Time-Space Transmigration

With the assistance of the Nascent Dimensional Power within his body, Lu Ge had, after "a year," trained his physical strength to an utterly terrifying level. Ark had dared to take the attack head-on and had clearly suffered for it.

"Cough, cough, cough~~~" Ark climbed awkwardly out of the crater amid violent coughing. Looking at the slash marks on his wolf claws, he trembled slightly as he examined his right hand, his face grim. "What terrifying strength! His swordsmanship is nothing special, but this strength is truly overbearing! Fortunately, my Armament Haki is strong enough. Otherwise, these claws of mine would probably be ruined."

At that moment, Ark no longer dared to show the slightest carelessness or contempt. Otherwise, he would die!

Lu Ge remained silent as well. Since this was a battle to the death, there was no need for pointless talk.

However, he was taking the matter very seriously. That last strike had used all his strength, yet it had merely sent Ark flying without seriously injuring him. It had not even severed his claws. This allowed Lu Ge to understand just how powerful Ark was. He was definitely not much weaker than Lu Ge. This world truly was full of monsters! Even this previously unheard-of figure was so powerful.

If he wanted to defeat Ark head-on, it might take quite a while, and Lu Ge disliked that. He preferred crushing his opponents. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the power of time began to surge faintly in his palm. "Looks like I can only use that move."

The next moment, Lu Ge took one step forward, and his figure suddenly vanished.

"Hm?!!!"

Ark was startled when he saw this. In an instant, he felt as though he were facing a great enemy. He braced himself with all his might and cautiously watched his surroundings. However, a minute passed... and nothing happened...

Two minutes passed... and still nothing happened...

Three minutes passed... yet Lu Ge's figure still had not appeared. It was as if he had already left the area.

The female warriors of Amazon Lily watching from the sidelines also looked curious. "Strange. Where did Lu Ge go? Why did he suddenly disappear?"

"Sanya, did you notice anything?"

Sanya shook her head and remained silent. Supported by two female warriors, she stared intently at the battlefield.

As everyone continued discussing the matter, it was not until the fourth minute that Ark finally began to lose his composure under the strain of his intense concentration. "You bluffing bastard. Don't tell me you ran away?"

The female warriors of Amazon Lily also began whispering among themselves. "Ah~ Lu Ge couldn't have really run away, could he?"

"He probably didn't. I don't think he's that kind of person. Otherwise, he could have just hidden instead of joining the battle, right?"

"That's true~ Then where did he go?"

"Mana, didn't you awaken Observation Haki? Did you sense where Lu Ge went?"

The mature beauty Mana shook her head seriously. "I can't sense him at all. From the moment he disappeared, it was as if he had already left this place."

"Huh? Could he really have run away?"

"Pah! I thought he was something special! Turns out he's just a coward who puts on airs!" Ark's face was now horribly ugly from anger. He felt as though he had been treated like a clown and toyed with all this time. Being made a clown for so long was an utter disgrace.

However, just as he was preparing to vent his anger on Sanya and the others, Lu Ge's figure suddenly appeared behind him.

He appeared without warning or the slightest sign. If Ark had awakened Observation Haki, he might not have been caught so easily. Unfortunately, he had not. He only knew one type of Haki—Armament Haki.

The next moment, with a soft shhk, the katana in Lu Ge's hand effortlessly pierced through Ark's back and emerged from his chest.

"What...?"

Ark lowered his head and stared at the bloodstained blade protruding from his chest. His pupils contracted violently, and his face filled with disbelief. He struggled to turn his head and spoke the last words of his life. "You... really... are despicable...!"

He felt that his defeat was far too humiliating. He refused to accept it. He had not even had the chance to use all his abilities before being killed in a sneak attack. It was a dishonorable victory. Why don't we fight openly and fairly?

Filled with unwillingness, his vision completely sank into darkness.

Lu Ge merely curled his lip. This is a battle to the death. Did you expect me to announce my attack before striking? Who the hell still cares about martial virtue here?

He immediately pulled out his sword and coldly swung it again. With another shhk, he severed Ark's head, and the headless corpse toppled to the ground.

The bloody head rolled several times before coming to rest facing Lago, who had been watching from nearby. Lago's eyes widened in fright. With a difficult gulp, he swallowed, his face filled with astonishment and disbelief.

He never could have imagined that the boss who had been so imposing only a moment ago would suddenly die. He had died far too quickly and unexpectedly. Lago had not even had time to react and come to his aid. All he could say was that the man's ability was simply too strange.

"Could it be invisibility?"

Whatever it was, Lago knew one thing: he could not stay here any longer. Otherwise, he would have to accompany his boss in death.

He decisively stretched out his right hand. In the empty air, the outline of a door quietly appeared. However, before the door could fully take shape, a blade had already pierced through his back and emerged from his chest.

"You... you, why?"

Lago's eyes widened as he stared at the bloodstained blade protruding from his chest. He struggled to speak, unable to understand why the man had suddenly attacked him when he had only just thought of running away.

Fresh blood poured uncontrollably from his mouth, and his life force vanished at an astonishing speed. No one answered his question.

Looking at Lago, who had already collapsed on the ground, Lu Ge remained calm. "It really is the Door-Door Fruit! Fortunately, I saw the future and witnessed you escaping. Otherwise, you really would have gotten away."

Traversing time and space and foreseeing the future—these were the basic abilities of the Time-Time Fruit. Lu Ge had clearly seen Lago successfully open the door and escape. That was why he had acted before him and killed him decisively. Otherwise, keeping the owner of the Door-Door Fruit from escaping would have been extremely difficult.

Looking at Lago lying in a pool of blood, a fiery glint appeared in Lu Ge's eyes. The Door-Door Fruit was an extraordinary ability connected to space. If he could obtain it, would he not possess both time and space? By then, with the world so vast, where could he not go?

"But how can I obtain the Door-Door Fruit's ability?"

Looking at Lago, who was not yet completely dead, Lu Ge fell into deep thought. He knew that when a Devil Fruit user died, the corresponding Devil Fruit would randomly manifest somewhere in the world. Under normal circumstances, the next owner of the Door-Door Fruit might be that agent who infiltrated Water Seven in the original story.

How could he intercept this newly born Door-Door Fruit?

Perhaps it had sensed Lu Ge's desire. Suddenly, he felt the mysterious power within his dantian begin to stir once more.