Luo Xing had never truly intended to kill Monkey D. Luffy.
His visit to Sabaody was meant to draw out the Marines and the World Government's forces—then use the Anywhere Door to strike Impel Down and catch them off guard.
Testing the fate-bound Sun God Nika Fruit was merely incidental.
Now that Luffy had been struck down by a casual blow and sent flying by Bartholomew Kuma's final effort, there was no reason to continue wasting energy against Silvers Rayleigh.
Besides, Enel was being besieged by Admiral Kizaru and two top CP0 agents. He wouldn't last much longer.
Luo Xing's arm strength surged, forcing Rayleigh back.
Then he leapt into the sky.
A Cybertronian, already awaiting his command, transformed into its flying beast form and positioned itself precisely beneath him.
Standing high above, Luo Xing sheathed Enma, clasped his hands behind his back, and smiled faintly.
"That's enough for today."
"Dark King Rayleigh—next time we meet, we'll continue our spar."
Rayleigh panted heavily, his expression grave.
This young man's strength far exceeded his expectations.
"And as for you Supernovas—"
Luo Xing's gaze swept across Kid's crew, Apoo, Hawkins, and the others.
"You're about to enter the New World, aren't you? Heh… in that case, your time is running short."
Kid, Killer, Apoo, Urouge, Hawkins, and X Drake all stiffened.
What did the Fifth Emperor mean?
Was he warning them that stepping into the New World would earn them death?
Two among them were notably unconcerned.
One was "Roar of the Sea" Scratchmen Apoo, who had already resolved to join the Beasts Pirates. Far from worried, he was delighted.
The stronger and more imposing Luo Xing appeared, the brighter Apoo's future under the Beasts Pirates would be.
The other was X Drake.
Drake also intended to join the Beasts Pirates—though as a Marine spy.
He had heard that Kaido of the Beasts valued talent, especially users of Ancient Zoan Dragon-Dragon Fruits. Drake, with his Allosaurus form, was confident he'd be welcomed—perhaps even granted a position rivaling the Tobi Roppo.
What Drake would never realize…
Kaido might value and trust him.
But in Luo Xing's eyes, he was already a dead man.
That remark about "time running short" was aimed primarily at Drake—and Kid.
Kid was one of the few Supernovas to possess Conqueror's Haki. An ambitious man like him would never bow to the Beasts Pirates.
Luo Xing had no intention of handling such people the way Kaido once did in the original timeline—simply throwing them into prison.
His gaze finally shifted toward the Marines.
"To the Marines and the World Government—if you hoped to capture me, I'm afraid you'll be returning empty-handed."
"And while you're at it, pass a message to your Celestial Dragon masters."
"Tell them not to leave Mary Geoise so casually in the future."
"Otherwise, I'll kill every single one I see."
He spoke lightly.
But a chill ran through everyone's bones.
When referring to the so-called gods of the world—the Celestial Dragons—his tone was as casual as slaughtering livestock.
The CP0 agents, known as the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield, immediately darkened with fury.
The CP0 leader roared, "You think we'll let you walk away unharmed today? The Five Elders personally ordered your elimination!"
As he spoke, he and the remaining CP0 agents launched themselves skyward with Geppo, charging toward Luo Xing.
Boom!
Thunder roared as Enel unleashed a pillar of lightning, blasting toward them.
One CP0 agent failed to evade in time—hundreds of millions of volts reduced him to charred black carbon.
"You dare speak disrespectfully to my young master?"
Enel's expression was arrogant.
He too mounted a Cybertronian.
The last machine carried Roronoa Zoro.
Midair, Zoro roared—
"Three-Sword Style: One Thousand Eighty Pound Phoenix!"
Several massive flying slashes shot forth.
CP0 scrambled to block.
And in that fleeting moment of distraction, the three Cybertronians carried Luo Xing and his men into the distant horizon.
The CP0 leader's face turned ashen.
This mission would be impossible to justify.
Since CP0's founding, this was the first outright failure.
Kizaru, hands in his pockets as always, drawled lazily, "Can't blame us this time. Who could've known the Fifth Emperor's two unknown subordinates were comparable to the Three Calamities? Clearly a case of faulty intelligence."
"Wouldn't you agree, Vice Admiral Tsuru?"
Tsuru nodded heavily.
"The Beasts Pirates are becoming more and more terrifying… No—more precisely, the Fifth Emperor Luo Xing is becoming more terrifying."
Without him, the Beasts Pirates were formidable.
But not to the point of leaving the Marines and World Government helpless.
Their current strength existed because of Luo Xing.
If he wasn't eliminated, there would be no peace.
Kizaru tilted his head. "Well, we couldn't deal with the Fifth Emperor. But we mobilized quite the force today—we can't exactly return empty-handed."
Remaining on Sabaody were only the Supernovas, Dark King Rayleigh, and the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.
Though Hancock was close to Luo Xing, she hadn't attacked the Marines. She was still officially one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
And with the coming Summit War, the Marines still needed her strength.
Thus, both Kizaru and CP0 allowed her to depart unchallenged.
As Hancock walked toward the shore with her sisters, her heart overflowed with affection.
She had already fallen for Luo Xing—but had retained a sliver of composure.
Until he casually executed three Celestial Dragons for her sake.
From that moment, she was utterly lost.
And his final words before departing—
In her ears, they sounded like a confession.
A promise.
She was so overwhelmed with happiness she nearly fainted, barely remembering boarding the Kuja ship or giving the order to set sail.
Hancock departed.
Rayleigh sheathed his blade and left in heavy silence.
Kizaru kept his hands in his pockets, pretending not to notice.
He had only agreed to deal with Luo Xing—not Rayleigh.
Pay matched effort.
Kizaru had no intention of volunteering extra work.
CP0, meanwhile, had no mood to pursue Rayleigh. They were too busy worrying about how to explain this disaster to the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons.
They were bound to be torn apart verbally.
And so—
Only the Supernovas and ordinary pirates remained.
Kizaru finally withdrew his hands from his pockets and smiled brightly.
"Well then, gentlemen. Do try not to let this old man return to headquarters empty-handed."
The Supernovas inwardly cursed.
You bastard, Kizaru—always picking on the weak!
Why didn't you try catching the Fifth Emperor or Dark King Rayleigh?!
But curses meant nothing.
With an Admiral targeting them, their spines ran cold.
Without hesitation, they fled.
After a chaotic battle—
Kizaru captured four to five hundred pirates and returned cheerfully to Marine Headquarters.
When he sat before Fleet Admiral Sengoku and demanded the tenfold salary Sengoku had promised—
Sengoku nearly spat blood in rage.
Borsalino!
You failed to eliminate the Fifth Emperor, and you didn't even capture a single Supernova!
Just a few hundred insignificant pirate grunts—and you still dare ask for your pay?!
Sengoku burned with fury.
But in the end, he endured.
He paid Kizaru his tenfold salary without complaint.
The Summit War was approaching.
He only hoped—
That when the time came to face the Whitebeard Pirates—
Kizaru wouldn't slack off like this again.
Unfortunately—
That hope was destined to be misplaced.
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