Chapter 128: Tower of Justice – CP9 vs. Straw Hats: The Decisive Battles Ignite
"This damn place is like a maze! Every room looks exactly the same!" Nami grumbled irritably as she pushed open yet another nondescript wooden door—empty once again. She had already lost count of how many rooms she'd checked.
"Wait!" A sudden idea hit her. She slapped her forehead. "How did I forget about this?! Observation Haki!" In her frustration, she had completely overlooked it.
She immediately closed her eyes and focused. Invisible Observation Haki spread outward from her like ripples on water, rapidly scanning the entire floor.
Once she locked onto her target, Nami didn't hesitate. She instantly transformed into her hybrid beast form; her brilliant thunderbird wings snapped open with a whoosh. With one light flap she soared upward, speeding toward the presence she had sensed on the upper level.
——————————————————————————————
Meanwhile, at the end of another corridor, Zoro pushed open a heavy door.
Inside the room, Kaku sat leisurely in a high-backed chair, as though he had been waiting all along.
"Didn't expect this," Zoro said, leaning against the doorframe with Wado Ichimonji in hand, eyes sharp as he stared at Kaku. "The guy who looked pretty decent at Galley-La turns out to be a dog of the World Government."
"Well, I didn't expect a pirate would be stupid enough to chase us all the way to Enies Lobby either," Kaku replied, standing up from the chair. His tone still carried a hint of teasing, but his eyes had turned serious. "And it looks like a pretty good opponent, too."
As he spoke, he took two long swords from the nearby rack, gripping them skillfully and assuming a standard two-sword stance.
"Two-sword style?" Zoro raised an eyebrow, interest flashing across his face.
"Don't underestimate me," Kaku said, voice dropping with confidence. "In CP9, I'm ranked number one in swordsmanship."
"Tempest Kick!"
Kaku raised his leg and fired two slashing waves. Zoro reacted instantly, deflecting them back. "Wrong guess—I'm four-sword style!" Kaku laughed toward Zoro.
"Wolf? Devil Fruit user?" Sanji muttered around his cigarette, narrowing his eyes at the lazy figure lying on his side not far away—Grap. The clearly inhuman wolf claws and furry tail left no doubt about his ability.
Then Sanji's sharp eyes spotted something: on the ground not far from Grap lay an old-fashioned key, glinting faintly in the dim light.
"Oh?" Sanji's eyebrow arched; a smirk tugged at his lips. "Looks like the goddess of luck is on my side—found a key this quickly?"
He spoke of luck, but his steps remained cautious. He walked toward the key with apparent casualness, bending down to pick it up.
The instant he leaned forward, Grap—who had been pretending to sleep—flashed a cunning, vicious glint in his eyes. His body exploded upward like a compressed spring! "Gotcha! You stu—"
Bang!
Before the word "stupid" even left his mouth, a powerful, heavy kick slammed precisely into his side abdomen! Sanji had clearly anticipated it—striking first with blinding speed and force!
"Guh!" Caught completely off guard, Grap barely managed to block with both arms. The massive impact still sent him flying backward. He tumbled awkwardly through the air twice before landing on all fours, claws screeching against the stone floor.
"Tch!" Grap spat, wolf face twisted with displeasure and surprise. "You saw through it?"
Sanji slowly withdrew his leg, exhaling a smoke ring. He looked at Grap like he was looking at an idiot: "Obviously! A trap this clumsy—anyone could see it was suspicious. You think you're fooling a three-year-old, you stinking mutt?"
"Hmph—then let me test whether your strength matches that big mouth of yours!" Grap spat and immediately took a fighting stance, glaring at Sanji.
"Sol—this guy's mine!" Luffy crouched low, rubber fists clenched tightly, eyes blazing with fighting spirit as he stared at the motionless giant door in the distance—and at Rob Lucci standing like an iron tower before it.
The two of them had raced through the dark undersea tunnel and finally arrived at this abnormally open space—seemingly designed specifically for a decisive battle.
"Got it! Then he's all yours!" Sol nodded without hesitation, patting Luffy on the shoulder. "Be careful—this guy's pretty strong." With that, he moved—charging straight toward the massive, heavy door behind Lucci.
Lucci's eyes turned cold. He wouldn't let him pass so easily. With a flick of his toe, a ferocious "Tempest Kick" vacuum slash tore through the air, aimed precisely at Sol's path!
Bang!
With a muffled impact, Luffy's figure appeared as though teleporting into the slash's trajectory. He raised an arm that had turned pitch-black and gleaming with Armament Haki—and crushed the invisible cutting wave barehanded! Air exploded outward, whipping his vest wildly.
"?!" Lucci narrowed his eyes, gaze locking dead on Luffy's blackened arm. "Haki, huh? …That's a troublesome ability." For the first time, his tone carried a trace of gravity.
"You heard me, pigeon man?" Luffy shook out his hand, eyes burning with battle intent as he stared at Lucci. "Your opponent is me!"
Lucci was silent for a moment. Then he seemed to give up blocking Sol, focusing entirely on Luffy. "Fine." His voice was low. "There's someone even bigger ahead who'll stop him anyway. Until then…" His body began a terrifying transformation—muscles swelled, fur grew wildly. In an instant he became a ferocious half-human, half-leopard form. "…I'll finish you completely, Straw Hat!"
Almost the exact moment Lucci completed his transformation, a thunderous boom came from behind. Sol forcefully shoved open the massive door—blinding light pouring in from the other side!
That door-opening crash rang out like the starting signal for battle!
Luffy and Lucci—two meteors carrying overwhelming momentum—slammed into each other! The first clash of fist and claw erupted in a deafening roar and surging shockwaves!
--------------------------
Support us on P@tre0n and gain access to 100 chapters in advance!
[email protected]/inkshield