Pale and bloodless, like vampires, the Type-1 creatures swarmed out like locusts, launching attacks in every corner of the ruined Marineford, hunting down any humans they encountered.
"Ahhhhh! What is this, help me!"
"Monsters! Get away, don't come near me!"
Though there were many strong marines here, due to the massive earthquake just now, most of them were severely injured. Faced with a sudden assault by these monsters, they had no ability to resist.
Type-1's strength was overwhelming. Despite their skinny frames, they could smash rocks and drag hiding marines out from behind cover.
Then they would open their mouths wide and spit out a Type-2a creature, which looked like a lamprey.
As soon as the Type-2a emerged from the Type-1's mouth, it burrowed into the marine's own mouth.
The next second, the struggling marine went completely still.
His body visibly shriveled up, drying out and becoming withered, his skin cracked and parched.
Instantly, all life left him.
Many marines fell victim to this attack, turning into shriveled corpses without the slightest chance to resist.
They looked just like mummies.
If this was the fate of the marines, the families residing in Marineford fared even worse. They were lucky not to have died in the earthquake.
Now faced with this monstrous horde, they had no means to fight back.
"Ah! Help me!"
"I don't want to die!"
People screamed in panic, fleeing in all directions, hoping to find someplace safe.
But in this place full of broken ruins, where could there be safety?
Almost every few steps, someone would trip or be struck by falling debris, unable to escape.
Many were grabbed by the Type-1 creatures. Before they could resist, the lamprey-like Type-2a was already spat out and burrowed inside them.
It would then secrete a powerful corrosive liquid that liquefied the victim's insides before absorbing it all, then return to the Type-1's body.
Then the Type-1 would continue its hunt, repeating this process on new prey.
"Damn these monsters! Don't run rampant here!"
At that moment, Koby appeared, leaping in front of several Type-1s, punching them away one by one with his fists.
"Ugh!"
After throwing a few punches, Koby clutched his shoulder in pain – the earlier earthquake had also injured him.
"Watch out, Koby!"
Helmeppo ran over, slicing off the head of a Type-1 that was sneaking up behind Koby.
"Be careful, we're all hurt!"
Helmeppo panted heavily as he spoke.
"Yeah… but even so, we have to fight… to protect everyone!"
Koby gasped back.
"Ahhhhh!!"
At that moment, a scream came from nearby.
Helmeppo and Koby looked over and were both shocked.
A Vice Admiral was being attacked by a Type-2a creature entering his body.
Marineford's Vice Admirals were no pushovers, but even such a powerful man was now like a puppet, unable to struggle.
His body quickly shriveled up like a mummy.
"You monster! What did you do!"
An enraged Marine Vice Admiral rushed over, slashing the Type-1's body apart.
He then swung his blade again, sending out several sword slashes, cutting down over ten Type-1s in an instant.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a massive tentacle smashed down from above.
The Vice Admiral had to retreat to avoid being crushed.
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
But even though he dodged the direct strike, the shockwave it caused made it impossible to stay balanced.
That allowed several Type-1s to pounce on him!
"Damn it! Get off me!"
The Vice Admiral tried to struggle. With his strength, shaking them off should have been easy.
But at that moment, a Type-2a emerged from a Type-1's mouth and forced its way through his teeth into his mouth.
The Vice Admiral, who was about to struggle with all his might, suddenly lost all strength. His sword slipped from his grasp as his eyes widened in pain.
Then his body too shriveled up into a mummy.
"Everyone be careful! These monsters attack from inside. Even Vice Admirals can't resist them!"
A Vice Admiral shouted in urgency.
Several Vice Admirals had already fallen to this.
The liquid secreted by those creatures seemed unstoppable. Even with Armament Haki in their bodies, it couldn't be blocked. Once touched, the victim's internal organs would be dissolved into liquid.
There was no way to defend against it.
They absolutely could not allow these creatures to get close!
Now, within Marineford, very few marines had the strength to keep fighting while moving quickly. Most were injured, making it hard to fight back effectively.
So marines continued to fall.
"This is bad! The tentacles are moving again!"
Someone shouted in terror, and everyone looked over at the massive tentacles.
All the tentacles were lifting up, preparing to slam down onto the ground once more.
If they all struck at once, the destruction would be unimaginable.
Despair spread across the faces of the remaining marines.
"Steel Breaking Ox Fist!"
Suddenly, Garp's voice boomed from above.
A massive ox-head emblem flew in from the side, slamming into two huge tentacles at once.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!
The ox-head emblem unleashed an earth-shattering explosion, blasting everything above the impact point into powder!
The terrifying shockwave swept through the other tentacles, forcing them to tilt away toward the sea.
"Atomic Breath!"
A golden beam of fire suddenly descended from the sky.
It struck a large group of Type-1s and swept sideways, reducing more and more of them to ash.
These sudden attacks drew all the marines' attention upward.
They saw a figure leaping through the air at high speed, approaching the giant tentacles.
Who else could it be but Garp!
"You disgusting monsters! I don't care about your Vampire Factory or how big it is! If you think you can rampage on our turf, think again!"
As Garp roared, he arrived at a giant tentacle, raised his fist full of power, and smashed it down.
He broke the tentacle clean in half.
"This place is essential for maintaining world peace! It's the foundation that deters pirates! If Marineford falls, pirates will run even wilder! I will never let a bunch of worthless monsters like you destroy it!"
As Garp shouted angrily, he turned around.
Three tentacles with gaping fanged maws lunged at him, ready to devour him.
(End of Chapter)
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