BOOM!
The ground seed to quake.
On the far side of Grove 53, Puda, now fully transford into a black-furred werewolf, stood amidst a field soaked in blood. Around him lay the mangled corpses of over a hundred Marines. He tilted his head, frowning toward the other side of the island.
"That direction... that's where Jig went, isn't it? With a blast like that, he must've run into a strong Marine."
Without hesitation, Puda turned and sprinted toward the commotion.
"Urgh—!"
A mouthful of blood burst from Jig's lips as his body was launched like a ragdoll, slamming into a building several dozen ters away.
CRASH—!
The building caved in under the impact, bricks and debris scattering through the air in a thick cloud of dust.
"...This man... Just as the rumors say. A monster in human skin."
Watching Jig get blown away, the cold, pigeon-toting man narrowed his eyes in grim contemplation.
Rubbing his slightly sore wrist, Aeridar turned toward him and said casually, "Hey, you're with CP9, aren't you? Rob Lucci, right?"
The na finally clicked in Aeridar's mind, this was the Rob Lucci, known in the original tiline as the most powerful agent CP9 had produced in the last 800 years, back during the Enies Lobby incident. This version of Lucci was still young, but even now, clearly dangerous.
"...How do you know that?" Lucci narrowed his eyes, a glint of cold killing intent flashing through them.
"Rob Lucci, the most ruthless living weapon CP9 ever forged. I've heard a few stories," Aeridar said, tilting his head curiously.
In the original storyline, this man had repeatedly overwheld Luffy. With his mastery of Rokushiki and the Cat-Cat Fruit: Leopard Model, Lucci had strength enough to slice through a Buster Call warship with a single Rankyaku. His Doriki was 4,000, an insane power level. Even Luffy had to struggle through everything he had to take him down. Aeridar wondered, just how strong was this Lucci right now?
"Very few, be they commoners or kings, or even infamous pirates, know of CP9. Not only do you know who we are, you know . That's a violation of World Governnt secrecy."
Lucci slowly spread his fingers, voice flat and cold. "You owe an explanation."
"An explanation?" Aeridar blinked at him, then smirked. "Since when have wolves ever explained themselves to sheep?"
Lucci's eyes glead with bloodlust. Being likened to a sheep... this was the first ti anyone had dared say that to him.
He was just about to attack—
CRUNCH.
Movent stirred within the collapsed building. A figure, body covered in dust and bruises, stood up amidst the rubble, pebbles and shards tumbling off his shoulders as smoke and debris curled around him.
"You're still standing?" Aeridar quirked an eyebrow. "Guess that 360 million bounty isn't just for show. You've got a tough body, I'll give you that."
"Damn it... nearly died..."
Jig staggered out of the ruins, clutching his right arm with his left. Blood was dripping steadily down his elbow.
That punch... he hadn't expected it to pack two distinct impact forces. The first canceled out his own attack, neutralizing his montum. The second followed through entirely, hamring his right arm and transmitting deep into his internal organs. That's what caused his arm to be wrecked and forced the blood from his lungs.
After all, Aeridar was an Impact-Impact Fruit user. Every punch he threw was devastating, especially at close range. His attacks were so powerful that even soone like Syrons wouldn't dare take them head-on, not even covered in full-body Armant Haki.
Unlike Luffy, who often needed several good hits to bring down his opponents, Aeridar needed only one. Anyone who'd ever fought him knew, avoid physical contact at all costs. His fists didn't just hurt, they crippled.
Weaker fighters?
One hit and they'd be dead.
At best, critically injured.
anwhile.
Two nautical miles from the Sabaody Archipelago.
A formation of over a dozen Marine warships sliced through the sea. On the deck of a first-rate Marine battleship, a tall, grim-faced man stood at the prow. He wore a green suit patterned with golden rings beneath his flowing white Justice coat, and had a long, black beard. But what stood out most—his skull was elongated, far longer than any normal human's.
Vice Admiral Strawberry of Marine Headquarters.
"Vice Admiral Strawberry, we're nearing the Sabaody Archipelago. Awaiting your orders."
A staff officer in standard Marine uniform ran up to him, saluting.
Strawberry looked up toward the sky, where Admiral Borsalino (Kizaru) was locked in battle, then glanced over at a distant, badly damaged pirate ship.
Without turning his head, he gave his orders:
"Have Rear Admiral Dakas take care of that pirate vessel up ahead. All other warships, destroy any ships anchored along the shore. Then land on the Sabaody Archipelago and begin the full encirclent of the Demon Mask Pirates."
"Understood!" The officer snapped to attention and ran off.
A few hundred ters away, aboard a battered pirate ship—
Obes stared grimly at the incoming Marine fleet. The pirates around him were equally on edge, their faces pale with fear.
One of them, a pompadoured crewman, spoke nervously.
"Captain Obes, what do we do?!"
"What do we do?"
Obes glanced up at the sky, where Gutte was still fending off Admiral Kizaru. Gritting his teeth, he shouted,
"Retreat! Fall back to Sabaody! Helm, bring us around!"
"Aye, Captain!"
The crew scrambled to adjust the ship's heading, trying to escape the tightening noose.
In the skies above—
Gutte was panting heavily, barely holding off Kizaru's blade of light with crossed arms. After trading aerial blows with an Admiral for so long using Geppo, his stamina was beginning to fail him.
"Aiya~ if you fall back to Sabaody, that'll be troubleso~," Kizaru said, lips pursed lazily. "After all, I really don't want to damage the Archipelago too much."
"Then try and stop ."
Gutte's eye twitched as he suddenly turned and bolted.
"Oh? But y'know... speed is weight. Ever been kicked at light speed?"
Kizaru hovered midair, raising one glowing leg. His right leg shone with dazzling golden light.
No sooner had he finished speaking than he vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared, behind Gutte, and launched a kick aid squarely at his back, moving at a velocity that defied perception.
"Nani?! He's fast!"
Gutte's heart seized. Instinctively, he whirled around, raising his longsword to defend.
CLANG!
The dazzling foot struck the spine of the blade.
Beams of light shot out from both sides, and the sheer force of the impact detonated outward in a shockwave that cracked the very air, a swirling gale spiraling from the collision.
The pressure was imnse.
Gutte felt the crushing blow surge through his guard, his body rocketing backward before he could even brace.
"Damn it, I won't make it in ti!"
As the sea below rushed up to et him, Gutte tried to halt his fall with Geppō, but it was too late.
Splash!
He plunged into the water, swallowed by the crashing waves.
"Captain!!"
Obes, already retreating in the distance, shouted in shock as he watched Gutte disappear beneath the sea.
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