Morning mist shrouded Mount Colubo's forest paths like gauze. Allen led everyone swiftly through the woods, each face weary yet resolute. Days of fleeing had not broken them; instead, they had forged resilience and an unspoken understanding.
"CP0's elites..." Ace murmured as he hurried along, a small flame unconsciously igniting in his hand. "This time, we'll make sure they never come back!"
Sabo leaned on his steel pipe. His injured leg slowed him slightly, but his eyes were as sharp as ever. "Don't be impulsive, Ace. Follow Allen's plan."
Luffy was unusually quiet, his rubber arms occasionally stretching out to scout the path ahead. After the conch incident, he seemed to have matured a little. Though still simple and impulsive, he had gained a sense of responsibility.
Allen spread his Observation Haki to its fullest, sensing every movement within several kilometers. The Ark Core warmed faintly against his chest, constantly updating the CP0 squad's position.
Target distance: 12 kilometers... Speed steady... Five members... Energy readings higher than last time...
They're coming. Allen's gaze sharpened, and he raised a hand to signal everyone to stop.
"We'll prepare here." He chose a narrow valley entrance flanked by towering cliffs, easy to defend and difficult to attack. "Dadan, take your people to the high ground behind us and set up an ambush. Ace, left flank. Sabo, right flank. Luffy, face them head-on with me."
Simple orders, swiftly executed. After working together through numerous actual battles, this small group had become like a well-trained miniature army.
Allen stood alone at the valley entrance, closing his eyes to focus. The Power of Zhulong circulated within him, resonating strangely with the Ark Core. This time, he no longer intended to hide his strength.
Target distance: 5 kilometers... Speed increasing... Estimated time to contact: 7 minutes...
Time ticked by. The valley was eerily quiet, with only the wind's mournful whistle against the cliffs.
Suddenly, Allen opened his eyes, his golden slit pupils shining like two lamps in the morning mist. "They're here!"
Five dark figures appeared like phantoms at the valley entrance: the elite CP0 squad led by Jerome. Their presence was more dangerous than before. Clearly, they had come fully prepared.
"We meet again, brat." Jerome's voice was icy. "You won't escape this time."
Allen faced him calmly. "Escape? I'm afraid you'll be the ones running today."
Jerome sneered. "Arrogant!" He swept his hand, and all four agents attacked at once!
But this time, Allen held nothing back! The Power of Zhulong erupted in full! Dragon-scale patterns surfaced on his skin, and the light around him began to distort!
"Torch Dragon Domain: Light Erosion!" At Allen's low shout, the light within a ten-meter radius around him suddenly became bizarre! Light and darkness intermingled, colors warped, and the CP0 agents' movements were visibly affected as their vision was severely disrupted!
"What ability is this?!" one agent cried out as his Rankyaku inexplicably veered off course!
Jerome's expression shifted slightly. "A visual interference ability? Everyone, close your eyes and use Observation Haki!"
The CP0 agents immediately closed their eyes, fighting purely through Observation Haki. But Allen had anticipated this!
"This is what I was waiting for!" Golden light blazed in Allen's eyes. "Torch Dragon Domain: Dark Devour!"
The domain's nature abruptly changed! Instead of distorting, the light was absorbed in vast quantities! The entire area plunged into near-total darkness, even disrupting Observation Haki to a degree!
"Not good!" Jerome exclaimed. "This darkness can interfere with Observation Haki!"
The instant the CP0 agents' perception was restricted, the ambush began!
"Fire Fist!" Ace charged from the left, scorching flames surging forth!
"Steel Pipe Dance: Waltz!" Sabo rushed in from the right, sweeping his steel pipe through the air with a piercing whistle!
"Gum-Gum... Bazooka!" Luffy dove from above, his rubber arms striking with all his strength!
The sudden three-sided assault threw CP0 into disarray! Though they reacted quickly, defending with Tekkai and Kami-e, they were still forced back again and again!
"Not bad teamwork." A vicious glint flashed through Jerome's eyes. "But it's not enough!"
He attacked personally, unleashing another Rokuogan! But this time, Allen neither dodged nor retreated!
"Zhulong's Breath: Light-Heat Cannon!" Highly concentrated light and heat erupted from Allen's hands, crashing head-on into the Rokuogan!
Boom!!! A terrifying shock wave swept through the valley! The cliffs cracked, and dust filled the air!
When the dust cleared slightly, Jerome was shocked to discover that Allen had not retreated even half a step! Though blood trickled from his mouth, his gaze was sharper than ever!
"How is that possible?!" Jerome could not believe it. In just a few days, this brat's strength had increased so much!
Allen wiped away the blood and gave a faint, cold smile. "There are more surprises to come."
The Power of Zhulong resonated deeply with the Ark Core, and countless streams of combat data flowed into his mind. The experience gained through countless "deaths" in the simulation space now came perfectly into play!
He saw through the tiny windup before Jerome unleashed his Rokuogan and predicted the trajectories of the other agents' Rankyaku and Shigan! Every dodge was perfectly timed, every counterattack aimed straight at a vital point!
More terrifying still, he switched freely between the Torch Dragon Domain's two forms: Light Erosion to disrupt vision, then Dark Devour to disrupt perception! The CP0 agents struggled to keep up, unable to bring their full strength to bear!
"This damned ability!" one agent roared, unleashing all his power. "Life Return: Muscle Inflation!"
His body abruptly swelled, his strength and speed soaring! He hurled a heavy punch at Allen's face!
But Allen remained unhurried, golden light flowing through his eyes. "Too slow."
With the Power of Zhulong enhancing him, his Observation Haki could already foresee several seconds into the future! He easily sidestepped the heavy punch, simultaneously delivering a precise knife-hand strike to the side of his opponent's neck!
"Urgh!" The agent collapsed with a muffled groan, temporarily unconscious.
Jerome's face turned livid. "Everyone! Use that move!"
The remaining three agents immediately withdrew, forming a peculiar formation with Jerome. Their auras began to resonate as some kind of combined technique took shape!
Sensing danger, Allen immediately retreated. "Ace! Sabo! Luffy! Prepare the combined attack!"
The three brothers understood at once and swiftly gathered around Allen. The four stood back-to-back, their auras beginning to mingle!
"Flame, rubber, steel pipe, Torch Dragon..." Allen shouted low. "Fourfold Combined Attack: Dragon Flame Vortex!"
Ace's flames, Luffy's rubber elasticity, Sabo's steel pipe techniques, and Allen's control over light and heat! The four powers fused wondrously into a massive vortex of flame, interwoven with distorted light and shadow and the elastic properties of rubber!
CP0's combined technique was completed at the same moment. "Rokushiki Ogi: Hakai!"
The terrifying shock wave collided with the Dragon Flame Vortex! The entire valley shook violently, and vast sections of the cliffs collapsed!
Rumble!!!
This collision far surpassed the previous ones! The explosion's light illuminated all of Mount Colubo!
When everything settled, the valley was unrecognizable. The four CP0 agents knelt on one knee, clearly drained. Allen's side was little better off; all four had sustained considerable injuries.
But just then, something unexpected happened!
Perhaps stimulated by the extreme battle, Luffy suddenly clutched his head and crouched in pain. "My head... hurts..."
"Luffy!" Ace and Sabo cried.
But Allen's eyes lit up. "This is... a sign of Conqueror's Haki awakening!"
Sure enough, the next instant, an indescribable majesty erupted from Luffy! An invisible shock wave swept outward! The CP0 agents looked as though they had suffered a heavy blow, their eyes instantly going blank!
Jerome barely remained conscious, his face full of horror. "C-Conqueror's Haki?! A child this young?!"
Even Ace and Sabo were affected, their movements visibly slowing!
Only Allen remained almost unaffected, protected by the Power of Zhulong. He looked at Luffy in delighted surprise. This little brother had finally taken his first step toward becoming a king!
But CP0 was well trained, after all, and soon recovered from the impact of Conqueror's Haki. Jerome's gaze turned frenzied. "A threat like this... cannot be allowed to live!"
He unleashed all his strength, sending a strike beyond his limits straight at Luffy! "Rokushiki Ogi: Maximum Ring: Rokuogan!"
This blow was far more powerful than his earlier attacks! Even the air was torn apart! Luffy was in the weakened period following his Conqueror's Haki awakening and had no way to dodge!
"Luffy!!!" Ace and Sabo's eyes nearly split with anguish, but they were too late to save him!
At that critical instant, Allen made a decision.
He stopped suppressing his power and stopped concealing his true form.
The Power of Zhulong surged with unprecedented intensity! The dragon-scale patterns on his skin became distinct, solid scales, his hands transformed into sharp claws, and his golden slit pupils shone like burning suns!
"Mythical Zoan, Model: Zhulong... half-dragon transformation!"
A terrifying presence erupted! It even overwhelmed Luffy's Conqueror's Haki! Allen's speed reached its utmost limit, and he appeared before Luffy in an instant!
"Torch Dragon Secret Technique: Light and Dark Protection!"
Light and darkness intertwined before him, forming a strange shield! Jerome's all-out strike slammed into it!
Crack... Fractures appeared across the shield, but it ultimately blocked the lethal blow!
Jerome stared, dumbfounded. "N-no! Impossible! This power..."
Allen slowly raised his head, his fully draconic face looking imposing and terrifying. "It's time to end this."
The Power of Zhulong erupted in full! His domain expanded across the entire valley! This time, he no longer merely switched between light and darkness, but controlled both simultaneously! The illuminated areas were searingly hot, while the dark areas were utterly deathly still!
The CP0 agents screamed, some with their eyes burned by intense light, others losing all perception in the darkness!
Jerome resisted desperately, but against the Torch Dragon's complete form, everything was futile!
"Torch Dragon Final Technique: Dawn Judgment!"
Ultimate light and ultimate darkness erupted simultaneously, then instantly returned to stillness.
When the light faded, all five CP0 agents lay unconscious on the ground, their fates unknown.
Allen released his dragon transformation and staggered, barely able to remain standing. That strike had consumed most of his stamina.
"Allen!" The three brothers hurried to support him.
"I'm fine..." Allen panted. "Quick, clear the battlefield. We have to leave immediately!"
Everyone moved swiftly. On the CP0 agents, they found many useful items: Seastone Handcuffs, specially made wound medicine, and even a sea chart of the East Blue and some Beli.
Most importantly, Allen found a Den Den Mushi and a secret orders document. Its contents made his pupils contract-
"Prioritize recovery of the ancient legacy... If necessary, eliminate all bloodlines connected to Gol D. Roger... Authorization for Admiral-level combat support has been obtained..."
The World Government is already willing to deploy Admiral-level combat power! We have to leave the East Blue immediately!
Just then, the Ark Core suddenly transmitted an urgent message:
High-intensity energy detected approaching... Extremely fast... Energy signature match: Marine Admiral... Estimated arrival time: 23 minutes...
An Admiral?! So soon?!
Allen's expression changed drastically. "Evacuate immediately! A Marine Admiral is coming!"
Abandoning their cleanup, everyone rushed toward the coast as fast as they could! They had to put to sea before the Admiral arrived!
But when they reached the place where they had hidden their boat, their hearts sank-the boat had been completely destroyed, clearly sabotaged by CP0 beforehand!
"What do we do?!" Ace asked anxiously.
Allen looked out at the sea, resolve flashing in his eyes. "There's only one way."
He took out the Poseidon Conch and poured the Power of Zhulong into it with all his strength! The conch emitted a dazzling blue light!
Poseidon, if you can hear me... Allen prayed silently. Please give us guidance...
The conch's light grew ever brighter, finally becoming a pillar that shot into the sky!
The distant sea began to churn! Several enormous shadows were rapidly approaching!
An enormous sea serpent's head emerged first-the very Sea King that had helped them before!
"Get on!" Allen shouted. "They'll take us away!"
Everyone leaped onto the sea serpent's head without hesitation. With a long cry, it turned and swam toward the deep sea!
Less than ten minutes after they left, a golden light flashed, and a tall figure appeared on the shore.
"Am I too late..." Borsalino pursed his lips as he watched the departing Sea Kings and surveyed the devastated shore. "How very frightening~"
He dialed his Den Den Mushi. "Hello, hello~ The targets fled toward the Calm Belt~ Requesting further instructions~"
A stern voice came from the other end. "Continue pursuit! They must not be allowed to enter the Grand Line!"
"Understood~" Kizaru turned into golden light and vanished.
Out in the deep sea, Allen stood atop the sea serpent's head, watching the East Blue's coastline gradually recede behind them.
A new journey had begun, and the road ahead would surely be even more treacherous.
But as he looked at his three younger brothers beside him, his eyes were filled with resolve.
Whatever the future held, they would face it together.
Because they were brothers.