Coby drew Shusui, coating it in Armament Haki, and met Caesar's flaming blade head-on. Sparks flew as metal clashed with fire, the oxidized flames crackling against the Haki coating. Caesar grinned, pressing forward, but Coby pushed back, his grip steady as he forced Caesar's sword to the side.
Without a word, Coby swept Shusui up, aiming a precise cut across Caesar's arm. The blade bit into Caesar's flesh, forcing him to release the flaming sword, which sputtered out and died as it hit the ground. Caesar's face contorted with pain, clutching his bleeding arm as he stumbled back, glaring at Coby.
In a desperate attempt, Caesar raised both hands, summoning a dense cloud of poisonous gas around himself, obscuring him from view. The air thickened, the poisonous mist twisting into deadly shapes as it filled the area between them. Coby didn't flinch, sheathing Shusui before lifting his palm.
In a flash, Coby summoned a burst of wind, dispersing the toxic gas and blowing it harmlessly away from the battlefield. Caesar's expression shifted from anger to fear, his attacks proving useless against the relentless Straw Hat. (DaoistKq1vOg seems like I did remember but late.)
"Give it up, Clown," Coby said, his voice flat.
"Vergo, help me!" Panicked, Caesar tried to scramble away, but Coby was faster. With one smooth motion, he appeared behind Caesar, grabbing him by the collar and flinging him into the ground with a solid thud. Caesar gasped, sprawled in the dirt, his remaining energy draining fast.
As Caesar attempted to push himself up, Coby stepped forward, his eyes cold. "You're done," he said simply, raising Shusui. In one clean strike, he knocked Caesar unconscious, leaving him sprawled out on the ground, beaten.
Meanwhile, across the clearing, Smoker was locked in a fierce standoff with Vergo, who stood motionless, his fists coated in thick Armament Haki. Smoker lunged forward, his jutte raised, meeting Vergo's punch in a sharp, resounding clash. Vergo smirked, leaning into the strike, his expression unfazed as he pushed Smoker back with sheer force.
Law's Room expanded over the battlefield, shimmering with blue energy as he extended a hand. "I've waited long enough for this," he muttered, his eyes fixed on Vergo.
In an instant, Law brought down his hand, his "Counter Shock" technique crackling with electric energy as it struck Vergo, sending a shockwave through his body. Vergo grunted, momentarily staggered, but he quickly regained his balance, his face twisting into a sneer.
"You've grown soft, Law," Vergo taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think you can just turn on us? Pathetic."
Law's gaze hardened, a cold smirk twisting his lips. "I'm a surgeon," he said, voice flat, "I aim to maximize your pain."
Vergo didn't flinch, his Armament Haki thickening visibly along his arms. "You'll need more than cheap tricks to put me down, Law," he sneered, taking a step forward.
Law's fingers twitched as he raised his hand, expanding his Room. "Tact." With a flick, he sent a boulder hurtling toward Vergo, but the Vice-Admiral swatted it aside like it was nothing, charging forward with a low growl. Law's eyes narrowed, and he made a quick slicing motion with his hand, attempting to sever Vergo's arm within the Room's reach. Yet, Vergo's Haki-coated limb resisted, his flesh holding firm against Law's attempts to split it.
Seeing this, Smoker lunged in from the side, jutte raised high, striking Vergo's chest with a powerful swing. Vergo blocked the attack with a raised forearm, but the force still drove him back a step. Smoker pressed forward, landing another blow across Vergo's shoulder, pushing him back toward Law.
Law clenched his teeth, frustration flashing in his eyes as he summoned a new attack. He stabbed forward with his finger, a sharp burst of energy shooting toward Vergo's torso. But once again, Vergo's Haki absorbed the impact, and he only staggered, his sneer intact as he shrugged off the hit.
"You two really think this'll work?" Vergo taunted, lunging back at Smoker, his fist swinging wide. Smoker ducked, sidestepping, and countered with a smoke-covered uppercut that caught Vergo under the chin. Vergo grunted, stumbling back, but he quickly regained his stance, eyes flashing with irritation.
Law moved in again, this time wielding Kikoku, his nodachi, aiming a swift slash toward Vergo's midsection. The blade met Vergo's Haki-coated forearm with a resounding clang, but barely made a dent. Vergo chuckled, then struck back, his fist flying in a brutal arc that clipped Law's shoulder, sending him skidding back.
Smoker darted in again, jutte at the ready, and swung it down toward Vergo's exposed side. Vergo twisted just in time to block, but Smoker's attack forced him to shift his stance. Law seized the opening, lunging forward with a fierce downward slash. The blade bit into Vergo's shoulder, this time leaving a shallow gash, but the Vice-Admiral barely reacted.
Vergo's Haki was like steel, barely scratched by Law's blade. Law gritted his teeth, eyes fixed on Vergo's smug expression. Smoker, fuming, tightened his grip on his jutte.
"You work for Doflamingo?" Smoker spat, advancing. "How long have you been Doflamingo's dog, Vergo? How long did you lie to the Marines, betray yourself?"
Vergo chuckled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Betray?" He glanced at Smoker, his smirk widening. "I joined the Marines under Doffy's orders. I've been with him from the start." He spread his arms, relishing the disbelief on Smoker's face. "The truth is, Smoker… the Marines are full of fools, and none of you even saw it coming."
Smoker clenched his jaw. "You've been using the uniform to cover for a criminal!" He swung his jutte in a powerful arc, slamming it against Vergo's side. But Vergo barely budged, absorbing the blow with his Haki-coated torso.
"You're wasting your time, Smoker," Vergo said coldly, blocking another strike. "The Marines are nothing but tools for those of us who know how to use them. And Doflamingo? He's going to rule the New World."
Law darted in, Kikoku flashing as he aimed for Vergo's neck. Vergo deflected with a swift turn, his fist crashing toward Law's ribs. Law managed to sidestep, but Vergo's punch grazed him, sending a shock of pain through his side.
At that moment, Caesar's desperate voice cut through the chaos. "Vergo, help me!"
But before Vergo could even react, Coby was already behind Caesar. Without a word, he grabbed Caesar by the collar, slammed him to the ground, and stepped away, leaving the gas-man sprawled, his face twisted in pain.
Coby glanced over at Smoker and Law with a mocking grin. "You two seriously struggling with one guy?"
Smoker shot him a glare. "He's tougher than he looks."
Vergo cracked his knuckles, clearly unfazed by Coby's presence. "You Straw Hats are annoyingly persistent. Looks like it's time I finish this myself."
Coby just chuckled, stepping forward to stand beside Smoker and Law. "Not sure you're in any position to be making threats," he replied, eyes glinting with challenge. "You gonna handle him, or do I need to do this too?"
Law smirked, tightening his grip on Kikoku. "I've got it," he muttered, swinging his sword in an arc. "Room!"
Caesar, lying on the ground, pulled out a heart encased in a semi-translucent blue cube—Law's heart. When Law first arrived, Caesar, to gain his trust Law handed his heart as insurance against betrayal received Monet's in return. Now clutching it tightly from where he lay, Caesar raised the cube and yelled, "Stop, or I will kill you!"
Coby looked at Caesar like he was an idiot. "Why should I care what happens to this guy, huh? Just because we're pirates, that makes us friends?"
Law shot Coby a sharp glare, but Caesar's expression froze as he realized the truth. His momentary shock turned to rage, and without hesitation, he crushed the heart in his grip. Law flinched, his body briefly stiffening, but as Caesar smirked, Law's expression quickly shifted to confusion.
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From the last free chapter to the last Patreon chapter, there are currently 69 chapters available. Patreon now offers 69 advance chapters, and that number will go down by one each day as I steadily release them to the public.
patreon.com/pinkisjustice