Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amid the chaos, several figures dashed out of the fiery wreckage of the laboratory, their movements disjointed yet coordinated. Under the cover of the dark night, they cut striking silhouettes, though their appearances bore clear signs of struggle.
"Damn it, what just happened?" one CP member growled, clutching his weapon.
The group turned to face the laboratory, now engulfed in flames. Then, through the fiery blaze, a single figure emerged.
Kaizen strode out confidently, his steps firm and deliberate. In one arm, he held the unconscious little firefly automaton, its glow dim but steady. Dragging behind him in the other hand was Dr. Julius, whose face was twisted in despair.
Kaizen's presence exuded an aura of undeniable authority, as though the chaos around him existed solely to underscore his dominance.
"Of course, I should have known it was you!" the leader of the CP agents spat, recognizing the figure who had disrupted their mission.
Julius, who had barely managed to stand, collapsed to his knees as he turned back to the inferno. His voice trembled with grief. "My life's work... years of effort... gone!"
Kaizen glanced at Julius, his gaze hard. "Doctor, experiments can be rebuilt. But the harm you cause to others? That leaves scars that never heal."
The words, spoken with calm yet unyielding conviction, struck Julius like a hammer. He bowed his head, unable to respond.
Kaizen turned his attention back to the CP agents. His sharp gaze swept over them, and he spoke with chilling clarity.
"It's over. Walk away now."
His words, plain yet heavy with meaning, made the agents hesitate. Some instinctively took a step back.
One of them whispered, his voice laced with disbelief, "Is this... Conqueror's Haki?!"
The CP leader steadied himself, his expression darkening. "This brat is more trouble than I thought."
Kaizen's eyes narrowed. He had hoped to avoid a fight by overwhelming them with his willpower, but the agents of Cipher Pol—some of the world's most elite spies—wouldn't be swayed so easily.
---
Recognized by Cipher Pol
The leader of the CP agents stepped forward, his eyes locked on Kaizen. "You… you're the boy who fought alongside Whitebeard against Admiral Zephyr, aren't you?"
Kaizen clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Of course my reputation precedes me. When will this nonsense finally blow over?"
"That fight made waves far beyond the battlefield," the leader said coldly. "The World Government even considered offering you a position as a Shichibukai."
Kaizen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that what this is about?"
The leader pressed further, clearly testing him. "Did you accept the position?"
Feigning nonchalance, Kaizen smirked. "Of course. Who wouldn't take such an offer? The benefits were too good to pass up."
The CP agents exchanged uncertain glances. Kaizen's casual tone and confident demeanor gave no hint of deceit.
"Then we have no conflict," the leader said, his posture relaxing slightly. "However, we need you to hand over the child in your arms. That automaton is of great interest to certain… influential figures."
Kaizen's smile vanished. "And who are these 'influential figures'?"
The CP leader's expression darkened. "The Celestial Dragons."
Kaizen's voice turned icy. "Is that so? Well, let me make this clear: I like this little one too, and I'm not handing her over to anyone."
"You dare defy the Celestial Dragons?!" one of the agents snapped. "Even as a Shichibukai, you wouldn't survive the consequences!"
Kaizen's smirk returned, sharper than before. "Defy them? If your so-called Celestial Dragons were standing here, I'd say the same thing to their faces. Bring it on."
The tension between the two sides reached a boiling point.
---
Vegapunk's Arrival
Before the fight could begin, Dr. Vegapunk and Caesar rushed into the clearing.
"Kaizen-dono!" Vegapunk called out, his voice a mix of relief and panic.
"Friend, you brought her back!" Vegapunk hurried to Kaizen's side, his eyes fixed on the unconscious firefly automaton.
Kaizen knelt down and handed the automaton to Vegapunk. "Take her and get out of here. Find somewhere safe—far from here."
"But what about you?" Vegapunk asked, clutching the firefly tightly.
Kaizen grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Don't worry about me. Just go. This is your mission now."
Reluctantly, Vegapunk nodded. He turned and began to run, Caesar close behind him.
One of the CP agents lunged toward them, aiming to intercept.
Kaizen stepped forward, blocking their path. "Not so fast."
He delivered a swift punch, his fist coated in Armament Haki. The agent, who had activated Tekkai (Iron Body) for defense, crumpled under the force of the blow.
Kaizen smirked. "Your 'Iron Body' feels more like wet paper."
The insult infuriated the remaining agents.
---
The Fight Against Cipher Pol
"Take him down!" the CP leader roared, charging at Kaizen with fists imbued with Haki.
Kaizen dodged the first strike effortlessly, countering with a whip kick aimed at the leader's abdomen. The impact was solid, but instead of sending the leader flying, Kaizen felt an unexpected resistance.
"What is this…?" Kaizen muttered, his foot throbbing slightly from the contact.
The leader smirked. "My defense is on a whole different level."
Kaizen's expression hardened as the other agents closed in, their attacks relentless and coordinated.
Despite his skill, the sheer number of opponents began to overwhelm him. He landed strike after strike, but each blow seemed to take a greater toll on his stamina.
"You're outmatched!" one agent taunted, delivering a glancing blow to Kaizen's shoulder.
Kaizen gritted his teeth, refusing to yield. "I've faced worse odds than this."
As the battle raged on, Kaizen realized he couldn't hold out much longer. The CP agents' combined strength and discipline were unlike anything he had faced before.
In a final act of defiance, Kaizen unleashed a burst of Conqueror's Haki, causing several of the weaker agents to collapse unconscious. But the leader and his top subordinates remained standing.
Breathing heavily, Kaizen smirked despite himself. "Guess you're tougher than I thought."
The CP leader raised his fist, preparing to deliver the finishing blow.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...