"…Sigh."
After a long silence, the CP0 leader finally let out a deep sigh. His tone sounded almost regretful as he spoke.
"Wouldn't it be better to die in blissful ignorance? Why force me to carry a heavier load?"
The moment he said that, every hair on Rob Lucci's body stood up as if trying to tear through his skin.
A crushing sense of danger surged over him, and he instinctively activated his Devil Fruit.
The instant his body began shifting into his leopard form… a heavy punch slammed straight into his abdomen.
"Nghhh!"
Lucci groaned as he was blasted backward more than ten meters, carving two long scorch marks across the ground.
Blood dripped slowly from his mouth.
When he lifted his head, the tall CP0 agent was already standing where Lucci had been just moments ago, his right fist covered in a layer of pitch–black Armament Haki.
"…So… that's Haki?"
Lucci knew Haki existed, but thanks to Spandam's interference, he had never been allowed access to proper training.
The tall CP0 agent spoke with open mockery.
"The most 'talented' prodigy of CP9 doesn't even know basic Armament Haki. Looks like your reputation is just hot air."
Lucci almost spat blood again.
It wasn't that he didn't want to train.
Someone had deliberately crushed every opportunity he had.
Six years undercover… and his talent was wasted for nothing.
The tall CP0 agent lifted Iceburg with one hand and tossed him to the slim, presumably female CP0 agent behind him.
Then he dusted his hands.
"Rob Lucci, the rest of you as well. As ordered by the World Government—your execution begins under a Level One Kill Order."
"To avoid unnecessary trouble… please surrender quietly."
Lucci was furious. He knew instantly that Spandam had sold them out again.
He shouted, "We already brought Iceburg in! With this achievement, how could the World Government possibly kill us after we completed the mission?!"
Even with their masks on, everyone could feel the tall CP0 agent smiling in ridicule.
"Who told you that you get to decide whether you've done a good job?"
"A bunch of failures who embarrassed the World Government… the dump is where you belong."
Swoosh!
Jabra suddenly entered his Devil Fruit form, using Soru to appear right beside the tall CP0 agent.
He roared, "You want to kill us? Then I'll tear you apart first!"
His hands shifted into razor–sharp claws. He brought them together and slashed down with brute force.
With both claws and multiple fingers, this version had several times the destructive force of a normal Shigan.
But the tall CP0 agent didn't even turn his head. He simply leaned back a little, and Jabra's strike passed harmlessly across the front of his suit.
The tall agent countered with a single kick to Gabura's stomach, creating a blast of violent air pressure.
Gabura felt his scalp tingle. He immediately crossed his arms and braced.
"Tekkai!"
Within CP9, Gabura's mastery of Tekkai was unmatched, even compared to Lucci.
His entire body hardened like a fortress wall as he took the blow head–on.
Jabra had absolute confidence in his defense.
Bang!
But the moment their bodies collided, he realized he had made a terrible miscalculation.
If his Tekkai was a fortress wall… then the opponent's kick was a battering ram designed to smash through cities.
He was sent flying instantly.
A burning pain surged through his organs, and a mouthful of blood burst from him uncontrollably.
"Tch. Only relying on Devil Fruit abilities and ignoring everything else… what a disgrace of a CP9."
The tall CP0 agent shook his head, full of contempt.
"Oh well. Once you're dead, CP9 can finally start training a fresh batch. With a little effort, they might even find one or two decent seedlings."
"Bastard! Don't look down on us!"
Kaku leaped into the air, his legs kicking at blinding speed as he unleashed more than a dozen cutting blades.
"Rankyaku… Storm!"
The swarm of slicing waves completely engulfed the tall CP0 agent.
So many attacks, such a wide spread… none of Kaku's past opponents had ever escaped unharmed.
But the tall CP0 agent didn't even look up. He simply took a few light steps, his body swaying gently like a branch in the wind.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every single Rankyaku missed, crashing into the ground instead.
Not even a thread on his suit was out of place.
"What… what was that? Kami–e?" Kaku asked, terrified.
He had expected the man to block some attacks, but never imagined he would evade every single one without effort.
"No. Not Kami–e."
Lucci had already pushed himself back to his feet, and his voice was low and heavy.
"That was Observation Haki. He can predict every one of your movements."
"That's how he slipped through all the openings in your Rankyaku Storm and dodged everything."
Predict… everything?
Everyone's expression changed.
Kaku even shouted, "Then how do we fight him?! Isn't that a guaranteed death?!"
Lucci fell silent.
If they also knew Observation Haki, they could try hiding their intent, masking their actions, or countering prediction with prediction.
But none of them knew it.
Against someone who had mastered both Armament and Observation Haki… their chances weren't just slim.
They were nearly zero.
Swoosh!
Everyone was focused on Lucci's explanation… when Kalifa suddenly snapped her whip at the female CP0 agent.
It lashed straight toward her face.
But just before it struck, the whip swerved sharply downward, aiming at Iceburg lying at the woman's feet.
Yes. The moment Kalifa realized they couldn't win, she came up with a new plan.
If they could seize Iceburg, they still had a bargaining chip.
Clang!
But before her whip touched him, the female CP0 agent drew her sword in a flash and sliced the whip clean in half.
"Such a cheap trick. Do you really think so little of us?"
Her voice was icy, like ancient frost that never melted.
"Since you were the ones who made the first move… don't blame us for being ruthless."
She flicked her wrist, sending a flying slash tearing through the air straight at Kalifa.
She wasn't just CP0.
She was a swordswoman.
Cold sweat drenched Kalifa's forehead. She didn't dare hesitate and instantly used Soru to retreat.
Lucci's mood sank to rock bottom.
A swordswoman.
A master of both Armament and Observation Haki.
And a third member whose ability was unknown… but clearly no weaker.
Lucci truly felt that today was the end of CP9.
"As former colleagues… I'll send you off with my strongest form."
The tall CP0 agent spoke calmly as his body grew larger.
The next moment, a form similar to Lucci's but twice the size appeared before them.
Zoan-Type… Cat–Cat Fruit… Ancient Model… Giant Leopard Form.