The crushing pressure settled over everyone like a mountain.
In that moment, the air felt thick and heavy, as if even breathing took effort.
Rob Lucci felt it the worst.
That instinctive suppression coming from a superior predator… for someone of the same species, the impact was several times stronger. If not for his long years of harsh training and stubborn willpower, he probably wouldn't even have the courage to lift a hand right now.
Soru!
The tall CP0 officer appeared in front of Lucci as if he had teleported.
His speed was so overwhelming that no one had time to react.
After shifting into his Devil Fruit form, both his speed and strength had exploded upward.
And that was on top of the fact that his base strength was already above Lucci's!
"Seimei Kikan… Kami-e Bushin!"
In that moment of danger, Lucci activated his strongest combat state in hybrid form.
He forced his will into his muscles, tightening his body until it matched the size of a normal human.
He sacrificed some power in exchange for speed, and his evasive ability increased dramatically.
Many attacks could be avoided purely by instinct alone.
Knowing he couldn't match the CP0 officer in strength, Lucci tried to focus on defense and mobility, hoping to drag the fight out.
But his enhanced evasion meant nothing in front of Observation Haki.
The CP0 officer's fist landed on his chest with perfect accuracy, coated in thick Armament Haki.
Boom!
Lucci shot out like a cannonball, smashing deep into a pile of discarded construction materials.
On the other side of the battlefield, the female CP0 officer had already moved toward Kaku.
Part of the reason was that Kaku was CP9's second strongest… but more importantly, Kaku used swords.
To a swordsman, any opponent who wielded a blade deserved serious attention.
Seeing her rush in, Kaku didn't dare hold back.
He drew his twin swords and unleashed a full-force attack.
"Four-Sword Style… Reverse Scale!"
Using his two swords and two legs, Kaku fired a storm of alternating Rankyaku blades, dense like a raging tempest.
The female CP0 officer simply let out a faint breath.
"Pathetic showmanship."
She raised her sword, Armament Haki instantly coating the blade until it turned pitch black.
Armament Haki… Hardening.
"One-Sword Style… Wind Bite."
A massive flying slash tore through the air like a streak of light cutting the night apart.
The air screamed, and Kaku's Rankyaku waves shattered like brittle paper.
The next second, the slash passed clean through Kaku's body, carving a huge wound from his shoulder to his abdomen.
He collapsed instantly, consciousness gone.
In just a single exchange, CP9's two strongest members were down.
"Fufufu… Stealing is a very bad habit, you know."
A voice suddenly rang out from the far end of the battlefield.
The slightly chubby CP0 officer stood beside Iceberg, gripping Blueno's arm tightly.
Kalifa had realized how hopeless the battle was and had once again moved her attention to Iceberg.
This time she didn't dare attack recklessly.
She had Blueno use his Devil Fruit ability to quietly pull Iceberg toward them.
Of course Blueno agreed.
His Door-Door Fruit was perfect for this kind of scenario.
He'd slipped into a corner, opened a silent air door, and reached through to grab Iceberg's arm.
But the moment his hand stretched out… someone grabbed it.
Blueno tried to pull free, only to find the opponent's grip felt like solid steel.
The chubby CP0 officer continued, "Since thieves must be punished… I'll just cut off the hand you used to steal."
He drew a short sword from behind his waist and slashed for Bruno's wrist like lightning.
Bruno's heart froze.
In desperation, he swiped his hand across the CP0 officer's arm.
Door!
The man's forearm twisted uncontrollably, and the hand gripping Blueno loosened for a split second.
Blueno seized the chance, yanked his arm back and slammed the air door shut.
The blade missed by a hair, cold steel brushing so close he could feel its killing intent.
"How interesting… truly interesting."
The CP0 officer examined his twisted arm with something like delight in his voice.
"That one, Blueno… keep him alive. His Devil Fruit might be useful someday. The rest of them… finish it."
So he was the true leader of this CP0 unit.
The moment the order left his mouth, the other two CP0 officers charged forward with explosive speed toward Jabra and Kumadori.
Both CP9 agents instinctively tried to flee, but they had no idea where to run.
That brief hesitation was fatal.
The enemy's attacks were already inches away.
"We're done!"
Despair washed over every CP9 member.
"Dance… Sode no Shirayuki."
"Second Dance… Hakuren."
A wave of terrifying cold swept across the battlefield, engulfing both advancing CP0 officers.
Danger!
Their Observation Haki screamed at them in unison.
They used Soru immediately, leaping back more than ten meters.
"Lucci… looks like your situation turned out exactly like I told you."
Everyone turned toward the voice.
On a clean platform overlooking the battlefield stood Oguro, his people gathered behind him, calmly observing everything from above.
Lucci dragged himself out from the wreckage.
The moment he saw Oguro, he remembered the warning he'd been given that night.
A bitter smile crossed his face.
Even an outsider had seen through it clearly… yet he had clung to hope like a fool.
"Sith… Oguro! Why are you here?"
The tall CP0 officer's voice trembled with disbelief.
Oguro laughed coldly. "What kind of question is that? Why wouldn't I be here?"
The three CP0 officers remained silent, but the tension in the air thickened instantly.
Enies Lobby had just been obliterated by a Buster Call not long ago.
The Navy had even deployed Admiral Aokiji.
Yet the target of that Buster Call stood here alive and well in Water Seven.
Did that mean the Buster Call was nothing but a joke?
And to escape from the combined encirclement of Admiral Aokiji and ten battleships…
Oguro's strength was obvious.
"Sith Oguro."
The chubby CP0 captain stepped forward, speaking in a low voice.
"What is your purpose here?"
He didn't want to fight Oguro if he could avoid it.
Not because he feared him… but because Oguro wasn't their mission target.
Definitely not because they would lose.
Unfortunately for him, Oguro simply pointed at Iceberg.
"That man… is under my protection."
In the world of One Piece, no industry was bigger than shipbuilding.
This was a world centered on the sea.
No one could live without ships.
And Iceberg's company, Galley-La, was one of the greatest shipyards in the entire Grand Line.
Securing him was like securing a golden goose.
The CP0 captain's expression darkened.
A chilling aura surged from his body.
"That… is not possible."