In Mangrove Area 13, Scratchmen Apoo went back to his business as usual after Capone Bege left.
He even scoffed openly at Bege's departure.
That man had actually come to propose a temporary alliance, claiming someone on Sabaody Archipelago was deliberately targeting the Supernovas. He used Red Flag X Drake, the Mad Monk Urouge, and the Surgeon of Death as examples.
As a member of the Worst Generation, Apoo was arrogant by nature and looked down on cooperation. In his eyes, alliances were only for the weak.
Their discussion ended badly, and a fight nearly broke out.
"Captain, I think what Capone Bege said makes sense," one of the crew members said cautiously while Apoo drank. "There's a real possibility the Marines are trying to wipe out the Supernovas here. We should be careful."
"Those guys were just weak," Apoo replied dismissively. "Coating the ship takes three days. We don't have a choice but to stay."
Apoo was not stupid. Even if danger existed, they still had to endure it. Every Supernova currently on Sabaody Archipelago was in the same position, with no easy retreat.
At that moment, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl walked into the tavern.
She wore a loose T-shirt and beach shorts, her pale feet in simple flip-flops. Her figure was eye-catching, and her face was delicate and striking, giving off a fresh, spring-like presence.
What stood out the most were her eyes.
Amethyst-colored pupils, patterned like crystalline facets, captivating and unnatural.
If someone looked closely, they would notice that this girl bore a strong resemblance to Lucien, nearly seven tenths alike.
Because this girl was Lucien.
Only his outward form had changed.
Lucien had perfectly altered his physique, down to every physical detail. His transformation was flawless, not an illusion or disguise, but a complete shift in appearance. Internally, however, he remained himself.
He entered the tavern and calmly scanned the room, his gaze settling on Apoo immediately.
Scratchmen Apoo was impossible to miss.
Long arms, large headphones, dark-tinted glasses, and an eccentric presence that screamed trouble.
Apoo was a Paramecia Devil Fruit user. Any part of his body could transform into musical instruments, producing soundwave attacks capable of damaging the human body in different ways.
"Excuse me," Lucien said softly, holding a folded piece of paper, his voice timid and hesitant. "Are you Supernova Scratchmen Apoo?"
He walked toward the pirates slowly, shoulders slightly hunched, his expression full of fear.
Like a lamb stepping into a den of wolves.
For this performance, Lucien internally gave himself full marks.
"Huh?" Apoo leaned back lazily as the surrounding pirates looked Lucien up and down with ill intent. "That's me. The great one."
"Someone asked me to give you this," Lucien said, extending the note with trembling fingers.
"Who's being so troublesome," Apoo muttered as he reached out.
He did not sense the danger at all.
Pfft.
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed through the tavern.
Black thorns erupted instantly, stabbing through Apoo's limbs and chest. The force pinned him to the wall in a massive X shape, blood splattering across the floor.
Shock and disbelief were frozen on Apoo's face.
He never imagined that such a fragile-looking girl would strike without warning, nor did he have time to mount any defense.
The strength in his body drained rapidly. His life was slipping away.
"Captain."
The surrounding pirates finally reacted, drawing their weapons and rushing forward.
"Infighting," Lucien said calmly.
The command took effect instantly.
The pirates halted, then turned on each other like madmen, attacking without restraint.
"Who are you?" Apoo gasped, unable to move as the black thorns devoured his life.
"Life," Lucien replied.
Rolling soul power surged behind him, taking the shape of a terrifying specter. Its dark maw opened wide, radiating malice as if it would devour everything.
In that moment, Apoo felt fear.
Even if only a trace.
White soul mist poured out of Apoo's body. Lucien raised his hand and tore the soul free in one motion. Apoo's eyes rolled back, and his breathing stopped.
The black thorns accelerated, consuming Apoo's physical body until nothing remained.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Lucien flicked his fingers several times, then vanished from the tavern, leaving only corpses behind.
---
In Mangrove Area 20, Capone Bege arrived after parting on bad terms with Apoo.
He planned to visit a human trafficking shop to acquire more subordinates. The deaths of Drake, Urouge, and Law had instilled a sense of urgency in him.
Still, Bege was confident.
The source of his confidence was his Devil Fruit.
Paramecia type, Castle-Castle Fruit.
He could turn himself into a fortress, storing people, weapons, and supplies within his body. Anything entering his ability range would shrink, returning to normal size when released.
This meant Bege was never truly alone.
Although he walked alone, he carried an army within him.
Now, Bege moved down the street wearing a pinstriped suit, a hat and scarf pulled low, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
Mangrove Area 20 was an illegal zone, yet the street was lively, filled with pirates and thugs.
In front of a takoyaki stall, Bege brushed past a delicate girl.
Time seemed to freeze.
Bege's relaxed expression vanished instantly.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
A sense of overwhelming danger crashed down on him, like falling into a bottomless abyss. His breathing stopped, his heart pounding wildly.
The cigar fell from his mouth.
A black thorn pierced straight through his heart.
Before he could react, seven more followed, impaling his body from all directions.
A slender hand closed around his throat.
Amethyst eyes filled his vision.
"Life."
Under the bright sun, Bege felt an icy chill seep into his bones as he saw the ferocious specter rising behind the girl.
Faced with death, fear took hold.
Lucien brushed his hand over Bege's head.
Bege's soul was ripped free instantly.
His body crumbled into ashes, scattering in the wind.
As Bege died, dozens of Fire Tank Pirates appeared out of nowhere, spilling into the street in confusion.
It had all happened too fast.
Before anyone could react, only a pile of clothes remained.
A scream tore through the air.
The killer was already gone.
Children and young girls naturally lowered people's guard, and paired with Lucien's overwhelming strength, every strike was precise and fatal.
Drake.
Urouge.
Law.
Apoo.
Bege.
One after another, they fell.
Out of the eleven Supernovas, four had died outright.
Law's fate was only a matter of time.
For the rest of the day, Sabaody Archipelago was thrown into turmoil.
Two more Supernovas were dead or missing.
If this was not foul play, then it was nothing short of a nightmare.
The news spread outward from Sabaody Archipelago, reaching countless factions.
Nearly all suspicion pointed toward the Marines.
Some claimed an Admiral was hiding on the island, hunting the Worst Generation.
Others swore they had seen a child or a young girl committing the killings.
As the rumors spread, the truth became more distorted with every retelling.
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