Chapter 5: Of Unknown Origin
From within the thick smoke and dust, a series of dull thuds emerged. Like thunder on a clear day, they hammered at the soldiers' hearts, turning their faces pale with terror.
Then, under their watchful eyes, a figure standing about 2.2 meters tall emerged from the dust. It was clad head-to-toe in heavy armor, with sharp, black oni horns on its helmet, and its face was obscured by a gas mask.
Beneath the armor, its identity and gender were impossible to discern. Its weapons were a heavy, long-handled war hammer and a massive shield measuring 80x200cm and over 10cm thick.
It held the shield high, blocking the gunfire and cannonballs from the wall. As the roar of cannons echoed, it advanced slowly. Behind it, refugees—ragged but with sharp, determined eyes—gradually gathered, also moving forward with smaller shields.
Meanwhile, within the lingering smoke, many women and children quietly appeared, each carrying buckets and running towards the river, which was littered with garbage.
The soldiers on the wall saw this and their expressions changed. Their taunting mood vanished as they frantically pulled their triggers, trying to stop the refugees from getting closer. This time, however, their firearms advantage failed to stop their opponents; they could only watch helplessly as the group advanced.
Then, the heavily armored figure, whose gender was unknown, set down its war hammer. After patting away the flames encircling its body, it took a thick, bone-white spear from a person beside it.
Next, under the utterly horrified gazes of the soldiers, it powerfully hurled the bone spear.
SWOOSH—
The spear instantly tore through the smoke and flames, cutting a streak of bone-white light across the battlefield before striking the city gate.
BOOM—
The indestructible city gate shattered in an instant. A massive shockwave, along with the splintered gate, sent the defending soldiers flying dozens of meters.
THUMP... The heavy footsteps sounded again as the immensely intimidating figure stepped through the wall's opening. Behind it, a large group of disheveled figures charged out, roaring as they rushed toward the terrified soldiers.
Just as the soldiers instinctively fell back, a middle-aged figure in magnificent armor leaped down from the high wall.
The king of this nation pushed aside the soldiers blocking his path and strode to the front of his army. He swept his gaze contemptuously over the ragged refugees and taunted, "Isn't it better to just scrape by on the plateau? Why come down here to die?"
A clearly unnatural voice sounded from beneath the heavy armor, responding to Nathan's words: "This land has always belonged to us."
At this, Nathan slowly drew the blade from his waist, his expression one of extreme arrogance. "And who can prove that?"
"You should know that the East Blue, no, the entire world, knows that this land belongs to the second noblest and most intelligent race in the world. We are recognized by the World Government. But you? You're nothing but pariahs drowned in the tides of history."
"..."
After a long moment, the heavily armored figure picked up its long-handled war hammer, its body radiating a bone-chilling killing intent. "Back then, we never should have taken in your people, who were persecuted by other kingdoms and had suffered a shipwreck..."
"And who told your ancestors to dare show us, the noble and wise, such a disgusting look of pity?" Nathan sneered, his eyes full of mockery.
But contrary to his arrogant exterior, his mind was intensely focused. Get angry, lose your reason, he thought to himself. So I can find the opening for a one-hit kill...
Even with a clear advantage in strength, he remained rational. He had to end this in a single blow, giving CP0 no chance to interfere, and eliminating this potential threat to his kingdom.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the high wall, the man in the white suit watched everything unfold in the distance, a bad feeling rising in his mind.
"That guy Nathan... surely he isn't planning to kill the person the Five Elders specifically ordered us to bring back?"
At this thought, the CP0 agent's face changed instantly. He leaped up and used Geppo to rush towards the battlefield.
However, just as he stepped off the wall, he felt an intense sense of crisis from above and instinctively looked up at the sky.
"!!" Just one glance and his face contorted.
A golden fireball had appeared above his head at some unknown point. The attacker, whose face was obscured, was diving at an incredible speed, displaying a posture that screamed of a suicide crash.
"Tekkai: Gou!" The CP0 agent tensed his entire body, coated himself in Armament Haki, and then leaped away from his spot without looking back.
BOOM—
The violent impact shook the entire wall. Countless soldiers staggered and fell as cracks spread for hundreds of meters. The spot where the CP0 agent had been standing was instantly reduced to rubble. Dust filled the air, and cries of agony rang out.
Not far away, the CP0 agent looked at the collapsed section of the wall with lingering fear, his masked face full of shock and uncertainty.
"Who was that?" He couldn't believe he would encounter such a terrifying attack in the East Blue.
"To think you dodged that..." A slightly regretful voice came from the cloud of dust. Then, a faint silhouette slowly stood up.
In the distance, the CP0 agent stared silently at the collapsed wall and the dust kicked up by the tremendous impact.
From within the dust, a figure about two meters tall slowly rose, the non-human limbs on its back slowly retracting.
"Who are you? Why have you attacked us without reason?" CP0 agent Joseph frowned, his expression extremely serious.
However, the attacker in the dust had no intention of answering him, which made the CP0 agent's face darken further. A refusal to talk meant there was no room for negotiation; this would have to be settled by a fight to the death.
Thump... Thump... Unhurried footsteps sounded. From the dust, the winged figure began to slowly drag a spear towards the CP0 agent.
Louis shook his head, shaking off the dust he had collected. The broad, snow-white wings on his back stretched out, dispersing the surrounding smoke. He then revealed himself to everyone, dragging his spear.
His short golden hair was dazzling under the sun. The snow-white wings on his back were slightly spread, and a pale golden light enveloped his body, giving him a divine appearance.
CP0 agent Joseph's eyes swept over Louis's wings and the golden aura around him, a glint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He frowned slightly, his tone perplexed. "The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Angel?"
Beside him, a dozen agents in black suits exchanged glances. The moment they saw Louis, the same thought had popped into their minds.
Louis did not answer. Instead, he gave the agents, who he had single-handedly surrounded, a cold look.
The next moment, the golden light around his body erupted, forming a pale-golden wave that expanded in all directions. Everywhere it passed, everything turned to gold.
Seeing this, Joseph didn't dare hesitate. He instantly used the Rokushiki technique Soru and flashed dozens of meters away just before the wave of light could sweep over him.