Kapitel 232: Chapter 232
Dear Readers,
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*****
Shiki's laughter echoed across the island, a manic grin plastered on his face as he observed the display board with a Celestial Dragon's portrait. "Shihahaha! So, you guys have started hunting your own? Now this is getting interesting!"
His eyes glinted with amusement, though his grip on his twin swords tightened. The man he was fighting—a formidable opponent—was clearly skilled, perhaps only slightly weaker than Shiki himself.
Swinging his blade, Shiki taunted, "So, what are you supposed to be exactly? Those bastards in the Holy Land sure know how to keep secrets." With a fierce roar, he unleashed a massive flying cross slash, the air around it crackling with power.
"Lion's Claw!!!"
The man opposite him, clad in the distinct attire of a Cipher Pol Aigis unit, remained unfazed. With a swift somersault, he retaliated, sending a powerful, haki-infused Rankyaku slicing through the air to meet Shiki's attack head-on.
"Sky Slicer!!!"
The two attacks collided midair, the force of their clash sending shockwaves rippling through the skies. Shiki's attack began to overpower the knight's, the sheer intensity of it forcing the knight to unleash a barrage of additional flying slashes in a desperate attempt to hold back the pirate's might.
"Lion's Majesty!!!"
Shiki bellowed, launching himself into a fearsome free fall. A massive ethereal lion materialized behind him, its roar shaking the very heavens. The lion, a manifestation of Shiki's Conqueror's Haki, was wreathed in crackling yellow lightning, which formed an intangible armor around its spectral form.
Shiki's twin blades, now glowing with a brilliant haki-infused light, cut through the air with lethal precision as he aimed to strike down his opponent with a single, overwhelming attack.
The lion, infused with Shiki's indomitable will, charged downward with ferocity, its mighty claws poised to tear through anything in its path. The skies seemed to tremble, the sheer force of Shiki's descent causing the very clouds to part.
The battlefield was bathed in an ominous glow as Shiki's majestic onslaught drew nearer to his opponent, the sheer power of his attack threatening to obliterate everything in its wake.
The God's Knight narrowed his eyes, bracing himself against the force of Shiki's devastating attack. Despite his best efforts, the sheer power of Shiki's Lion's Majesty sent him hurtling toward the ground, where he crashed with a thunderous impact.
The earth trembled as a massive crater, spanning hundreds of meters, formed beneath him. Shiki, hovering high above, erupted in laughter, unable to contain the thrill coursing through him. It had been years since he'd experienced such a heart-pounding battle.
The God's Knight slowly rose from the debris, brushing dust off his armor as if the colossal strike was merely an inconvenience. His expression hardened, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Shiki, you bastard! Don't get too complacent. You're not the only one with a special Devil Fruit," he sneered, his voice carrying an undercurrent of menace. Shiki, still floating above, watched with keen interest, knowing full well that his formidable opponent wouldn't be defeated so easily.
The God's Knight scanned the battlefield, his sharp gaze taking in the chaos around him. In every direction, except for where Zephyr clashed with Big Mom and a distant stalemate, the Marines and World Government agents were steadily overpowering the pirates. His focus shifted momentarily to a specific location where he had sensed Agana's presence earlier.
"Agana," he called out, his voice firm and commanding. "Take care of the mission assigned to you by the Elders. I'll handle this so-called 'Golden Lion' and see if he truly deserves to be called the Overlord of the Seas."
Under Shiki's watchful eyes, the God's Knight began to morph, his body shifting and expanding as he transformed into a massive beast. Shiki's confident grin faltered slightly as he observed the transformation, sensing the escalating threat. The battlefield grew tense as the monstrous form of the God's Knight loomed, his power now magnified to terrifying levels.
Meanwhile, Agana, who had been leisurely cutting down pirates with ruthless efficiency, heard the God's Knight's orders. She paused, her blade dripping with the blood of her latest victim, a cruel smirk spreading across her face.
With Shiki occupied by the God's Knight and his strongest cadre, Jack, pinned down by Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Agana was free to carry out her true mission—eliminating the Celestial Dragons on her list with cold precision.
With the island already overflowing with blood, Agana felt right at home in the carnage. This was her haven, a place where she could indulge in her deadly talents without restraint. Without a word, she vanished from sight, her mission clear.
The scent of death clung to the air as she moved with lethal intent, her presence a shadow in the chaos, poised to strike down her targets with merciless efficiency.
*******
Punk Hazard, New World
"Shit! Is that what I think it is?" Smoker's voice trembled with a mix of shock and disgust as his gaze locked onto the massive corpse sprawled across the dissecting table. The sight of the giant's lifeless, mutilated body was grotesque, and the harsh lighting cast eerie shadows across the room, making the scene all the more horrifying.
He wasn't alone in his unease. Lucci, with his usual cold demeanor, narrowed his eyes, while Gladius and Reiju stood silent, their expressions darkening as they took in the gruesome display.
They had broken into the facility with the intention of gathering information about the experiments and helping Lucci find the prized devil fruit, but none of them had expected to stumble upon something so monstrous.
The island they were on was deceptively serene on the surface, covered in lush green forests that stretched as far as the eye could see. The trees were tall and ancient, their leaves forming a dense canopy that allowed only slivers of sunlight to filter through, casting the ground below in dappled shadows.
But beneath this tranquil facade, the island harbored secrets—dark, twisted experiments carried out by the World Government.
Scattered throughout the forest were various research stations, each constructed at a distance from the others to carry out different experiments in isolation.
These stations were like scars on the otherwise pristine landscape—cold metal structures that seemed out of place amidst the natural beauty. The stations were heavily fortified, designed to protect the secrets within from prying eyes, but today, most of the island's defenses had been drawn away.
A fierce battle raged elsewhere on the island as the combined forces of the Donquixote family and the Beast Pirates clashed with the Marines and World Government agents.
This distraction had given the four young warriors—Lucci, Smoker, Gladius, and Reiju—a rare opportunity to infiltrate the research stations with relative ease.
Reiju, despite being the youngest, had suggested they clear out the smaller stations first before advancing to the main base at the island's core, a towering structure that loomed over the rest of the island like a dark sentinel.
It was a sound plan; by disabling the outer stations, they could cripple the island's operations and gather valuable intelligence before facing whatever horrors awaited them in the heart of the facility.
The first two stations had been relatively easy to clear out, their defenses weakened by the absence of the island's main force. But as they entered the third station, the atmosphere grew heavier.
The air inside was thick with the stench of chemicals and something far more sinister—death. The walls were lined with containment units, some empty, others holding specimens in various stages of dissection and decay. But it was the sight of the giant's corpse that truly shook them.
The body was enormous, nearly filling the room. Its flesh had been cut open, its organs exposed, and its limbs severed with brutal precision. Tubes and wires were connected to the body, leading to strange machines that hummed quietly, recording data on the giant's physiology.
The entire scene was a testament to the cruelty and inhumanity of the experiments being conducted here.
"This is sick," Gladius muttered, his usual bravado giving way to revulsion.
Reiju's expression was unreadable as she stepped forward, her eyes scanning the equipment.
"They're experimenting on giants," she said, her voice steady despite the horror before them.
"This must be part of the World Government's efforts to replicate or control their power."
Lucci, after the initial pause, was already searching the room for anything of value. "We need to gather what we can and destroy the rest, leave nothing behind for the others. If this is what they're doing here, imagine what's in the main base."
Smoker, still staring at the giant's corpse, clenched his fists. "Let's make sure they don't get the chance to continue."
As the four kids rummaged through the facility, a cold, shrill laughter echoed throughout the chamber, freezing them in their tracks.
"Shirorororo! I thought it was the intruders, but it seems like a bunch of children have escaped their confinement," the voice mused, dripping with condescension.
From the metal ramp above, Caesar Clown, the notorious scientist, looked down on them, a smug grin plastered across his face. His sharp eyes gleamed with malice as he observed the four young intruders who immediately went on guard, readying themselves for whatever trickery he might unleash.
Caesar had hidden himself away the moment he realized the island was under siege. A coward at heart, he had no desire to get caught in the crossfire. His plan was simple: surrender to whoever emerged victorious. He didn't care who he worked for as long as he could continue his experiments.
His one true goal was to surpass Vegapunk and be recognized as the greatest mind in the world. For that, he would sell his services to the highest bidder, be it the World Government or the most ruthless pirate.
"Ptui! It's just one of them," Smoker spat, his tone filled with disdain. "Maybe we should teach him a lesson." Unlike Lucci and Gladius, Smoker's character was being molded in the direction of Issho, the blind swordsman who valued justice above all.
Though he recognized himself as a pirate, Smoker didn't revel in needless cruelty. He loved the thrill of adventure and the power of freedom, but he had a moral code.
The Donquixote family, to him, was more than just a group of pirates—it was the family he had never had, a place where he belonged. He didn't care how others viewed them as monsters because, to him, they were the only people who ever cared about him. It was contradictory, but he learned to live with it.
Lucci, on the other hand, had a different agenda. He gave Caesar only a superficial glance, his mind already working on what he needed. All this time, he had been searching for the artificial Devil Fruit facility, but even the low-level guards had no clue where it was hidden.
However, Master Rosinante had mentioned Caesar Clown—this man, with his rank and knowledge, would surely know where the facility was located.
"Shirorororo! A bunch of brats think they can—" Caesar began, but before he could finish his taunt, gunshots echoed through the chamber.
"Bang...Bang...Bang!" Reiju had pulled the trigger without hesitation. Caesar couldn't help but laugh at the child's naivety. A Logia-type Devil Fruit user, he was invulnerable to physical attacks—ordinary bullets were useless against him.
But his laughter died abruptly as searing pain tore through his chest. He looked down, bewildered, to see blood dripping from two gaping wounds. The realization struck him like a thunderbolt.
"Kairoseki!" he screamed in agony, his voice filled with disbelief and panic. The little girl had loaded her gun with seastone bullets, the one thing that could bypass his intangibility.
Raw fury contorted Caesar's face. He manipulated his gas powers, instantly depriving the air around Reiju, causing her to choke and gasp for breath. The young girl's vision blurred as the oxygen was sucked out of her body, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to succumb to the pain.
"Shirorororo, die, you little brat!" Caesar sneered, relishing the sight of Reiju's suffering. But before he could savor his victory, a seastone staff slammed into his face with brutal force. The impact was devastating, infused with Haki, and it shattered Caesar's jaw, sending teeth flying as he crashed into the wall behind him. The wall cracked under the force, and Caesar slumped to the ground, his head spinning.
Smoker stood over him, seastone staff in hand, his face a mask of cold fury. Reiju gasped for air as she was released from Caesar's grip, her breaths coming in ragged gulps. She quickly composed herself, her eyes blazing with determination despite the close call.
Gladius turned to Lucci, his grin wicked. "Search the facility. We're more than enough to take care of this Clown!" he shouted, launching himself forward using Geppo, his feet seeming to kick off the air itself as he closed in on Caesar.
He wasn't about to let Smoker have all the fun beating the living daylights out of the scientist. Unfortunately for Caesar, killing him wasn't an option—they needed him alive, because he was one of the targets for capture.
"You really made our job easy, Caesar. Now we don't have to waste time looking for you," Gladius sneered, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic edge. He raised his hand, forming a massive crystal spear, the tip crackling with Armament Haki. With a swift motion, he hurled it toward Caesar, who had just managed to groggily pull himself to his feet.
Caesar's heart nearly stopped as he realized what was happening. These were barely teenagers, yet they were using Haki with such skill that it sent chills down his spine.
He dodged the spear at the last possible moment, the crystal tearing through the wall behind him, leaving a gaping hole. As he staggered backward, his mind raced, trying to place the young faces in front of him.
Then it hit him—these weren't children from the facility. He'd seen these faces on bounty posters. These kids were part of the infamous Donquixote Family.
"Wait, wait, wait! We can talk this out, right? It was just a misunderstanding…" Caesar's voice was frantic as he tried to reason with them, hoping to catch them off guard. But he knew he was in deep trouble.
Both teens were Logia users like himself, and to make matters worse, one of them seemed to control smoke, which negated most of his lethal techniques. Every time he tried to spread his poison gas, the smoke would neutralize it effortlessly.
Smoker chuckled, his expression a mix of amusement and menace. "It's too late for that, you clown. Now that you've attacked Lady Reiju, you're in for one hell of a punishment." He teased, tossing the seastone weapon to Reiju, who caught it deftly, though she huffed in annoyance at Smoker's playful use of "Lady."
"Yeah, we need to beat you to a pulp," Gladius added with a wicked grin. "But maybe we can compromise on how much of a beating you'll take if you're willing to share some information."
Before Caesar could even consider agreeing, Smoker transformed into a cloud of smoke and launched himself at Caesar. The scientist barely had time to react before Smoker's smoky tendrils wrapped around him, squeezing tightly.
"Wait, wait, please!" Caesar wheezed, his voice choked as Smoker tightened his grip. "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything—just let me go!"
"Too late for that, Caesar!" Reiju snapped, swinging the seastone staff with all her might. It connected with Caesar's midsection, sending a shockwave of pain through his body. He howled in agony, his gas form flickering as the seastone disrupted his powers.
Gladius joined in, forming crystal spikes that jabbed into Caesar's sides, each one infused with Haki to bypass his defenses. Caesar screamed, flailing desperately, but the teens were relentless. They hit him from all sides, a barrage of punches, kicks, and seastone-infused strikes that left him battered and bruised.
"Please, I'm begging you!" Caesar wailed, trying to shield himself with his arms, but it was useless. Smoker's smoky fists pounded into him, each hit landing with the force of a cannonball. Reiju followed up with sharp, precise strikes, aiming for his weak points, while Gladius kept him pinned with his crystalline spikes.
Caesar's mind was a whirl of pain and terror. How had it come to this? He had always seen himself as untouchable, a genius above the petty squabbles of the world. But now, here he was, being pummeled by a group of kids who barely looked old enough to be out of school.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Smoker taunted, landing a particularly hard punch to Caesar's jaw, sending him reeling.
"Shirorororo… please… I'll do anything… just stop!" Caesar begged, tears streaming down his face as he curled into a ball, trying to make himself as small as possible.
Reiju rolled her eyes at his pathetic display. "Honestly, this is just sad," she muttered, though there was a hint of pity in her voice.
"Should we let him off easy?" Gladius asked, his tone mockingly contemplative.
"Nah," Smoker replied with a grin. "Not until he spills everything he knows."
Caesar didn't need to be told twice. "Alright, alright! I'll tell you everything! The research, the experiments, the hidden labs—just please, stop hitting me!"
The three kids exchanged glances, and then, almost as if by an unspoken agreement, they stepped back, giving Caesar a moment to catch his breath. He looked up at them with a mix of fear and gratitude, his body trembling from the beating he had just endured.
"You'd better start talking, Caesar," Smoker said, his voice dangerously calm. "Because if you don't, we can go back to where we left off."
And with that, Caesar Clown, the once-proud scientist, began to spill every secret he knew, the pain still fresh in his mind as a reminder of what would happen if he tried to deceive them again.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Silent_stiele
Silent_stiele Dear Readers,
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If possible, I would love to garner even more support through power stones and reviews. Each additional review helps my work reach more readers, and even a single review can make a significant difference. Your support means the world to me, and I am deeply appreciative of every effort you make to help my work grow.
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Thank you for your understanding and for being an integral part of this journey. Your presence and support are what make this all possible.
With heartfelt thanks,
[Silent_stiele]
Patreon : www.patreon.com/Silent_stiele
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