Cat and Dog

Sachis couldn't help but fall to his knees, his clothes soaked with sweat he hadn't noticed appearing.

His thoughts were completely exposed!

He did want to use the power of the Donquixote Family to rescue Bellamy. While there might have been some sentimentality involved, it was primarily driven by self-interest.

He knew himself best. Sachis understood that he was just an ordinary person with a bit of strength. Relying solely on his own power, even if he managed to join the Donquixote Family by chance, he would only be a bottom-tier member.

But Bellamy was different. He had displayed superior strength since childhood and was a Devil Fruit user. Once he successfully joined the Donquixote Family, he would surely be quickly promoted.

At that time, as Bellamy's childhood companion, and with the favor of having sought help for him, he could quickly thrive by relying on Bellamy's strength.

But...

Manudo's voice reached his ears, causing Sachis's body to tremble involuntarily.

Is this the pressure of the Donquixote Family? I heard these are just reserve officers of the family.

Sachis's lowered gaze fell upon Manudo's shadow.

A massive shadow enveloped Sachis. Through the shadow, he could clearly see Manudo's outstretched finger suddenly lengthen.

"Die!"

As Manudo's cold voice echoed, Sachis caught a glimpse of a cold glint out of the corner of his eye.

Bang--!

A sound suddenly erupted, followed by the room's door being violently kicked open. Several subordinates rushed in, their faces filled with panic.

"What is it!"

Manudo's piercing gaze swept over them.

Ignoring their fear of Manudo, the subordinates, their faces pale, pointed outside.

Something more terrifying had happened there.

"The family's flag has been destroyed!"

Boom!

The ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked, forming a deep pit. Manudo, disregarding the slumped Sachis, instantly rushed into the courtyard and looked at the family flag in the center of the manor.

However, he only saw a flagpole broken in two. The flag symbolizing the family had fallen to the ground.

"Who did this!"

Grabbing a nearby subordinate, Manudo's body uncontrollably transformed into his beast form, his sharp canine teeth almost piercing the other man's face.

"I don't know. It was a bullet that suddenly flew from a long distance away."

Manudo showed no restraint with his strength. The subordinate he grabbed felt his shoulder was about to be crushed.

"You don't know?"

A fierce glint flashed in Manudo's eyes. He tightened his grip on the subordinate, his sharp nails digging into the man's body, causing him to writhe in greater pain.

"What kind of mongrel are you? Get out here!"

He flung the subordinate away, took a deep breath, and let out a massive roar.

Bang--

With a gunshot, a bullet appeared almost instantly before Manudo's eyes.

He swung both arms, his long claws blocking the incoming bullet. Manudo's ferocious gaze turned towards the group walking from the main entrance.

"You just called me a dog, didn't you."

"Wow, so he's a skinny dog."

Looking at the guy before them, Nia couldn't help but tease him.

The reserve officer of the Donquixote Family they were facing seemed to have entered a half-beast form due to the destruction of the family flag. His entire body was extremely slender.

"I am a dog! I ate the Dog-Dog Fruit—the Dachshund form! You guys destroyed our flag, didn't you? I'm going to tear you all to shreds!"

He stomped his foot, and Manudo's body shot forward. The claws in his hands slashed towards Rod, who stood in the center, a cold glint flashing.

Rod took a slight step back. Manudo's claws struck the ground, and the stone floor was instantly shredded by his sharp claws.

Bang!

A long leg swung out from the side, fiercely kicking Manudo in the abdomen. The terrifying force almost folded his body in half, sending him flying.

So strong!

Pekoms and Shakky exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.

They hadn't expected that Nia, who looked sexy and alluring, would possess such formidable strength.

When the skinny dog-man charged just now, they hadn't even had time to react. If it had been them facing that attack, they might have already been killed. She truly lived up to her reputation of having defeated a pirate with a bounty of over 40 million.

Could it be that we two are the weakest on the ship?

With that thought, the two tacitly glanced at Grey, who had been silently following them.

"I'll handle this skinny dog."

Nia retracted her leg, a flicker of excitement in her eyes.

This guy is tough! That leg whip earlier wouldn't have done any real damage to him.

"Are you okay?"

"How could a mere dog be a match for a cat!"

As he spoke, Manudo got up from the ground, lightly patting his waist and abdomen.

"You're quite capable, but attacks like this are useless. Attacks should be like this!"

Saying that, Manudo's body exploded forward, appearing in front of Nia almost instantly, his speed a few points faster than before, his claws flashing with cold light as he swung them wildly, almost forming a solid stream.

"You know nothing about a cat's speed."

Nia's figure flickered, easily evading all of his attacks.

Although she spoke dismissively of Manudo, Nia knew clearly that the enemy before her was by no means comparable to those she had encountered before, so the moment the fight began, she had already entered her half-beast form.

On her head, two black cat ears twitched gently, making her appear completely at ease.

Swish--

After dodging his attack once more, Nia's figure flashed, and she was already on his back, her claws plunging down fiercely.

Squelch--

Blood sprayed as Nia's claws pierced through his body almost without resistance.

"Hit!"

"Got you!"

The voices of the two rang out almost simultaneously, and Nia's pupils contracted instantly.

Manudo wore a cruel smile, the muscles in the part of his body that was pierced contracting violently, clamping tightly onto Nia's claws.

And just as Nia was unable to pull free due to Manudo's muscle contraction, her body pausing for a moment, Manudo twisted his body. Relying on the advantage of his slender physique, he rotated almost 180 degrees, his ferocious face directly facing Nia, his sharp claws following closely as he swung down.

While Nia and Manudo were fighting, the other members of the Donquixote Family also reacted, and various attacks rained down on Rod and the others.

"ROOM--"

A blue sphere of light instantly enveloped everyone. Just as Law was about to activate his ability.

"Ayi--yah--"

A snow-white figure sprang up, followed closely by two others, instantly taking down the charging fodder.

"We can handle these guys!"

Pekoms and Shakky stood on either side of Bepo, giving Rod and the others a hearty smile. Grey silently followed behind them, his presence so weak he was almost forgotten.