Cold sweat poured down Reis Max's body.
His face turned pale as he staggered back a step—
then suddenly, his expression changed.
"Run!!"
He roared over his shoulder.
Only then did the other Revolutionary Army members snap out of it, scattering in all directions.
Reis Max gritted his teeth.
His gaze hardened as he stared at Conrad.
Swish!
His hands flipped—
cards appeared between his fingers, tightly gripped.
"Let's go!"
He bellowed.
In one motion, he flung all the cards toward Conrad—
while charging forward himself.
With Cracker defeated—
Reis Max knew the mission had utterly failed.
Escape was unlikely.
The only thing left—
was to hold Conrad back long enough for the others to flee!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Haki-coated cards sliced through the air—
—but just before striking—
Conrad vanished.
Every card missed.
Reis Max froze.
His muscles tensed as he scanned the surroundings—
searching—
—but in less than a breath—
Drip.
A drop of blood fell from his lips.
"Ghk…"
He tried to speak—
but blood flooded his mouth.
Looking down—
his pupils shrank.
A hole the size of a basketball had been blasted through his chest.
When…?
He hadn't felt a thing.
No pain.
Nothing.
His vision blurred.
As he collapsed—
he faintly heard the screams of his comrades.
Thud!
Dust rose.
"REIS MAX!!!"
A roar echoed from above—
just before his consciousness faded.
…That voice…
Karasu…
Run…
With his last bit of strength—
he tried to speak—
but only a whisper escaped.
Black coal particles descended like a moving cloud.
They gathered—
forming Karasu's figure beside Reis Max's lifeless body.
"Damn it…!!"
Karasu's voice trembled with anger.
His eyes flicked toward Cracker's unconscious form nearby—
his heart tightening.
But now wasn't the time to grieve.
The operation had failed.
They had to retreat!
He reached down—
to retrieve the body—
—but suddenly—
Step.
A quiet footstep echoed.
A faint gust spread outward.
Conrad—
who had been pursuing the fleeing revolutionaries—
had returned.
His gaze fell coldly upon Karasu.
"'Black Robe' Conrad…"
Karasu's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Since you're here…"
Conrad spoke flatly.
"You might as well stay."
Buzz—
Spatial gates appeared instantly.
"Coal Obelisk!"
Karasu roared.
Massive coal blades formed midair—
shooting toward Conrad—
—but before reaching him—
they were swallowed by the green portals.
At the same time—
Karasu dissolved into coal particles—
wrapping Reis Max's body—
and shot skyward to escape.
This mission had cost them dearly.
And Conrad's strength—
was far beyond the intelligence reports.
"You think you can escape?"
Conrad snapped his fingers.
Snap!
BZZZ—!
Dozens of spatial gates appeared in the sky.
Then—
a thunderous roar filled the heavens.
Across the entire Gran Tesoro—
everyone looked up.
From those glowing green portals—
seawater poured down like a torrential storm.
"What is this?!"
Karasu, mid-flight, froze in shock.
Then—
his face changed drastically.
The water struck him—
and instantly—
a crushing weakness spread through his body.
His elemental form collapsed.
"It's seawater!"
He shouted—
but it was too late.
Power drained from him.
Unable to resist—
he and Reis Max's body were slammed down.
BOOM!
Water flooded the battlefield—
washing away blood, debris—
everything.
Even the massive ship trembled under the impact.
The chaos—
fell silent.
People across Gran Tesoro stared upward—
at the portals raining down seawater—
like the ship itself was being cleansed.
Some remembered—
the attack months ago—
when the ship had been overwhelmed by flooding.
Fear slowly faded.
Snap!
Conrad snapped his fingers again.
The portals vanished.
Stepping through the flowing water—
hands in his pockets—
he approached Karasu's unconscious body.
"Looks like…"
"I'll be getting another Logia fruit."
A faint smile appeared on his otherwise rigid face.
BOOM!
A sonic boom echoed above.
Mohji descended—
dark red mana coating his body—
wings spread wide.
He landed smoothly—
still dragging Buggy along.
"Don't fly so fast!"
Buggy complained, legs wobbling.
Mohji grinned—
then turned to Conrad.
"Vice-Captain!"
"As expected of you, Lord Conrad—so fast!"
Buggy shook his head—
then spotted Reis Max's corpse.
His face lit up—
equal parts anger and delight.
"You died just like that, you bastard?!"
He stomped over—
kicking the corpse repeatedly—
and even gave Karasu a few extra kicks for good measure.
Then—
he suddenly froze.
A chill ran down his spine.
Slowly—
he turned.
Conrad was staring at him.
Emotionless.
"L-Lord Conrad…"
Buggy's face collapsed in fear.
Mohji stepped forward quickly—
about to speak—
—but before he could—
A leg—
coated in overwhelming magic and Haki—
struck his chest.
BOOM!!
Mohji's eyes bulged.
His body bent like a cooked shrimp—
blood spraying—
as he was blasted away.
He smashed through three buildings—
before collapsing in the rubble.
"You were assigned to guard the Golden Hotel."
Conrad lowered his leg.
"Disobey again—and you won't need to exist."
His voice spread across the area.
Mohji coughed blood—
shaken.
That kick—
he hadn't even seen it.
"…Understood."
He staggered back—
bowing deeply.
Buggy turned pale—
taking a cautious step back.
Chirp—!
A bird cry echoed.
A massive blue bird descended—
then dissolved into ink—
revealing two figures.
One crashed to the ground—
covered in blood.
A massive, obese man—
long nose, tied hair—
yellow coat.
Charlotte Snack.
Another Sweet Commander.
Nearby—
Marianne landed unsteadily.
She was clearly injured.
"Vice-Captain… is everything… alright?"
She panted.
Conrad nodded.
"You defeated Charlotte Snack."
"Well done."
She blinked—
then nodded quickly.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Light, cheerful footsteps approached.
Uta appeared—
skipping forward with a bright smile.
"Hi everyone!"
Behind her—
Mr. Tanaka followed respectfully—
carrying three unconscious CP0 agents.
"Vice Captain," Uta greeted curiously.
Tanaka dropped the agents—
bowing deeply.
Conrad glanced at everyone.
"The trouble is resolved."
"Clean up your areas and calm the civilians."
"Marianne—assist Uta."
"Yes."
Suddenly—
everyone except Uta stiffened.
They turned sharply—
toward where Cracker lay.
A pale blue vortex appeared.
A hand reached out—
grabbed Cracker—
and dragged him inside.
Gone.
In an instant.
"What?!"
"Damn it!"
"There's still someone?!"
Mohji lunged forward—
too late.
Only a small mirror remained on the ground.
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