The Gunshot of the Death Knell

"Choose my ass!!! Robin, don't listen to him..."

Sauron's booming voice echoed, thick with rage.

"Zany, shut him up."

Ross's smile faded, his gaze turning icy.

"Yes!"

Zany, who had been lounging lazily, shot forward like a cheetah.

"Ah!"

Sauron swung his massive iron fist at Zany, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Too slow. You giants rely entirely on your physical gifts—against a peer, you don't stand a chance."

Zany didn't bother clashing head-on. With a flicker of movement, she slipped past Sauron's fist.

Even in his prime, her speed would have let her toy with him. Now, he'd barely recovered from his injuries and had gone days without proper nutrition—he was utterly weakened.

That state wasn't too crippling for a Devil Fruit user, but for a Giant who depended on raw physicality, the gap was insurmountable.

Even Gion and Ross could take him down easily as he was now.

Shiiing!!!!

Zany's form darted around Sauron, each flash leaving a fresh gash on his body, spraying blood.

In moments, Sauron was drenched in red, crashing to the ground with a thud.

"Three minutes left."

Ross glanced at the fallen Sauron, a satisfied smile on his face.

This dirty work was best left to CP0.

He hadn't planned on asking Gion or Zephyr to do it. Gion still needed breaking in, and while Zephyr had no qualms about killing, he'd balk at this kind of torment.

Turning back, Ross looked at Robin, who stood frozen in terror, and shook his head in mild boredom.

Even an eight-year-old historian was still just an ordinary little girl.

"Since you can't decide, I'll make it easier for you."

Ross fiddled with his hands behind his back, then presented both fists in front of Robin.

"One of my hands has a leaf in it. If you pick that hand, it means you choose to save Sauron. If you pick the empty one, you choose to save your mother."

"Simple, isn't it? Your turn."

Seeing Robin's tense stare at his hands, Ross chuckled.

"Oh, and hurry up. One minute thirty seconds left."

At his words, Robin grew even more anxious, her small face scrunching up as her gaze darted between Ross's two hands.

She was already on the verge of breaking down.

But Sauron's fate loomed before her, and she knew she had to choose.

Otherwise, her mother and Sauron might really die.

If it were up to her, she couldn't decide. She couldn't bear to sacrifice anyone, not even for her beloved mother.

But Ross had given her an out—she could leave it to chance.

Whatever she chose, it wouldn't be her own will.

Maybe that would make it easier to bear...

Images of Sauron and Olvia flashed through Robin's mind. She'd come to see Sauron as a friend over these days, but he couldn't compare to Olvia in closeness.

Yet Sauron had saved her mother's life—how could she abandon him just to save Olvia?

"Thirty seconds left!"

The reminder jolted Robin, and she blurted out, "I choose the right hand! Your right hand!"

"The right hand, huh?"

Ross smirked, deliberately raising his right fist and peeking through a tiny gap.

"Oh, looks like there's a hint of a leaf in there. Too bad—your mother's going to die by my hand. But don't worry, it'll just be one slash. Quick and painless."

Robin's pupils shrank in horror as she stared at Ross, then screamed, "No, no, no, no!!! I choose Mom! I choose Mom!"

She couldn't bear the thought of what Ross described.

Especially if it was her fault that her mother might die.

"You picked my right hand. No take-backs."

Ross's lips curled into a smile as he watched Robin's expression crumble. He slowly extended his right hand in front of her, fingers opening one by one.

"See, you chose correctly. There's no leaf inside. Congratulations, you saved your mother. I, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, swear by my name as a Celestial Dragon that Nicole Olvia is permitted to leave this island alive."

"I'm saved..."

Robin stared at Ross's empty palm, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed weakly to the ground.

Search Book Title not found—try searching by Author instead. Maybe it just changed names!

She didn't doubt Ross's words.

As the youngest historian, Robin knew the weight of a Celestial Dragon's name. No one would joke about that.

"Alright, since little Robin has made her choice, it's time for me to carry out her other one."

Ross said with a smile, lightly clapping his hands.

Zany nearby immediately understood and prepared to finish off Sauron.

Just then, Admiral Zephyr flashed to the fallen Sauron's side:

"Let me do it."

He had watched the whole process and, in the end, chose not to intervene.

At fifty years old, he had long since passed the age of meddling in everything.

No matter how vile Ross's personality was, it was a personal issue, not a matter of the bigger picture.

The Marines had no shortage of brutal thugs, but those men only slaughtered pirates, not their Colleagues.

So as long as Ross kept walking the path Zephyr accepted, he could overlook whatever problems arose along the way.

As long as Ross's evil didn't target the Marines or his former students, that was enough.

"Sauron, you're a good man, but sometimes kindness expressed in the wrong way can be more terrifying than evil."

Zephyr walked up to Sauron, calmly finishing what he wanted to say, then slowly raised his fist.

In an instant, Armament Haki coated his fist.

On the vast seas, Zephyr was known not only as the 'Admiral of Non-Kill,' but also by another name.

'Black Arm' Zephyr.

Black represented his mastery of Armament Haki, and Arm represented his Physical Technique.

Such a title proved he had reached the pinnacle of Armament Haki and Physical Technique.

"Admiral Zephyr, you're a demon who aids evil!!!"

Sauron glared at Zephyr, but could only rasp out the words.

He was far too exhausted. On Ohara, he couldn't get proper nutrition, and even if his injuries had mostly healed, his Strength was barely a tenth of its peak.

Fighting Zany had already left him beaten, let alone facing Zephyr.

But still.

The Giant race had no warriors who lay down to die!

"Roar!!!"

"Robin! Live on! You're a kind child—you'll find your own Comrades!"

Sauron let out a mighty roar, forcing himself up on one arm, and swung his fist heavily at Zephyr.

Shiiik!!!

The sound of flesh being pierced rang out, and Sauron's swinging motion came to a dead stop.

A bloody hole appeared in the center of his right fist, and through it, the heart behind was hollowed out—so clean that the blue sky beyond was visible through Sauron's chest.

Zephyr's body was splattered with Sauron's blood. He coldly withdrew his fist and turned to walk back toward Ross.

"Zephyr!!!"

The Giant race's powerful physique let Sauron cling to one last breath even with his heart shattered.

Sauron let out his final roar and swung his fist at Zephyr again.

"Bang!!!"

A gunshot rang out.

Ross coldly lowered his Platinum Handgun, and a bloody hole suddenly appeared in Sauron's eye socket.

That shot stole away every last shred of Sauron's life.

A heavy thud followed—the sound of Sauron's body hitting the ground.

A-Class kill completed!

Strength +500,000

Special Reward: Elbaf Spear—Bajrang Gun

After accepting the reward, Ross mulled over the new technique that had appeared in his mind, feeling somewhat surprised.

The A-Class Special Reward was astonishing, granting him a unique technique of the Giant race outright.

Whether wielding a blunt weapon or a blade, he could unleash this special martial skill, its shockwave powerful enough to instantly pierce through a Sea King a hundred meters in size.

Moreover...

Host: Ross

Strength: 715,132 / 1,000,000 (C+, Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral)

With just one A-Class reward, his Strength was already approaching that of a Vice Admiral at headquarters.

By the time this Buster Call ended, he would barely have enough strength to handle matters without needing Zany to be present.