Still Too Slow

Death closed in. Dragon's eyes widened, and he could only watch as the spear drove toward him.

Light flashed. Time seemed to freeze. From the corner of his eye, Ye Chen saw a figure appear beside Dragon. Clouds swirled around the figure's upper body as he caught the spear in one hand, then kicked out with overwhelming force.

Ye Chen blocked with one hand but was driven backward, blood spraying from his mouth.

"Who are you?"

Rob Lucci and Vergo went on guard. Sensing the threat, they tensed instinctively.

Shrouded in clouds, the newcomer seemed almost unreal. He said nothing. Grabbing Dragon, he appeared before Kaido, and the three of them shot into the sky, leaving the Abyss.

Ye Chen's face turned icy. White spread across his eyes as he forced himself to use Observation Haki Control, and he vanished.

High above, Kizaru had not left. A guarded glint crossed his eyes when he saw the cloud-wreathed figure appear.

"You're not taking them away."

Ye Chen cut the mysterious man off. Rob Lucci and Vergo flashed into position behind him, surrounding him from three sides.

Mist veiled the mysterious man's face. Holding Dragon in one hand and Kaido in the other, he looked at Ye Chen, his thoughts unreadable.

Suddenly, his composure wavered, as though something had frightened him. He threw Kaido toward Ye Chen, took a blow from Rob Lucci and Vergo, then dissolved into bubbles and vanished.

Ye Chen flew backward. He caught Kaido and forced himself to a stop, coughing up blood again.

Before Rob Lucci and the others could recover from the man's disappearance, a presence swept across the entire sky. Time seemed to stop. Another mist-shrouded figure stood nearby, though no one had seen her arrive.

Every hair on Rob Lucci's and Vergo's bodies stood