Unknown Origins

Amidst the thick dust and smoke, a series of muffled thuds rang out. Like thunder on a clear day, they pounded against the soldiers' hearts, draining their faces of color and filling them with terror.

Then, under their watchful gazes, a figure stepped out from the dust—roughly two meters and twenty centimeters tall, clad in heavy armor, with pitch-black, sharp demon horns atop its head and a gas mask covering its face.

Hidden beneath the armor, its identity and gender were impossible to discern. Its weapon was a heavy long-handled warhammer, paired with a large shield measuring 80×200 cm and over 10 cm thick.

It raised the shield high, blocking the gunfire from the high wall. As the cannon blasts rumbled and it advanced steadily, ragged refugees with sharp eyes gathered behind it, also moving forward with smaller shields raised.

Meanwhile, within the still-unsettled dust, many women and children quietly emerged, each carrying buckets toward a river littered with garbage.

The soldiers atop the wall changed expressions at the sight, losing all desire to mock. They frantically pulled their triggers, trying to stop the refugees from getting closer.

But this time, their firearm advantage failed to turn the tide, and they could only watch helplessly as the refugees advanced.

Then, the heavily armored figure, impossible to identify as male or female, set down its warhammer, raised a hand to disperse the flames swirling around its body, and took a thigh-thick bone spear from someone beside it.

Next, under the soldiers' utterly horrified gazes, it hurled the bone spear with all its might.

"Whoosh..." The spear tore through the smoke, pierced the flames, and carved a pale white streak across the battlefield, landing squarely on the city gate.

"Boom..."

The seemingly indestructible gate shattered in an instant. The massive shockwave, along with the flying debris, sent the guards hurtling dozens of meters away.

"Thud..." Heavy footsteps sounded again as the oppressive figure stepped into the city wall. Behind it, a horde of disheveled figures burst forth, roaring as they charged at the terrified soldiers.

Just as the soldiers instinctively retreated, a middle-aged figure in ornate armor leaped down from the high wall.

The king of this nation pushed past the soldiers blocking his way and strode to the front of the army. He cast a contemptuous glance at the ragged fighters and taunted, "Wasn't it good enough to scrape by on the plateau? Why come down here to die?"

A clearly distorted voice sounded from beneath the heavy armor, responding to Natan's words: "This land has always belonged to us."

To that, Natan slowly drew his blade, his expression dripping with arrogance.

"And who can prove that?"

"Remember, the East Sea—and the entire world—knows that this land belongs to the second most noble and wise race. We are recognized by the World Government. But you? You're nothing but rabble buried in history."

"..."

After a long pause, the heavily armored figure picked up its long-handled warhammer, radiating a bone-chilling killing intent.

"Back then, we should never have taken in you lot, persecuted by other kingdoms and shipwrecked..."

"And who told your ancestors to dare show that sickening pity toward us, the noble and wise?" Natan sneered in response, his eyes full of mockery.

But beneath his arrogant exterior, his mind was razor-focused. He muttered to himself, Get angry. Lose your cool. Give me a chance to kill you in one blow...

Even with his overwhelming strength, he remained rational, aiming for a single decisive strike. He wouldn't give CP0 a chance to interfere, eliminating a potential threat to his kingdom.

"..."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the high wall, a man in a white suit watched everything unfold from afar, a bad feeling rising in his mind.

"Is Natan planning to kill the one the Five Elders specifically ordered to be brought back?"

At that thought, CP0's face changed instantly. He leaped up, stepping on Geppo as he rushed toward the battlefield.

But the moment he cleared the wall, he felt a strong sense of danger from above and instinctively looked up at the sky.

"!!" One glance was enough to twist his expression.

Golden flames had descended above him without warning. A figure with an indistinguishable face dove at breakneck speed, clearly aiming for a collision that would take them both out.

"Tekkai: Steel!" CP0 tensed his body, coating it entirely in Armament Haki, then fled the spot without looking back.

"Boom..." The violent impact shook the wall, sending countless soldiers stumbling and falling. Cracks spread for hundreds of meters.

Under the high-speed collision, the section of wall where CP0 had stood instantly crumbled into shattered boulders. Dust filled the air, and screams rang out endlessly.

Not far away, CP0 stared at the ruined wall with lingering fear, his masked face filled with shock and uncertainty.

"Who the hell is that?" He never expected to face such a terrifying attack in the East Sea.

"So you dodged it..." A slightly regretful voice came from the dust-covered area. Then, a faint silhouette slowly rose to its feet.

In the distance, CP0 watched the wall collapse from the middle and the dust kicked up by the violent impact, falling silent for a moment.

Within the dust, a figure about two meters tall stood up slowly, its inhuman appendages retracting behind it.

"Who are you? Why attack us without cause?" CP0 Joseph frowned deeply, his expression deadly serious.

But the attacker in the dust showed no sign of answering, making CP0's face grow even darker.

Unwilling to talk meant there was no room for negotiation—only life or death between them.

"Thud, thud..." Unhurried footsteps echoed. From the dust, a figure with wings on its back dragged a spear as it slowly moved toward CP0.

Louis shook his head, flicking off the dust clinging to his hair. His broad, pure white wings spread wide, dispersing the thick smoke.

Then, dragging his spear, he revealed himself to everyone.

His golden hair shone brilliantly under the sunlight. His snow-white wings stretched slightly, and a pale golden light surrounded him, radiating a sacred aura.

CP0 Joseph's eyes swept over Louis's wings and the pale golden glow, a glint flashing in his gaze.

He frowned slightly, his tone ambiguous: "Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Angel Form, is it?"

Beside him, a dozen agents in black suits exchanged glances. The same thought crossed their minds the moment they saw Louis.

To that, Louis didn't answer. Instead, he cast a cold glare at the agents he had surrounded all by himself.

The next instant, his golden light burst forth, forming pale golden waves that spread outward, turning everything they touched into gold.

Joseph didn't hesitate. He instantly used Soru from Rokushiki to flash away, retreating dozens of meters before the light could sweep over him.