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News of the four in black robes had already spread across the entire island, yet they themselves seemed unaware of the notorious reputation they now carried, still daring to roam freely in those robes.
When pirates saw them and realized these four might bring down the Marines' wrath upon everyone, their eyes turned red with rage. Reckless and furious, they charged at Rojen and the others without a second thought for their own lives.
"What's going on? Weren't they fighting the Marines just now?" Rojen was stunned; the others looked equally bewildered.
"What do we do?"
Seeing that both Marine and pirate forces had immediately shifted their focus and teamed up against them, Rojen's group felt dizzy with disbelief. How had the whole world suddenly become their enemy?
"What else can we do? Take them out, then run!" Crocodile suddenly grasped the situation.
"Our identities are exposed. Kill them, then hide, fast." His words snapped everyone to attention.
"Move!" Rojen said, finally understanding.
In an instant, the four charged.
Their combined bounties totaled in the billions, and their power was terrifying. When they struck, neither the rushing pirates nor the Marines could match them; in the blink of an eye, swaths of enemies fell.
"They're too strong!"
Pirates further back, seeing such overwhelming force, froze, unwilling to press forward.
In the next breath, the four had taken several turns down the street and vanished from sight.
"The four were last seen in District No. 21!"
But the Marines quickly reacted, broadcasting the alert in every direction.
In District No. 3, a pirate crew of roughly fifteen men moved at full speed. Their strength was impressive; they wiped out Marines trying to surround them with ease.
"Old boss, these Marines aren't much!" the pirates chuckled, as another wave of Marines charged and were cut down.
"Hmph, of course. We're the Crazed Lion Pirates!" one boasted.
Their crew included many members with bounties over a hundred million. Their captain, Liam the Crazed Lion, alone carried a bounty of 320 million. In truth, at least seven crew members were each worth over a hundred million.
In other words, their strength could go toe-to-toe with pirate crews whose total bounties reached into the billions, that was the source of their confidence and why they dared remain on the island.
"Even if an Admiral shows up, we're not scared!" another sneered.
Liam, golden curls framing his rough, broad face, carefree and defiant, didn't object.
They were truly powerful, no featherweights.
But before they finished speaking, the Marines charging at them suddenly paused, then began to fall back.
"What are the Marines doing?"
"Are they realizing how strong we are and retreating?" they mocked.
"Crazed Lion Pirates, you have some nerve!"
A thunderous voice cut through. The Marine ranks parted as a burly man with purple hair and sunglasses, the square-jawed giant, strode forward.
"An Admiral?!"
The Crazed Lion Pirates were stunned, pupils narrowing. They'd been boasting, but everyone sane knew an Admiral's strength was no joke.
"I'm Zephyr. You dare cause trouble on this island, then prepare to be punished!"
He barked, advancing toward the Crazed Lion Pirates with heavy, determined steps.
The other Marines silently stepped back, giving space to the approaching Admiral.
Seeing him come forward, the Crazed Lion Pirates, after their initial shock and caution, felt a surge of exhilaration.
"Ha ha! Who would've thought we'd get to fight an Admiral today!"
"If we kill you here, we Crazed Lion Pirates will surely become famous again!"
Liam laughed wildly, golden hair shining, madness and pride radiating from him.
As he spoke, his body rapidly transformed, within moments, he became a towering five-meter-tall beast, golden fur covering him, a tail extending behind, and limbs turning into claws.
"I am a lion man, empowered by the Zoan Lion-Lion Fruit! Zephyr, I'll show you my strength!"
He roared, swinging his arm as the entire pirate crew raised their weapons, ready to strike.
Though confident, Liam was not reckless; he knew an Admiral's power was terrifying, so he committed his whole crew to the battle.
"Attack!"
A thunderous roar erupted as the Crazed Lion Pirates charged toward Zephyr.
"Nonsense!"
Zephyr snorted coldly, stomping his right foot. A whirlwind surged, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.
His speed was lightning-fast; in an instant, he appeared right in front of them.
"Armament!"
He shouted, covering his right arm in dark Busoshoku Haki, Armament Haki, as immense power erupted from deep within his body.
"Armament!"
At the same time, Liam roared, black mist coiling around his right fist, revealing that he too had mastered Busoshoku Haki.
Yet compared to Zephyr, Liam's Haki was like a firefly against the sun and moon.
"Bang!"
"Die!"
By now, the rest of the pirate crew was attacking in chaos, drawing swords, firing guns, a scene of pandemonium.
But facing them, Zephyr stood on the ground, calmly clashing fists with Liam, expressionless.
"Tekkai, strengthen!"
"Crack!"
His body instantly compacted, density increasing, skin turning jet black and hard as steel.
In a flash, the two collided.
"Hiss!"
The Crazed Lion Pirates gasped in shock and fear, pupils shrinking.
Zephyr's fist struck Liam's, and while both paused, Liam's confident expression instantly turned to disbelief.
Then, like a cannonball, Liam was sent flying.
"Boom!"
He smashed through more than a dozen buildings, spewing blood, collapsing in the rubble, pale and weak, his right arm mangled and broken.
A single strike, just one strike, and this great pirate with a bounty over 300 million had been insta-killed.
The remaining Crazed Lion Pirates, staring at Zephyr, witnessing his body withstand their attacks without so much as a mark, felt a chill run down their spines.
"Die!"
Zephyr struck again, sending all the pirates flying.
In barely ten seconds, the Crazed Lion Pirates were utterly annihilated!
After dealing with them, Zephyr turned, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh! There's still another group!"
His gaze fell on a group of panicked women.
"Run!"
Minco shouted, instantly switching from spectator to fugitive.
(End Of This Chapter)