"...Black Snake Reiner, it seemed you weren't going to let us in easily."
"Heh heh heh, all the better."
A sinister laugh came from the collapsed ruins. Through the smoke and dust, two scarlet points of light could vaguely be seen as a ring of dark purple flames ignited.
A yellow-furred hand covered in black spots parted the smoke. Transformed into a leopard-man hybrid, Lucci bared his lethal fangs in a wild grin and strode out.
"The world's strongest? You were worth challenging. Let me see whether you were just a man with an empty reputation."
Lucci sneered as he tore off his shirt, the smooth lines of his taut, muscular body displaying tremendous explosive power and speed.
Behind him, a cloud of dark purple flames curled around his shoulders. Lucci lowered himself into a half-crouch and took his stance, confronting Reiner from dozens of meters away.
"...Flame clouds like Reiner's. Was this guy a Zoan Awakening user too?"
Seeing his posture, Usopp quickly recognized it. His expression turned grave as he tightened his grip on his weapon.
"So it still came down to a head-on fight."
Seeing that battle was unavoidable, every CP0 member's expression darkened.
Kaku's body gradually swelled, his neck stretching several times longer as his skin turned yellowish-brown. He transformed into a giraffe-man hybrid.
Like Lucci, a burning flame cloud also coiled around his shoulders.
"Another Awakened user?!"
Usopp could not help but stare in surprise.
The two sides watched each other warily until—
"S-Bear, assist us in battle."
Lucci spoke coldly as he lowered his body and dropped onto all fours, the muscles in his thighs tensing tightly.
Beep beep beep~
"Command received."
The Seraphim gave a cold electronic response. At the same time—
Bang!!
Lucci kicked off hard, launching himself toward Reiner at a