Chapter 174: Two Bones

"That direction..."

"Coming for Gao Wen?!"

Immediately.

Xiang Keluo reacted at once; the mysterious powerhouse sweeping through the high sky was most likely coming for Gao Wen.

For on this island, everyone except Gao Wen could not possibly be his match.

"Kid Xiang Keluo!"

Seeing this, Kureha felt even more uneasy in her heart:

"Those fellows are probably Mushuru's helpers."

"With such oppressive pressure, this family must have come specifically for Gao Wen!"

"That kid is stronger than we thought; he won't be taken down easily!"

"But once Mushuru releases all the spores inside his body, most people on this island will die!"

"Hurry!"

"Go to Drum Castle!"

"Destroy the central cannon!"

Xiang Keluo's expression tightened; he hesitated somewhat.

The lives of the people on this island, the fate of this nation, held no meaning for him, but Gao Wen was different...

Then he recalled the scene in the snow last night, and Gao Wen's abilities; his gaze gradually grew firm.

He waved, gesturing to the crowd behind him:

"I understand; leave that matter over there to me."

A stiff landing...

Boom—!

Snowflakes exploded across the snowfield; Xiang Keluo's figure vanished from everyone's sight in an instant.

"So fast!"

Chopper couldn't help but let out an exclamation; in Kureha's eyes beside him, a hint of barely concealed surprise also appeared:

"Does the vice-captain possess such immense power?!"

"Actually, this fellow Gao Wen..."

"Might truly leave his name in a place like the New World."

For a moment.

Kureha stood stunned on the spot, only snapping back to her senses after hearing Chopper's call.

"Doctor Kureha, don't zone out."

Chopper calmed down; his expression became extremely Solemn:

"Just in case."

"First, we organize the people of Kessada to take refuge in nearby cellars; Ms. Nami, notify Mr. Dalton over there to have them prepare as well."

"Once the situation spirals out of control..."

"Then take everyone and leave this country!"

Nami nodded.

She felt that at this moment, Chopper displayed a mature aura completely different from his cute appearance.

Unknowingly.

He had already grown.

But for Chopper, their future ship doctor, or even the head of the medical department, the more mature he became, the more reliable he appeared.

Quickly.

The surrounding crowd grew busy.

The healed patients, together with the pirates under Gao Wen's banner, moved all the patients in the clinic toward the lighthouse by the river mouth.

If the situation spiraled out of control, they would immediately lead everyone to flee.

Of course, everyone held deep attachment in their hearts to this land that nurtured them; unless absolutely necessary, they would never abandon it.

On the other end, after receiving the message, Dalton also quickly organized his subordinates and began leading the people within the range of Drum Island to flee.

However, compared to coastal towns like Kessada and Big Horn Village, most inland towns were not so lucky.

Even with Dalton leading his guards and the help of twenty doctors, the number was ultimately far too small compared to the entire population of Drum Island.

"Too late!"

"It's simply too late!"

Dalton punched the wall beside him; blood seeped down along the fist print, yet it could not alleviate the despair in his heart at this moment.

The commoners standing around him were even more so.

These small towns located in the interior of Drum Island would require at least several days to evacuate, and that was even ignoring the issue of ships.

This country simply does not have enough ships to carry all its citizens away!

Panic gradually spread; some in despair simply chose to give up.

Seeing this, Dalton felt both heartache and helplessness; he could only place all his hope on Gao Wen and his crew.

He looked up at the figure just now, whose whole body burned with flames, like a dinosaur; his eyes became uneasy:

"This country... everything of this country is entrusted to these pirates; is this Gao Wen... the most righteous pirate in the East Blue?!"

"They will win, right?!"

"They will win!"

As he spoke.

Dalton's eyes gradually grew firm; he took a deep breath and issued the order for the townspeople to retreat to the edge of Dongdao.

Watching the townspeople gradually begin to move, Dalton had only one thought in his heart:

"Even if we can save one more person..."

"... it would be good!"

On the other end.

On the Raven, anchored at the edge of Dongdao.

Jin, wearing a gas mask, looked up and gazed at the figure that had just roared past; his expression gradually grew solemn:

"That guy's aura is far more ferocious than Zephyr, the former Marine Admiral I saw before, and it is so unsettling."

"Controlling fire... a Zoan type?!"

"Most likely."

Luqi nodded, his eyes equally solemn.

Unlike Jin, gathering intelligence is a mandatory subject for agents; accurate information on most factions in the world exists within the CP organization.

Therefore, with just one glance, he identified the figure roaring through the air.

"One of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido's right-hand man, the pirate with a bounty exceeding 1.3 billion, Scorching Calamity - King!"

"Correct, but there's no reward."

A sudden voice made Jin and Luqi jump in fright.

When they turned their heads, they discovered:

A figure over three meters tall, dressed in a red suit, had somehow already been standing on the deck; the newcomer was looking at Luqi and Jin with a mocking gaze.

This person was naturally Fuza Fu, who had received Kaido's orders alongside Scorching Calamity King to come to the Grand Line and exterminate Gao Wen's pirate crew.

At this moment, Fuza Fu's eyes were full of the meaning of a cat playing with mice.

He was already the strongest among the Six Flying Beasts of the Beasts Pirates; even the gap between him and Dry Calamity Jack was not large.

Dealing with this group of pirates who had just emerged from the East Blue was naturally a piece of cake for him.

Moreover, during previous leisure time, he had watched the Martial Arts Tournament in the East Blue and naturally knew something about the strength of Xiang Keluo and Jin.

Judging by the combat power the two displayed back then, they might be stronger than most true fighters, but the gap between them and him was still an insurmountable chasm.

"If possible, could you please commit suicide right here? That would make things easier for me and prevent me from getting my hands bloody..."

"Wait!"

Fuza Fu's voice suddenly stopped; his gaze fell on Luqi, and the slight smile on his corner of the mouth became even more impossible to hide:

"Oh my, oh my~"

"Isn't this the monster rookie hailed as the most talented in eight hundred years of CP9?!"

As he spoke.

He looked at Jin beside him and the pirate flag fluttering in the air, and instantly understood what was going on:

"Have you received a new mission to infiltrate Gao Wen's pirate crew?"

As the voice fell.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

The gazes of all the pirates on the deck converged on Luqi, filled with an intent of scrutiny.

Even Zoro quietly placed his hand on the long sword at his waist; cold sweat seeped from his palm, and his mind had already begun to weigh how much chance of victory he had against the Fuza Fu before him.

But that answer made his breath catch in his throat.

Seeing that no one spoke up in the scene, Fuza Fu suddenly felt a desire to play; he extended his hand toward Luqi and said:

"My goal is to eliminate Gao Wen's pirate crew."

"What do you say? Want to consider teaming up with me?"

"After all... betrayal is the specialty of the World Government, of tools like us, isn't it?"

"In that case, both our goals can be achieved!"

Luqi's expression gradually grew gloomy.

Especially when he sensed the scrutinizing gazes of the pirates on the Raven, including Zoro, a hint of barely suppressed killing intent quietly surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

He had calculated a thousand things, but never expected to meet this man here.

Before Luqi displayed his talent, Fuza Fu was the man who enjoyed the title of CP9's strongest genius, but due to a mission failure, he was wanted by the World Government.

For all these years, has this guy been hiding within the Beasts Pirates?!"

For a moment.

Luqi was somewhat hesitant.

After all, killing Jin and the others here, as long as he ensured no survivors remained, he could later shift the blame onto Fuza Fu.

Kalifa, standing beside him, felt the same.

Suddenly.

A hoarse voice broke the silence.

"No!"

Jin stepped forward to shield Luqi and the other two behind him, facing the pressure from Fuza Fu alone; yet his eyes revealed a firm will completely different from the others.

"I trust Luqi."

"This fellow has undergone a transformation after experiencing that kind of thing; he is no longer the cold-blooded tool he once was, but a living being who feels pain."

Roubo Luqi instinctively lowered his head, his jaw clenched tight, his cheeks bulging high, feeling only a heavy blockage in his heart for a moment.

He suddenly remembered, back in Water Seven, the expression on Kaku's face as he looked at Blueno, that complexity and entanglement.

"And you still live in betrayal!"

As he spoke, Akagami raised his head, locking eyes with the Fuzufu before him, yielding not an inch.

So much so that Fuzufu's face showed a moment of shock, before he immediately covered his stomach and laughed wildly.

"Hahahaha~"

"To think, to think, to think that a fool would actually believe the World Government's agents?!"

"This is truly the funniest joke I have heard in my life!"

"I understand."

Fuzufu pointed a finger at Akagami, the mockery in his eyes now impossible to conceal:

"You have likely witnessed scene after scene of the so-called camaraderie of comrades they weave, a joke, haven't you?!"

"If I tell you that this is the method of CP9, this infiltration method, I have used it before, even more than once."

"From kings reigning over several islands, to the captain of a pirate crew."

"Similar incidents are far too numerous, even so—!"

Fuzufu's words were cut off halfway by a bone spear shot forth with great force.

When he looked up again.

Akagami had already surged to his front, bone spikes extending from his arm one after another, intertwining with each other to form a shape like a long spear, which then slammed directly into Fuzufu's chest.

Clang!

After the ear-grating sound of impact, the bone spear in Akagami's hand shattered inch by inch, yet Fuzufu's chest was covered in dark Armament Haki.

Completely blocking Akagami's attack, unscathed.

"Armament Haki?!"

"Ah."

Fuzufu sneered:

"Still haven't figured it out?"

"The combat intensity of the New World is completely different from that of the East Blue and the Grand Line."

"Only by mastering Haki and skillfully employing it can one qualify to survive in that place."

"This is the difference between you and me!"

He raised his hand, dark Haki coiling around his fingertips, and drove a Finger Pistol into Akagami's chest.

Crack crack crack—!

The bone armor, harder than steel, shattered in response.

Akagami's jaw clenched tight, yet fresh blood still oozed from the corner of his mouth; clearly, this strike did not merely shatter the bone armor he created, but severely injured him.

His body instantly flew backward, colliding with and breaking several large trees in succession before finally coming to a slow stop.

Having done all this.

Fuzufu finally turned his head to look at Roubo Luqi, an air of scrutiny in his eyes:

"Hey~"

"Rob Lucci."

"Now... how will you choose?!"

As Roubo Luqi hesitated.

In the distant snow, Akagami raised his hand and pushed away the large tree pressing down on him.

He was wounded in many places, his body covered in blood, yet his eyes showed not the slightest wavering.

"Speaking of which, this move was originally prepared for Xiang Keluo, but if we hold back any further now, we might all die here."

"If one layer of bone armor cannot block it, then..."

"Double Bone!"

The words hit the ground.

Around Akagami, countless pure white bones pierced through his skin, winding and interweaving over his body surface to form a high-density exoskeleton, like armor, completely enveloping his body.

This was a new combat stance Akagami developed after discarding the Iron Cane, utilizing his Devil Fruit ability, composed of two layers of exoskeleton, inner and outer.

Not only did defensive capability increase dramatically, but it also allowed his strength to break through its original limit, reaching a new, monstrous level.

If the lower limit of physical strength is determined by the amount of muscle within the body, then the upper limit of a person's physical strength is determined by the strength of their bones.

Because the bearing capacity of bones is limited; once this upper limit is exceeded, the bones will break due to the inability to withstand the surging body strength.

But Akagami, utilizing the ability of the Bone-Bone Fruit, increased the strength of his own bones by several tiers, with a corresponding exponential surge in physical strength.

"We... continue!"

Akagami opened his mouth, swallowing a large amount of air directly into his belly.

Several pieces of bone armor on his back unfolded, revealing internal exhaust vents, and then a massive amount of gas gushed out from the vents, with the exaggerated impact force entirely converted into thrust.

Boom!

In an instant.

Akagami vanished from everyone's sight; the wild wind stirred up by his high-speed movement alone blew the snow on the ground into the air, making it impossible for everyone to keep their eyes open.

He condensed a bone spear in his hand again and shot it toward Fuzufu.

"If you have the guts, take this!"

"!!!"

Fuzfu felt the howling wind rushing toward him, and for the first time, a hint of interest floated in his gaze.

"Paramecia type?"

"Interesting!"

The next instant.

Fuzfu transformed into his Human-Beast Form; his figure suddenly expanded several times over, his original height of just over three meters instantly swelling to nearly five meters.

His body surface was covered in yellow fur, and canine teeth like daggers protruded from his mouth—this was the Zoan-type, Neko Neko no Mi, Ancient Model: Saber-Toothed Tiger Form.

"Then I'll accept it for you to see!"

(End of Chapter)