Feeling the scorching heat from the dragon's flames, Reiju's eyes filled with despair. As an outstanding Germa warrior, she could clearly sense that the high temperature of the dragon's flames was enough to completely melt them. Even Germa's battle suits and their proud exoskeleton armor couldn't stop this process.
Unlike Reiju, however, even with death imminent, Ichiji and the others showed no fear. Instead, their eyes were full of regret and unwillingness for not being able to defeat Tesoro.
Boom!
At the moment the flames were about to reach them, a figure appeared in front of them. With a kick, the flames were shattered in mid-air, exploding like a grand firework display above the Gran Tesoro.
"Oh, a different kind of pest?" Tesoro locked eyes with Sanji from a distance.
Looking at Tesoro sitting on the throne, Sanji frowned. He not only felt a chilling coldness from Tesoro's gaze but also a sense of superiority, similar to how Ichiji and Judge looked at ordinary modified humans in Germa 66. It was a deep-seated disdain.
"A guy who has twisted humanity just like those guys? How annoying!" Sanji said irritably.
"Sanji, thank you," Reiju expressed her gratitude as she came to Sanji's side, having narrowly escaped death.
As for Ichiji and the others, they showed no reaction, as if they hadn't just faced a life-and-death crisis.
"Hey, listen up, that guy is our prey!" Niji warned Sanji.
"Yeah, don't expect us to share the credit with you," Yonji chimed in, while Ichiji looked at Sanji expressionlessly.
"Sanji…" Reiju was about to speak to ease the tension.
"You three are useless. If it weren't for Reiju, who the hell would care if you lived or died?" Sanji said mercilessly.
"You!" Yonji, who had a bad temper, couldn't stand it anymore. He activated his high-tech boots and charged at Sanji, his strong arm swinging a punch without holding back.
Sanji, however, didn't hold back either. He stomped down hard, causing a sonic boom, and disappeared from their sight. When he reappeared, his fist was inches from Yonji's face.
Yonji could feel the heat and airflow from the fist. Then, Sanji's fist broke through the air barrier and slammed into Yonji's face.
Yonji didn't feel pain, but he could clearly sense his face deforming under the immense force, and he was sent flying into the Gran Tesoro below.
Tesoro looked at the much younger Sanji with interest. In his playful exchanges with the Germa warriors, he knew they were strong, though not a threat to him. But this young man, Sanji, had a power that could send Yonji, a modified human, flying and almost incapacitate him in an instant.
Ichiji and Niji were also shocked. They knew that even combined, they couldn't overpower Yonji in a short time. Yet, Sanji had crushed Yonji with overwhelming strength in an instant.
This reminded them of what a man had said many years ago in the North Blue: in the modification of Germa's bloodline factors, they were the true failures.
With a loud crash, Yonji hit the deck of the Gran Tesoro, causing a dent. He was dazed, his face almost completely caved in.
"Interesting! Very interesting!" Tesoro laughed as he looked at Sanji.
Watching the live broadcast on the Gran Tesoro, the crowd became excited again. Although Tesoro's one-sided crushing was a good show, it felt like something was missing. It was like watching a gladiator fight where one side was an ancient T-Rex and the other was an unarmed human—such one-sided slaughter couldn't stir the inherent brutality in humans.
But now, with Sanji's appearance, especially when he mercilessly punched Yonji away, the crowd's interest was undoubtedly piqued.
"What's so interesting… Gild Tesoro?" Sanji suddenly turned his head, looking down at Tesoro calmly.
On the bow of the Gran Tesoro, Tesoro straightened up, eyeing Sanji coldly, "I am the god who controls gold!"
As he spoke, the ground around Tesoro began to move, and golden whips like vines swept towards Sanji.
Just as Tesoro was about to say something, he suddenly sensed a sharp blade coming from above.
"Hmm?" Tesoro's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked up.
Katie, holding two swords, descended rapidly from the sky, a sharp sword light like a meteor aimed directly at Tesoro.
"Quite a few unexpected guests today," Tesoro thought, finding the meteor-like sword light dazzling but intriguing.
With a smirk, Tesoro controlled the massive golden dragon to meet Katie in the air.
Seeing Tesoro using a toy to deal with her, Katie felt helpless. Compared to the strong ones on the sea, she indeed had no reputation after being silent for years.
Clang!
With a sharp sound, the golden dragon was instantly cut in half by Katie's sword, shocking the crowd watching the live broadcast, as well as Tesoro, Sanji, and Reiju.
Boom!
The two halves of the golden dragon's body crashed onto the deck with a deafening noise.
Then, two more figures descended from the sky, looking at Tesoro and saying something that made his face change dramatically: "Are you the Tesoro that Miss Stella mentioned? May I ask where Miss Stella is now?"
"This is…" Tesoro's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the figures before him.
"The King of the Underworld, Brook."
Tesoro suddenly spoke solemnly to Brook.
"Huh?" Brook raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled at the trembling Tesoro.
What's wrong with this guy?