Cruel Despair, Scattered in All Directions

Rumble—

Beneath the White Knight's armor, within Roman's entire body, countless tiny bolts of lightning coursed through his muscles, keeping his physical abilities at their peak!

At the same time, the entire White Knight's armor was enveloped in a gust of wind, as if riding a skateboard across the sea. Wherever it went, large amounts of sand and gravel were sprayed out like giant fountains, carrying powerful kinetic energy, turning the battlefield into a cloud of dust.

At the same time, pieces of white paper detached from the White Knight and exploded, forming clusters of flames...

"Has this guy fought against 'Pacifista' before?"

Sentomaru frowned. The smoke and dust obscuring his vision, the intense heat... these were clearly tactics designed to target robots! Coupled with his constant high-speed movement and maneuvering, Roman was handling two Pacifista with ease...

What is Pacifista?

Faced with Luffy's question, Sentomaru, who had been fighting bare-handed and had put down his great axe, snorted coldly.

"I am Sentomaru, the 'World's Greatest Secret Keeper.' How could I possibly tell you that the Pacifista are important humanoid weapons for the World Government?"

·······

"So it's a humanoid weapon..."

"... This is something I told you on my own initiative, not an answer."

Sentomaru, who is known as the "World's Greatest Secret Keeper," was met with Luffy's Luffy Second Gear, who launched a palm strike from afar.

"Sky Walk!"

Bang!

In an instant, Luffy seemed to be struck by an invisible attack, and was sent flying backward! With a loud crash, he smashed through the building and disappeared into the ruins, with only a series of cries of pain escaping his lips.

"Ouch! That's a weird move!!"

"A mere push without any physical contact and Luffy was injured like this... Could it be...?"

Zoro looked serious!

"It should be right,"

Sanji took a drag of his cigarette. "It's the Roman was talking about, isn't it—"

"Advanced Armament Haki 'external release' technique!"

"Oh? You guys do have some sense..." Sentomaru glanced again at Roman, who was entangled by the two PXs, and then looked back at the Straw Hat crew, who still had the ability to fight.

"It's a pity that your voyage has to end here."

"Old man, you've finally arrived."

??

"Oh dear... they actually took down a Pacifista... these newbies..."

"So powerful... it's terrifying."

!!!!!!!

Despite their slow, soft words, the three main fighters of the Straw Hat crew couldn't even turn around! Their muscles were like steel bars, and the oppressive aura behind them, like a vast ocean, clearly told them—whoever moves will die!

Damn it, all that's intimidation—

With a sudden turn and a spinning motion, three Famous Swords, carrying a faint ghostly aura, slashed fiercely backward!

The murderous blade flashed, unleashing a torrent of killing intent! Flowers and grasses around them withered, bubbles burst in the air, only to be pulverized by the overwhelming aura of slaughter. Leaves rained down, darkening the sky and making Zoro appear as if he had three heads and six arms.

"Demon Aura - Nine-Sword Style - Asura - Demon Nine—"

Facing Zoro, who resembled a demon, the tall man in the gold suit behind him calmly put his hands in his pockets and slowly spoke.

"You--"

Tear!!!

A straight line swept across the battlefield, piercing through more than a dozen buildings! Zoro, who launched the attack, had vanished, leaving only the faint voice of the tall, golden-suited man who had kicked out.

Have you ever been kicked by light?

!!

"Watch out, it's Admiral Kizaru!"

"Gum-Gum Jet Stamp!"

In a fit of shock and rage, Luffy instantly unleashed the speed of Second Gear and the power of Third Gear, launching an attack on Zoro with his Haki- infused fists! However, Zoro was attacked first.

Boom!

A figure flashed past, and Luffy, with all his might, slammed his fist and body backward! The fist struck the ground, instantly tearing the earth apart, radiating cracks spreading in all directions—a single punch unleashing the terrifying destructive power of a massive earthquake! However:

"Oh my, it's Armament Haki..."

The upper body of the man in the gold suit, which had been split in two by a punch, instantly turned into golden light and flew back to his lower body, reforming into an unharmed, tall Marine Admiral.

"Oh... what a terrifying attack..."

"It startled me."

!

This... this...

Sanji turned around and forcefully bit off the cigarette butt in his mouth! This was clearly a signature move of 'Elementalization,' but even Luffy with Haki couldn't defeat him, so how could he possibly...?

Haki! Haki!!

Thump,

A figure staggered to his feet from the distant ruins; it was none other than Zoro had been severely injured.

"Oh... you newcomers with hundreds of millions in assets, you're all like monsters..."

In the next instant, Kizaru had disappeared from Sanji's sight. In the distant ruins, a tall figure stood with his hands in his pockets and one foot on Zoro's back, the other foot flashing with light, ready to strike.

"You should just rest."

"Zoro!!"

"Damn it, if I get hit at that close range, I'm done for—"

"Gallery Dance - Chain Attack!"

"Ultimate Move: Fire Star Barrage!"

Brook, the fastest, Usopp, the ranged attacker, immediately launched an attack in an attempt to relieve the siege, but whether it was rapiers or gunpowder, all their attacks were no match for the man in the golden suit.

"It's no use, I'm a Logia 'Glint-Glint Fruit' user, a 'Glint-Glint Man'..."

"Aaaaaah! Our attack is missing—"

"Get your foot off me, you bastard!!"

Damn it, I can't move my body...

Zoro, who was being trampled on, didn't even have the strength to turn over. This humiliation and helplessness... was exactly the same as when he faced that 'Kuma' before!

Is today my death day...?

"Zoro— "

"Sky Walk!"

Puff,

Luffy, who was sent Luffy by a palm strike, spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed heavily to the ground halfway through his charge.

"You still have time to worry about others?"

Sentomaru, with a palm-pushing stance, earnestly blocked Luffy 'Luffy.

"Your opponent is me."

That's incredibly powerful...

Neither that golden-clad Admiral nor this man in the bellyband in front of us can be dealt with.

After just a few exchanges, Luffy had a clear realization! This wasn't an opponent that could be defeated by willpower, guts, or anything else! The opponent and the Straw Hat crew were on completely different levels; what other options were there—

Luffy looked up, first at the Straw Hat crew's futile attack on the Golden Admiral, then at Roman, who was fiercely entangled with two 'Kuma's', and finally at Zoro, who was being trampled underfoot...

Damn it, I'm too weak!

Damn it, I'm the one who attracted the navy!

········

"Roronoa Zoro, you're dead... Don't waste your energy..."

Roman, who was using his high speed to hold off two Pacifista, suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Don't be fooled by the Straw Hat crew's seemingly fierce... no, utterly desperate, attack on Kizaru! If you looked closely, you'd see that the actor playing Admiral's leg was practically aching from holding it up, and he was almost out of lines for his usual banter. Thankfully:

Before anyone could react, a figure had already joined the battle! A carefree slipper kicked away Kizaru's leg, which was about to fire a beam, saving Zoro's life!

It's finally here...

Not only did 'Pluton' Rayleigh come to the rescue, but among the white doves released by Roman, a tall figure 'suddenly' appeared at the edge of the battlefield, holding a Bible in his hand.

Bartholomew Bear!

The one with the book is the original; the others are cloned robots.

"Uncle..."

Luffy, who was so desperate that snot was running down his Luffy, finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then:

"Usopp! Take Zoro with you!"

"Everyone, escape is the priority!!"

"Us now—"

"We can't beat them!"

With Luffy's order, everyone scattered and fled. This battlefield was indeed beyond the Straw Hat crew's current capabilities, and Luffy:

"Thanks, sir!"

After thanking Rayleigh, Luffy looked at the other side of the battlefield.

"Roman, I'm sorry, but you'll stay behind with me to cover our retreat!"

"Leave it to me."

Roman claimed he had no trouble dealing with those two bulky Kuma —not at all!

Whoosh, whoosh!

The moment he finished speaking, Roman, in his White Knight form, shifted his feet, and two beams of light pierced through the afterimage he left behind as he turned!

Under the relentless onslaught of the two pacifists, Roman could barely pause for a moment, and he couldn't even allow his opponents to calculate his speed and trajectory, otherwise beams of light capable of piercing through warships and steel would shoot at him.

Roman can certainly run away.

But it's obvious that the rest of the Straw Hat crew... so he has to hold off the two Pacifista, while Luffy braces himself to face Sentomaru.

"I won't let you—?!"

"This is·····"

"How come another one has appeared?!"

In front of Usopp and the others, who were carrying Zoro, was a 'Pacifista' holding a book.

No, this momentum...

"Put me down..."

Struggling off Usopp's back, Zoro drew his twin swords and faced the bear-like man before him. His intuition told him:

This is the real deal! This is the true Shichibukai: Bartholomew Kuma.

"Roronoa, if we were to travel—"

The Kuma in front of them didn't attack the Straw Hat crew immediately; instead, it took off its gloves.

Where do you want to go?

?!

Wave,

However, before Zoro could answer, the other party simply slapped him lightly.

"Zoro... Zoro?!"

It's gone.

Just like when Roman was slapped away by the enemy on Thriller Bark before!

"Zoro... Zoro... What's going on?"

Luffy was stunned. Where is my partner, the World's Greatest Swordsman?

"Ha, the person who gets swatted away by the Kuma will fly for three days and three nights until they land on the other side of the world."

Sentomaru, who is known as the 'World's Greatest Secret Keeper,' casually remarked, 'Anyway, you're unlikely to see him on this island again.'

!

"Everyone run! We'll talk about the rest later!!"

Upon hearing Luffy's words, all the still-stunned crew members immediately scattered and continued their escape. However:

Brush,

With a flash, the real Kuma, far superior to those PXs, appeared instantly behind Usopp and the others—

"Be careful, you two,"

Brook shoved Usopp and Sanji aside with his shoulder, and fearlessly met them head-on with his rapier.

"That's all—"

Wave,

With a slap, Brook vanished.

"Behold my ultimate move - Fire!"

Wave,

With another casual wave of his hand, Kuma also made Usopp disappear.

"Aaaaaah, what am I doing?!"

Sanji, clutching his hair tightly, suddenly spun around and launched a flying kick at his comrade whose connection had vanished!

"Never let anyone—"

Wave,

With a gentle tap, Sanji disappeared as well.

"Aaaaaah!! Gomu Gomu Jet Gun!"

Abandoning his opponent Sentomaru Luffy forward, unleashing a full-force punch filled with rage that sliced through the air! The air before his fist thickened as if it were liquid, the power of which made even Sentomaru's eyes narrow, but:

Snap,

The towering 'Kuma' simply swept his hand across the room, deflecting Luffy's desperate attack!

In a flash, the Kuma appeared in front of Franky and Chopper.

"Power to the right—"

"Franky, no—"

Wave,

Before Luffy could finish speaking, Franky also disappeared.

"Waaaaah, my friends!!"

Chopper, with tears and snot streaming down his face, grabbed a handful of Rumble Ball! Even if he turned into a monster—

Wave,

There wasn't even a chance to fight back, and Chopper disappeared! Only a few Rumble Ball fell helplessly.

"Stop! Stop!!"

When Luffy charged at him again, the opponent simply waved his hand lightly, changing Luffy's direction and causing him to fall headlong into the nearby ruins in vain.

"Luffy..."

Wave,

Before Robin could finish speaking, he too vanished without a trace.

"Damn it, damn it!!!"

Oh, and Nami too...

"Nami, Roman!!"

In fact, amidst this series of events, Nami instinctively ran towards Roman! Although he knew Kuma was 'rescuing' her, Roman still made a mistake in the heat of battle when faced with the panicked Nami rushing towards him:

Splash splash~~~

The papers on his body instinctively peeled off and flew over to protect Nami.

Wave,

With a flash, Nami and half of Roman's paper disappeared!

"What am I doing...?"

Just as Luffy felt all his strength drain away, something even more desperate happened:

Because he subconsciously peeled off the paper, Roman's true form was revealed beneath most of the White Knight. At the same time, his 'Wind Chaser' state was immediately disrupted, causing Roman to suddenly slow down.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Puff!

Two beams of light pierced through Roman's chest.

In Luffy's incredulous gaze, just a second ago Roman was pierced through the chest, and the next second he was surrounded by a tall figure and a cold voice.

Farewell.

Wave,

With a single palm strike, Luffy vanished.