The CP intelligence agents in Mariejois had been pursuing and surrounding Tiger and his group for quite some time.
They had a good understanding of the strength of these Fish-Men, but the sudden appearance of a Fish-Man swordsman, who instantly defeated several CP agents with his dazzling sword skills, left one of the CP0 officers in charge utterly stunned.
In fact, it wasn't just the people of Mariejois who were dumbfounded; Tiger and the rest of the Fish-Men were also completely bewildered.
The Fish-Man race wasn't small in number, but most lived within the confines of Fish-Man Island. If someone powerful emerged, Tiger and his group would definitely know about it.
Moreover, most of the powerful Fish-Men were skilled in "Fish-Man Karate," a martial art. Fish-Man swordsmen, especially those who reached the level of a swordmaster, were extremely rare.
As soon as this Fish-Man swordsman appeared, he displayed extraordinary combat prowess. Not only did he charge directly into the enemy ranks, but he also unleashed various sword techniques, forcing back and injuring many CP agents who had surrounded him.
"Tiger, head west immediately. That direction is closest to the edge of the Red Line, where I've already set up a rope ladder.
There's also a ship I seized from the Celestial Dragons waiting below the Red Line. You guys should retreat now, and I'll hold them off to buy you time."
When Tiger saw the sudden appearance of Wood, he felt that this fellow Fish-Man was unfamiliar, but he couldn't help but be moved and excited by Wood's words.
They had thought they were cornered, ready to make their last stand in a blaze of glory.
But just when all seemed lost, a stranger of their race appeared—someone not only powerful but who had also prepared an escape route for them.
"Jinbei, Arlong, take everyone and leave. I'll stay and help this brother."
Since there was now a way out, the Fish-Men naturally didn't want to seek death. Tiger, despite his injuries, ordered Jinbei and Arlong to lead the others to safety.
The newcomer clearly had the strength to escape on his own, yet he chose to stay and help them, even arranging their escape.
Such loyalty and camaraderie, especially from a fellow Fish-Man, made it impossible for Tiger to abandon Wood and leave.
As for whether Wood's plan was trustworthy, Tiger didn't have much doubt. Although he didn't know Wood, he knew there was no reason for him to be deceitful.
The Fish-Men were nearly at the end of their rope; if they were further trapped, it would only mean certain death. There was no need for the people of Mariejois to go through such elaborate deception.
Besides, Wood had indeed just slain several CP agents.
"One-Sword Style: Kama Itachi!"
A fierce slash accompanied by a gust of wind not only carved a deep trench in the ground but also shattered the Rankyaku (Tempest Kick) techniques of several CP members, forcing them to retreat.
"All of you, go now! I don't need any more help. I wouldn't have come to support you if I wasn't confident I could get out safely.
The longer you stay here, the more danger you put me in!"
After forcing back the CP agents with his sword strike, Wood overheard Tiger arguing with Jinbei and the others about who should stay behind. This annoyed him greatly.
Time was of the essence—every second wasted was a matter of life and death. Here he was risking his life to buy them time, and they were arguing!
"Alright, brother, promise us you'll come back alive!"
Seeing Wood's agile movements and the slashes tearing through the battlefield, Tiger realized that they were all injured and exhausted.
Staying would only hinder Wood, so with gritted teeth, he led the main group away.
Meanwhile, the commander on the Mariejois side, a CP0 officer in a white suit, was unwilling to let Tiger and the other culprits escape so easily.
"Rankyaku: Kaminaru!"
A massive Rankyaku slash was launched from the CP0's kick, transforming into a giant, soaring blue bird in the air.
As the highest-ranking officer in the World Government's intelligence agency, CP0's strength was far beyond that of other CP units. Although he wasn't a swordmaster, the power of his Rankyaku surpassed that of most conventional swordmasters.
As the blue bird-shaped Rankyaku prepared to strike the fleeing Tiger and his group, Jinbei was about to turn back and counterattack when he suddenly heard a voice in the air.
"I've already told you, just keep running. As for your backs, leave them to me!"
With a blur of motion, Wood, who had been surrounded by CP agents, suddenly appeared in front of Jinbei.
Facing the powerful Rankyaku from CP0, Wood performed a dazzling overhead flip and countered with a Kama Itachi kick, sending the Rankyaku flying away.
The redirected Rankyaku Kaminaru sliced through a nearby building like a hot knife through butter, splitting it cleanly in two.
As for the CP0 officer in the white suit, he instantly used Soru to vanish from his original position and reappeared in front of Wood, launching a rapid flurry of finger thrusts.
"Shigan: Oren!"
This CP0's mastery of Shigan was far superior to the CP3 agents Wood had previously encountered, and his speed even surpassed that of a real handgun.
However, no matter how fast it was, it wasn't beyond Wood's ability to counter, thanks to his mastery of Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).
With his sword flashing in a flurry of blocks and parries, the clattering of steel against steel echoed as Wood deflected all the incoming Shigan attacks.
And amidst the barrage, Wood found an opening and delivered a high kick aimed at the CP0's chin.
The CP0 officer, who had assumed that Wood was just a highly skilled swordsman, was stunned to find that his fighting style was unlike any typical swordsman—Wood's martial arts prowess was just as formidable!
"Tekkai!" (Iron Body)
Shigan was a close-range combat technique, and seeing Wood's kick coming in with tremendous force, the CP0 officer had no choice but to use Tekkai to try and withstand the blow.
However, the CP0 officer quickly found himself flying through the air like a rocket.
Against Wood's terrifying physical strength, the Tekkai wasn't enough to fully absorb the impact, and the CP0 officer was sent soaring into the sky with a single kick.
As the CP0 officer hung in midair, Wood didn't let up. He gripped his sword tightly, unleashing two intersecting slashes that cut through the air toward his opponent.
"What are you standing there for? Go now! I can't keep up this level of fighting for long!"
Jinbei, who had been ready to turn back and counterattack, was completely stunned by the sheer power that Wood was unleashing on the battlefield.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 165 at patreon.com/Betek