Inside the stairwell of the Tower of Justice.
Spandam stumbled downstairs, slurring his curses.
He bumped and scraped his way along, scrambling and tumbling as he fled alone in panic.
All kinds of ominous tremors came from above him in the Tower of Justice. The aftershocks of battle made even the stone steps beneath his feet shake.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why! Why did this have to happen to me!!"
His nerves stretched to the breaking point, Spandam muttered to himself, venting his frustration. His chattering teeth sounded like drums beating inside his skull.
...Several minutes passed.
"Hah-hah-hah-"
Spandam braced himself against the wall, panting violently. He had never run this fast in his life. His legs no longer felt like his own.
By the time he neared the bottom of the tower, this weakling with a doriki of nine had practically blown out his lungs.
-Bondrewd, the Lord of Dawn.
That name swung back and forth in his mind like a pendulum.
Within the World Government hierarchy, he counted as one of the most privileged heirs. His family had served the Celestial Dragons for generations-household retainers with impeccable, long-standing credentials.
As a result, his "clairvoyance" was also very high.
And now, that man was on Enies Lobby.
Spandam leaned against the wall, planning to rest for a few minutes.
-As long as I reach that place, as long as I get through the Gate of Justice...
Just as Spandam relaxed a fraction, the structure in front of him "vanished."
-Boom! Rumble-!
A perfectly cylindrical hole.
Its edge was only about a meter from Spandam.
"Hnn-hnn-uuuuugh-"
Using both hands and feet, Spandam crawled toward the side where the structure was still reasonably intact, losing control of his bowels and bladder.
He left some residue along the