Even more shocking to the Gorōsei than Orrick, the wanted criminal, appearing before them was the fact that he dared to kill!
"Bastard!" The long-mustached Gorōsei roared in fury. "Do you even know who we represent?!"
"I know. Naturally, I know," Orrick replied with a smile, striking a dramatic pose. "The supreme ruler, the only true god in all the world, Lord Imu!"
"I'll be meeting him soon. For now… please, make your way out first!"
The second half of his voice suddenly turned cold. The long-mustached Gorōsei froze as Orrick leapt forward.
Clang!
Sparks flew across the bald head, reflecting the motion. The swordsman Gorōsei's face remained impassive, betraying no anger, as he swung his blade to shield the long-mustached Gorōsei.
Kā cā… kā cā…
Cold black Haki clashed with grinding friction, arms trembling slightly, a sign that neither side was taking it lightly.
"How many years has it been… since I last drew my blade?"
The swordsman Gorōsei's eyes widened slightly. He suddenly pushed Orrick away and swung his sword vertically.
Slash!
Shhh…
The icy-white sword shadow flashed and vanished like a phantom, never fully materializing. Orrick dodged several meters back, instinctively raising a hand to touch his face.
Kā cā!
The black mask, made of some precious fireproof, waterproof, cut-resistant material, split open in a seam. The instant his fingers touched it, it shattered into two halves, separating left and right.
"Interesting!"
A streak of blood ran from his brow to his jaw. Feeling the faint sting on his face, Orrick lifted his head.
"I've long heard from my uncle that your swordsmanship is worthy of being called the World's First, rivaling even Mihawk… I underestimated you."
The Gorōsei weren't selected purely for strength, after all, Im existed, and the difference in power wasn't extreme. But "not selected for strength" didn't mean they were weak. This swordsman Gorōsei was among the formidable few.
"Underestimated? Your are boasting shamelessly!"
The swordsman Gorōsei said nothing further, shook his head, and swung his blade again.
A swordsman's strike, once decided, is unyielding, like a raging storm, it destroys everything in its path until the opponent is crushed.
Buzz!
Countless sword shadows formed a dragon-like tornado within the room. The hard floor was instantly pulverized, yet the bookshelves several meters away did not even tremble. All destruction remained tightly confined, demonstrating the wielder's unparalleled control.
A Sword Energy storm this concentrated was not a rational act, even Kaido would be challenged… But Orrick's expression remained calm. Under the swordsman Gorōsei's astonished gaze, he reached into the Sword Energy Dragon tornado.
"Is he crazy?!"
Eyes widened in shock, the swordsman watched as Orrick's hand touched the Sword Energy. The violent currents immediately exploded outward, enveloping him.
The black-clad figure lasted less than a second before being torn apart in the Sword Energy Zanpa – Slash Wave.
"Hmph, an arrogant soldier meets his end. Lucky for you!"
The swordsman Gorōsei exhaled. Whatever Orrick had intended, the outcome was now inevitable.
He slowly sheathed his sword; the hilt clanged crisply.
But then his eyes widened as if awakening from a nightmare.
Before him, Orrick stood motionless, a smile on his lips. Around them, the environment remained unchanged from before the attack. The broken mask, detached from his face, had only fallen halfway, still a meter above the ground.
"Interesting!"
"I've long heard from my uncle that your swordsmanship is worthy of being called the World's First, rivaling even Mihawk… I underestimated you."
The same words repeated, the dull thud of the mask hitting the ground echoing in his heart, sending chills down his spine.
Though he didn't understand what was happening, he knew something terrible was about to occur.
"What wicked trick is this?!"
Cold sweat drenched the swordsman Gorōsei's back. He raised his weapon and swung again.
"Eh?"
Orrick seemed to notice something, staring in surprise before a smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"I see… so you saw it… But you were still careless, weren't you?"
Though phrased as a question, the certainty in his tone sent a chill through the swordsman Gorōsei's heart.
Shhh…!!
The Moonlit Sword Energy streaked through the air. Orrick neither dodged nor blocked, the attack passed through him.
Under the horrified gaze of others, the sword tore through the wall, exploded into the sky, yet left no trace of injury.
Orrick moved like a phantom, as if he didn't exist in this world.
"Before coming here, I was worried about how to deal with you. But now, it seems… you've finally grown old."
Orrick let out a slight sigh.
"Then again, it makes sense. For years you've sat atop Holy Land, controlling the lives and deaths of millions. Expecting you to maintain the caution of someone weaker… would have been asking the impossible."
"Retreat! Something's wrong!"
The swordsman Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) shouted furiously, causing the others to frown.
Out of trust for their colleague, the remaining two didn't hesitate. They turned and leapt toward the windows. Orrick blocked the main door, but the windows were unguarded.
Without pausing, the swordsman Gorōsei swung his sword, cutting through the wall and bursting out.
However…
"You… cannot escape."
A calm voice echoed in his ears. The swordsman, mid-fall, realized his body no longer obeyed him.
Whoosh… thud!
He fell straight, face down, crashing heavily onto the street.
"What the…?!"
The long-mustached Gorōsei turned, frowning. "What did Orrick do to you?!"
This man was the combat backbone of their group, analogous to Zoro in the Straw Hats, a core fighter. Even his defeat, and the fact he was incapacitated enough to signal others to flee, was proof enough of Orrick's strength.
But the reason for the defeat remained unclear to the long-mustached Gorōsei.
There was no time for explanation. The swordsman Gorōsei struggled to rise from the ground, his face flushed, neck veins bulging.
"Be careful! Don't… make a mistake!"
Then, to the shock of the long-mustached Gorōsei, the swordsman's arm trembled as he raised his blade, placing it against his own neck.
"Wait! What are you doing?!"
The long-mustached Gorōsei's eyes widened in alarm.
Pū chī…!
With a heavy pull, the blade tore through his veins and windpipe. Even the hardest bones were no match for the legendary blade; blood sprayed under the moonlight, and a headless body was hurled skyward.
Pū tōng!
The headless corpse collapsed in the street, revealing Orrick, hidden in the shadows.
Calmly, Orrick pulled out a handkerchief, wiped the blood from his face, discarded it, and looked toward the remaining two.
"…Still standing there? Not going to flee and meet your end?"
"B…bastard!"
Their faces, one icy and one blue with rage, didn't make rash moves. They exchanged a glance and suddenly sprang apart, moving left and right.
The previous warning was too close to ignore. Until they understood Orrick's Devil Fruit abilities, they wouldn't underestimate him.
And they didn't need to. Once they reached the Room of Flowers and called forth Lord Im, all schemes and tricks would be meaningless in the face of absolute power.
"Smart choice! I'm not like Cang Dragon, if you scatter, I don't have the speed to catch you all."
Orrick calmly watched them disperse, showing no intention of pursuing anyone.
"But unfortunately…"
A slight smirk curled on his lips, a confident smile that seemed to command everything.
The red-suited Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) ran over a thousand meters, noticing Orrick still standing in place. He furrowed his brow.
"At this distance… even the strangest attack shouldn't reach me, right?"
Even Devil Fruits obey basic laws, the more overpowered the ability, the greater the limitations and costs. CP0's secret treasure, the Sacrifice-Sacrifice Fruit, was no exception.
"Just two more streets and I'll be at the Room of Flowers. Once there, I'll be safe."
Thinking this, the red-suited Gorōsei relaxed slightly, exhaling heavily.
But then his eyes widened in horror.
"No… impossible!"
Thud!
His limbs no longer obeyed his brain. The red-suited Gorōsei went rigid, falling face-first like a cannonball into a street-side building.
Shuā!
Soon after, Orrick appeared beside him, a smile on his lips.
"Tell me, what did you see this time? I've only just awakened my fruit. I'm not yet fully familiar with this power."
The red-suited Gorōsei's eyes widened in absolute terror, staring at Orrick in disbelief.
"The… second time…"
Just like the swordsman Gorōsei, he had just escaped from that uncontrollable state.
(End of Chapter)
This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395