Overturning and Annihilation!

Dusk, the back mountains of Klar Village, a natural cave.

"Hmm... overall, it's not as good as the parts on you."

Lowett placed his hand in the basin of water, stirring the flow to wash off the minced meat. Then the Black Sand Hand brought over a towel and wiped it clean.

"But it's a waste not to use it. We're mingling at the bottom of the sea now, so we'll have to make do. Cheap stuff."

"Roar!"

The Black Knight sat up from the center of the magic array, letting out a low growl.

The two extra sections of bone on his body made him a little unaccustomed.

"But the muscles and bones of Fishmen are indeed sturdy, and their blood and internal organs are also quite special, able to withstand high pressure. If only I could get Arlong's corpse..."

A cold glint flashed in Lowett's eyes.

"The second Black Knight is secured!"

The Black Knight created from Kuro's corpse mainly retained his original agility and skill. The increase in strength and toughness was not obvious. He was still an opponent who could be killed with one sword. The killing efficiency brought by speed was far higher than strength.

But Fishmen's corpses couldn't be modified like that. Without the long-term practice like Kuro, their limb flexibility couldn't compare. Moreover, such modifications would lose the Fishmen's strongest advantage of power, sacrificing one for the other.

While deep in thought, suddenly, Lowett's eyebrows twitched, and he turned his head to look at the wall.

In that direction was the side facing the ocean.

"Roar!"

The Black Knight clenched his fists and let out a low growl.

Lowett's lips curled up.

"You feel it too?"

The Zombie Puppet had no thoughts and couldn't transmit information accurately like the Black Knight, but through the soul link, Lowett could interpret some simple signals.

"It seems we have guests. They came quite quickly."

With four companions missing, based on Lowett's understanding of Arlong, it was possible that he would bribe Colonel Rat to use a borrowed knife to kill, or personally come to judge the culprits.

The least likely scenario was that he would be intimidated by Momonga's reputation and choose to swallow his anger.

At the same time, outside the beach.

"There's actually a natural harbor here? How rare!"

Looking at the cliffs surrounding the bay in a "concave" shape, even Colonel Rat, who often traveled here, marveled.

He was greedy, not stupid. With his insight, he could naturally see that this natural harbor, with a little modification, would be a perfect habitat.

The exit in front was narrow, and the mountain forest behind provided cover. Settling here would allow for easy advance and retreat.

Arlong actually chose Cocoyasi Village instead of this place?

Colonel Rat showed disdain.

As expected, a foolish beast!

"Captain, look!"

Suddenly, a soldier shouted, pointing at the beach.

"There's a cave!"

At the base of the cliff right next to the beach, a dark cave entrance was very eye-catching.

"There's indeed something wrong!"

Colonel Rat rejoiced inwardly, then forcefully calmed himself down. He exchanged a look with the Vice Captain accompanying him, who knew him well, and went to the ship's cabin.

He was going to inform Arlong.

Although he hadn't seen the enemy, the traces of artificial excavation were undeniable. Since Arlong was willing to help, it would be best.

On the other end, after receiving the call, Arlong's gaze turned cold.

"I see... I understand. Reinforcements are coming immediately."

Then he hung up the phone and turned.

"Chuu, notify Kuroobi and have them move closer."

"Boss..."

Chuu frowned upon hearing this.

"If we're really going to blockade the sea, Chuu, we might not have enough manpower."

Arlong would definitely not mobilize all his forces. After all, Colonel Rat was a pawn they used to test the waters. Thus, although he said "a large army's aid" verbally, he only sent a few people like Kuroobi to monitor the situation.

If Colonel Rat couldn't defeat the enemy, he would run. If he could, he could also seize the opportunity.

"I know. Their mission is still just to identify the enemy. As for anything else, let's avoid the storm for now."

Are we moving?

Chuu's eyes widened in shock.

Arlong's expression darkened at this.

"You really trust that idiot Rat?"

They'd been running rampant in the East Blue for more than a day or two, and many people knew about it. In the short term, they could rely on Rat and Momonga to stall, but if it dragged on, would Momonga not make a move?

Rat overestimated his position and the so-called unwritten rules.

These battle-hardened soldiers who had fought their way through the Grand Line, apart from allied nations, he hadn't seen them give face to anyone.

Otherwise, those Navy scum, like rats, wouldn't have to rack their brains to cover up the truth.

"So that's how it is..."

Chuu chuckled. It wasn't a matter of whether they trusted Rat, but whether Rat was trustworthy.

He was too stupid, that was all.

"Oh, right. Remember to take Nami too. Her mapmaking skills are an indispensable part of our conquest of the ocean... If she refuses, you know what to do."

Arlong added sinisterly.

Upon hearing this, a bloodthirsty smile appeared on Chuu's face.

"Understood!"

Although it was a shame, this joke had been going on for five years. It wasn't bad to end it early.

Five years was enough time for Nami to know what fate awaited the villagers if she didn't comply.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, behind the wall, Nami was crouching on the floor, staring ahead with terrified, helpless eyes. She bit her palm to keep herself from making a sound, blood seeping out.

Oblivious that Arlong had sold her out, Rat returned to the deck feeling refreshed. He noticed the solemn expressions on the faces of the soldiers around him.

Following their gaze, Rat's pupils contracted.

"You are..."

"[Black Count], Lowett!"

Before he could utter the nickname that disgusted him, Lowett slammed his cane down heavily, a smile on his face.

"Don't say it wrong..."

Under the icy gaze, Rat stiffened. Then, feeling his dignity wounded, he sneered.

"Bull... Bullshit Black Count! I never heard you were of noble birth."

He scanned the beach.

Standing at the entrance of the cave was another man, dressed entirely in black, a wide gray cloak draped over his shoulders, his face covered by a mask. Besides them, there was no one else.

Only two?

Rat smiled confidently.

"Heaven helps me!"

Opponents like these didn't even require the Fishmen to help.

He looked at Lowett with shining eyes, as if gazing at a moving military achievement. "Headquarters gave us a kill order to arrest you, but you've been hiding well and we couldn't find you."

"But today is your death day!"

With over a hundred soldiers under his command and the assistance of warships and cannons, Rat was confident that Lowett couldn't escape.

"Hiding?"

At this moment, Lowett tilted his head, a look of confusion on his face.

"Didn't you receive the gift I sent you?"

"Huh?!"

Rat's expression froze. Facing his trusted Vice Captain's gaze, he waved his hands repeatedly. "It wasn't me, I didn't do it, don't spout nonsense!"

As a true major criminal, getting involved with Lowett would cost him more than ten lives.

"That's not right..."

Lowett placed a finger under his nose, frowning in thought.

"I even arranged for a subordinate to be on each ship, waiting until they were sure they'd be discovered before leaving."

Each ship?

The gift was the ships?

Rat was stunned. He started thinking, and suddenly, his expression changed.

"So it was you!!!"

Recently, the entire Branch 16 sea area had been abuzz with a single topic, not Momonga, but the ghost ship!!

As of today, over 20 ghost ships have been discovered in these waters, causing widespread panic!

Such strangeness and absurdity, the unknown and the unfathomable, are more terrifying than death.

Thinking of the torment he had suffered during this time, and the money lost every time something happened, with Commodore Pudding Pudding using it as an excuse to cause him trouble and extort him, the rat's eyes turned red.

"Bastard! Today, I, your Colonel, will eliminate you in the name of Justice!"

He gripped the railing and roared at the soldiers behind him.

"All of you, go! No need to capture them alive!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Lowett smiled, a smile as pleasant as a spring breeze.

"Then I won't hold back either."

As his voice fell, an oppressive, terrifying aura erupted from him, changing the very heavens and earth.

In the vision of the naval soldiers, a terrifying black cloud spread from Lowett, turning the bright sky into a dead, gray expanse. Something invisible, inaudible, and indescribable was constantly devouring the courage in their hearts.

This wasn't magic, nor Conqueror's Haki, but purely soul energy!

The soul strength of a Ten Saint Venerable could even shatter a planet. Although Lowett was only an Elementary Mage, his soul strength was enough to crush ordinary people.

If he were to ascend to the level of a formal Mage, merely by diffusing his soul energy, he could shatter the souls of mortal races.

Watching the Navy soldiers tremble merely from the release of his soul energy, Lowett murmured softly.

"How can the weak understand that one must show reverence when facing the strong?"

Flap! Flap!

A raven as black as ink descended from the sky. Lowett raised a finger, letting it perch on it.

"I hope that in the face of death, you can also maintain this kind of audacity."

"Caw!!!"

The pure black raven spread its wings, its crystal-clear, ruby-red eyes shining brightly. As it cawed, its head shook, leaving two crimson streaks of light in the air.

Under the afterglow of dusk, those streaks of light were so conspicuous that people couldn't help but look. And once they looked, it was eternal.

Buzz!!

A powerful mana fluctuation rippled outwards, spreading like waves. The eyes of the Navy soldiers who met the raven's gaze instantly lost their luster and ceased all movement.

Crack!

The next second, a horrifying cracking sound erupted from the soldiers' chests, spreading densely across the deck.

Their ribs protruded at an angle that would be impossible for a normal person, as if something was expanding inside them.

Crack!

Their chests, which had just deflated, bulged again, round like eggs, their ribs shattered to pieces. And through the fascia, something black was constantly pecking at their flesh and blood, as if trying to break free from a shell.

Puff... Whoosh!

Finally, a raven's head broke through the flesh and blood from a soldier's chest, poking out.

At the same time, the soldier, used as an "egg shell," spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with internal organs and fell straight down.

"Caw! Caw!"

As if startled, the raven shrieked and flapped its wings, soaring high.

And from the hollow in the soldier's chest, another raven's head emerged.

Flap flap!

One by one, the soldiers transformed into nests at this moment, with ravens "settling" inside them flying out one after another, circling the warship and cawing, like a black cloud.

Combination Magic - Blood Plague Raven!

"Ahhh!!!"

The rat, who was singled out, did not die. He even retained his clear consciousness.

He cried out in agony, his chest swelling high like a pregnant woman. The strange sensation of something beating inside him other than his heart made him break out in a cold sweat.

Staring at Lowett, Colonel Rat pleaded desperately.

"Please... please, spare me."

The ravens grew larger and larger, straining the ribs to their breaking point, causing them to creak.

Blood trickled from the rat's mouth, the pain too intense for him to even scream.

Hearing this, Lowett placed the raven on his shoulder, making it stand properly, and shook his head silently.

"Honestly, I have no interest in you. If you had come a day later, you wouldn't have even met me."

Before the rat could feel a glimmer of hope, Lowett looked at him with a cold expression.

"But unfortunately..."

Unfortunately what?

Lowett didn't finish.

BANG!!

As his voice fell, the rat's chest completely exploded. Over a dozen dense swarms of ravens burst out from within, flying high into the sky to join the flock above.

Even in death, confusion lingered in the rat's eyes.

"Too bad you interrupted my experiment..."

Lowett revealed the truth and turned to look at the Black Knight. On his shoulder blades, two Fishman skulls protruded from beneath the flesh and skin.

Being interrupted during an experiment was something even a Mage couldn't tolerate.

Thus, all one hundred members of the Navy's Branch 16 who had attacked were annihilated!