War Begins

I wanted to leave, but it was too late.

"You have nowhere to run." A soft laugh echoed in the air, making Zoro's heart tighten. Without hesitation, he tried to jump out of the window and leave the room.

However, it was as if an invisible barrier had appeared in the air, a barrier made entirely of air, completely surrounding the space inside the room.

Caught off guard, Zoro's body slammed into the air barrier and then bounced back.

Unbeknownst to him, the entire room had become a trap, and he seemed to be surrounded with no way out.

He didn't panic. After all, he was an elite spy for CP0. Although he sensed danger, the air barrier, while sturdy, wasn't beyond his ability to break through.

"Six Powers: Shigan: Giant Cannon!" With a leap, Zoro unleashed the ultimate technique of the Marine Six Styles at the air barrier in front of the window, marking the first time he had revealed his true strength.

Zoro's fingers shot out like cannon fire, attempting to break through the air barrier.

However, the person hiding in the shadows wouldn't let him have his way. They struck on the spot, delivering a powerful kick to Zoro's abdomen before he could react.

However, Zoro didn't know what was happening. There was no one in front of him, but he felt a sensation as if he had been attacked. Moreover, he sensed a hidden presence in front of him, as if someone was hiding in the air when he was kicked.

With his extensive experience, he knew this was definitely Devil Fruit ability, and an ability related to air, an ability that allowed him to hide. In a short time, he had already locked onto the person who was attacking him, confirming that their ability was related to an air-type Devil Fruit, most likely the Logia Void-Void Fruit.

With that powerful whip kick, his body slammed directly into the air barrier behind him.

The sudden kick left a bloody gash on Zoro's abdomen, somewhat like a cut from the air. The force of the kick made Zoro feel his blood surging and his mouth filled with blood.

He knew he was no match for this person. "Life Return - Release!" Zoro unleashed his Observation Haki, releasing his sealed power. This was also his method of concealing his strength. He used Life Return to seal his power, thus hiding his true strength. The reason he was in such a sorry state before was because his power was still sealed. Of course, this was his understanding.

This is just one application of the Life Return. Although it can be deactivated at any time, it still has flaws. Who would want their strength to be weakened? But there's nothing that can be done about it.

If he wants to conceal his strength, this is the only way he can do it.

Of course, if Life Return is mastered to a higher level, one can conceal one's strength without affecting one's combat power, just like Stussy, the Queen of the New World's Pleasure Street, who, as a secret spy for the World Government's CP0, became one of the kings of the New World's dark world.

She was able to do just that, even Life Return to preserve her youth, keeping herself looking young and making it impossible for anyone to know the secret of her age.

However, Zoro clearly miscalculated. He thought he only had one enemy, but in fact, there was another one lurking in the shadows.

The moment he unleashed his power, just as Zoro was about to make his move, his eyes widened, his expression changed, and the shadow beneath his feet suddenly moved. Flowing shadows crawled out from his shadow and quickly wrapped around his body.

Before long, his entire body was enveloped by the flowing shadows, both his legs and his hands. He tried to struggle and break free.

The sudden shadow filled him with fear. He quickly realized that another person was hiding there. What had happened? Who were these two people? How come he had no information about them at all?

He desperately tried to recall any information about the users of the abilities of "Air" and "Shadow," but he couldn't find any.

At the same time, he realized that he was being targeted. These two people were very strong, even stronger than him when he unleashed his full power. But who were they? Why were they targeting him?

His struggles were futile. Just as he was about to break free, a mocking yet chilling voice said, "How could I let you escape?"

Zoro's pupils contracted. It was another person's voice, different from the first one. But where was that person?

Suddenly, he realized something and looked down at himself and the shadow on the ground. The shadow on the ground seemed to be moving, but it wasn't his shadow.

As he came to his senses, he felt a cold glint behind him, a chilling aura.

In just a moment, four purple sword lights flashed past, piercing through Zoro's limbs in an instant.

Completely powerless to resist, he was utterly unable to withstand it, because he sensed that his Haki was being eroded by a force, a shadowy force, greatly weakening his defenses.

His legs bent as if he were about to kneel, as if they had lost their supporting strength. The shadows encroached on his body, binding and controlling it, leaving him almost powerless to resist.

His arms were severed in two by the two sword lights and flew off.

A sense of fear of death rose within Zoro. In the brief exchange, he had already been thoroughly outmaneuvered and utterly defeated.

However, he was somewhat unwilling. He could have gone even further. He had reached this point without relying on Devil Fruit. If this mission was completed, he could apply for a powerful Devil Fruit upon returning to the Holy Land, based on his contributions.

By then, his strength will definitely increase significantly, and his status within CP0 will also rise considerably.

But all of this failed, and he still didn't know who had attacked him, or which force it was.

He wanted to commit suicide, and even in this moment, he remained loyal to the World Government. However, he couldn't do it; the shadow had already wrapped around his body and even seeped into his mouth through his teeth.

What is this smell? It's an indescribable smell.

At the same time, it caused him immense pain as the corrosive force entered her fragile body through his mouth.

Meanwhile, the poison sac in his mouth, the tool he used to commit suicide, was removed and taken away by these shifting shadows, rendering him unable to even take his own life.

"Brother, take a look." Zoro stared wide-eyed at the short-haired blue man who had suddenly appeared out of thin air.

Although Zoro was not his real name, but just a temporary code name, he used it for several years.

What is he looking at? Zoro wondered.

Immediately afterwards, he felt someone slowly approaching from behind him—the same person who had attacked him with the knife earlier and used the power of shadow.

For some reason, he felt a chill on his body, as if he had been stripped naked.

The next moment, his body began to tremble uncontrollably with fear, as if something terrible was about to happen.

No, no!

This premonition terrified him even more than the excruciating pain he was experiencing.

The next moment, a hand gently landed on the back of his head, as if nothing had happened, but for some reason, it sent a chill down his spine.

He closed his eyes, seemingly savoring something. After a long while, Rediat opened his eyes and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"That's right, it's a big fish. In that case, the matter is resolved. However, like the previous few, let's lock him up for now. We can't let them die too soon, lest we be discovered." Looking at Meinz, he learned a lot of important information through Zoro's memories.

"Okay, I understand." Meinz, waved his hand, and the spatial barrier surrounding the entire room disappeared. "Come in." Turning his head to look at the door, the closed door opened as soon as he finished speaking.

A man walked in, and Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief. This man was his second-in-command, a very capable man. Although he wasn't a member of the World Government, he harbored considerable hatred towards the Tiresfa Kingdom, which was why Zoro had promoted him to the position of his second-in-command.

He had a vague premonition. "From now on, I'll leave the Black Brown Tree Merchant Association's affairs to you," Meinz said calmly.

"Yes, Your Highness." The man nodded very respectfully.

Your Highness? Zoro's pupils contracted. He realized that this was someone from the Tiresfa Kingdom. His mission here was, to be precise, to weaken the Tiresfa Kingdom. However, he hadn't encountered any problems until now, and he hadn't expected that his identity had been exposed.

But there was no hope. The shadow beneath his feet was sinking him, swallowing him whole.

"Let's go to the royal city and take care of that research institute," Rediat said.

"Yes, their battle should have already begun." Meinz nodded.

The next moment, Rediat turned into shadow, while Meinz's body merged into the air, quickly heading towards the Kraken Kingdom.

In the royal city, wearing a raincoat and with his head slightly lowered, Teach's features were obscured by the shadows cast by the raincoat's hood.

Seeing that it was almost time, Teach said, "Let's begin, we're off." Blending into the crowd, Teach slowly walked towards the gate, followed by the others, and close behind were the members of the Night Pirates.

"Hey! Who is it? Don't push!"

The Night Pirates stepped forward, making the already crowded avenue even more congested, and they couldn't help but curse.

However, the next moment, everything fell silent, and they all instinctively shut their mouths and made way for each other.

Teach took off the hood of his raincoat and tucked it behind his back. Then, he unbuttoned the front of the raincoat, grabbed it, and swung it to the side, Teach the entire raincoat off.

At this point, following Teach, the other members were about to make their move, and there was no longer any need to hide their identities.

They all took off their raincoats and threw them to the sides of the road.

Some residents gasped in shock, covering their mouths. "Why are members of the Dark Night Pirates in the Kraken Kingdom?!"

"What are they planning to do? Their target is probably the royal palace."

The commotion ahead was quite significant and was noticed by the Eastern Guards stationed outside the eastern gate.

"Who dares to cause trouble at a time like this?" Xinzi Zi, the captain of the Eastern Guard, frowned upon seeing this, then a cruel smile appeared on his face. "They really don't know what's good for them. Let's see who's so arrogant."

"Yes, resolve this as soon as possible. This is a crucial time, and it wouldn't be good if it disturbed the King's speech," Kankani advised, seeing Xinzi's state.

"Yes, it would be terrible if the king blamed us." Xinzi nodded, a hint of fear of King Pande in his voice.

At that moment, he saw a commotion among the guards blocking his way. Guards members were being thrown into the air, their bodies being knocked away, as if someone was attacking their ranks.

"Ah!" A series of screams came from ahead.

"Let's go see what happened." Xinzi clenched her fists tightly, ready to handle it herself.

"No need, they're already here." Kankani shook his head.

Suddenly, several figures appeared ahead, rapidly heading towards the eastern gate, which was their location.

Teach and his group rushed toward the eastern gate. "Stop them! Don't let them get any closer!" Xinzi didn't recognize Teach and his group; in the pouring rain, they just seemed somewhat familiar.

After all, people are forgetful, and the Night Pirates haven't appeared at sea for almost a month.

Teach and Gari ignored Xinzi and Kankani, who were blocking their way, and leaped high into the air, soaring over their heads.

Xinzi and Kankani were about to enter the palace when the king was holding a rally to urge his troops to surrender. They knew that if anyone disturbed the rally, especially at this important moment before the war between the two countries, it would have a negative effect, and they couldn't imagine what consequences they would face.

However, two figures, one black and one white, blocked their way. Sharp Cat Claws reached for Xinzi in an instant. Xinzi sensed a sharp edge and, based on her experience of killing on the battlefield, instinctively reacted, raising her greatsword to block it.

The white figure thrust a sharp bone spur directly at Kankani. Sensing the deadly danger, Kankani turned his head to the right. The bone spur grazed his cheek, piercing his skin and leaving a bloody gash on his face, from which blood slowly flowed.

The greatsword clashed with the claws, and both figures were pushed back seven or eight meters.

Xinzi and Kankani, who were being blocked, stared intently at the two teenagers blocking their way. At that moment, they recognized them as members of the Night Pirates.

Meanwhile, shouts about the Night Pirates could be heard all around.

Inside the palace, Pande, who was giving a speech, was interrupted by the commotion outside. The noise was so loud that everyone present could hear it. This unexpected event not only reached the battlefield but also the entire Kraken Kingdom, where everyone watching the live broadcast heard it, which aroused their curiosity.

Pande frowned and turned his gaze to the east gate. Two figures jumped up from behind the east gate and landed on the city wall above it.