Deadly Trap

Boom!

Suddenly, a muffled crash rang out, and Capone Bege's body was blasted backward for some unknown reason.

"Who?!" Anger showed on Capone Bege's face.

At the same time, Luo Sa and Cas stopped moving. Neither of them had expected there to be a fourth person here!

"The Navy?"

"Sok!"

Cas and Luo Sa both cried out. The newcomer was Sok, who had secretly followed them down.

"Though I don't know what this is, judging by your expressions, it must be something good!" Sok chuckled, clutched the box, and took off running.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of crashes followed. Sok returned to the study with a dark expression.

Clearly, Cas had used some unknown method to seal the door shut!

After hesitating for a moment, Sok went to stand beside Luo Sa. They were both Marines, so naturally they had to work together now.

Luo Sa had no objection. After all, he still wasn't a match for Cas. With Sok's help, they would be all but certain to defeat him!

Cas had clearly noticed this too. He glanced darkly at Capone Bege. After exchanging looks, the two chose to form a temporary alliance against the Marines.

The atmosphere immediately grew tense. Everyone present stayed on guard, and no one dared to make the first move.

Judging by the situation, Cas was the strongest fighter on his own. Neither Luo Sa nor Sok could match him.

But if Luo Sa and Sok teamed up, Cas wouldn't stand a chance!

However, Capone Bege was also there. If Cas and Capone Bege joined forces, Luo Sa and Sok wouldn't be able to win.

The tricky part was that Cas and Capone Bege were enemies in a sense. If Luo Sa and Sok were dealt with, Capone Bege certainly wouldn't fare well either!

So Capone Bege didn't want Luo Sa and Sok dead, either!

For a moment, the situation was incredibly complicated!

"Capone Bege, help me kill these two Marines, and I'll let you go afterward. How about it?" Cas spoke first.

Capone Bege frowned but didn't answer right away.

"Hmph, Cas, the entire island is surrounded by the Navy. What gives you the right to say that?"

"Capone Bege, right? You're not on our kill list this time. Help us kill Cas, and you'll be doing us a great service. I guarantee you'll be able to leave here alive!" Sok chimed in, doing his best to win Capone Bege over!

"Ahahaha! You think the Navy gets to decide? I think I'd better show you who really calls the shots here!" Cas suddenly burst into wild laughter, looking as though victory was already his!

"What's that sound?" Luo Sa, who had been on guard the whole time, suddenly changed expression and stared intently toward the stairs!

"Ahahaha! Just sit back and enjoy the special treat I prepared for you, landlubbers!" Cas laughed even more maniacally.

"Landlubbers? Could it be...?" Luo Sa's expression changed drastically, but he reacted with incredible speed, reaching the wall in an instant and pressing a hand against it.

Suddenly, his expression changed. A rushing sound came from within the wall, and then the entire wall collapsed, revealing a raging flood behind it!

The walls weren't the only thing giving way. The ground beneath their feet began to collapse as well!

Rumble!

Like a giant dragon charging forward, a colossal wave swept down the stairs and instantly filled the entire room!

Then the floor beneath them broke apart. Below them was another pool of water!

It all happened so suddenly that Luo Sa, who had wanted to transform into Gastly and escape, didn't have a chance. The flood swallowed him in an instant!

A wave of weakness immediately spread through Luo Sa's entire body, leaving him unable to muster any strength!

Damn it! Transformation Energy, transform—Magikarp! Luo Sa screamed inwardly, trying to take on Magikarp's form. But the flood was so turbulent that he couldn't gather his Transformation Energy.

"Ahahaha! Enjoy the feast in the water!" At some point, Cas had put on an oxygen mask. He looked at the struggling figures in the water with a savage grin.

"Damn it. The Castle-Castle Fruit... I guess I have no choice but to give up!" Capone Bege's expression darkened. He somehow produced an oxygen mask of his own and put it on, then shot toward the stairs like a bolt of lightning.

"Hmph, Capone Bege, so it really was all your doing!" Cas glowered at Capone Bege as he swam up the stairs and disappeared from view.

But he knew there was no way to catch Capone Bege now, so he could only let him escape in frustration!

"Still, I'll take the lives of these two minnows!" Cas glared at Luo Sa and Sok in the water and charged toward them.

His first target was Luo Sa. As a Devil Fruit User, Luo Sa was as good as dead in the water. Cas felt that all it would take was one sword strike to easily eliminate this unpredictable threat!

"Die!" Cas slashed with his sword.

Just as he thought the Marine was doomed, a burst of white light suddenly appeared around him. Within the glow, his figure transformed into a red carp.

Cas's sword struck, but the water slowed it down so much that it only left a shallow cut on the carp's scales!

Cas was startled. He swung again, but this time, an unusual glow enveloped the blade.

Faced with the menacing slash, Luo Sa's expression changed again. In desperation, he suddenly transformed into a stone.

This was Stone Form, one of Ditto's transformations!

Crack!

The blade struck the rock, sending stone chips flying, but that was all. After Ditto had fused with the genes of several Pokémon, even his body in Stone Form had grown much stronger. Its defense was terrifying!

"Damn it, what the hell!" Cas roared inwardly, growing agitated as he stared at Luo Sa.

Wasn't a Devil Fruit User supposed to be a sitting duck in the water?

Then why was this guy turning into a fish and then a rock?!

Whew. I can't breathe after turning into a rock. Damn it, if I can't turn back into Magikarp, I'll suffocate to death! Luo Sa was having a hard time as a stone. The weakness in his body had intensified, and all he could do was hold his breath, or the oxygen in his body would run out too quickly.

What a pain in the ass. Right now, all I can do is use my mental strength to control the Transformation Energy in my body. I can't do anything else. If I get back, I'll definitely train my underwater abilities. I have to give myself some way to protect myself!

No matter how difficult it was, he had to find a way to overcome the sea's suppressing power. He never wanted to be a helpless sitting duck again!

There'll only be two updates today. I have to spend the whole day traveling back, so I won't be able to write. I'll use the time to plan out what comes next, and I hope I can give everyone a better reading experience. Finally, happy National Day! I'm glad to be with you all throughout the holiday.