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Their overwhelming auras clashed, instantly distorting the space around them. A terrifying shockwave shattered everything within reach of the six figures. The priceless murals split apart in an instant, and the crystal chandelier above them shattered with a loud smash.
The Gorōsei wore grave expressions as they stared at the tall, young figure before them. A trace of wariness flickered in their eyes.
Behind their opponent, a demonic phantom had also appeared, something that could only manifest when a Devil Fruit ability was developed to its absolute limit, awakening the soul within it.
For Logia users, this was an even greater challenge; it was almost impossible, something that had only ever existed in legends.
“Compared to the information we previously had, his true strength is even greater!” Topman Warcury said solemnly.
“He’s far too arrogant. No matter what, he must be taught a lesson.” Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro said coldly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The auras of both sides collided violently. The ground cracked open and the entire palace began to tremble.
“You’re right. This situation is also part of our plan.” Marcus Mars replied.
“Then let’s make our move!” Jaygarcia Saturn declared.
In almost an instant, all five figures moved. Their demonic phantoms lurked behind them, revealing sinister grins through the blur.
They were fast… unimaginably fast. Beneath those aged bodies lay a terrifying explosive power.
“Shuā!”
In the blink of an eye, they had appeared in front of, behind, to the left of, to the right of and above Kojin, completely sealing off every path of escape.
“He’s full of openings! He can’t dodge this!” Jaygarcia Saturn shouted.
At that very moment, Kojin, still standing in place, suddenly grinned, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.
“He… He’s actually smiling?!” Topman Warcury’s heart shook violently.
…
Inside the Levely Chamber
“Your Majesty Cobra, what proposal did you just put forward?”
The spacious conference hall fell silent. Everyone present was stunned and incredulous at Cobra’s proposal.
“Then I’ll repeat it.” Nefertari Cobra said with a faint smile on his face.
“In response to the increasingly rampant Great Age of Piracy, I believe that relying solely on the Marines is no longer sufficient to maintain balance on the seas. Therefore, we should consider recruiting certain pirates and using their power to counterbalance others of the same kind. I call this the Warlord System!”
Silence.
The bold proposal made the entire room so quiet that even a pin could be heard dropping.
After a long moment, voices finally erupted.
“Absurd! Using pirates to restrain pirates?”
“How is that possible? Ordinary pirates can’t do it, and why would great pirates ever cooperate with the World Government?”
“This is outrageous! This plan is beyond comprehension!”
“No… it might be possible. Pirates are selfish and ruthless. If we offer certain powerful individuals enough benefits, they might cooperate.”
“But cooperating with pirates, no matter how you look at it, is ridiculous!’
The discussion grew heated. Cobra’s expression darkened slightly.
Earlier, his proposals regarding Alabasta’s foreign trade, imports, and exports, as well as his requests for domestic military aid, had been completely ignored. Even his proposal concerning aid for Flevance, the White City, and the Amber Lead disease had received no response.
Yet now, when it came to the Warlord System, these people were suddenly enthusiastic. They seemed to prefer cooperating with pirates or even waging war with them to worrying about the livelihood of ordinary civilians.
They are hopeless…
Cobra sighed inwardly.
He understood all too well that many of the rulers present only cared about their own nations. To them, the common people were nothing more than expendable ants.
No one would truly value the lives or welfare of such ‘ants.’
Kojin was right.
‘We are fundamentally different from them.’
Cobra’s gaze flickered, but he soon regained his composure.
Suddenly… a violent tremor shook the entire hall, causing everyone present to lose their footing and their faces to change drastically.
“What just happened?!”
“An earthquake in Mary Geoise?!”
“It’s impossible… this is the Holy Land!”
“Is it the wind? A massive gust of wind shaking the buildings?”
Confusion spread as everyone looked outside. But the tremor lasted only an instant before disappearing. Soon, no one paid it any further attention.
…
Back to the battle!
“Faced with an attack he cannot possibly evade… And he’s still smiling?!”
Seeing the smile on Kojin’s face, the Gorōsei were all shaken to their core.
The next instant, the five figures unleashed their strongest attacks, piercing Kojin’s body and landing firmly on the ground.
“Buzz—!”
Almost immediately, the air trembled.
An invisible yet overwhelming shockwave radiated outwards. When it hit the palace walls and ceiling, the entire structure shook violently and cracks spread everywhere.
All four walls were sliced apart and tilted as dust billowed into the air.
“Five elders…” A calm voice echoed out.
The Gorōsei all turned around, their gazes fixed on the figure at the center.
A thin line of blood appeared across Kojin’s neck. His chest, abdomen, and limbs were marked by fatal wounds. These were injuries that should have meant certain death, no matter how powerful the person.
“Is that all?” A mocking chuckle escaped Kojin; his face was filled with undisguised disdain.
“This bastard!”
“How arrogant! He didn’t even try to dodge our attacks!”
“Is this a show of force? Is he demonstrating his superiority to us?”
“Those injuries should have killed him instantly!”
The five of them were furious, their expressions shifting drastically.
Yet none of them acted rashly.
After about two breaths’ worth of time had passed, a shocking scene unfolded before their eyes.
The blood line across his severed neck had vanished and the fatal wounds on his chest, abdomen, and limbs were completely healed.
“An undying body!” Topman Warcury’s pupils shrank.
Witnessing such a bizarre bloodline firsthand sent chills down their spines.
‘How could one possibly overcome an enemy that could not die?’
Even if a god descended, there might be no answer.
“Can he truly negate death?!”
“This guy is even more terrifying than us!”
Seeing it in person was far more shocking than any report or recorded information could convey.
“Rip!”
The sound of fabric tearing rang out as Kojin suddenly ripped off his top.
What was revealed was a powerful physique, his muscles twisting together like the face of a demon.
“That brat…! His back muscles form the face of a demon!” Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro was shaken to the core.
The sight of that demonic back alone filled all five with extreme caution.
Just by looking at his body, it was clear that he had undergone extreme training. Kojin exhaled two streams of white air from his nostrils and grinned savagely.
“Now… it’s my turn, isn’t it?”
The moment he finished speaking, the five elders’ expressions changed instantly.
With a boom, the ground beneath Kojin collapsed inwards, sending out a shockwave.
His figure vanished completely.
“Buzz…!”
Suddenly, space warped violently in front of Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro as a figure wreathed in lightning appeared.
A fist the size of a sandbag hurtled towards his face in an instant.
“So fast!”
Though shocked, Nusjuro reacted instantly, drawing his blade and blocking the blow.
Bang!
It felt as if a mountain had slammed into his sword. His expression changed drastically as he was forced backwards, his feet dragging across the ground until he crashed into the wall behind him, leaving spiderweb-like cracks in the process.
“Speed and strength… both flawless!”
At the same time, the other four moved to surround Kojin once more.
“No matter how strong you are, how can you possibly take on all five of us?!” Topman Warcury roared.
Kojin grinned and threw a punch.
“Then come and try!”
Bang!
Fist met fist, and the resulting shockwave rippled across the palace walls.
“Creak…!”
A harsh sound echoed through the palace, which was clearly on the verge of collapse. Lightning crackled across Kojin’s body as he moved at unbelievable speed, clashing with all four opponents in rapid succession.
Each collision unleashed violent shockwaves that overturned everything in their path.
The Gorōsei stepped back, surrounding Kojin at the center. After testing each other through attack and defense, they stopped advancing recklessly.
“Stop.” A cold, majestic voice echoed from afar, ethereal and void-like. “None of you can bear the responsibility of destroying this place.”
In an instant, the Gorōsei froze, their expressions turning respectful as they withdrew their auras.
“Lord…!”
At the same time… an attack like a writhing tentacle pierced Kojin’s heart, causing his body to tremble slightly.
“That lord has made a move!”
“Is he dead?”
The Gorōsei were shaken.
In their view, if that person had acted, the result would have been different.
But in the very next moment… A smile appeared on Kojin’s face.
“So even the ruler hidden deep within Pangaea Castle resorts to a sneak attack?”
“What a disappointment.”
He shook his head and sighed as the wound on his chest rapidly vanished.
Once again, the sight stunned the Gorōsei and even the figure lurking in the shadows.
“Nefertari Kojin. We need to know your stance.” The mysterious figure spoke coldly.
Kojin laughed, his gaze suddenly locking onto a certain spot.
“My stance?”
“Before we get to that, I can’t just pretend your sneak attack never happened.”
His voice turned icy.
In an instant, his five fingers spread open and a lightning spear, infused with black-red Haoshoku Haki, materialized in his grasp.
Then… He hurled it forward with full force.
The Gorōsei’s expressions changed drastically as they stared in shock at the spear that vanished in an instant.
“He actually dared to attack that lord!!!”
(End of Chapter)
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