Chapter 123

Vergo led Black Arm Zephyr all the way to the center of the island, far from the coast.

Vergo stopped, looking at Zephyr with a mocking gaze.

"What a pity, former Navy Admiral Zephyr. For the sake of my future, you must die here today."

"What did you say?"

Zephyr frowned, a sense of unease and wrongness surging in his heart.

The opponent had clearly been suppressed by him just moments ago; why was he now so unafraid?

Zephyr looked at the empty surroundings and said in a deep voice:

"You set an ambush here in advance?"

Vergo said, "Correct answer, so your only outcome today is death."

After a moment of surprise, Zephyr threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! Kid, do you know who I am? I am Black Arm Zephyr!"

"I was making waves in the Navy before you were even born!"

With that, Zephyr charged fiercely at Vergo.

Though the lion is old, its lingering power remains!

Vergo dared not be careless; he covered his entire body with Armament Haki and engaged Zephyr in battle.

Zephyr's right mechanical arm was made of Seastone, specifically designed to counter Devil Fruit users, but Vergo was not a user, so it had no effect on him.

Although Zephyr's Armament Haki level was higher than Vergo's, his body was old and frail, so his speed and strength were inferior to Vergo's.

Therefore, the two fought to a stalemate for a time.

Wherever they passed, massive boulders shattered and mountain peaks toppled, creating a tremendous disturbance.

"Teacher Zephyr!"

At this moment, Ain, the user of the Backward-Backward Fruit, arrived.

She was extremely shocked that Vergo could fight Teacher Zephyr to a standstill.

On one hand, she was shocked by Vergo's unexpectedly formidable strength,

and on the other, she was shocked by Teacher Zephyr's physical condition; had it deteriorated to this extent?

"No, I must go help Teacher Zephyr."

Ain pulled out a pistol, intending to lend Zephyr a hand.

Whoosh!

A sword light suddenly swept in from behind.

Ain dodged hastily, turned around, and glared at the female Marine who was relentlessly pursuing her:

"Do not interfere with me!"

Tashigi, holding the famous sword Sayo Amagiri, said firmly:

"That won't do. Commodore Smoker has made a decision to stop you!"

Ain wasted no more words and fired a bullet at Tashigi.

Tashigi currently had little combat experience, and her swordsmanship was far from exquisite.

She did not expect Ain to launch a sudden attack and was immediately flustered, scrambling to dodge.

She dodged the bullet, but she could not dodge a flame of peach-colored fire.

Buzz~

Struck by the peach-colored fire, Tashigi's body suddenly began to shrink rapidly.

She, who had the appearance of a twenty-something young woman, instantly transformed into a little girl of only seven or eight years old.

Ain's voice said:

"I am a user of the Backward-Backward Fruit. Struck by my ability, you will immediately lose twelve years of growth. Now, you have no ability to resist."

Ain did not take the opportunity to execute Tashigi; after all, she had once been a Marine and could not yet be truly ruthless.

Because her body had shrunk, Tashigi's glasses fell off.

Highly nearsighted, she instantly became blind.

Squatting on the ground, she felt along the floor.

"Where are my glasses? Where are my glasses..."

Then she touched a large hand, still carrying a warm temperature.

"Did Commodore Smoker come to help me?"

That was Tashigi's first thought, but immediately she was struck with sudden terror.

Because her nose smelled that the strange aura of the man before her was definitely not Smoker's!

"Who are you?!"

Tashigi's face went pale, and she hurriedly tried to retreat.

That large hand directly enveloped her small hand, lifting her entire body up, while a gentle voice sounded simultaneously in her ear:

"My name is Luo Xing, a good man who especially likes to help girls trapped in a dilemma."

"Here, these are your glasses."

That large hand helped Tashigi put on her glasses.

Tashigi froze completely, her heart surging with a terrifying wave!

Luo Xing, this man said his name is Luo Xing!

Could it be... could it be that legendary Son-in-Law of the Hundred Beasts, the mysterious Fifth Emperor Luo Xing?!

Tashigi subconsciously lifted her small face, staring blankly at the man who was right before her eyes.

Immediately, even greater waves of shock churned within her heart.

She had seen this man before!

It was just recently in Loguetown!

Yes, at that time, this man had walked alongside a woman of peerless beauty, watching the execution platform of the Pirate King, Luo Ge.

Colonel Smoker had gone to capture them, but was nearly knocked unconscious by a single glance from this man, unable even to stand steadily!

Without a doubt.

The one possessing such terrifying power must absolutely be the legendary Fifth Emperor, Luo Xing!

Cold sweat soaked Tashigi's back, and her delicate, beautiful face turned incredibly pale in an instant!

Why would the Fifth Emperor Luo Xing appear here?

And what is the purpose of this terrifying man?

Tashigi felt her mind go completely blank, unable to function, and she didn't even notice her own small body being held in the other's arms.

Luo Xing was a person who loved flowers, but absolutely not the kind of disgusting person who favored only young flower buds.

Although Tashigi looked to be only seven or eight years old at this moment, her true age was in her twenties, so Luo Xing felt not the slightest psychological burden.

As early as when they were in Loguetown,

Luo Xing had considered collecting Tashigi, this Navy lark, but with his wife Yamato present at the time, he had no opportunity to act.

Now that the other party had already crashed into his arms, Luo Xing naturally would not miss the chance again.

Holding the little Tashigi, who was lost in shock and unable to come to her senses for a long time, in one arm, he walked toward the location where Vergo and Zephyr were fighting.

Zephyr's disciple, Ain, was also extremely shocked by Luo Xing's sudden appearance.

Seeing the direction Luo Xing was advancing, she immediately shouted loudly:

"Who are you? What are you doing?"

At the same time, peach-colored flames erupted from her hands, striking out at Luo Xing.

Luo Xing easily dodged with a few short-range teleports.

Just as Ain was about to continue her action, a colossal creature suddenly crashed down before her!

"Ignorant woman, daring to attack the Young Master, do you not wish to live?"

Ain's face changed in terror, and she stared in shock at the colossal creature before her, which was more than ten times her height, crying out in a broken voice:

"You are... you are Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates?!"

"Impossible, why would you appear here!"

Jack said disdainfully:

"Then it is none of your concern."

His giant hand swung down, about to smash Ain to the ground.