"This guy is strong!"
Kaku and the others wore grave expressions. The moment Who's Who gripped his blade, they could clearly sense his formidable aura.
They knew a thing or two about this senior standing before them. Once hailed as a genius in the Six Styles, he had defected a decade ago after a failed mission.
"Lucci."
"Just deal with the others."
Aside from Who's Who, there were his subordinates—all dressed as cat people—outnumbering them several times over.
Lucci's gaze was icy.
Though he was now a wanted man, no longer affiliated with the World Government, he had never tolerated traitors.
"Hahaha, what a terrifying glare! It's giving me chills. Guess I'll have to take this seriously!"
Who's Who grinned, drawing a dagger-like short blade from its slender sheath. With a sudden forward slash, he unleashed a barrage of tiny, razor-sharp slashes!
"Blade Gun!"
"Scatter!"
Kaku and the others reacted instantly, dispersing with Shave as the dense slashes riddled the spot they had just occupied like bullets.
"A Six Styles technique we've never seen before!"
As experts in the Six Styles themselves, they could gauge his mastery—and this was the first time they'd witnessed someone extend Finger Pistol techniques using a dagger.
Incredible!
Owl's arm was bleeding.
"Chababa~~ That really hurts!"
"Owl, you got hit?"
"I let it hit me on purpose!"
Owl closed his eyes, sweat beading on his forehead.
"This guy's Power Index..."
"3,960!"
"What?!"
Kaku and the others were stunned.
Only slightly lower than Lucci's 4,000—a negligible difference in battle.
Their eyes turned to the battlefield.
Who's Who remained standing in place, while Lucci perched on a tree trunk, the two locked in a standoff across a dozen meters.
The Blade Gun had merely been a greeting.
"Hahaha, Power Index—what a nostalgic number! Back when I was in CP9, mine was second to none!"
Hearing Owl's words, Who's Who grinned ear to ear. Compared to back then, his Power Index had nearly doubled.
Close to 4,000—a figure likely unrivaled in CP9's history. Proof that he was the true genius of the Six Styles.
"Hey, Rob Lucci!"
Who's Who called out loudly.
"What's your Power Index?"
"..."
Lucci's expression remained cold, clearly unwilling to answer.
Owl, unable to keep his mouth shut, answered for him: "Chababa! Lucci's Power Index is 4,000!"
"4,000?"
Who's Who's grin vanished.
No way. It was even slightly higher than his own—and he was nearly ten years older than Rob Lucci.
"Don't get cocky, Rob Lucci! Power Index is just a measure of physical techniques. Real battles aren't decided by numbers!"
"Do you ever stop talking nonsense?"
Lucci spoke for the first time.
The offhand remark shattered Who's Who's composure. His right leg swept out in a vicious arc, launching a crescent-shaped slash toward Lucci!
"Tempest Kick!"
"Shave!"
Lucci leapt upward as the tree below him was cleaved in half. Midair, he twisted his body, his right foot whipping down to unleash an even larger vacuum slash.
"Tempest Kick Gale Bird!"
A massive, bird-shaped slash—wider and more powerful—swept downward!
Who's Who's expression changed as he also used Shave to quickly move into the air.
"BOOM!!!"
The ground exploded violently, splitting open with a massive fissure dozens of meters long!
"Such terrifying power!"
Watching the cracked earth below, Who's Who's expression grew increasingly grave, yet an unprecedented fighting spirit surged within him.
"Hahaha, Rob Lucci! Now this is worth defeating you for!"
"Moonwalk!"
Who's Who kicked against the air, bursts of smoke erupting beneath his feet as he rapidly closed the distance toward Lucci midair, thrusting his right hand toward Lucci's head.
"Finger Pistol!"
"Swish!"
The attack missed!
Lucci tilted his head slightly, dodging the incoming Finger Pistol, then extended his own index finger to counterattack swiftly.
"Paper Drawing!"
Dodge, counterattack!
The two exchanged blows, using Six Styles and basic Martial Arts to assault and evade each other, their movements growing faster and faster.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Afterimages of their battle filled the air!
Shockwaves continuously erupted, rocks shattered abruptly, trees were sliced apart—the aftermath of their clash destroyed everything around them!
A lightning-fast offensive and defensive battle!
"I can't see them clearly!"
Kaku and the others broke out in nervous sweat, their eyes desperately trying to follow the two figures but failing to make out anything.
Too fast!
"Tap!"
After an indeterminate amount of time, the two reappeared within sight, breathing heavily as they raised their hands once more.
"Finger Pistol!"
The same technique erupted simultaneously!
"Mottled!"
Countless afterimages of Finger Pistol strikes appeared between them!
"Thud!"
Blood splattered continuously!
After nearly ten seconds, both retreated to create distance, their fingers dripping with each other's blood.
A deadlock!
However, Rob Lucci's injuries weren't fully healed, while Who's Who was fresh and rested. This battle was inherently unfair—yet one man clearly lacked any awareness of that.
"Hahaha, that really hurt! As expected of Cipher Pol 9's strongest killing weapon in 800 years! Seems I'll have to go all out!"
Who's Who licked the blood from his fingertips, his body swelling, fangs elongating, his gloves tearing apart as his hands transformed into tiger claws, a tail extending from his rear.
Cat-Cat Fruit Ancient Species Saber-Toothed Tiger Form!
Lucci frowned slightly, transforming as well.
Cat-Cat Fruit Leopard Form!
"So we have the same type of ability!"
Who's Who ascended using Moonwalk, laughing mockingly without restraint. "Too bad, you're just a regular Zoan—while I'm an Ancient Species. There's a fundamental gap between our powers!"
"Prepare yourself, Rob Lucci!"
"The next Six Styles technique is unique to me—its power far surpasses ordinary Six Styles. It'll tear your body apart effortlessly!"
Who's Who opened his maw wide—then snapped it shut!
"Fang Pistol!"
A crescent-shaped air bullet howled downward!
Lucci sensed the danger and sidestepped the incoming Fang Pistol!
"Crack!"
A faint sound came from behind.
Lucci glanced back, his gaze sharpening.
A hole had appeared in the rock—as if bitten clean through—while the ground beyond bore a pit of unfathomable depth.
"Dodged it, huh? Sharp instincts."
Who's Who continued taunting.
"Even if you use Iron Body, my Fang Pistol will pierce right through you! If you try to block it, your body will be bitten clean in half!"
"But of course!"
"Hahaha, I heard all about it!"
"You were defeated by that rookie Straw Hat Luffy—humiliating Cipher Pol 9! So much for being their top prodigy!"
Lucci's expression changed, his eyes turning completely cold. This was the first noticeable shift in his emotions during this battle.
"Fang Pistol!"
The Fang Pistol came whistling once more!
This time, Lucci didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his right arm and smashed the attack aside, a trickle of blood running down his limb.
"Huh?!"
Who's Who's heart skipped a beat. Even if he were slow on the uptake, the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Lucci made it impossible to ignore that something was wrong.
"Whoosh!"
His body trembled, his hair standing on end!
This guy... seemed pissed off!
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