However, the young man suddenly put on a fierce face, opened his mouth, and directly bit the black slash.
*CRACK—!*
Under everyone's stunned gaze, the black slash that even made Shirohige and the others very wary was instead shattered into dust just by the strength of this young man's teeth.
Countless black fragments scattered in the air. The struggling souls within were finally freed; some directly vanished in the air, while others slowly faded away.
"How is this possible?!" Imu's eyes widened.
Even for her, the earlier attack had consumed a lot of mental energy. Considering their wounds hadn't fully healed, the slash that couldn't even be completely destroyed by Shirohige's alliance had drained much of their strength. However, that slash was actually bitten to pieces by the young man before them!
What the hell is this!
"Who are you?"
Imu unconsciously stepped back one step. Before this young man, her felt deep fear.
Shirohige and the others also showed expressions of suspicion and doubt while slowly retreating as well.
The newcomer was none other than Saitama's group. Beside him, Genos with legs spouting fire, Fubuki, and the kidnapped Buggy also landed and stood beside Saitama.
"Buggy?"
Shanks recognized his former companion. He felt strange seeing this bastard could be near such an existence.
Buggy turned and saw Shanks. Instantly tears flowed heavily on his face: "Shanks! You bastard, quickly save me—!"
At this time, he no longer cared about dignity. It really felt terrible being kidnapped by this baldy.
"Save you?" Shanks was momentarily confused.
Instantly, his hair stood on end. He remembered the Gold List's description of Buggy, then exclaimed in shock: "This is the Gold List's Third Place, Saitama?!"
Once those words were spoken, the entire field was shocked.
What could be done, Saitama was now wearing a wig; his face really looked like an ordinary person (NPC). If he didn't show his strength, people who didn't know him wouldn't be able to recognize him.
"You were the one here at that time, right? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Saitama stared at Imu.
Previously, when he brought Genos and the others to Mary Geoise and beat up the Gorosei badly, it was because he sensed Imu's aura. Who would have thought this person was so cowardly they didn't dare appear. Now, he finally got his chance.
"You are the Gold List's Third Place?" Imu finally recognized that figure.
Her gritted their teeth; because of this person, the Gorosei almost became crippled, which in turn drained much of her energy and resources.
"Are you on the pirates' side?"
Imu's heart pounded fast. If that were true, then this battle didn't need to continue; the difference in strength was too far.
Saitama shrugged and said seriously: "I have nothing to do with them. I just received a mission to bring you to a certain place. Don't worry, I'm very gentle. If you're willing to come with me, that's good. If not, that's even better; you're strong, you're worthy of being my opponent!"
While speaking, the short shoulder-length black hair on his head began to grow at a speed visible to the naked eye. In a few breaths, the hair had lengthened to his waist, and only stopped after touching the bend of his knees.
"This much seems enough..." Saitama muttered.
Sensing his power now greatly suppressed, he looked at Imu enthusiastically and gave a challenge gesture with his finger.
Genos and Fubuki could only fall silent without words.
Hair that long, power suppressed that much... How lowly did this person regard the World Government's number one?
No one expected such a change to occur at the critical moment. Sengoku and his companions, who initially thought there was a glimmer of hope with Imu's appearance, now had their faces turn pale again.
Conversely, Shirohige and the others didn't speak, they were actually happy to see this happen. Someone helping to suppress Imu was a very good thing.
The brief fight earlier had made them realize how terrifying Imu's power was. The power level of both sides was not at all in the same magnitude. It could be said, if one of Shirohige or another peak fighter advanced to face Imu, most likely they would die in an instant.
'Take me away? Where? Don't joke! I am the holder of the World Government's highest authority!'
Imu stared at Saitama with a feeling of dread. Her really didn't want to fight with this monster. However, her remembered the reward received by Third Place earlier.
The longer Saitama's hair, the more his power was suppressed...
The eyes behind Imu's strange mask gleamed. She finally raised her Oni-no-Akago sword: "If you want to fight, then let's fight!"
"Excellent!" Saitama looked enthusiastic.
This was interesting. If the opponent didn't even have fighting spirit, then it was truly boring.
While speaking, Saitama's body disappeared from where he stood. The next second, he had already appeared behind Imu, throwing one hard punch toward the back of Imu's head.
Tremendous punch wind exploded instantly. The extraordinary pressure made Imu's hair stand on end; she felt a death threat never felt before. Her strong Kenbunshoku Haki allowed her to see the future. If hit by this punch squarely, her head would explode like a watermelon.
*CLANG!*
Imu didn't even have time to turn around. She only raised their wrist, positioning Oni-no-Akago vertically behind her head. At the same time, her body coiled like a limp snake, her skin vibrating heavily to absorb the attack's pressure.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
Saitama's fist compressed the air until it made an explosion sound like thunder. The fist struck Oni-no-Akago. The sword known as one of the sharpest swords in the world bent heavily, then cracking sounds were heard as cracks appeared and finally the sword broke completely.
That great force struck Imu's body. Fortunately most of the impact force had been absorbed by Oni-no-Akago's breaking. She were thrown heavily like a cannonball, shooting out from the island area.
"Oni-no-Akago... broke?"
Mihawk's pupils shrank drastically, he took a deep breath. He understood very well that Saijo O Wazamono was known for its sharpness and toughness as the peak sword in the One Piece world. Moreover that sword had been coated with high-level Busoshoku Haki by someone as strong as Imu. However, that sword still broke from one seemingly ordinary punch.
Power like this was truly inhuman. Everyone present felt chills.
"Terrifying... too terrifying... Has he really limited most of his power...?"
Imu still floating in the air felt her head like it was struck by a giant hammer. Her head hurt so much it felt like it would explode, she entire body dripping with cold sweat. She knew, this Saitama was not an opponent her could face.
"FLEE—!"
Imu didn't hesitate at all. She utilized the thrust force of that punch to shoot away into the distance. At this time, she no longer cared about the World Government or Marines. If she died, everything would end.
The pressure this young man gave her felt as suffocating as when facing the mysterious Gold List in the sky; unmatched and impossible to oppose.
"Huh?"
Saitama stared at the small black dot receding in the sky. His face suddenly became gloomy; he realized this person was trying to escape.
He felt displeased. He had just thrown one punch, and he had already given them so much face by suppressing most of his power, but this person instead didn't appreciate his effort at all.
"Come back here!"
A pair of golden wings on Saitama's back pierced through his body and stretched wide. His entire body shot up into the sky.