Main Laboratory.
This room covered nearly half a football field. At its center, Vegapunk, with his enormous head, was intently operating a futuristic workbench. The noisy sounds outside were blocked by the well-insulated walls and did not reach this place at all.
Behind the laboratory doors, Sentomaru, carrying a massive axe, warily scanned his surroundings.
"Doctor, do we really not need to evacuate?"
he asked in a muffled voice.
"No need."
Vegapunk did not turn around.
"If the intruder can break through Kizaru's defense, then there's nowhere we can run."
Sentomaru was about to say something else when, suddenly, the sound of blades piercing flesh reached his ears.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The sounds of blades entering flesh rang out one after another as the laboratory's surveillance Den Den Mushi were simultaneously pierced through by shadow-forged spears.
"Enemy attack!"
Sentomaru roared, sweeping his massive axe horizontally as Armament Haki covered its blade.
But he was still one step too slow.
A shadow spear flowing with Armament Haki erupted from the shadow he cast upon the floor, precisely piercing his right shoulder blade.
The spear avoided his vital points, but completely destroyed the nerves and muscles in his right arm.
Sentomaru let out a muffled groan. His massive axe slipped from his hand as he staggered backward.
The second and third shadow spears pierced through both his legs in succession.
Sentomaru collapsed helplessly onto the floor and fell unconscious, blood rapidly soaking through his body.
Stussy rose from the shadows, holding a longsword formed from shadow in her hand. She looked at Vegapunk and revealed a complicated smile.
"Long time no see, Doctor. I'm here to take you away."
Vegapunk finally lifted his head from his research, turning his enormous head toward Stussy. His expression shifted from confusion to surprise, then from