Iron Body: Steel!

Seeing Blueno appear before her, Nico Robin broke out in a cold sweat.

She could guess what Xi Yan had been trying to do earlier—use her as bait to lure out CP9, take them down, and grab the keys. If it had been any other CP9 member, the plan would have worked fine, since Xi Yan could strike before they took her away.

But the problem was... this time, it was Blueno!

His Devil Fruit ability might not boost combat much, but in certain situations, it was a nightmare. Right now, if he pulled her into an Air Door... damn it!

Without a second thought, Nico Robin spun around to smash through the Great Gate and escape. But Blueno didn't give her the chance—he was already at the door, blocking her way.

"I won't let you call for help," Blueno said coldly. He hadn't expected this mission to be so easy—Nico Robin had practically fallen back into their hands!

Nico Robin opened her mouth to scream, but Blueno spoke first: "Don't bother. I saw that guy run upstairs with my own eyes. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared show myself in front of you."

He knew that to snatch Nico Robin from that man, he had to use his head. Plus, Spandam had already triggered the Buster Call. After the fight, he might need to use his Fruit Ability to get all the Partners off Judicial Island. He couldn't risk his life or die here.

Blueno said all this, but Nico Robin wasn't about to listen. She shouted, "Xi Yan, he's here!"

Blueno didn't stop her. He just watched. As time passed, the cold sweat on Nico Robin's face grew heavier—clearly, he wasn't lying. But trusting Xi Yan, she didn't despair. Maybe... he had thought of this?

With that thought, Nico Robin quickly calmed down. Once calm, she noticed the scroll in her arms was... pushing outward?

"Alright, Nico Robin, come with me," Blueno said, reaching out. The sooner he brought her to Spandam, the sooner the mission ended. As for that ninja? Hah, the Buster Call was already in motion. No one from the Straw Hat Pirates would survive except Nico Robin. Did that damn ninja really think he could challenge the Buster Call? Blueno didn't believe Xi Yan could break its undefeated legend, so there was no need to fight head-on.

"Xi Yan won't let you succeed," Nico Robin said, standing straight and looking at Blueno with calm eyes.

Her composure made Blueno uneasy. 'Something's wrong... very wrong!' His sixth sense screamed that he was in extreme danger, but what was the problem? He had definitely seen that ninja run upstairs—otherwise, he wouldn't have dared come out. Yet Nico Robin's expression was too calm, as if she didn't care he was here. Could she be sure of escaping him? Or... did she think that ninja could take her back?

"Forget it!" Blueno said. "I don't know why you're so calm, but once I take you away, all problems are solved!" With that, he reached out without hesitation to grab her, planning to take her first.

Just then, a scroll suddenly leaped out from Nico Robin's body, spinning in the air. This sudden change immediately caught Blueno's attention. 'This... is Nico Robin's trump card?' he thought.

"Bang~"

White smoke flashed, and the small scroll instantly transformed into a human figure.

"You!!"

Seeing that familiar face, Blueno's expression twisted in shock. What had happened? Why was there a scroll? Why had it turned into that ninja? Hadn't he already run upstairs? Why was this happening?

Was he some kind of Devil Fruit user?

Countless questions swirled in Blueno's mind; he simply couldn't understand what was happening before him.

"Yo~"

"Hey there, Minotaur." Xi Yan, standing beside Robin, grinned. "You scared our Robin just now. How are you going to make up for that?"

While speaking, Xi Yan glanced at Blueno's Air Door, thinking to himself: 'A Space-type Devil Fruit user... interesting!'

He'd really hooked a decent fish this time.

"Xi Yan!"

Robin looked at Xi Yan with delighted surprise. So that thing he'd placed on her—he'd turned into it himself?

But then what about the person who'd left just now?

Nico Robin's mind was full of questions, but she didn't plan to ask them yet. The fight wasn't over!

"Damn it, why are you here?" Blueno said. "I clearly saw you leave for the upstairs just now!"

"What kind of Devil Fruit user are you?"

While speaking, Blueno began sidestepping bit by bit, planning to dash into his Air Door first.

He didn't know what was going on, but since this man had appeared, there was no need to stay.

'Damn it, I should've brought the others along,' Blueno thought bitterly.

Though several of his comrades were already fighting the enemy, not all of them were!

"Sorry, but I don't have the habit of explaining my abilities to enemies," Xi Yan said flatly. "Only idiots do that."

Brag about your powers to an enemy for a thrill?

In Xi Yan's view, that was the dumbest move. Once an enemy found a weakness in your ability, you could get killed!

"If that's the case, then..."

"See you later!"

"Shave!"

With that, Blueno charged without hesitation toward his Air Door, planning to get out first.

Watching the Air Door grow closer, a glimmer of joy appeared in Blueno's eyes.

Almost there... just get inside and—!

"BAM!!"

A heavy blow slammed into Blueno's side, sending him flying sideways!

"SWOOSH~"

"CRASH!!"

"CRASH!!"

He smashed straight through the side wall, broke through two more walls, and only stopped when he landed in the hallway!

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Blueno's face was twisted with pain.

The man was too fast. He hadn't even had a chance to enter the Air Door before being sent flying.

'Damn it, if I weren't a Six Powers user, that punch would've knocked me out!'

The punch was devastating. No wonder Kalifa said this guy was incredibly strong.

"Didn't expect me to be faster than you, did you?" Xi Yan stepped out of the hole in the wall, grinning at Blueno.

"Pfft..."

Blueno spat out a mouthful of blood and stood up. "Don't think you've got me beat. As a superhuman who's mastered the Six Powers, I can still turn this around!"

"Is that so?"

"Let's see if you can take this punch first!"

The words barely left his mouth when Xi Yan closed in on Blueno at lightning speed, raising his fist for a brutal strike!

Watching the fist grow closer, Blueno knew he had to block this attack before he could counter.

If that was the case... he'd use his proudest Iron Body to stop this man's blow!

"Iron Body: Steel!"

"Monster Strength Fist!!"