Onigumo's eye twitched, veins bulging on his arm. Eight sabers pressed hard against the black tower shield, his Armament Haki pushed to its limit as sparks flew from the friction between blades and shield.
It didn't budge an inch.
The giant black shield that had appeared out of thin air was like an insurmountable mountain, swallowing all of his slashes.
"Is this all you've got?"
Abel's muffled voice came from behind the shield, carrying undisguised disappointment.
Boom!
The shield suddenly lunged forward.
A massive force struck. Onigumo felt a tightness in his chest as he was sent flying back. He tumbled twice in the air before barely landing, the stone slabs beneath his feet instantly shattering into powder.
"Damn monster..."
Onigumo gritted his teeth, his hands holding the swords going slightly numb.
The counter-shock force from that moment had actually dispersed some of the Haki he had wrapped around his blades.
Abel casually tossed the tower shield aside, and it dissipated into black smoke.
He cracked his neck, his dull gray eyes scanning the increasing number of Marine soldiers gathering around, finally settling on Onigumo.
"I said, move."
Abel's right hand gripped the air, and ripples appeared in the space before him again as a sinister-looking warhammer slowly emerged.
"I have no intention of making enemies of you, nor do I wish to harm anyone."
His tone was terrifyingly calm, as if stating an established fact.
But to Onigumo, this attitude was blatant provocation and contempt.
"Stop talking big!"
Onigumo roared, his long hair dancing wildly behind him as he adjusted the angles of the six sabers as if they had a life of their own.
"I don't care what Foundation or Task Force you're from. If you run wild in Marineford, you'll pay the price!"
"Life Return: Eight-Sword Style - Spider's Nest!"
Onigumo lunged, transforming into a rotating storm of blades, his pitch-black Haki staining the eight blades as dark as ink.
The air was sliced to ribbons, and the sharp whistling sound made eardrums ache.
This was his ultimate technique; once caught inside, even steel would be ground into iron filings.
Facing this meat-grinder-like assault, a hint of impatience finally appeared on Abel's face.
"Stubborn native."
He didn't retreat a single step, nor did he even take a defensive stance.
He gripped the long handle of the warhammer with both hands, his muscles instantly bulging. On his bronze skin, those red tattoos seemed to come alive, emitting an eerie glow.
"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish."
Abel let out a beast-like low growl. With the momentum to split mountains and crack stones, the warhammer in his hand smashed down hard against the blade storm.
No fancy techniques.
Pure strength.
Absolute violence.
Clang—!!!
A deafening roar exploded in the alleyway.
A terrifying shockwave swept in all directions. The windows of the two surrounding buildings shattered instantly, and countless cracks appeared on the walls.
The spectating Marine soldiers screamed as they were blown away by the air blast like fallen leaves in a gale.
In the center of the dust, two figures were locked in a stalemate.
Onigumo's eight blades held the warhammer firmly. His feet had sunk half a meter into the ground, veins bulged on his forehead, and a trace of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
He blocked it, but barely.
The power coming from that warhammer was simply not human; every second was pushing him to his limits.
"Oh? You weren't crushed flat?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Abel's eyes, followed by a cruel curl of his lips.
"Then let's raise the stakes."
Buzz!
He released one hand, and the void vibrated again.
A pitch-black serrated shortsword appeared out of thin air in his left hand.
Pfft!
A flash of cold light.
Onigumo's pupils constricted. He twisted his body desperately, but he was still a step too slow.
The shortsword sliced across his shoulder, drawing a trail of blood.
The intense pain caused Onigumo's movements to freeze for a split second.
Bang!
Abel seized the opening and kicked Onigumo in the abdomen.
The kick was incredibly heavy. Onigumo felt as if he'd been hit head-on by a Sea King. He was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through three walls before being buried under a pile of rubble.
"Vice Admiral!"
"Vice Admiral Onigumo!"
The surrounding Marine soldiers shouted in horror. Looking at the man standing before the ruins like a demon god, their eyes were filled with despair.
Even a Vice Admiral from Headquarters was suppressed?
Just who was this guy claiming to be from the "SCP Foundation"?
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining +150 Astonishment Points from a Marine Chief Petty Officer!]
Hearing the pleasant system notification in his mind, Mordred felt secretly pleased, but he maintained Abel's cold and brutal appearance on the surface.
He didn't even look at the ruins as he turned to leave.
The show was almost over. If he kept fighting, he'd draw too much aggro. Although he wasn't afraid, his current goal was to establish the "Foundation" setting and harvest a wave of Astonishment Points.
Crash!
The rubble suddenly exploded.
A blood-covered Onigumo rose unsteadily to his feet.
His Justice coat was in tatters, a clear footprint marked his abdomen, and the wound on his shoulder was still bleeding, but his gaze had grown even fiercer, like a wounded wolf.
"It's not over..."
Onigumo spat out a mouthful of blood and gripped his two swords tightly, while the six sabers on his back readjusted their positions.
"The justice of the Marines will never bow to evil!"
Even knowing he was outmatched, he could never let this dangerous individual run rampant in Marineford.
Abel stopped and slowly looked back.
In those dull gray eyes, a flicker of emotion called "killing intent" appeared for the first time.
"Truly an annoying bug."
"I already gave you a chance."
He turned around. The warhammer and shortsword in his hands dissipated, replaced by a giant zanbato as wide as a door.
A black luster flowed over the blade, emitting a suffocating scent of blood.
"Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll send you on your way."
Abel dragged the zanbato, walking toward Onigumo step by step.
The tip of the blade scraped against the ground, creating a trail of blinding sparks.
With every step, his aura rose another level. That primitive pressure from ancient times made the surrounding air feel thick.
Onigumo stared intently at the approaching Abel, taking a deep breath as he prepared to burn his life force for one final strike.
Just then.
Marine Headquarters Building, Fleet Admiral's Office.
"What did you say?!"
Sengoku slammed his desk and stood up, the rice cracker in his hand crushed to pieces.
A soldier's panicked report came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral! The Family Quarters are under attack by unidentified personnel! The opponent claims to be from the 'SCP Foundation' and is currently engaged with Vice Admiral Onigumo!"
"Vice Admiral Onigumo... seems to be at a disadvantage!"
"And... and the bodies of unknown mutated creatures have been found at the scene!"
No way!
If the virus were to spread in the Family Quarters... Sengoku didn't dare think further, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Seal off the Family Quarters immediately! No one is allowed in or out!"
"Notify the medical units to stand by in their highest-level protective gear!"