Sabaody Archipelago, Area 3.
"Boom..." The PX robot crashed to the ground, black smoke still billowing from its mouth. Trafalgar Law sheathed his chilling Ghost Cry, fingers lightly tracing the brim of his hat with a cold gaze. Kid shook his arm, the power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit not yet fully dissipated.
"Hold off the Marines behind us. Don't let those scum catch up," Kid ordered his subordinates in a low, impatient tone.
His crew responded in unison, quickly assuming combat stances as they advanced toward the pursuing Marines. Once they were out of earshot, Kid turned to Law beside him, brow furrowed in confusion. "What did you mean earlier when you said 'he's not a real Seven Warlord'?"
"Hello there!"
Just as Kid finished speaking, a casual voice rang out.
Trafalgar Law snapped his head toward the source of the voice. When he recognized the newcomer, his pupils constricted sharply, a cold sweat instantly beading on his temple. His grip on Ghost Cry tightened unconsciously. "Seven Warlord—Ryan."
Indeed, the newcomer was Ryan. After disembarking from the Wave Rider, he hadn't gone to find the Straw Hat Kid but had specifically come looking for Kid and Trafalgar Law.
To be precise, he had come specifically for Law!
"Another Seven Warlord!" Kid spread his feet slightly, adopting a combat stance. The Magnet-Magnet Fruit's power activated, causing scattered metal objects around him to slowly rise and orbit his body. "I never expected," he said gravely, "right after dealing with one 'suspected Seven Warlord,' another would show up immediately—and one famous for defeating a former Warlord and 'slaying the Golden Lion' at that."
"Perfect timing. I'll take care of you too," Kid grinned arrogantly. "Let the world see that the so-called Seven Warlords are nothing special!"
Ryan completely ignored Kid's provocation, his gaze fixed directly on Law as he spoke. "I heard you're a user of the Ope Ope no Mi. I happen to need something from you."
"What?" Law's expression changed abruptly, his grip on his sword hilt tightening further. Beneath his hat brim, his eyes were filled with vigilance. "Your target is the Ope Ope no Mi?"
"Daring to look down on me!" The ignored Kid flew into a rage. The metal objects around him accelerated sharply, coalescing into a massive mechanical arm in his hand that swept toward Ryan with a howling gust of wind. "I'll make you pay for underestimating me!"
Ryan watched the approaching mechanical arm without the slightest change in expression. Slowly drawing the Seven Star Sword from his waist, fine lightning began coiling around the blade with a sizzling sound, blue currents dancing along the edge like living creatures.
"Lightning... Impact!"
With a slight flick of his wrist, the lightning on the Seven Star Sword erupted violently, transforming into a thick blue electric current that shot straight toward Kid.
The lightning moved with astonishing speed. Before Kid could even react, the blue light engulfed him. He tried to manipulate magnetic forces to form a metal barrier, but the moment the electricity made contact, it disrupted his magnetic control. The half-formed metal barrier shattered explosively.
Electricity generates magnetism—in terms of magnetic power, Ryan was no weaker than Kid.
"Argh!" The instant the current struck his body, Kid felt complete paralysis, his muscles convulsing uncontrollably as immense pain radiated through every limb.
The skeleton didn't even have time to let out a complete scream before being sent flying by the impact of the lightning, crashing heavily against the nearby wall.
With a loud "boom," the wall cracked like a spiderweb. Kid slid down from the wall to the ground, coughing up bloody saliva, his chest heaving violently. The arrogance on his face had long been replaced by shock.
He never expected that his magnetism would be so utterly useless against the opponent's lightning.
Trafalgar Law watched from the side, his heart pounding. Kid's strength wasn't inferior to his own, yet he hadn't expected Kid to have no chance to resist Ryan's lightning attack. Subconsciously, Law raised Ghost Cry, preparing to activate "ROOM."
"You don't need to be nervous. I mean you no harm. I just have a small matter I'd like your help with," Ryan said calmly, sheathing the Seven Star Sword and turning to face Law.
"What do you mean?" Law didn't lower his guard, his hand still gripping Ghost Cry tightly, his eyes filled with confusion. He didn't believe a Warlord would seek his "help" for no reason.
Seeing Law's tense posture, Ryan spoke lightly, "There's something wrong with my body. I heard you're a doctor and an Ope Ope no Mi user, with an understanding of the human body far beyond ordinary people. So I'd like you to take a look."
"Huh?" Law raised an eyebrow, his eyes beneath his hat brim full of surprise.
He had thought Ryan came for the Ope Ope no Mi, but never expected the other's purpose was to seek medical treatment. This was beyond his expectations.
Meanwhile,
On the fifth street of Sabaody Archipelago, Daz Bones retracted his blood-stained arm, droplets of blood falling from his fingers. The group of pirates who had tried to rob them couldn't even withstand three of his moves and now lay lifeless on the ground.
Mikita, holding a green umbrella, disdainfully kicked away a pirate corpse nearby. Porche flicked her silk scarf, trying to wave away the smell of blood in the air. Babe, carrying a heavy hammer, grumbled in a muffled voice, "These scum are too weak."
"Help! Someone save us!"
Just then, chaotic noises suddenly came from the entrance of another alley not far away. The initial cries for help still carried some strength, but were soon drowned out by children's wails and elderly coughs.
"Waaah! Mommy, I'm scared!"
"Cough, cough... Don't come closer, don't touch me..."Let's go check it out," Zala frowned, retracting the thorns that were wrapped around her fingertips. She walked slowly toward the alley entrance in her high heels, her tone carrying a barely noticeable gravity.
Daz and the others exchanged glances and quickly followed. As soon as they turned into the alley, the scene before them made their expressions darken.
In the narrow street, over a dozen people wearing Marine uniforms lay scattered about. But upon closer look, these "Marines" were actually all elderly people and children. The only one standing was a man wearing an authentic Marine lieutenant uniform, clutching a wound on his arm, his face pale as he stared ahead with eyes full of anger and fear.
On the roof of a civilian house beside the street, seven or eight people sat on the edge, looking down with contemptuous smiles.
"Hahaha! What a masterpiece!" A scantily clad woman with pink hair sat on the edge of the tower, swinging her legs casually, her left hand...
Clutching a large piece of roasted meat dripping with juices in one hand and holding half a pizza in the other, she took a big bite of the pizza, letting the melted cheese dribble down her chin without a care.
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