"One-Sword Style, Shadow Attack!"
With a whisper, Mio's figure vanished from sight. In an instant, a slash came slicing through the air before Aiden, causing his pupils to constrict. He reacted without hesitation, activating Iron Body.
Clang!
Sparks burst out as the blade struck.
Aiden staggered back, a frown creasing his face as a flash of pain lit up his eyes. He looked down—despite activating Iron Body, a fresh wound was already spreading across his side.
"Damn it… I should've listened to the instructor and trained harder," Aiden cursed silently. Among the six Rokushiki techniques, he was only truly proficient in Storm Kick. His Iron Body was barely passable; otherwise, he wouldn't have taken a hit even after successfully hardening himself.
"I just hope the Brigadier General can get the message back to HQ…"
Aiden knew his role now—stall the man before him. Give the Brigadier General a chance to escape. If they all fell here without delivering word of the attack, not only would the Tenshangjin gold be lost, but their deaths would remain unknown. And when the World Government or Celestial Dragons asked for answers, the Navy would have none.
With this thought, Aiden's gaze sharpened. He inhaled deeply, then charged forward with unwavering determination. Lifting his right leg, he unleashed a series of rapid kicks, so fast they blurred into afterimages.
Slicing air blades erupted and flew toward Mio like a storm.
"Six Powers… quite a decent martial art," Mio muttered, then calmly raised his blade.
A single slash.
Black sword energy surged forth, colliding with the air blades and disintegrating them mid-flight.
But in the same moment, Aiden lunged through the debris, closing the distance. His right hand formed a fist, index finger extended like a spearhead.
"Finger Gun!"
Whoosh!
The air whistled as his finger shot forward like a bullet.
Mio tilted his head slightly. The sharp sound of displaced air guided his reflex, and he avoided the strike by a narrow margin. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he swung his blade lightly.
Puff!
A wound split open across Aiden's abdomen. Blood poured out, and his face turned pale in an instant.
Before he could even react in pain, Mio pressed the advantage. His sword came down once more.
"One-Sword Style: Demon Slash!"
A dark wave of energy burst out from his sword, racing toward Aiden's neck.
Wounded and slowed, Aiden couldn't react in time. The slash was too close, too fast.
All he could do was widen his eyes as the slash filled his vision—
Shhlick!
Blood splattered across the ground.
Mio stepped past Aiden's motionless form, sword in hand, his gaze now shifting toward the remaining navy soldiers.
Behind him, Aiden's body dropped to its knees, headless.
His severed head hit the ground with a dull thud, eyes still wide with disbelief and fear.
"Aiden!!"
The brigadier general, still locked in combat with Doflamingo, let out a furious, grief-stricken roar as he watched Aiden fall.
But almost immediately, he disengaged with a burst of strength, pushing away his opponents. Without hesitation, he turned and rocketed into the sky with Moon Walk, desperate to escape.
Even if the odds were slim, he had to try.
Only he had a chance to deliver the message.
Step by step, he darted across the sky, gaining distance.
But—
"Trying to run? Sorry, the only way you leave here… is in pieces."
"Flick Thread."
Doflamingo flicked his index finger.
A sharp whizz sliced through the air.
A nearly invisible thread shot out and pierced the brigadier general's ankle. Blood spilled midair and trailed down toward the sea.
The brigadier general flinched but clenched his jaw and continued skywalking.
"What a stubborn will," Doflamingo sneered with faint amusement. "Let's see how long it lasts."
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
He flicked again. More threads launched, slicing through the air.
With each hit, blood sprayed from different parts of the brigadier general's body. It was as if invisible needles were sewing his fate with every step.
Then—
Puff!
A final thread pierced the back of his skull.
The brigadier general's body faltered. Blood poured from his head as his figure crumpled in the air.
He plummeted toward the ocean.
"Fufufufu… so much for that unyielding will," Doflamingo chuckled.
To ensure there were no surprises, he raised his hand again.
Threads lanced through the air, piercing the falling body multiple times.
At last, the brigadier general's corpse splashed into the sea.
The battle at the port was nearing its end.
Despite the Navy's superior numbers, they were overwhelmed.
Erica's army of summoned ants had consumed most of them alive, leaving behind only stripped bones. And with Doflamingo and Mio's calculated ambush, resistance had crumbled in under an hour.
Now, only the corpses of Marines and swarming ants remained around the devastated port.
Mio and the others stood amidst the wreckage, their eyes now turned toward the warship—the vessel carrying the Tenshangjin gold.
Just as they stepped forward—
"Hm?" Doflamingo suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Mio asked, turning to him.
"Hehehe… seems like a few curious little ants are watching from the trees," Doflamingo said with a grin.
"Kill them," Mio said flatly. He wasn't surprised. A commotion of this scale would definitely attract onlookers. It was unfortunate, but curiosity in this world was often fatal.
Still, something else piqued Mio's interest—Doflamingo's use of Observation Haki.
To have detected the hidden observers so easily… it was clear now that Doflamingo had begun cultivating Haki.
A mix of admiration and envy brewed in Mio's chest. He found himself silently wondering whether there might be clues or training methods aboard the captured warship that could help him begin learning Haki as well.
With a casual gesture, Doflamingo extended his hand.
A moment later, screams echoed from various parts of the surrounding forest.
"The ants have been dealt with," Doflamingo declared, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder. "Now, shall we move on? I know you're just as eager as I am to see how much gold the Celestial Dragons were hiding."
Mio gave a slight nod, and the group resumed walking toward the ship.
Their next treasure—and next step—awaited.