The battlefield around Moriah grew even more bizarre.
"Shadow Spear!"
A spear condensed from shadows pierced through a CP0 agent's chest, but the target suddenly split into two, attacking Moriah from both sides.
"Devil Fruit ability?"
Moriah grinned widely as the shadows beneath his feet abruptly expanded.
"Shadow Asphyxiation!"
Before the divided CP0 agents could approach, their own shadows wrapped around their throats—the sound of snapping bones clearly audible.
Laboon had inherited Rhett's former role from the Roger Pirates in this crew—handling the cannon fodder.
Marine soldiers watched in horror as the ground beneath them began trembling.
"W-what is that?!"
A massive blue whale burst through the crimson mist. Though not as large as it would be in the ocean, it was still far from small.
Laboon's eyes burned with fighting spirit as it let out a low roar, its tail fin slamming against the ground and sending shattered rocks flying toward enemies.
"Ooo—!" (Translation: Crush them!)
A Marine rear admiral raised his sword, shouting: "Fire! Concentrate fire on that whale!"
Bullets poured down like torrential rain, only to bounce off Laboon's skin—Tesoro had already coated it in golden armor.
Completely unharmed, Laboon accelerated its charge like an out-of-control tank. The mist lifted Laboon into the air—an aerial fortress. Laboon swam through the air as if in water, its form flickering in and out of visibility.
Laboon's attack rose by 2000, defense by 2000, agility MAX.
Laboon declared in attack position.
"Boom—!"
The first row of Marine soldiers were sent flying like bowling pins, the sound of shattering bones clearly audible. With a swing of its tail, Laboon smashed a dozen soldiers attempting to surround it into nearby walls, collapsing bricks and raising clouds of dust.
"M-monster!"
The Marines tried to counterattack, but Laboon was faster. It suddenly leaped up, its massive body blocking the moonlight as its shadow engulfed the entire plaza.
"Ora ora ora—!"
"Morning Peacock!!!"
Laboon's fins became blurs, each strike carrying the terrifying power of a Sea King and igniting flaming projectiles. Soldiers were sent flying like ragdolls—some embedded in walls, others knocked unconscious instantly.
A CP0 agent gritted his teeth and drew his sword, coating the blade with Armament Haki as he slashed at Laboon's back.
"Die, beast!"
Without even turning its head, Laboon flicked its tail fin.
"Smack!"
The CP0's sword shattered as he was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing through three walls before stopping.
Laboon shook its tail fin and disdainfully blew out a puff of mist.
"Ooo." (Translation: Too weak.)
Rhett advanced steadily, crimson mist swirling around him as five high-ranking CP0 agents blocked his path. Their masked voices were hoarse yet resolute.
"Crimson Dawn, your ambitions end here."
Rhett chuckled lightly as the blood mist suddenly surged.
"Mist God Style: Thousand Needles."
The mist condensed into countless crimson needles that poured down like a storm. The five CP0 agents quickly dodged using Soru, only to find Rhett's figure had vanished.
"Behind you!"
As one turned, the blood mist had already formed a giant palm that smashed him into the ground. Another tried to withstand it with Tekkai, only for his armor to corrode away—his screams cut short as he was reduced to bones.
The remaining three stood back-to-back, their Observation Haki fully activated, yet still unable to locate Rhett.
"Mist God Style: Hidden Mist Slash."
A cold voice came from within the mist as three heads went flying.
The battle was undoubtedly one-sided.
Rhett's group continued their casual stroll across Punk Hazard.
Rhett blasted open heavy metal doors as the blood mist corroded defensive systems along the way.
Inside the laboratory, white-coated scientists retreated in terror. One shouted tremblingly: "Who are you?! This is a World Government—"
"Too much talk." Rhett raised his hand as blood mist coiled around the man's throat, lifting him up.
"Where's Vegapunk?"
"H-he's long gone! This place just stores abandoned projects now!"
Rhett narrowed his eyes as the blood mist churned: "Then it's useless."
He clenched his fist—the lab walls instantly shattered as countless pieces of equipment turned to scrap under the mist's corrosion.
He couldn't understand the data, but those big red "DELETE SUCCESSFUL" words on the screens were unmistakable.
Tesoro stood behind him, gold flowing across the floor as he assimilated the entire base's structure. With his current improved abilities,
Tesoro could now detect trace gold particles underground over a considerable range—somewhat like Gaara sensing sand, except he couldn't create gold. Truly befitting Tesoro's "gold content."
He'd finally overcome his dependency on large gold environments.
"Should we destroy it completely?"
"Of course." Rhett smirked coldly. "But before that..."
He didn't believe Vegapock was truly gone. The scientist had to still be on the island. With the mist covering everything, he'd find him eventually.
"Found you, our dear researcher."
"Let's go. There's nothing of value here."
Vegapunk was attempting to escape toward the sea when a chain of blood mist wrapped around his ankle.
"Dr. Vegapunk, we mean you no harm. Why run?" Rhett slowly materialized from the mist—this was deliberate. Given Vegapunk's physical condition, he might dissolve if Rhett wasn't careful.
"We truly have no ill intentions. Whatever funding the World Government provides, we can match. Won't you consider it?"
Rhett suddenly looked skyward as the blood mist instantly concealed him—entering combat mode on instinct.
A golden light split the heavens. Kizaru's figure appeared above, his light sword precisely severing the blood mist chain around Vegapunk's ankle: "How terrifying Crimson Dawn targeting an old man"
Rhett emerged from the blood mist, his lips curling dangerously: "An Admiral playing escort? You arrived unusually fast."
"Could you spare some face" Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses. "This gentleman is quite important to the World Government"