Battle Zephyr

Hearing Lu Zhuo's high appraisal of him, Law was slightly taken aback. After all, it seemed as if every one of his secrets was known to Lu Zhuo.

Although his plan had yet to be set in motion, in the original timeline, it had succeeded more than halfway. If not for Joker's background, he truly would have manipulated everything!

This kind of calculating intellect was the most terrifying thing of all!

Lu Zhuo looked at Law and continued, "Furthermore, there can only be seven Shichibukai, and Joker occupies one of those spots."

"Hmm?" Law looked at Lu Zhuo with some surprise. He had assumed someone like Lu Zhuo would simply wage war across the New World; he hadn't expected his target to be a Shichibukai position.

"But there are several people easier to deal with than Joker. Why choose him? Besides, even if you kill Joker, it doesn't guarantee you'll become a Shichibukai; you might even get your bounty increased." A flash of confusion crossed Law's face.

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

Hearing this, Law 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, who nodded in understanding.

Nami, standing to the side, was dissatisfied with the two of them speaking in riddles and pouted, "What is it, Lu Zhuo?"

Lu Zhuo smiled and said, "Nothing much, just Pluton."

Watching this scene, Law felt his pupils constrict slightly, and he held Lu Zhuo in even higher regard.

To speak so casually about something like Pluton—a weapon capable of shaking the entire world—and with such an indifferent attitude; perhaps he really could take down Doflamingo.

Just then, Lu Zhuo's expression shifted slightly, and he said calmly, "You already owed me one favor, and now you're about to owe me two. If you don't board my ship, you'll never be able to repay them."

After speaking, Lu Zhuo ignored Law's changing expression and turned to look behind him.

Deep in the jungle, a figure rode a gust of wind, crossing dozens of meters in an instant to appear before Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo chuckled at him, though the laughter carried a chill and murderous intent.

"Hello there... former Marine Admiral... Zephyr!"

"It's you! You're that pirate named Lu Zhuo? To think you'd deliver yourself into my hands!" Zephyr's expression was filled with rage as he let out a roar: "Pirates... all deserve to die!"

The next moment, a massive fist covered in pitch-black Armament Haki slammed fiercely toward Lu Zhuo.

Nami, beside Lu Zhuo, immediately transformed into a mass of sea clouds and splashed a huge wave of them toward Zephyr.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo gave a light shout: "Nami, move aside! This guy isn't a Devil Fruit user; go deal with the woman who's coming this way."

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

Nami's sea clouds had no effect whatsoever, but hearing Lu Zhuo's command, she immediately drifted toward the jungle ahead.

At that moment, the collision between the sword and Zephyr's mechanical arm erupted in a thunderous roar.

A fierce gale blew in all directions, and Law and Bepo felt they couldn't resist the shockwave, being pushed back several meters in a sorry state.

Looking at the center of the clearing, the ground had cracked with countless fissures. Law's eyes were filled with shock as he muttered, "That man's strength wasn't exaggerated; he truly possesses the power of an Admiral!"

"Too scary... run, run..." Bepo, caught in the wind, said with dizzy circles in his eyes and his tongue lolling out.

Law would only have a bounty of 200 million Beli two years later, and it would take another two years after the Summit War for him to possess strength comparable to a standard Admiral.

For the Law of this time, he was still far too weak.

Lu Zhuo locked eyes with Zephyr, his sword stance unfolding, his presence not a whit weaker. He used the momentum to retreat, landing steadily.

Zephyr, too, had been forced back several steps by the immense force, a look of surprise on his face.

Watching Nami drift into the jungle, Lu Zhuo suddenly shouted, "Nami, be careful! That woman is a Return-Return Fruit user; she has the ability to revert anything she touches by several years! Also, try to capture her alive."

"Don't worry!" Nami's cloud formed a small, pink hand and gave Lu Zhuo a victory sign.

Zephyr, however, looked at Lu Zhuo in shock and barked, "How do you know that?"

Lu Zhuo looked at him with a faint smile, though his eyes held contempt.

Lu Zhuo had no sympathy for someone who was blindly loyal to "justice" and sought to exterminate those who dreamed of freedom. Perhaps the kind Admiral Zephyr of many years ago might have earned Lu Zhuo's respect.

But for this man, who now wished to slaughter every pirate and even intended to destroy the entire New World two years later, Lu Zhuo felt only murderous intent.

"What do you think... obviously, the Marines told me!"

"What! Impossible!" Hearing Lu Zhuo's words, a ferocious look appeared on Zephyr's face. With a roar, he raised his mechanical arm.

The next moment, a volley of Seastone bullets fired toward Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo swung his sword three times, the strikes turning into over twenty flashes of light that instantly knocked down all the bullets, all while he continued to taunt Zephyr.

"Do you know? You've become a rebel in the eyes of the Marines, a violation of their justice. And since they can't openly move against you—after all, the current Admirals are your students—they made a deal with me!"

As he said this, Lu Zhuo's expression darkened, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Evil Light Slash!

In an instant, a blade of energy condensed, feeling almost tangible. From within it, Zephyr sensed true danger.

With a roar, he instantly activated Soru beneath his feet, appearing directly before Lu Zhuo.

"Everything you say is a lie! Even if the Navy has fallen, it could never reach such a degree!"

Zephyr bellowed in fury, though in his heart, he had actually begun to believe it. Ever since the Navy recruited pirates to become Shichibukai, he had completely lost faith in the organization.

Just as his fist came crashing down, the Evil Light Slash in Lu Zhuo's hand was unleashed.

This time, it was followed by a dozen continuous, thunderous explosions.

The Evil Light Slash knocked Zephyr back, its radiance dimming slightly before it pursued him again; another strike, and Zephyr was forced back once more.

By the time Lu Zhuo's Evil Light Slash finally vanished, Zephyr had been blasted back several dozen meters, leaving behind a deep trench and countless cracks in the ground.

On Zephyr's mechanical arm, a few faint fissures appeared, which were immediately sensed by Lu Zhuo's Observation Haki.

A cold sneer curled the corner of his mouth as Lu Zhuo stepped forward.

Soru!

The next moment, accompanied by a continuous series of booms, Lu Zhuo flashed rapidly around Zephyr, while Zephyr did not hesitate to use Soru as well. The two of them were like streaks of lightning, locked in a high-speed chase!

"Do you believe it now? To ensure you couldn't escape, the Navy even handed the Six Powers over to me!"

"Damn pirate, fallen Navy! The justice in this old man's heart is undying; nothing you say matters, all pirates deserve to die! Prepare to meet your end!"

Zephyr had been deeply provoked by Lu Zhuo, roaring frantically throughout the battle as his techniques gradually began to lose their composure.