screamed simultaneously as their bodies flew backward like kites with broken strings.
The two crashed violently into the remaining wall behind them, shattering it into pieces.
"Cough...cough cough..."
Lu Qi collapsed in the rubble, vomiting blood, his once powerful aura instantly weakening.
He struggled to lift his head, looking at Luffy and Zoro closing in, as well as Victor with his cold eyes.
Even someone as cold-blooded as him felt a chill run down his spine at that moment.
We lost.
If we don't do something, CP9 will be wiped out here tonight...
These pirates... are not ordinary rookies at all, but a group of monsters in human skin!
"call..."
Lu Qi took a deep breath, squeezing out the last bit of potential from his body.
"shave!"
His figure disappeared again.
"Watch out!!" Victor shouted.
But he did not attack anyone.
Lucci's goal is—
"ah!!"
A gasp of surprise.
Robin, who had been standing to the side, stunned by the battle, suddenly felt a tightness around her neck.
Lucci's intact left hand gripped Robin's slender neck like an iron clamp, lifting her up and using her as a human shield in front of him.
"Don't move!!!"
Lucci's voice was hoarse and frantic, carrying the ferocity of a cornered beast:
"Take one more step... and I'll crush her throat!!!"
Luffy's steps faltered, his fist hovering in mid-air, his teeth clenched: "Despicable!! Let Robin go!!"
Zoro also stopped his sword strike, his brow furrowed.
"Hmph...despicable?"
Lu Qi leaned against the wall, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, a cruel sneer on his face.
He slowly pulled a golden Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
The Den Den Mushi was pure gold, with a red button on its back.
The moment I saw that thing.
Robin's already pale face completely lost its color, and her eyes were filled with endless despair.
"Golden Den Den Mushi…" Robin said, trembling.
"That's right."
Lucci stared at Victor, his eyes filled with apprehension and threat:
"As long as I press this button... the 'Buster Call' will be activated."
"Ten top-tier warships and five vice admirals will wipe this island... along with you, completely off the map."
"You are strong... but can you stand against the military power of the entire world government?"
deadlock.
Fearing the consequences and threatened by the Buster Call, the Straw Hat crew had no choice but to stop.
"A smart person."
Taking advantage of this brief stalemate, Lucci gave a look to Kaku, who was struggling to get up.
Kaku understood immediately and, despite the excruciating pain, carried the unconscious Kalifa on his back.
"Storm Kick - Triumphant Bird!"
Lucci kicked out suddenly, and the blue slashing wave shattered the floor beneath his feet, revealing a large hole leading to the external waterway below.
"Walk!"
Lucci, holding Robin, and with Kaku and Kalifa in tow, jumped into the large hole without hesitation.
"Robin!!!" Luffy shouted and rushed over, but only managed to grab the hem of Robin's fluttering clothes.
whoosh whoosh—
Outside the broken opening, there was a raging storm and roaring waves.
Lu Qi's cold voice, mingled with the sound of wind and rain, echoed eerily from the darkness below, carrying boundless hatred:
"The Straw Hat Pirates..."
"We'll be waiting for you on Enies Lobby."
"That place is one of the three major institutions of the World Government, the Island of Never Sleeps, and... a hell that you can never cross."
"Want this woman back? Then come and die."
The sound gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the roar of the towering waves.