"Tempest Kick: Victorious Bird!!"
Lasky, having retreated into the air with Moonwalk, unleashed a flying slash capable of cutting through steel plates. Yet, even that failed to leave a single scratch on my body.
"How... how are you so durable? Is it a Devil Fruit power?" Lasky called out, kicking the air to stay afloat.
I didn't answer. I launched myself into the air with Moonwalk and closed the distance instantly.
(Fist Cannon: Volley!!)
I swung both arms simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of explosive punches.
"Guh...!"
Lasky tried to sway out of the way using Kami-e, but my left fist grazed his side.
"You can use Moonwalk, too? You really are an ex-Marine, aren't you?" Lasky muttered, clutching his ribs.
I clicked my tongue under my mask. As expected of the World Government's top intelligence agency, CP9 isn't a pushover. The shaggy-haired Mojah was likely a rookie; Lasky represented the true standard of CP9 strength.
Realizing that the World Government possessed many such agents, I decided to end this quickly. I combined Soru and Moonwalk into the high-speed aerial maneuver known as Razor, zigzagging through the sky to cut off his escape.
If he wants to dodge, I'll just give him nowhere to go. I used short-burst Razors to surround him, striking from above, below, left, right, front, and back.
(Caged Bird!!)
It was a cage of fists. The more he tried to dodge, the more his movement range was whittled away.
Lasky started with Kami-e, but soon found it impossible to avoid the sheer volume of strikes. He switched to Tekkai to tank the hits, but even the ultimate defense began to crumble under the relentless pressure of my Fist Cannons.
(Crushing Fist Cannon!!)
I delivered the finishing blow—a Fist Cannon infused with a corkscrew twist for maximum penetration. It shattered Lasky's Tekkai, followed by a mid-air spinning kick that slammed him into the dirt below.
"Guh..."
Lasky managed to land, but he was heaving, his composure shattered by the heavy damage. I moved in to finish it, but—
"Lasky-san!! We've been ordered to retreat!!"
A government agent with a rifle appeared, shouting to the wounded CP9 member.
"But... Olvia, and the masked man..."
"The Director is screaming for us to get back and protect him immediately!!"
Lasky's face twisted in frustration. He turned back to me. "Tch... You. What is your name?"
"...I'll go by Teach for now."
"Teach, huh? I'll hold onto this grudge. That is, if you manage to survive this Buster Call."
With that, Lasky hoisted the unconscious Mojah onto his shoulder and vanished with the other agents.
I checked with Observation Haki to ensure they were gone, then quickly pulled a pack of high-calorie "Calorie Friend" bars from my hidden pouch, shoving them into my mouth and washing them down with water.
"Did I pull it off?" I wondered. The mask was a black skull design, my gear was hidden, and I'd disguised my voice. Plus, I apologized in my heart to the real Marshall D. Teach. Sorry, Blackbeard, you're taking the fall for this one.
But there was no time for jokes. The bombardment was intensifying. The Tree of Knowledge was an inferno. In the distance, a warship was flying through the air—Saul was making his move.
I ran into the great library. Scholars were frantically throwing books into the lake outside.
"Everyone, get out! The next wave is coming! This place won't hold!" I yelled.
"We can't leave them!" "The heritage of humanity... we can't let history burn!"
None of them moved.
"Damn it! Where's Olvia!?"
"Krieg! Please, take this child! Take her!!"
Olvia appeared, clutching Robin.
"Take her? Wait—you aren't coming!?"
"No! Mama, let's go together!" Robin cried.
"I'm sorry, Krieg... and Robin. We have something we must do," Olvia said, her voice trembling but firm. "Robin, you're an archaeologist; you understand.
History is humanity's treasure. It lights the path to the future. But history dies if it isn't passed on. We cannot give up on the future, even if Ohara falls!"
"Mama... no..."
"Please, Krieg! Get her off this island!"
"She's only ten! She still needs her mother!" I argued.
Olvia looked at me, a sad smile on her face. "Thanks to you, these last two years were a dream. I got to live with my daughter without being hunted.
I am so grateful. But I am an archaeologist. If I flee now, I could never forgive myself. We have a duty to connect the past to the future."
I tried to argue, but the look in her eyes told me it was useless.
"Krieg! You're the only one I can trust!"
I ground my teeth so hard they ached. "Robin, we're leaving."
"No! My mom is still there!"
"I'm sorry, Robin! I can't leave my post! Now, go!!"
"GO, ROBIN!" I tucked her under my arm.
"Wait! Let me go! Mama!!"
"Save the resentment for later! Keep your mouth shut so you don't bite your tongue!"
I leaped from the window, using Moonwalk to step through the air toward Saul's location. Olvia wouldn't budge.
I had dreamed of saving everyone, and this was the result. The bitterness of my own inadequacy tasted like ash.
I could have done better. I could have saved Clover, the scholars, and Olvia.
Anger flared in my chest, but I pushed it down. Right now, priority one was Robin.
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