Whoosh!!!
"Ghost Way: Bone Glow Slash!"
The black longsword, wreathed in quiet blue icy flames, swept forward almost without a sound, sliding straight toward Luffy's neck. Financial Military God Saint Nusjuro was determined to erase this source of anger and fear for Imu with a single strike.
"Care…ful…"
The warning came far too late.
Ace had only just regained his senses when he saw the blade nearly touch Luffy's throat. His eyes widened in horror as the flames he hurled forward had barely left his hand.
Boom!
"Wow! That sword is fast!"
Luffy's eyes bulged comically as he stared at the approaching blue ghostly slash. He had already noticed the strange figure who appeared out of nowhere and attacked without a single word.
The sword arrived.
"Danger!! I'll dodge!!!"
In a way that completely defied common sense, Luffy grabbed his own neck with both hands and stretched it outward in a huge arc, narrowly avoiding the strike.
"Phew! You really scared me! Hehehehe!!!"
Pulling his giraffe-like neck back to normal, Luffy wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed loudly, completely unfazed.
Swish!!!
The slash continued onward without restraint, crashing down into Marineford Plaza.
Pfft!
Hundreds of Marines who failed to react in time were instantly torn apart, blood splattering across the stunned faces of those nearby.
Crack!!!!
With a single strike, the entire plaza split cleanly in two.
Rumble, rumble…
"Ah! Save me!"
"I'm falling!"
As the ground collapsed, Marines who failed to keep their footing plunged into the abyss below, their fates unknown.
"Ah ah ah!!!"
Luffy's eyes popped out again as he stared at the devastation, his expression frozen in exaggerated shock.
"That slash is incredible! It's even stronger than the greatest swordsman Hawkeye's!"
Boom!
Ace's flames slammed into Saint Nusjuro.
Sizzle…
They were swallowed instantly, extinguished by the terrifying black flames clinging to his body.
"So strong…"
Ace landed on the plaza, staring at the monstrous skeletal centaur in disbelief. His attack had been completely ignored.
Where did this monster come from? And why did its presence feel so deeply sinister?
"…"
Saint Nusjuro's gaze, hidden beneath his circular lenses, grew colder as he observed Luffy's bizarre movements. Without hesitation, he swung his blade again.
"Ghost Way: Black Demon Slash!"
Swish!
A slash infused with black flames expanded rapidly as it tore through the air, aimed straight at Luffy's waist.
"So fast!"
Luffy shouted as his body suddenly compressed into a ball, bouncing away just in time. After ricocheting off the ground, he sprang back into shape.
"Hehe! This place is really dangerous! You guys should move away before you get caught!"
Grinning, Luffy bounced across the plaza. The ground warped like a trampoline beneath his feet, sending Marines flying in every direction.
"Hehehe!"
Using the elasticity of the plaza, Luffy leapt higher and higher until his body became a spinning white whirlwind. He reached out toward the descending slash.
"Be careful, Luffy!" Ace shouted urgently.
Ace already understood that Luffy's strength now far surpassed his own. Worse still, the man shrouded in black flames filled him with an instinctive dread, as if he were a natural enemy.
"Hehehe! Let me send it back to you!!!"
Laughing wildly, Luffy grabbed the edge of the slash mid-spin. Before anyone could react, he twisted his body and hurled the attack back toward Saint Nasujuro.
"Ah hahaha, here you go!!!"
Clang!
Black flames flared violently as Saint Nasujuro shattered the returning slash with a single swing.
Swish!
He lowered his sword calmly, the front hooves of his skeletal horse rearing upward.
"Unimaginable combat methods," he said coldly, staring at Luffy as he bounced around the shattered plaza.
Dodging one strike was meaningless. What about many at once?
Neigh, neigh, neigh!!!
Multiple slashes erupted as iron-armored skeletal cavalry surged forward, shrouded in bloody black mist. They rode skeletal horses, roaring as they raised their longswords.
Hiss, hiss, hiss…
Clang!
Saint Nasujuro lightly sheathed his First Generation Kitetsu.
"Ghost Way: War Hoof."
Swish!
The moment the skeletal cavalry swung their blades, countless sword energies infused with eerie black and crimson light filled the air, attacking from every angle with no room to evade.
Thump, thump, thump!
As the wailing cavalry closed in, the strange rhythm of joyful drums echoed relentlessly.
"Hehehe, this is dangerous!!!"
Though Luffy exclaimed the word, his face was filled with delight as he laughed loudly.
"Hehe, let me make sure everyone stays safe!"
Crack!!!
White cloud-like mist burst from Luffy's body, forming a sash that wrapped tightly around the skeletal knights.
"Ah hahahaha! Swords should be safe too!"
Spinning rapidly, Luffy circled the cavalry once before releasing the sash, grinning proudly.
"Ah hahaha, much better now!!!"
The watching powerhouses were stunned.
Before their eyes, the sinister longswords in the knights' hands transformed into colorful balloon weapons. Their bloody iron armor morphed into bright, playful costumes.
Toot, toot!!!
Some skeletons even had cartoonish megaphones jammed into their mouths, producing ridiculous sounds.
Buzz!!!
The terrifying roars vanished, replaced by absurd noise.
The skeletal horses, once covered in grim scales and bloodstains, were now painted with cheerful patterns. Their sharp iron hooves wore colorful slippers.
In an instant, the horrifying monsters were reduced to ridiculous caricatures.
"…"
The skeletal knights stared at one another, then down at their balloon weapons. Smiles appeared on their faces before they slowly dissolved into the air.
"What kind of absurd ability is this…" Sengoku muttered, staring in disbelief.
He had already recognized the skeletal centaur as Financial Military God Saint Nusjuro, one of the World Government's highest authorities. He also understood why the man had appeared here with such murderous intent toward Luffy.
"So this is the power the World Government fears," Sengoku murmured. "The true nature of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika."
…
An utterly unreasonable power.
Terrifying.
Saint Nusjuro's killing intent had been erased at its root, twisted into absurdity and mockery.
Turning malice into laughter, and slaughter into farce. This power stood in complete opposition to Imu.
"Joy Boy's ability is far too dangerous," Saint Nusjuro said coldly, staring at Luffy laughing freely in the sky. "I cannot kill him yet."
His eyes darkened.
"We cannot allow him any more time to grow. This battle must end with his absolute death."
"I will summon them."
Deep within his mind, several shadowy figures stirred. Crimson eyes opened as a low whisper echoed.
"Good…"
___
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