Fighting Zephyr

Hearing Lu Zhuo praise him so highly, Luo was a little surprised. After all, it seemed Lu Zhuo knew all his secrets.

He hadn't put his plan into action yet, but in the original story, he had carried it out almost to completion. If not for Joker's connections, he might really have manipulated everything!

That level of cunning was what made him truly terrifying!

Lu Zhuo looked at Luo and continued, "Besides, there can only be seven Shichibukai, and Joker already occupies one of the slots."

"Hm?" Luo looked at Lu Zhuo in surprise. He'd assumed that someone like Lu Zhuo would head straight for the New World, but it turned out his goal was to become a Shichibukai.

"But there are several people easier to deal with than Joker. Why choose him? And even if you kill him, that doesn't guarantee you'll become a Shichibukai. Your bounty might even go up." A flicker of confusion crossed Luo's face.

Lu Zhuo chuckled. "First, because of you, I set my sights on Joker. Second, I have a powerful trump card. As long as I take down one of the Shichibukai, the World Government will definitely let me take his place."

Luo fell silent.

What kind of trump card could threaten the World Government?

Could it be...

A trace of shock appeared in his eyes as he looked at Lu Zhuo. Lu Zhuo understood and nodded.

Nami watched the two of them speaking in riddles and immediately pouted in dissatisfaction. "What are you talking about, Lu Zhuo?"

Lu Zhuo smiled. "Nothing much. Just Pluton."

Watching this exchange, Luo's pupils contracted slightly. He thought even more highly of Lu Zhuo.

He'd casually mentioned something like Pluton, a weapon capable of shaking the whole world, and acted as if it were nothing. Maybe he really could take down Doflamingo.

Just then, Lu Zhuo's expression shifted slightly. "You already owe me one favor. Soon, you'll owe me two. If you don't join my crew, you really won't be able to repay me."

After speaking, Lu Zhuo ignored Luo, whose expression changed several times, and turned to look behind him.

Deep in the forest, a figure surged forward on a gust of wind, crossing dozens of meters in an instant to appear before Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo gave him a chuckle, but his laughter was cold and murderous.

"Well, hello... former Navy Admiral... Zephyr!"

"It's you! Are you the pirate called Lu Zhuo? You've delivered yourself right into my hands!" Zephyr's face twisted with fury. He roared, "Pirates... deserve to die!"

The next moment, his gigantic fist, coated in black Armament Haki, slammed toward Lu Zhuo.

Nami, standing beside Lu Zhuo, immediately transformed into a mass of Sea Cloud and hurled a huge cloud of it at Zephyr.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo gave a quiet shout. "Nami, get out of the way. He isn't a Devil Fruit user. Go deal with the woman who's about to arrive."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swiftly drew his sword and met Zephyr's steel right fist head-on.

Nami's Sea Cloud had no effect at all. Hearing Lu Zhuo's order, she immediately drifted toward the forest ahead.

Only then did the sword and Zephyr's mechanical arm collide with a tremendous roar.

A fierce gust blasted in every direction. Luo and Bepo couldn't withstand the shockwave and were sent stumbling several meters backward.

The ground at the center of the clearing had split with countless cracks. Looking on in shock, Luo murmured, "That man's strength wasn't exaggerated. He really has the power of an Admiral!"

"This is terrifying... Run, run..." Bepo was tossed about by the wind, his eyes spinning in dizzy circles as he stuck out his tongue and spoke.

Two years later, Luo would have a bounty of just 200 million Beli. It would take another two years after the Paramount War for him to reach the strength of an ordinary Admiral.

At this point, Luo was still far too weak.

Lu Zhuo met Zephyr's gaze, his sword stance fully formed, his presence no weaker than Zephyr's. He used the momentum to retreat and landed steadily.

Zephyr was also blasted back several steps by the tremendous force, surprise flickering across his face.

Watching Nami drift into the forest, Lu Zhuo suddenly called out, "Nami, be careful. That woman has the Return-Return Fruit. Anything she touches can be sent back several years in time! And it'd be best to capture her alive."

"Don't worry!" Nami's cloud formed a tiny, soft-looking hand that flashed Lu Zhuo a victory sign.

Zephyr stared at Lu Zhuo in shock. "How do you know that?"

Lu Zhuo looked at him and gave a soft laugh, his eyes full of contempt.

He had no affection for someone who claimed to serve justice yet sought to exterminate those who yearned for freedom. Perhaps the kind Admiral Zephyr had been many years ago could have earned Lu Zhuo's respect.

But now, Zephyr wanted to kill every pirate and even planned to destroy the entire New World two years later. Lu Zhuo felt nothing but murderous intent toward him.

"What do you think? The Navy told me, of course!"

"What! Impossible!" Zephyr's face twisted with rage. He roared and raised his mechanical arm.

The next moment, a volley of Seastone Bullets shot toward Lu Zhuo.

With three effortless swings, Lu Zhuo unleashed more than twenty streaks of sword light, knocking every bullet away. At the same time, he kept taunting Zephyr.

"Do you know? You've become rebels in the Navy's eyes, opposing their sense of justice. They can't openly move against you, since the Admirals were your students, after all. So... they made a deal with me!"

As he spoke, Lu Zhuo's expression darkened, a flash of sharpness passing through his eyes.

Evil Light Slash!

In an instant, a sword arc gathered, growing so solid it seemed almost tangible. Zephyr sensed danger from it.

With a furious roar, he used Soru and appeared in front of Lu Zhuo.

"Everything you said is a lie! The Navy may have fallen, but it could never sink this low!"

Zephyr roared in fury, though deep down he was beginning to believe Lu Zhuo. Ever since the Navy had recruited pirates as Shichibukai, he had completely lost faith in it.

Just as his fist came crashing down, Lu Zhuo released the Evil Light Slash.

A dozen successive booms rang out.

The Evil Light Slash struck Zephyr and drove him back. Its glow dimmed slightly, then it chased after him and slashed again. Zephyr was forced back once more.

Only when Lu Zhuo's Evil Light Slash finally vanished did Zephyr stop. He had been blasted dozens of meters away, leaving a deep crater and countless cracks in the ground.

Several tiny fractures had appeared in Zephyr's mechanical arm. Lu Zhuo sensed them with Observation Haki.

A cold smile tugged at his lips. Lu Zhuo stepped forward.

Soru!

The next moment, amidst a continuous roar, Lu Zhuo flashed rapidly around Zephyr, who used Soru without hesitation as well. The two moved like lightning bolts, chasing one another!

"Believe me now? The Navy even taught me the Six Powers so you wouldn't be able to escape!"

"Damn pirates! Corrupt Navy! The justice in my heart will never die! Nothing you say will change that. All pirates deserve to die! Prepare to die!"

Lu Zhuo had deeply provoked Zephyr. He roared furiously as they fought, his moves growing increasingly disordered.