- General POV :
The sound of the sound barrier shattering pierced the air just moments before the figure slammed into the masked assailant responsible for the marine's death.
The masked man belonged to Cypher Pol Aigis 0, the most formidable and secretive unit of Cypher Pol. Typically reserved for crises that could shake the world, their presence raised questions. The reason two of their agents were assigned to protect Celestial Dragons leisurely visiting Sabaody Archipelago was shrouded in mystery.
As Justin watched his father fall victim to a brutal murder, an uncontrollable fury overtook him. Blinded by anger, his world narrowed to a single point of focus: the assailant who had taken his father's life. With every fiber of his being fueled by vengeance, he propelled himself forward, intent on confronting the killer. Nothing else mattered in that moment, only the overwhelming drive to face the person responsible for his devastating loss.
Acting purely on instinct, Justin hurled himself at the CP-0 agent, who just managed to envelop himself in a protective layer of haki moments before the impact.
With a strategically powerful kick, the agent managed to force Justin back, gaining sufficient distance to allow himself to struggle to his feet amidst the scattered debris of the shattered street.
Leaping back to create more distance, Justin fixed his intense glare on the agent. In a chillingly calm voice, barely above a whisper, he declared, "You're all fucking dead!" The steely resolve in his tone sent shivers down the spines of every agent within earshot, echoing ominously in the tense air.
"For attacking World Government personnel and threatening a Celestial Dragon," the man continued in a robotic, detached tone. "Your punishment will be death," he decreed, his voice devoid of emotion as if delivering a predetermined verdict from a script. The weight of his words seemed to echo ominously around them, signaling the gravity of Justin's impending fate.
Just as he finished speaking, four men in black suits closed in on Justin within seconds, their movements precise and swift. Their fingers were already mid-strike, targeting his vital organs with lethal intent. One aimed directly at his heart, another targeted his head, a third focused on his kidney, and the fourth aimed at his spine, each strike poised to be deadly and decisive. The air tensed with the immediacy of the threat, encapsulating the severity of the moment.
Recalling the lessons his father had once taught him, Justin channeled all his rage inward, transforming it into a burning focus. With this renewed concentration fueling his every move, he sprang into action, his body and mind perfectly aligned for the forthcoming battle. The air around him seemed to crackle with the intensity of his resolve.
Drawing on his heightened alertness, Justin seized the hand of the man directly in front of him, who was also the closest attacker. With swift precision, he redirected the assailant's shigan, originally aimed at his own liver, towards another attacker. The speed of his maneuver left neither of them any time to react, turning their own deadly technique against them in a split-second display of skill and strategy.
Caught in the momentum of his own attack, the CP-8 member was helpless but to watch in horror as his finger unintentionally penetrated the head of his colleague. In that moment of shock, Justin delivered a devastating punch directly to the middle of his chest. The force was so tremendous that it ruptured the man's heart, killing him instantly. The precision and power behind Justin's strike left no room for survival, marking a grim and fatal end for the agent.
Using the momentum from his lethal punch, Justin pivoted sharply on his foot, executing a rapid spin. As he completed his turn, he unleashed a powerful spin-kick that struck the assailant behind him, the one who had been targeting his spine, right on the collarbone. The impact was so forceful it shattered the bone, not only incapacitating the attacker but also ensuring a slow and excruciatingly painful demise.
The final assailant, who had lunged with the intent of striking Justin's head, missed his target entirely due to Justin's evasive spin kick. This maneuver unexpectedly brought Justin's head down and out of the path of the attack, effectively dodging what could have been a critical blow.
As his failed attack left him vulnerable, the last member of CP-8 had only a moment to register shock, his eyes widening in realization. In that brief instant, Justin executed a precise shigan of his own, striking the agent squarely between the ribs. The forceful jab punctured his lungs, ensuring a swift and incapacitating blow that left the agent struggling for breath on the ground.
The remaining agents, whose ranks varied from CP-5 to CP-7, exhibited a spectrum of reactions to the unfolding chaos. Some stood in shock, unable to process the swift defeat of their comrades, while others displayed clear disbelief at the effectiveness of Justin's counterattacks. A few even showed disdain, their expressions filled with contempt for the failure of their elite peers. These varied responses highlighted the tension and uncertainty among the ranks as they witnessed an unexpected turn of events.
The thought of such a young boy mastering rokushiki techniques was deeply unsettling. Justin's ability to dispatch four members of CP-8, known as the heavy-duty investigators and recognized for their combat superiority over most other units, barring only CP-9 and CP-0, carried significant and alarming implications. His prowess not only demonstrated a rare and formidable skill set but also suggested a potential threat level that could disrupt the established power dynamics within the World Government's enforcement hierarchy.
The man who seemed to be the leader of the two CP-0 agents maintained a composed demeanor, despite the startling revelation of the boy's mastery of rokushiki. With an air of cold authority, he declared, "All units, engagement status has been changed to extermination." His voice, though chilling, carried a distinct decisiveness that underscored the gravity of the new orders. This shift signaled a significant escalation, reflecting the serious threat they perceived Justin to pose.
Justin quickly scanned his surroundings, taking stock of his opponents. 'Sixteen cannon fodder left, and the two CP-0,' he assessed silently, his eyes swiftly moving from one enemy to the next. This mental tally of the remaining threats sharpened his focus and readied him for the next phase of the confrontation, as he calculated his strategy to deal with the increasingly dangerous situation.
The other masked man, towering close to 350 cm in height, cut an imposing figure next to the leader. His mask, which bore the fearsome features of a bear, only added to his intimidating presence. Known as Ivan, he was the brute force designated for this mission. His role was clear: to provide the overwhelming physical power necessary to execute their objectives, acting as a formidable enforcer amidst the delicate dynamics of their operation.
As for the leader, he was a slender man, standing about 190 cm tall. His mask closely resembled a tragedy mask, depicting a twisted expression that conveyed deep pain. Known as Malik, his appearance was a stark contrast to Ivan's brute strength, suggesting a blend of tactical acumen and a somber, calculating demeanor that underscored his role as the strategic mind of the operation.
Justin had little time to further assess his opponents as Ivan acted swiftly. With a sudden burst of speed, Ivan unleashed a tremendously powerful Rankyaku. The slicing air wave sped towards Justin, a testament to Ivan's formidable combat skills, forcing Justin to immediately shift his focus from observation to defense.
Reacting swiftly, Justin employed Geppo to propel himself into the air. As he soared upward, Ivan's Rankyaku sliced through the space beneath him, passing harmlessly below. This quick maneuver not only showcased Justin's adeptness at using Rokushiki techniques but also his ability to anticipate and counter his opponent's moves effectively.
Observing Justin's adept evasion, Malik decided it was time to intervene directly. With a stern declaration, "You're too dangerous to be left alive," he blended Geppo and Soru to vanish from sight, closing the distance to Justin in mere seconds. This sudden and swift movement underscored Malik's mastery of the Rokushiki techniques, positioning him as a formidable adversary in close combat.
As Malik reached Justin, he coated his hands in Haki, aiming a devastating punch directly at Justin's head. Midway through the strike, an unexpected flare occurred, his fist suddenly ignited, enveloping it in intense flames. This added element of fire not only intensified the threat of the punch but also added a dramatic and lethal twist to the confrontation.
Faced with the dual threats of Haki and fire, Justin realized that simply blocking the attack wouldn't be enough. Despite his initial strategy to reserve his own Haki as a secret weapon for a critical moment in the fight, he had no choice but to deploy it now. Activating his Haki, Justin prepared to counter Malik's fiery punch, understanding that his response needed to match the power and intensity of the attack, especially given its enhanced nature.
Despite his initial punch being blocked, Malik didn't relent. Instead, he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each one enveloped in flaming Haki. With each successive strike, the punches grew more powerful and the flames hotter, escalating the intensity of the assault. This fierce onslaught tested Justin's defenses to their limits, as Malik seemed determined to overwhelm him with sheer force and ferocity.
Having reached his limit with the relentless barrage, Justin abruptly changed his tactic. He raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick towards Malik. Anticipating the counterattack, Malik ceased his punches and swiftly raised his own leg, effectively blocking Justin's kick. This maneuver showcased a moment of high-stakes martial arts prowess, as each combatant tested the other's skill and reflexes in a tense standoff.
Justin's eyebrow arched in surprise as his attack slid off Malik, barely causing any damage despite the force behind it. Malik's ability to counter with Haki hinted at a deeper level of skill than Justin had anticipated. "To think you'd even have Haki," Malik noted coolly. "It seems that while the original mission ended in failure, the trip here was not wasted. After all, it's better that we get rid of you now." His words, mixing acknowledgment with a grim resolution, stirred a complex whirl of emotions in Justin. Initially, curiosity piqued at Malik's admission, but it quickly flared into an even fiercer rage, fueling his resolve to fight with even greater ferocity.
"You're saying that my father was killed because of your fucking mission," Justin stated, his voice taking on an eerie calmness that belied the storm of rage brewing within him. The revelation seemed to anchor his emotions, focusing his anger with a sharp clarity as he confronted Malik with the cold, hard implications of his words.
"Your father was a victim to himself, and might have been the reason that we failed the mission," Malik continued, his voice steady as the flames in his hands slowly died down. "Because of that, even if he had lived, the consequences of his actions would have led to the same outcome." His words were measured, implying a complex web of events and decisions that tied Justin's father to their failed mission, suggesting an inevitable tragic end regardless of the circumstances.
Justin's anger surged with each of Malik's words, fueling his readiness to launch another aggressive attack. However, just as he was about to spring into action, a tremendous roar echoed through the air, halting him in his tracks. The roar was so powerful that it disoriented him, nearly causing him to lose his balance. There was no time to recover or even fully grasp what was happening, as Ivan swiftly capitalized on the moment. Ivan attacked with a tekkai-enhanced shoulder tackle, propelling Justin forward directly into the path of Malik's flaming kick. This sequence of rapid, coordinated assaults left Justin reeling and vulnerable to the formidable offensive from both sides.
In a swift maneuver mid-air, Justin managed to dodge Malik's flaming kick. The force of the kick sent an arc of fire trailing behind him, which narrowly missed Ivan. This agile response not only saved Justin from a potentially devastating blow but also inadvertently posed a threat to Ivan, highlighting the intense and dynamic nature of their confrontation.
Using the same technique that Malik had demonstrated earlier, Justin expertly executed Soru while still in midair, propelling himself rapidly forward. In an instant, he positioned himself directly in front of Malik, ready to counterattack. This quick adaptation and strategic placement showcased Justin's agility and his ability to learn from his opponents' moves in the heat of battle.
Seizing the opportunity created by his evasive maneuver, Justin focused his energy, coating his hand with the strongest Haki he could muster. With precise force, he delivered a powerful punch directly to Malik's sternum. This decisive strike, driven by both skill and sheer will, aimed to exploit the opening and deliver a significant blow to his formidable opponent.
Malik let out a pained grunt as the force of Justin's punch sent him hurtling through the air. He crashed violently into a nearby building, the impact shattering its facade and sending debris flying in all directions. The sheer force of the blow left a noticeable dent in the structure, a testament to the strength behind Justin's attack.
As Malik struggled to his feet, his heavy breaths made it clear that the punch had knocked the air out of him. He panted, trying to regain his composure, but the damage was evident. Two thin lines of blood trickled from beneath his mask, stark against its pale surface, a clear sign that Justin's strike had done more than just rattle him, it had landed with real, punishing force.
The moment Malik was sent flying, Justin wasted no time. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly in front of Ivan, his body already in motion. His hand shot forward with lethal intent, aiming a devastating strike at the massive CP-0 agent. But this wasn't an ordinary shigan, Justin was using his own evolved technique, Shin Shigan. Unlike the traditional method that relied on a single finger for a pinpoint attack, Shin Shigan utilized the entire hand, amplifying its destructive potential. The sheer force behind it promised to deal a devastating blow, one that could shatter defenses and break through even the toughest opponents.
Ivan, refusing to be caught off guard, activated his Roar Roar Fruit once more, unleashing a deafening bellow that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. At the same time, he crossed his massive arms in front of his body, reinforcing them with a dense layer of Haki in a desperate attempt to block Justin's incoming Shin Shigan. The force of his roar alone rattled the surroundings, causing nearby debris to tremble, but whether his defense would hold against Justin's devastating attack remained to be seen.
However, Ivan's reaction came too late. Justin, gritting his teeth and pushing through the pounding headache caused by the deafening roar, refused to slow down. With unwavering determination, he drove his Shin Shigan forward, exploiting the slight gap in Ivan's hastily formed defense. His hand tore through the incomplete Haki coating on Ivan's chest, penetrating deep into his flesh. The sheer force behind the attack sent shockwaves through Ivan's massive frame, his body tensing as the impact registered. Blood spurted from the wound, and for the first time, a look of genuine pain and shock flashed behind Ivan's mask.
The remaining CP agents stood frozen in disbelief. A member of CP-0, the World Government's strongest and most elite enforcement unit, now hung limply from the arm of a man they had dismissed as just another opponent. Ivan, a monstrous force built for brute strength, had been slain, his lifeless body still impaled by Justin's Shin Shigan. The sight was almost surreal.
Shock and unease rippled through the ranks of CP-5 through CP-7. This wasn't just a setback, it was an outright humiliation. Their so-called "elite" had fallen, not to a force of revolutionaries, not to a Yonko, but to one man. And that man, standing there with Ivan's blood dripping from his hand, was far from finished.
Not that Malik cared for the other CP agents, his focus was on the mission. However, he knew that if anything happened to the Celestial Dragons, he would never hear the end of it from the Elders. After all, their presence here was nothing more than bait, a calculated ploy to lure out the Revolutionary Army. But now that the plan had crumbled, and the intended targets had not taken the bait, failure was not an option.
With Ivan dead and their forces shaken, Malik understood one thing clearly, he could not allow any harm to come to the Celestial Dragons. If he failed to protect them, the repercussions would be far worse than a mission gone wrong. His next moves had to be precise, ruthless, and absolute.
Activating his Masa Masa no Mi, also known as the Friction-Friction Fruit, Malik instantly reduced the friction on his own body, allowing him to move at an incredible speed. In a blur, he appeared behind Ivan, whose lifeless body was still impaled on Justin's hand.
Wasting no time, Malik shifted tactics, rather than attacking directly, he used Ivan's corpse as a weapon. By increasing the friction on Ivan's body, he made it significantly harder for Justin to retract his arm, effectively trapping him in place. The sudden resistance made it feel as though Justin's hand was lodged deep within solid stone, giving Malik the perfect opening for his next move.
His cold, calculating mind saw the opportunity: Justin was momentarily stuck, and now was the time to strike.
With a ruthless lack of hesitation, Malik pushed his Masa Masa no Mi to its limits. He increased the air friction around him to the maximum, causing the heat to intensify around his body. His fists, now engulfed in green-hued flames, crackled with the sheer energy generated from the extreme heat.
Ignoring Ivan's lifeless body entirely, he launched into a relentless flurry of blazing punches, each one carrying enough force to incinerate flesh and shatter bone. His only focus was eliminating Justin, and if that meant burning through his fallen comrade, so be it.
The rapid-fire blows tore through the air, the friction-enhanced flames leaving searing trails in their wake as they raced toward their target. Justin, still trapped by Ivan's weighted corpse, had only moments to react.
Despite having superior Armament Haki, Justin found himself at a severe disadvantage. His lack of Observation Haki and his relative inexperience in high-level combat were beginning to show. Every time he attempted to go on the offensive, Malik effortlessly exploited his openings, punishing him with swift, calculated counterattacks.
Justin quickly realized that Malik wasn't just fast, he was precise, methodical, and relentless. Every move he made was met with an immediate response, forcing him to stay on constant defense. Lowering his guard, even for a second, meant inviting a devastating blow.
With Malik's friction-boosted speed and the relentless barrage of flame-coated punches, Justin was stuck in a cycle of reacting rather than dictating the pace of the fight. The overwhelming pressure was suffocating, pushing him into a situation where one wrong move could mean his end.
Malik, feeling the strain of his Masa Masa no Mi, knew he was reaching his limit. The intense friction manipulation was taking a toll on his stamina, and despite his relentless assault, Justin was still standing. Even more frustrating, he had sustained only minimal injuries, holding firm under the relentless pressure.
Realizing that prolonging the fight in his current state could be a mistake, Malik made a calculated decision. He retreated backward in a blur, putting some distance between himself and Justin. His keen instincts warned him, if he continued pressing with diminishing returns, he might leave himself vulnerable.
Justin, though clearly struggling, was adapting. And that, more than anything, made Malik wary.
An agent, freshly returning from an assignment, took in the chaotic scene before him. Seeing Justin momentarily catching his breath, fatigued yet still standing, he determined that the situation was stable enough to proceed. Without hesitation, he moved toward Malik, keeping a cautious eye on the battered battlefield.
Lowering his voice slightly, yet ensuring his words carried, he addressed the CP-0 leader. "Sir, I have a report." His tone was urgent but measured, aware that even a moment of distraction could be dangerous in the presence of someone as formidable as Justin.
Despite the tension in the air, the agent knew his information couldn't wait.
"Sir! The mission has resulted in failure. I couldn't find the woman," the agent reported, his voice tense with urgency.
Malik, still catching his breath from the intense battle, simply raised an eyebrow at the news. His expression remained unreadable, but a subtle shift in his stance betrayed his intrigue. "That shouldn't be," he replied coolly. "We have credible intel on her exact location."
His words hung in the air, heavy with skepticism. If their information was correct, then how had she vanished? The possibility of a leak, or worse, someone interfering, crossed his mind. His irritation simmered beneath the surface, but with the ongoing fight against Justin still unresolved, he had little time to dwell on it.
Instead, he took a brief moment to reassess. If the mission was compromised, then their priorities might need to change.
Justin had already regained his composure, his breathing steadying as his body adjusted to the exhaustion creeping in. However, instead of launching another attack, he held his ground, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
He had caught one key detail, they were after someone. And from the way Malik reacted, it was clear that this person was important.
Rather than wasting energy on another assault, Justin chose to listen in, gauging the situation. Who was this woman they were searching for? And why was she so crucial to their mission that her absence alone signified failure?
For now, he remained motionless, masking his intent, waiting to see if they would reveal more.
"We searched the whole house, sir," the agent reported, his voice edged with frustration. "When we didn't find her at the expected location, we expanded the search through all of Groove 76, but… no success."
Malik's eyes narrowed slightly beneath his mask. This was unexpected. Their intelligence had been precise, there should have been no room for error. If the woman wasn't where they anticipated, then either she had been tipped off… or someone had moved her.
The weight of the failure hung in the air, but Malik remained composed. His mind was already working through the implications, and the possible next steps.
Justin, still listening intently, processed the information. Who was this woman, and why was she important enough for CP-0 to hunt her down? The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but he needed more. So, he stayed silent, waiting for Malik's reaction.
Justin's mind froze.
Groove 76.
The house at the edge.
Looking for a "she."
The realization hit him like a hammer to the chest. They were looking for his mother.
There was only one house on the edge of Groove 76, the one he and his mother had been staying in.
His breathing grew uneven, his fingers curling into fists. His earlier curiosity vanished, replaced by a rising storm of fury and dread. Had they already found her? Had she escaped? Or worse, was she still in danger?
His body tensed, instincts screaming at him to move, to act. But he forced himself to wait, his mind racing. He needed more information. He needed to know if she was safe.
"All we found were some drops of blood and nothing else," the agent managed to say.
Before anyone could process his words, a force unlike anything they had ever felt crashed down upon him. It was so overwhelming, so intensely concentrated, that it felt as though the very air had turned against him.
The agent barely had time to react. In mere seconds, he collapsed. His body went limp, his eyes rolling back as unconsciousness took him. But it didn't stop there, his heart simply ceased to beat. The sheer weight of the pressure had crushed him from within, snuffing out his life instantly.
The surrounding CP agents froze. They could feel it too. This was no ordinary force, this was something terrifying.
Malik's head snapped toward Justin. And in that moment, it became clear, this was his doing.
"Conqueror's Haki…"
That was the last thing Malik managed to utter before a blackened fist, wreathed in a swirling gray aura, slammed directly into his chest.
The sheer force behind the punch was beyond anything he had anticipated. The air cracked, a deep, resounding impact shaking the very ground beneath them. Malik's body lurched backward violently, his lungs failing to draw breath as the immense power tore through him.
For the first time, a surge of true fear flickered beneath his mask. This wasn't just Armament Haki, this was something far beyond it.
-End-
Sea Calendar - 3rd of November, Year 1516