As soon as Alvin and Kalifa stepped to the edge of the forest, someone immediately called out to warn them.
"Hey!"
"You can't go in there, you'll be killed by the people inside!" a bearded old man shouted urgently.
"It's fine, old man. We're also going in to kill them," Alvin replied with a faint smile, glancing in the old man's direction.
The old man was about to continue persuading him, but his companion, who was not far away, quickly ran over and stopped him.
"Don't say anything, he's Red Hawk!" his companion whispered, his face filled with fear.
Hearing this, the old man's expression instantly turned pale.
Alvin ignored them and continued walking deeper into the forest, with Kalifa following closely behind.
"Your reputation really is terrible," Kalifa commented calmly.
"Uh... it doesn't affect me, so what does it matter whether it's terrible or not?" Alvin replied indifferently.
Kalifa was left speechless.
——
At the edge of the Forbidden Zone.
Aside from four CP0 agents, there were also many ordinary agents dressed in black suits stationed around the area.
"The time should be about right. Osrian Saint will arrive here today, so we must be fully prepared," one of the CP0 agents said from behind his mask.
The other three nodded. After so many years, the so called curse had finally disappeared, and their mission was about to be completed.
"Who's there!"
"You are not allowed to enter here. Leave immediately!" At that moment, the agents guarding the outer perimeter shouted.
"Pfft!"
"Ugh!!"
"..."
The four CP0 agents had just heard the warning shouts when they were immediately followed by the sounds of blades slicing through flesh and agonized screams.
They exchanged glances, the same thought rising in their minds at the same time.
Something is wrong!
Just as they were about to react, the sound of slow, steady footsteps crunching on fallen leaves reached their ears.
They instantly turned toward the source of the sound and saw a towering man nearly three meters tall, holding a crimson bladed sword, walking forward alongside a woman dressed in a provocative outfit, a thorned whip coiled in her hand.
"Red Hawk!" one of the CP0 agents exclaimed.
"And..." another agent recognized Kalifa's identity.
The CP0 agents were shocked. One was a notorious super rookie and great pirate feared across the seas, while the other was a World Government agent from CP9.
Such a combination was extremely unusual.
"Red Shadow: Thousand Feathers!" Alvin murmured softly, his Chronicle appearing to move slowly yet striking with lightning like speed.
Seeing Alvin's movement, the four CP0 agents' pupils contracted sharply, their expressions filled with extreme shock.
In the next instant, countless crimson slashes, as light as feathers yet each carrying deadly killing intent, blanketed an area of over a hundred meters around them.
"Armament Haki!"
"..."
Faced with such a wide area attack, it was impossible to evade in time. They could only stand their ground and reinforce their bodies with Armament Haki to defend with all their strength.
A series of metallic clashes mixed with the tearing sound of flesh echoed through the area.
When it ended, all four CP0 agents were covered in numerous cuts.
Blood seeped out from their wounds, instantly staining their clothes red.
They had not expected that even after using Armament Haki for defense, they still could not fully block Red Hawk's attack.
"Red Hawk, we are direct subordinates of the Celestial Dragons. Do you understand the consequences of attacking us?!" one CP0 agent said in a deep voice.
The other three assumed defensive stances, their eyes locked onto Alvin. From that single exchange, they already knew they were no match for him.
In that case, their only option was to stall for time and wait for Osrian Saint to arrive. The secret treasure within the Forbidden Zone must not be lost!
Kalifa had also not expected that when Alvin said he would deal with them, he truly meant killing them outright, attacking without even a single word of negotiation.
"Red Shadow: Blade Shattering Beauty!" Alvin roared.
A razor sharp crimson slash instantly swept through the forest.
All the towering trees in its path were cleanly severed. In the blink of an eye, the slash passed directly through the waists of the four CP0 agents.
A thunderous crashing sound followed as the massive trees collapsed, echoing throughout the forest and sending countless birds scattering in panic.
The four CP0 agents, their bodies severed at the waist, had terror frozen in their eyes. They could not utter a single word before being crushed into pulp by the falling trees.
Kalifa's eyes narrowed slightly behind her thin rimmed glasses. She truly had not expected Alvin to act so decisively, leaving those four CP0 agents with no chance to respond.
"The lesser agents are on their way. Do you want to go in with me?" Alvin asked calmly as he flicked the blood droplets off the blade of Chronicle.
Kalifa bit her lip lightly, then quickly made her decision.
"I'll follow!"
"Good!" Alvin said with a hint of approval.
He then stepped over the boundary line drawn by the CP agents and entered the core region of the primeval forest, the Forbidden Zone itself.
Kalifa was stunned as she watched him step inside.
He really went in! And there was no sign of any flames igniting.
Why wasn't Alvin cursed? Could it be that everything they heard at the bar was false?
But she had no time to dwell on it. She quickly hurried forward to catch up with him, continuing deeper into the Forbidden Zone.
Ten minutes later, Alvin finally laid eyes on the legendary structure.
An ancient temple, an enormous palace towering over a hundred meters tall!
"This... is the temple they were talking about?!" Kalifa said in shock as she stared at the massive structure in the distance.
"It should be. Let's go and see what kind of surprise this temple has for me," Alvin said, a trace of excitement appearing in his eyes.
If his guess was correct, there should be a special Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit hidden within this massive ancient temple.
With that thought, he continued forward toward the temple, Kalifa quickly following behind him.
——
At the port at that moment.
A large ship bearing the World Government flag, escorted by two Marine warships, had docked at the harbor.
Once the ship stabilized, a man dressed casually yet exuding an innate sense of nobility and arrogance stepped out.
The Marines had already cleared the streets, forcing civilians to the sides and creating a direct path leading toward the forest.
On both sides of the road, people knelt with their heads lowered, not a single one daring to look up. Some trembled uncontrollably.
"Osrian Saint, they are already waiting deep within the forest," a black suited agent stepped forward and reported.
"Hmm, let's go. Let's see whether this Devil Fruit truly is a Mythical Zoan. If it isn't, I'll reward it to you," Osrian Saint said casually, patting the agent's face.
"Thank you for your grace, Osrian Saint," the agent replied, his expression unchanged.
Then, the group began advancing toward the forest.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.