Yuno's condition was far from ideal—his strength was nearly exhausted, and he was still suffering from the aftereffects of the instantaneous stun.
Now, facing a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, his chances of victory were slim.
When he saw the leading Marine, Yuno immediately recognized him—
Vice Admiral Onigumo of Marine Headquarters.
A veteran officer in the Navy, Onigumo rarely had combat scenes in the One Piece manga, but anyone who could hold the rank of Headquarters Vice Admiral had to be extremely powerful.
It was clear Onigumo's Observation Haki had already picked up the situation.
His pupils narrowed sharply upon spotting Doflamingo unconscious on the ground.
Doflamingo… lost?!
The thought flashed through his mind, and a look of genuine astonishment crossed his harsh features.
Who was Doflamingo? One of the Shichibukai—the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Every member of the Warlords was a force to be reckoned with.
Even Onigumo himself, when facing Doflamingo, would remain highly cautious, never daring to relax his guard.
But what was happening before his eyes now?
Doflamingo… defeated?
And by a mere bounty hunter?
Ghost Spider (Onigumo's epithet) fixed his gaze on the black-and-white-masked figure standing before him. Though shocked, a glint flashed in his eyes.
He could tell Yuno was in bad shape… and that triggered alarm bells in his mind.
To him, an unpredictable bounty hunter was someone who could turn against the World Government at any moment.
Without hesitation, he strode forward, barking:
"Everyone, drop your weapons and surrender!"
"So they're really going to do it…" Yuno's eyes narrowed. He had already suspected this, so it didn't surprise him.
From his past-life knowledge of the One Piece world, he knew the Marine style—especially from hawkish types like Ghost Spider—was ruthless: Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one guilty man escape.
Even a dovish Vice Admiral like Dalmatian or Momonga wouldn't let him walk away without at least investigating the man behind the mask.
Hawk or dove, the arrival of the Navy almost guaranteed conflict with him.
Yuno began planning his next move.
In his current condition, he couldn't possibly match Ghost Spider in a head-on fight. But slinking away in humiliation wasn't an option for someone with his pride.
I can retreat… but the Navy will have to pay a price.
I can still manage one last strike…
His mind worked quickly. He glanced at his system panel:
[Mission Complete] Defeat Doflamingo:
+1500 Achievement Points
+1 Skill Draw
The skill draw was random, so he ignored it for now. What he needed was something useful immediately.
Skimming through his unlocked options, he bypassed the overly powerful skills—those consumed too much stamina to use in his current state.
His eyes settled on a recovery technique from the [Ghost] branch—
"Kaido".
Kaido's abilities were few, but all were focused on recovery and endurance.
A plan formed instantly. With regenerative skills, he could push his body beyond its limits, burn through every ounce of strength, and then recover enough to escape—or fight again if necessary.
White lightning began to crackle faintly around him.
"Navy… I didn't provoke you. I suggest you don't provoke me," Yuno said coldly, confidence returning to his voice.
"You attacked a member of the Seven Warlords—an institution sanctioned by the World Government—and still claim you didn't provoke us?" Ghost Spider snapped. "Enough talk. Surrender now, or face Marine fire!"
But Yuno's expression stayed indifferent.
A low hum built behind him as white thunder surged, and his voice dropped to an icy tone:
"You Marines… are you planning to become my enemy?"
Although Yuno was a Marine, he cared nothing for the so-called loyalty between colleagues—and he certainly wouldn't spare anyone who deserved to die.
"You still dare to be arrogant at a time like this?"
Vice Admiral Onigumo's eyes flashed coldly. With a curt wave of his hand, he ordered,
"Attack!"
After all, this was the man who had defeated Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the former Shichibukai. Even though Yuno looked extremely weakened, Onigumo wasn't careless—he first sent his men to probe the situation.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire erupted as countless bullets rained toward Yuno.
He leapt high into the air, dodging the barrage with practiced agility. But upon landing, he intentionally staggered—allowing a bullet to graze his shoulder, sending blood splattering. This was no mistake. It was bait.
If he could grievously injure Onigumo, he might create an opening to escape.
Behind the mask, Yuno's eyes remained steady, his mind cool even under fire.
As expected, when Onigumo saw Yuno's "weakened" state, a glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
As I thought…
He signaled his men to cease fire. He wanted to take the prize himself—this was a chance for great merit.
In the Navy, Merits weren't just for promotions; they could be traded for rare treasures—Devil Fruits, famed swords, and more. Capturing a man who had defeated a Warlord of the Sea? The reward would be immeasurable.
Onigumo's lips curled into a thin sneer, already viewing Yuno as a condemned criminal. With his katana wrapped in blackened Armament Haki, he lunged forward, blade poised to incapacitate rather than kill. A living capture was worth far more than a corpse.
Yuno's gaze hardened as the blade closed in.
The opportunity… has arrived.
His pupils narrowed, and a wave of Haoshoku Haki burst forth, crushing the air around them. At the same moment, thunder cracked behind him—his left fist shot out, colliding with the incoming sword, sparks and lightning dancing in the air. The electric discharge rippled outward, paralyzing the Vice Admiral's stance.
In his right hand, he raised his own blade, plasma snaking along the edge until the metal glowed white-hot, threatening to melt from the heat.
"Ittōryū… Saikyō Giri!"
(One Sword Style: Ultimate Slash!)
The words were cold and final, resonating like a death knell.
He swung. The strike was all his strength, all his fury, condensed into a single blow.
A crescent of blinding energy, nearly a hundred meters long, tore forward—cleaving through earth, stone, and steel alike. Buildings crumbled, trees toppled, the ground split in two. The island itself now bore a deep scar from east to west, a new canal carved by pure force.
Yuno landed heavily, half-kneeling, gasping for breath, sweat dripping down his face.
At the center of the field, Onigumo stood frozen, still wearing that faint, mocking grin—until a thin crimson line traced its way down his forehead.
A soft hiss of tearing flesh. The sneer faded.
Vice Admiral Onigumo, Marine Headquarters…
…was dead.
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