Chapter 58: Seeking Follow-up Reads! The Slave King's Ruthlessness and Strength!
Fifty Marine Headquarters Officers of various ranks, clad in Coats of Justice and utilizing Moonwalk, scattered in all directions at astonishing speed, transforming into streaks of white afterimages.
In an instant, gunshots echoed throughout Shabak City, and the clash of weapons resounded, plunging the city into complete chaos.
A Major was the first to encounter a team of five Slave Guards. He had no intention of landing, instead stepping on air, moving left and right in mid-air to evade all the bullet rain. With a flash of his drawn blade, he instantly appeared behind the five individuals.
"Puchi—"
The next moment, a line of blood slowly appeared on the necks of the few people, but the Major didn't spare a glance at their falling bodies, instead rapidly attacking the next target team.
On the other side, a Colonel, bare-handed, first smashed a cleaving Battle Axe head-on with a punch, then slammed his fist into the opponent's face, sending the entire person flying with eyes rolled back. Along the way, he knocked over three more Slave Guards.
"Iron Body!"
Suddenly, the Colonel tensed his entire body, taking the attacks of two Long Sabers and several Bullets head-on. Then, completely unharmed, he grabbed the head of one person, used him as a Weapon to knock away another, and finally, like throwing garbage, hurled him towards the shooting Slave Guard. Both crashed through a mud wall, spitting blood, and disappeared from sight.
Although the Slave Guard Warriors of the Tutmos Kingdom were numerous, and some even carried Firearms, they simply couldn't stop the rampant slaughter by these 'White Eagles'.
Shave, Moonwalk, Finger Pistol, Tempest Kick, Paper Arts, Iron Body—these Martial Arts techniques, only achievable by surpassing the Human Limit, produced astonishing Effects every time they were used.
Some individuals even possessed exquisite Swordsmanship on top of these techniques, or had some peculiar Devil Fruit Ability.
Although a portion of the Marine Officers noticed that these Slave Guards wearing Green Collars displayed Strength that was somewhat unusual, with some excellent ones seeming comparable to Headquarters Staff Sergeants and Sergeants.
But to them, whether they were Marine Soldiers or Staff Sergeants, it didn't make much of a difference.
Not to mention, these Slave Guards were only physically different from ordinary people; in other aspects, they couldn't compare to Marine Headquarters Soldiers at all.
Teams of Slave Guard Warriors rushed out from the Tunnel, but it wasn't long before they were easily annihilated by a flashing White Shadow, turning into Corpses lying in a Pool of Blood.
Four or five Marine Officers had even begun to team up and counter-attack into the Underground Passage!
One burly Major charged forward with extremely Agility Speed. A team of newly appeared Slave Guards had their necks and chests sliced open under streaks of Green Glow.
"Yo, is that Major Jack's Bug-Bug Fruit, Mantis Form Ability? The Speed is indeed fast, and the arms are sharp enough!" Another Lieutenant Colonel laughed heartily.
"Lieutenant Colonel Leifan is too kind," Major Jack replied politely.
"Let's go quickly. If we can find King Taklamakan first, that would be a great achievement!" Another Lieutenant Colonel, whose fists were wrapped in White Bandage, urged them on, then continued to push deeper.
Hearing this, the others stopped joking and quickly moved. However, after only a few seconds, a heavy collision sound echoed from ahead, followed by the Bandage Lieutenant Colonel being sent flying back. He seemed unharmed, though, and quickly regained his balance.
"What's the Situation?"
"What happened?"
Just as Major Jack and the others were asking, a large number of figures shot out from the Darkness, giving the Bandage Lieutenant Colonel no time to answer.
Seeing this, the former stopped wasting words and quickly engaged them in battle, a high-speed fight erupting in the narrow Tunnel space. However, as they fought, these Marine Headquarters Experts were actually being pushed back step by step.
Although the opponents were numerous, compared to the previous Slave Guards, the Strength of these Black Shadows was truly extraordinary.
Helplessly, Major Jack and the others could only retreat from the Tunnel and quickly put distance between themselves, meeting up with more Colleagues around them.
At the same time, under the brilliant Sunlight, they finally got a clear look at the opponents' appearance.
"What are these guys?"
The figures pouring out from the Underground Passage numbered over a hundred. Each one wore a Black Close-fitting Chest Armor, a White Robe Skirt, and held two Long-handled Iron Axes.
Of course, the Green Collar around their necks was standard issue.
Most alarming was their Physical Condition. Their muscles were so swollen they gave the impression they were about to explode, and their skin was covered in shallow black Markings. Their Eyeballs were almost entirely white, with virtually no Pupil visible, only a faint circular outline.
As soon as these strange individuals appeared, they formed groups of two or three and pounced on the Marine Officers everywhere. Although they didn't possess techniques like Shave and Moonwalk, their extremely formidable Strength allowed them to stomp the Ground and crush the Rock Layer, leaping forward with sounds of tearing air.
"Clang!"
A crisp metallic clash rang out. A Major's Long Saber had collided with a cleaving Iron Axe. Immediately, terrifying Strength erupted, causing cracks to spread in the Sand beneath their feet.
"Such Monstrous Strength!"
The Headquarters Major only managed to hold on for a few seconds before being forced to retreat to dissipate the force. Feeling the slight numbness in his Palm, he felt it was unbelievable.
Although his strength wasn't his forte, he shouldn't be suppressed by someone from the South Blue, and the opponent wasn't a Zoan Ability User.
Meanwhile, the other Marine Officers also felt the pressure. While it wasn't exactly a difficult fight, it certainly wasn't as easy as before.
However, some Strength-type individuals, who were used to facing opponents head-on, gradually sustained Injuries of varying degrees when facing opponents with greater Strength and superior numbers.
High Altitude, Dragon stood on the Warship Mast, his Gaze solemn as he watched this scene.
"Hahahahaha!"
Inside the Underground Pyramid Palace, King Taklamakan, wearing a Golden Mask, burst into hearty laughter as he watched the Video Feed. His laughter echoed continuously throughout the empty Main Hall.
"The strongest Royal Guard Warriors, one hundred percent Physical Strength, plus the Medicinal Effect of Powerful Water—the Effect is truly good. It's a pity they are all Disposable Weapons, and the Reserves of Powerful Water are too small..."
Upon closer inspection, the hundred or so Warriors who had been guarding the Main Hall were now nowhere to be seen. Hearing him speak, it turned out they had been sent out as sacrifices to resist the fifty Headquarters Officers brought by Dragon, deploying all the Royal Guard.
Normal Royal Guard would, of course, not be a match for the Marine Elite. But this Slave King of the Underworld had taken out the Powerful Water from the Warehouse and given it to them to drink.
Although the Medicinal Effect of Powerful Water only lasts for five minutes, after which the user will die violently, within these five minutes, they can exert several times their Strength.
Now, King Taklamakan's biggest regret was not preparing enough Powerful Water in advance. Dragon's previous 'Smoke Bomb' had been too successful, and he had never imagined he would be discovered.
"This son of Garp is actually an Ability User, and he even came up with the Tactics of concentrating all the Elite and launching a surprise attack from the sky. It's quite interesting..."
As King Taklamakan spoke, he slowly rose, leaning on his Golden Scepter.
Below the platform, an Official wearing a White Robe lay there with an expression of extreme terror. Judging by the hands still around his Neck, it seemed he had strangled himself.
This was the person who had previously said that Dragon was not an Ability User.
Logically, this Intelligence had been sent by Slave Catchers on the Grand Line; he was merely responsible for relaying it. But the Slave King had no interest in distinguishing right from wrong.
"However, let me teach you how powerless so-called Tactics and Strategy are against Absolute Strength in this World where Strength reigns supreme!"
Suddenly, the Palm holding the Scepter emitted a Forest Green Radiance. The next moment, surging Sandstorm swept in from all directions, engulfing the entire Main Hall.
When all the Sandstorm disappeared again, the King in front of the Golden Throne was also gone without a trace...
Seeking follow-up reads! Comments! If you have any remaining Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Passes, could you please spare a few for this humble author?
(End of this chapter)