As Dark Thorn and the others were still reeling from Rosinante's overwhelming presence, the man himself casually drove his long blade into the ground.
Abandoning his sword? He wasn't going to use swordsmanship? Or worse—was he saying they weren't even worth the effort of drawing his weapon?
The thought alone was enough to ignite fury in every heart present.
Sure, he was strong—but this level of arrogance was unbearable!
Rosinante lifted his gaze to meet their angry faces and let out a cold, humorless smile. Then, in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished—no, disappeared—as if swallowed by thin air.
Gone. Completely.
Impossible! Even the sharpest Observation Haki couldn't track him. His disappearance was so absolute it made them question their own senses.
Such speed defied reason. Even Dark Thorn, who prided himself on his mastery of perception, felt his scalp prickle.
He knew Rosinante was fast, but this? This was something else entirely. His presence had simply… ceased to exist.
Is it a space ability? Dark Thorn thought, eyes narrowing. No—this wasn't a teleportation trick. It was something far more terrifying. Observation Haki couldn't sense movement because Rosinante wasn't just fast—he'd slipped entirely outside their awareness.
Just as Dark Thorn was about to shout a warning—
Rosinante appeared silently at Oni Warrior's side. There was no sound, no flash—just sudden presence.
Then came the strike.
"Dragon's Tail Whip!"
Rosinante's leg whipped around with explosive force, slamming into Oni Warrior's waist before the man could even react.
BOOM!
The impact was like a freight train hitting steel. Oni Warrior's body shot through the air at an incredible speed, crashing into a nearby building.
CRASH! The structure exploded into dust and rubble.
Only then did Oni Warrior catch sight of Rosinante's blurred form—and his instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, he swung his blade in a single, fluid arc.
That slash represented decades of relentless training, countless repetitions honed to perfection. It was the fastest strike he had ever unleashed—razor-sharp, gleaming with killing intent.
But it hit nothing.
His target had already turned into a streak of light, far beyond the reach of even his fastest blade.
Before Oni Warrior could even comprehend his miss, pain exploded through his gut. A crushing, unstoppable force slammed into his abdomen.
His feet left the ground. The next instant, his body hit the earth like a meteor.
BOOM!
The ground cracked and shattered beneath him, fissures spreading outward as dust billowed high into the air. Oni Warrior's body sank deep into the crater, unconscious before he hit bottom.
Dark Thorn and the Murder Ghost froze, staring wide-eyed, their blood running cold.
What kind of speed is that? What kind of monster are we fighting?
Even when Rosinante had faced Moria, or fought the Reaper, or crossed blades with Dark Thorn himself—he'd never shown this level of speed.
So he hadn't even been serious before…
Dark Thorn felt his heart twist in a mix of awe and dread. He had known Rosinante was fast—but not faster-than-thought fast. In the blink of an eye, two of the underworld's top mercenaries were down, defeated like children.
Rosinante's lips curved slightly. Amusement flickered in his eyes as he noticed their terror. Then he turned—his next move was aimed squarely at the Murder Ghost.
In one seamless motion, Rosinante's fist shot forward.
The Murder Ghost reacted instantly, summoning two small, curved sickles in his hands. With a flick of his wrists, the blades spun toward Rosinante's fist like silver vipers, aiming to cut him before he could land the blow.
But Rosinante didn't stop.
"Crushing Fist: Critical Impact!"
A cold smile flashed across his face. His arm turned jet-black with Armament Haki as raw power coiled into his knuckles.
BANG!
The punch connected—not with the man's body, but with his weapons. The moment his fist met the twin sickles, a thunderous shockwave exploded outward.
The sickles shattered, spinning away like broken stars, while the unleashed shock force hit the Murder Ghost square in the chest.
PUH!
He spat blood and flew backward, tumbling over the ground for several meters before lying motionless.
The subordinates of Oni Warrior stood frozen in place, hands trembling, faces drained of color.
Three of the underworld's most feared mercenary leaders—downed in mere seconds.
Someone, anyone—please tell them this was a nightmare.
Finally, Rosinante's gaze shifted toward the last one standing.
Dark Thorn.
"There's killing intent coming from you," Rosinante said softly, his tone icy. "It's solid—real. You actually want to kill me, don't you? That's why I saved you for last."
He tilted his head slightly, the faintest trace of a smirk on his lips. "If you're really that capable, then my life's right here. Come and take it. I've heard you're the number one assassin in the underworld… So show me. Let's see if you can at least make me work for it."
"Don't underestimate me," Dark Thorn replied coldly. "I'm not like those other fools."
But inwardly, his thoughts were racing.
Yes, he could assassinate someone as strong as a Marine admiral—if they were unaware, if he struck from the shadows. But Rosinante was alert, faster than him, and had a mastery of stealth far beyond his own.
This wasn't an assassination. This was suicide.
Think, he urged himself. I just need a little more time…
"Hmm?" Rosinante's sharp gaze snapped to him. "You're waiting for something, aren't you?"
Before Dark Thorn could respond, a familiar drawling voice cut through the air.
"Ara~ ara… looks like there's no surprise after all," Borsalino (Kizaru) said with mocking amusement.
"What a pointless game," Akainu muttered, his tone cold as magma.
Then, across the field, Garp lifted his head, squinting toward the dark sky. "Heh… Looks like things are about to get interesting."
The others followed his gaze upward.
Only thunderclouds and lightning filled the heavens—nothing else.
"Could it be…?" Tsuru murmured.
"Observation Haki can't sense him yet," Garp said gravely, "but my gut tells me—he's here."
Borsalino grinned. "If Garp-san says so, then I suppose we're in for some fun."
"About time," Akainu said, cracking his neck. "I was getting bored. I was transferred here for him. He'd better make it worth my while."
Meanwhile, high above, Enel had also raised his gaze skyward, lightning crackling across his body like a living storm.
"That aura… impossible," he muttered, eyes widening. "Why would he be here?"
Bolts of electricity danced wildly over his skin before arcing outward—sending a pulse of energy directly toward Rosinante.
"So that's it," Rosinante said, glancing up as his own Observation Haki confirmed it. "That's who you were waiting for."
Dark Thorn's lips curled into a faint, eager smile. "He's here."
At that very moment, the sky split open.
A massive figure plummeted from above, tearing straight through the thunderclouds.
The impact scattered the storm itself—the once-dark sky clearing in an instant, sunlight bursting through.
Then—
BOOM!
The colossal body struck the lawless zone like a meteorite, shaking the ground and leaving a gigantic crater in its wake.
Dust and silence followed.
And as everyone stared into the massive pit, one thought echoed in every mind—
Who in the world falls from the sky like that?