Escape!

The sword energy cleansed, splitting the earth and dividing the seas; the terrifying power of the world's top combatants was fully displayed!

But Momonga didn't care about the outcome.

With a stomp of his foot, he covered a hundred meters in less than two seconds, appearing beside Smoker.

"Smoker, Smoker!!"

Holding Smoker's fallen body in his arms, Momonga called out nervously.

On his forehead, a bloodstain as thick as a thumb stretched across his skin, blood gushing out and staining his face. His breath was faint, but he was still alive.

Huff...!

Seeing this, Momonga breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good he's not dead. With the Navy's medical capabilities, anyone who isn't dead can be saved.

"Cough, cough... is this the strength of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral?"

Lowett fell from the Black Knight's arms, his eyes filled with solemnity.

Just now, a vacuum slash made him feel as if a mountain was crashing into him. Others' swords were merely sharp, but Momonga's sword carried a sense of weight.

With an upright and righteous might, it swept away all wicked spirits and specters.

It was a true sword of justice!

If he hadn't decisively used a two-star spell like the Shield of the Bone Mountain Dragon, that sword energy would have crushed all his bones to pieces.

Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, terrifying indeed!

However...

Looking at the unconscious Smoker, a hint of surprise flashed in Lowett's eyes.

"Interesting!"

"Are you also called Muhammad Abdul?"

The bloodstain on his forehead was abnormal.

He had aimed for the inner side of Smoker's left eye, penetrating in an arc straight to the brainstem, extinguishing all life.

This was his first attempt. To accurately control the fused energy mass, he could only choose the Blood Cone Technique, which had low mana cost and limited power.

But now...

The bloodstain extended from his brow all the way to behind his hairline. It looked gruesome, tearing even the scalp, but it wasn't fatal...

"The idea isn't flawed, but the method needs refinement."

He had integrated his own life force into the Blood Cone Technique... It might sound laughable, but Lowett knew clearly that his own life force field was even weaker than that of a healthy ordinary person.

It was fine to use it with the Blood Cone Technique, but if it were a higher-star spell, he would drain himself dry before he could even cast it.

"So the correct approach should be like the Blood Plague Raven and Corpse Explosion Technique, drawing on others' life force. Especially with the Blood Plague Raven, you can't always rely on having corpses to utilize... But then there's the spell resistance and the degree of lock between the target's flesh, soul, and spirit, so the actual efficiency needs further study."

As he was deep in thought, a sharp, piercing screech sounded.

Lowett looked up, gazing at Momonga, who stood before him with a dark expression, gripping his katana. He clicked his tongue.

"But the most critical problem now is, how do I escape?"

"Lowett!!"

Momonga's face was as dark as ink, and a chilling sword intent scraped against his face like a knife, causing intense pain.

"I admit I underestimated you before, to be able to do this much."

He moved his long sword forward, Momonga's body slightly angled, his right hand held level.

"This is your last chance. Surrender... or die!"

What made Momonga more determined than Smoker nearly being killed was how terrifying Lowett was.

To grow to this extent in just two or three months, with his hostility towards justice, he would undoubtedly become a great enemy of the Navy in the future!

The Navy's justice might not be clean, but that would never be an excuse to indulge pirates!

To Momonga, those corrupt Navy officers and pirates were all evils that needed to be purged!

"Isn't there a third option, Vice Admiral Momonga?"

The light sphere in the Soul Sea was dim. Ever since battling Arlong, Lowett hadn't had a proper rest or time to devour souls. That top-tier two-star Shield of the Bone Mountain Dragon had almost drained his mental energy dry.

"After all, I did clear out the Arlong Pirates and liberated the oppressed villagers. Can't that count as making up for my mistakes?"

"Absurd!"

Momonga's eyes widened at his words. "Merits are merits, and faults are faults. Rewards are given for merits, and punishments are given for faults. There's no such thing as offsetting merits and faults!"

"Don't harbor any vain hope! My patience is limited!"

"Oh? Is that so..."

Lowett's expression turned cold. "I almost forgot, I'm not your Second Lieutenant Lowett anymore. I can't use any 'under the table' tactics."

"You..."

Momonga's face was as dark as ink, his teeth clenched tight.

"But you don't know me at all, do you?"

"What do you mean?!"

Momonga frowned, and suddenly, he sharply turned his head to look.

"This is bad!"

Necro-realm Summoning: Ghostly Apparitions!

White ghostly figures seeped out from the soil, carrying a chilling resentment that made the living shudder, roaring ferociously. The soldiers repeatedly swung their weapons, only to discover in terror that their weapons couldn't touch them at all.

These things couldn't be considered vengeful spirits; in reality, they were merely the lingering traces of souls that died with unresolved grievances.

Furthermore, unlike common undead, these fragile souls couldn't even move freely under the sun. Sunlight was more terrifying to them than concentrated sulfuric acid.

Thus, as soon as they were summoned, they instinctively burrowed into the bodies of the surrounding living beings, taking over their flesh.

"I'm a pirate, Vice Admiral Momonga. Who told you I wouldn't betray my benefactors?"

His mental energy depleted, the Withered Black Sand on his left arm scattered, turning into wisps of ethereal smoke.

Lowett clutched his throbbing temples and grinned, "Kill him!"

"Roar!"

The soldiers, their bodies occupied by vengeful spirits, rolled their eyes back, saliva dripping from their mouths as they lunged at Momonga.

"What's wrong with you all?!"

Momonga was instantly shocked. These soldiers were acting very strangely, as if they had lost their minds.

Dodging a cleaving saber, he flashed behind an opponent and tapped the back of their neck with his palm.

Thump!

A soldier fell to the ground, but soon, to Momonga's stunned gaze, the soldier got back up and continued its attack.

"Their bodies are occupied by vengeful spirits now. Even if you rip out their hearts, they'll continue to move like the undead."

Watching Momonga desperately dodge attacks, Lowett's lips curled.

"And... that's not all."

Villagers walked through the streets with vacant stares, their steps unsteady as if they were drunk. Among them, the brave little boy walked at the forefront, his head slightly tilted, drool streaming down his chin.

"Bastard!"

Momonga's eyes widened in fury, and he glared at Lowett, "What are you doing?"

Lowett grinned in response, "What am I doing? Of course, I'm taking hostages, just like any pirate!"

Plop!

A villager walked to the well and stumbled over a stone blocking the path, falling headfirst into the well water.

Soru!!

With no time to think, Momonga flashed to the well's edge. His tall physique proved useful as he leaned down and pulled the villager out by the feet.

But more villagers, their eyes blank, limped towards the sea.

"Stop! Stop it all!"

Momonga was frantic.

As Smoker had said, as a swordsman, there were limits to his abilities.

Perhaps even a famous Great Pirate in the New World wouldn't be Momonga's match, but preventing them from jumping into the sea without harming the villagers was beyond his capabilities.

He could only shuttle back and forth through the center of the battlefield, carrying back villager after villager who had wandered to the shore, completely unaware, all while carefully avoiding the blades of the "rebellious" soldiers and ensuring they didn't harm the villagers.

"Interesting, so interesting!"

"Was this scene filmed?"

The Black Knight stood beside Lowett, holding a Den Den Mushi with orange and black stripes that looked as if it preferred living to dying, and roared in a low voice.

"Roar!"

"Well done. I'll prioritize upgrading your parts when we get back."

With that, Lowett looked over and shouted, "Hey! Vice Admiral Momonga, why don't you try killing me? See if the spell effect on them is dispelled?"

Momonga didn't answer, only biting his lip until it bled.

He had a premonition that doing so would only lead to everyone's death!

And indeed, that was the case.

As vengeful spirits, even mere remnants of souls, they possessed no "humanity." They weren't directly devouring souls but occupying bodies, entirely reliant on Lowett's spell to suppress them.

Once Lowett died, these soul remnants would go completely berserk, uncontrollable, and devour everything living within their sight.

The first to bear the brunt would be the innocent civilians!

The smile on his face suddenly vanished as Lowett clamped his broken arm around his cane and patted the dust off his clothes.

"Let's go!"

"Roar!"

The Black Knight let out a low growl, hoisted its master onto its back, and leaped. On the sea, the Navy warship they had arrived on was ready. Wallace, legs trembling, awaited their return.

"Stop! Snap out of it!"

Behind them, Momonga's anxious and furious roar echoed through Cocoyasi Village. They could only watch helplessly as Lowett boarded the warship and it slowly sailed away.

"Tha... Thank you!"

At the cliffside, Bellemere's grave.

Kensuke knelt on both knees, bowing his head towards the direction the warship had departed.

"Lord Black Count, I wish you a safe journey!"

Rustle...

A gust of wind blew past, making the colorful windmill rustle and spin.

You might not believe me, but I thought I had posted two chapters. I just realized the second chapter was still in my drafts.

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