Overwhelming Vergo

Moke casually swung his blade, sending the Tempest Kick Slash flying.

Then he looked at Vergo speechlessly. "You're a Marine vice admiral, and I'm a Shichibukai. If I remember correctly, we're allies, aren't we? What's the meaning of taking a swing at me?"

And the bastard had even ambushed him!

What a scumbag.

Vergo raised a brow, then gave a light laugh. "Sure enough, staying with a naive fool makes one naive as well. I actually thought I could catch you off guard while taking the chance to kill this brat..."

Moke still looked confused. "Do we have some grudge I don't know about?"

Then he seemed to think of something. His expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke a name: "M. Caesar Clown!"

That was it!

This guy was one of Doflamingo's men, and M. Caesar Clown was one of Doflamingo's most important cards.

Naturally, Vergo knew that.

Back at the tavern, this guy must have heard him buying information on M. Caesar Clown from the underground forces. That was why he had set his sights on him.

Vergo's expression changed sharply, and his gaze at Moke filled with killing intent.

As a pirate who had served as a Marine spy for so many years and risen all the way to vice admiral, his mind was undoubtedly sharp. The instant Moke spoke the name M. Caesar Clown—

He immediately understood that Moke knew something.

At the very least, Moke had already linked him to M. Caesar Clown. For that alone, even if he had to fight to the death today, Moke had to stay here.

Vergo was an exceptionally decisive man. Having made up his mind, he acted at once. Still in midair, he kicked against the air several times.

His entire body shot rapidly toward Moke on the ground.

His speed was incomparably fast.

A jade-like Demon Bamboo in his hand was coated in Armament Haki as it whipped toward Moke's head.

"Heh..."

To be honest, Moke wanted to kill Vergo too. After all, this guy was one of Doflamingo's capable subordinates. But Vergo's identity as a Marine made him wary.

After all, as a Shichibukai, it was not yet time for him to completely fall out with the Marines. But since Vergo had struck first, that was another matter.

He couldn't just take a beating without fighting back, could he?

And Vergo was so strong that Moke could not hold back. If he accidentally killed him, even Sengoku could not blame him for it, right?

Tsk, tsk...

Moke swung Shusui to meet the attack, coating it in Armament Haki at the same time.

Clang...

Their weapons smashed fiercely together in midair. Tremendous force collided endlessly between them, creating wave after wave of Shockwaves that swept outward.

Not only did the wind make their clothes flap loudly.

Everywhere it passed, the ground shattered apart.

Once they separated, Vergo's gaze fell on Shusui in Moke's hand. Seeing the Armament Haki wrapped around it, his pupils contracted slightly.

Physical arts and Armament Haki had always been sources of immense pride for him.

With the Six Powers, how much of an advantage could even CP9's once-in-a-century genius Rob Lucci gain against him?

In terms of Armament Haki alone, throughout the entire Marine force, aside from Iron Fist Garp and Black Arm Zephyr, even the Admirals were a notch inferior to him.

It could be said that his Armament Haki had already reached the highest level.

His only shortcoming was that he had yet to master Armament Haki Emission. Otherwise, his strength would have been enough to make him an Admiral candidate.

That was where his confidence came from.

Yet now... the Armament Haki of the man before him seemed even stronger than his.

And just how old was this guy?

The more that was the case, the less he could allow this man to live.

"Shave..."

Vergo vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already at Moke's front left, swinging Demon Bamboo once more directly at Moke's face.

Shusui swept horizontally, easily blocking the strike. Then Sandai Kitetsu left its sheath, carving a beautiful yet bone-chilling arc through the air before him.

"Iron Body!"

Vergo's expression changed slightly, and he immediately used the Six Powers' defensive technique.

Clang!

Sandai Kitetsu was blocked, and Vergo suffered no injury at all. The only result was that Moke's power forced him back several steps.

Vergo sneered. "Your Armament Haki may be slightly stronger than mine, but I still have Six Powers Iron Body as a defensive measure. You still can't break through my defenses."

A cold glint flashed through Moke's eyes. "Is that so?"

"One Sword Style—Ashura Slash!"

He first sheathed Shusui and slid it into his waistband. Holding Sandai Kitetsu, Ghost Aura surged wildly forth, forming an Asura behind him that wielded Sandai Kitetsu.

Whoosh...

Moke slashed out, aiming straight for Vergo.

"Not good..."

Vergo's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Moke to possess such bizarre power.

But that was still not enough to make him retreat. He raised Demon Bamboo before him, already assuming a defensive stance.

"Intimidation!"

But at that moment, Ghost Aura surged into Moke's pupils, turning them violet. With just one exchanged glance, Vergo felt enormous pressure.

Boom...

Almost simultaneously, a terrifying force erupted from Moke's body and swept through the surroundings.

"Conqueror's Haki..."

Under the double pressure, even someone as strong as Vergo was severely affected. A bead of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

Whoosh...

Something even more terrifying happened. The Demon Bamboo in his hand, coated in Armament Haki, was split in two by Moke's blade. That was right—it had been severed!

Vergo's pupils shook violently!

It showed just how horrified he was!

Most critically, Moke's blade did not lose momentum and continued toward him. Even his Demon Bamboo had been cut apart, so he no longer had the confidence to take that slash head-on with his body.

"Shave!"

However, he had fought his way up step by step from countless battles. His combat experience was incomparably rich...

Thus, at the final moment, he successfully entered a high-speed movement state, vanishing from before Sandai Kitetsu.

It could be said that Vergo had narrowly avoided the attack. When he appeared again, he was already more than ten meters away.

"Phew..."

Vergo could not help letting out a deep breath. But immediately afterward, his gaze turned grave again.

Because he discovered that Moke had also vanished from his original position.

"Not good..."

In the next instant, his Observation Haki caught Moke's position. He abruptly looked up. Sure enough, he saw Moke.

Yet he did not feel the slightest bit pleased. Instead, his heart rose into his throat.

"One Sword Style—Ghost Dragon Annihilation!"

A special slash more than six or seven meters tall, blazing with raging Ghost Flame. Most importantly, this attack was as fast as lightning.

In almost an instant, it arrived before Vergo, giving him no chance whatsoever to evade.

Vergo's pupils shrank to pinpoints. At this moment, he had no other choice.

"Armament—Iron Body..."