Invincible at Last, Feeling Great

Am I seeing things...?

Sanji, after taking a drag of his cigarette, hesitated and turned to look at Zoro beside him.

"That's Roman, isn't it?"

"That's right,"

Zoro, unusually, didn't argue with Sanji. Instead, he held his swords in both hands and looked seriously at the person standing atop the white vines.

"It's Roman. But his condition..."

It's not that it's bad, but Roman looks radiant right now, with an aura as powerful as a raging storm!

Well, he was clearly different from the usual Roman; now his entire expression and aura were filled with greed, savagery, and cruelty...

Snap,

"That guy isn't Roman."

Luffy landed on a white 'leaf' and looked intently at the arrogant figure standing atop the vines.

"Everyone!"

Taking advantage of the suddenly 'charged' "The Art of the Thief", Nami was carried up by the wind.

"Watch out, Roman's out of control!"

Nami waved the instruction manual in her hand and quickly explained to everyone, "Roman just drank the 'Cell Will Awakening Potion' developed by the Navy. His mind was overwhelmed by the instincts of all his cells, and he became filled with biological desires—"

"What is the desire of a living being?" X3

Faced with the question of the Straw Hat crew's three strongest fighters, Nami had no choice but to give an example.

For example: eating meat, becoming stronger, women~~~

"Meat! I want to eat meat too!"

Luffy opened his arms and shouted.

"Get stronger? Sounds good!"

Zoro gripped his sword, his fighting spirit high.

"A beautiful woman? Where is she~~"

Sanji instantly twisted into a noodle and swayed.

······??!

This Straw Hat crew is beyond saving, they're tired, let them perish.

Nami covered her forehead, on the verge of tears. Did these guys even realize how dangerous the situation was?

"Ahhh, help! Help! Someone, please help me!!!"

A cry broke the silence of the battlefield, which had been split apart by Roman's single move. Rob Lucci, his face grim, pulled out a Den Den Mushi.

"Sir..."

"Lucci? Great! Come save me! I've been attacked by that devil woman—"

"Pfft—Ouch! I've been stabbed in the butt! I'm going to die!!"

The sounds coming from the Den Den Mushi were running, hacking, screaming, and despair almost overflowing from the Den Den Mushi. Even without seeing it, one could imagine the utterly miserable situation the man named Spandam was in at that moment.

?!

This incompetent commander! He can't even handle a woman handcuffed with Seastone...

Wait, did Nico Robin receive training in Seastone suppression?! I was careless—

"Help me! Help me, Lucci!!"

The guy on the other end of the Den Den Mushi seemed to be being chased by a monster, and he wished he could just crawl right out of the Den Den Mushi.

"Save me! Or I'll wipe out your entire family!"

!?

In an instant, Rob Lucci's pupils dilated and contracted violently. He glanced deeply at the other CP9 members lying in the ruins, then had no choice but to turn and use Geppo to fly towards the Tower of Hesitation! The Straw Hat crew didn't stop him because:

"You... dare not kneel before me!?"

Faced with waves of violent killing intent that could terrify ordinary people Sanji Roman away his cigarette and complained.

"It's hard to believe that Roman, who is usually so rational, can 'go crazy' like this."

"Such a powerful killing intent,"

Zoro grinned, revealing his white teeth, looking like a monster!

"Looks like I can finally have a proper fight with Roman— "

"What... what do we do?"

Usopp Chopper... no, the Sniper King, was almost in tears. He could muster his courage against the enemy, but facing his own team's suddenly erratic strategist...

"... Or, why don't you take a Sound Recording Shell, record Roman's words, and then play them back to him?"

???

"Spare me, I don't want to be trained to death by Roman— "

"Presumptuous!"

Just as the murderous aura permeating the battlefield grew stronger and more overwhelming, causing Nami, Usopp, and Chopper to feel their hearts pounding and their breath catch in their throats; Sanji and Zoro, who were at the forefront, tensed their legs, gripped their weapons to the limit, and cold sweat seeped out without them realizing it.

Then·····

The murderous aura has vanished!

It could be said that it suddenly vanished without a trace, like a massive, overwhelming tsunami crashing down, only to turn into ethereal vapor the instant it reached you! The dramatic drop caused a sudden, dizzying sensation, as if your nerves were about to snap from the tension.

Although Enies Lobby is a 'Land of Light' without night, it is now a complete darkness elsewhere. Moreover, the sea breeze blows, the howling wind carrying a chilling and cold feeling, constantly sweeping over the broken Justice Tower, stirring up wisps of dust, like mist and smoke.

Along with the murderous aura, Roman, who had just been standing at the top, also vanished!

"Be careful, he's right there..."

Relying on the "The Art of the Thief" in her hands and the connection to Roman's bloodline, Nami immediately spoke up to warn him, but it was too late.

Almost simultaneously, Sanji unleashed a powerful backward kick, sending ripples of white air flying through the air with a deafening roar! But—

It didn't work out!

Roman, bent like a blank sheet of paper, easily dodged Sanji's kick! At the same time, a faint halo of light enveloped Sanji from Roman's left hand, which had his thumb, middle finger, and ring finger folded back, while his index and pinky fingers were raised.

"This is?······"

Silver Fox - Fox's 'Slow Light Ray'!

For a split second, Sanji was comically frozen in mid-air, as if struck by a magic spell. Only one thought remained in his mind:

It's over!

Thirty seconds. Knowing Roman as he does, that's enough time for Sanji to chop himself into mincemeat, then wash his hands, smoke a cigarette, and move a stool over to watch himself turn into dumpling filling.

Fortunately, he wasn't fighting alone.

"Three-Sword Style - Wolf-Saber Style!"

Like a gentle stream of water, the blade swept down, enveloping Sanji. The blade perfectly avoided Sanji, forcing Roman back! — Or rather, Roman retreated voluntarily.

As the blade flashed, Roman's figure vanished, just as suddenly and unexpectedly as when he first launched his attack! Almost everyone instantly lost track of his location; Zoro's sword strikes all missed their mark, because Roman had already locked onto his next target:

?!

Usopp, completely stiff, couldn't even move a finger. A cold voice sounded behind him, and then:

"Exploding Palm!"

Boom!

A violent explosion erupted in Roman's palm, then was firmly locked within his five fingers, and the terrifying energy was casually slapped onto Usopp's back.

Click,

In an instant, Usopp flew forward in a V-shape, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, his mind filled with only one question:

Why?

Why did you hit me first?

Suddenly everything went black, and the long-nosed masked sniper was plunged into the building ruins.

Call out!

"Roman, stop!"

The next instant, a fist slammed into the spot where Roman was standing, but it only sent up a shower of broken stones and bricks in vain.

"Hey, hey, hey, this is ridiculous!"

Zoro bit down on Wado Ichimonji, his face more serious than ever before!

Now, Roman is not only elusive and impossible to catch, but what's even more terrifying is that he can't sense Roman's killing intent at all! His usual Observation Haki hasn't triggered any alarms either.

This is not something that can be achieved by simply hiding one's murderous intent well; it means that the other party doesn't even see Usopp as a human being! Just like a child enthusiastically taking apart and putting back together a toy, no matter how focused they are, their subconscious mind won't have a single concept of 'killing'.

This is an extremely extreme mindset, but it is also a very dangerous mindset for everyone in the Straw Hat crew.

The essence of Observation Haki is 'listening'. Currently, the Straw Hat crew is only at the initial stage of being able to detect the aura and emotional changes of the creatures around them, using this ability to predict and avoid danger.

Only by going further can we discern the location and number of enemies outside our line of sight, as well as their next move—even if the enemy is a robot or a natural disaster!

Given Roman's current display of overwhelming killing intent and his ability to subtly conceal it, the Straw Hat crew has no way to be on guard or prepared. Coupled with his elusive and unpredictable skills, he could easily kill anyone without them even knowing why.

What's even more terrifying is that the entire Straw Hat crew was there, yet they couldn't even make Roman have a single thought of 'killing' him. What does that mean?

"What are you doing?!"

Luffy stood in front of Roman, protecting the others behind him.

"Wake up, Roman— "

"I am fine."

Once in battle, Roman transforms completely. His eyes become pure and bright, just like an innocent child—having found a toy that interests him greatly.

In short, it is still another state of desire under the control of 'instinct'.

Destructive urges!

"Very good····"

Roman, looking at Luffy, grinned, revealing a smile that was a mixture of innocence and cruelty.

"I'm going to... tear you all down!"