Vice Admiral John Giant was a swordsman.
He wielded dual katanas, one long, one short, their blades etched with intricate clover patterns while crimson tassels adorned their wrapped handles. The weapons represented decades of faithful service to Marine Headquarters, symbols of unwavering loyalty to the World Government's cause.
Upon witnessing the Hell Pirates' descent, Giant instantly coated both blades with Armament Haki, the black metallic sheen spreading across their edges like flowing mercury. With a thunderous war cry, he launched himself skyward, bringing tremendous force to bear as his reinforced weapons carved through the air with mountain-crushing weight.
Observing this display, Rob Lucci prepared to abandon his cover and "turn against" his supposed allies.
He had anticipated that upon their arrival, Oboro would immediately eliminate the lesser threats with his overwhelming Haki, leaving only the Vice Admiral as a significant obstacle. This lone Marine officer represented his sole remaining source of leverage in protecting the Celestial Dragon. If he didn't act now, before John Giant fell, rescuing Saint Purming alone would become impossible.
Lucci calculated the Celestial Dragon's precise position while watching the massive blades approach their targets. Just as he prepared to launch a surprise attack on Dolan and Kaka, the unexpected occurred.
Oboro vanished.
In an instant, the God Slayer materialized directly in front of John Giant's massive torso.
The protective air currents surrounding the Vice Admiral dissipated immediately. Each Hell Pirate member evaded Giant's desperate slashing attacks through various evasive maneuvers before gravity claimed them, sending all combatants plummeting toward the palace courtyard below.
Upon impact, the assembled witnesses were met with a thunderous explosion, violent tremors that shook the foundations of nearby buildings, and the sickening sound of blood spattering across ornate stone tiles.
Oboro had employed his advanced Haki technique, 'Death Qi', condensing his spiritual energy into an aura resembling flowing black water that enveloped his fist. Unleashing this divine strike, he drove his enhanced blow directly into Giant's abdomen. The single impact tore through the Vice Admiral's clothing and sent the flesh of his upper torso spiraling from the devastating force, ultimately creating a horrific cavity where his organs had been. The massive figure flew backward, destroying several palace buildings before coming to rest motionless within a cloud of settling dust.
Dead! Eliminated with a single strike!
Lucci's scalp prickled with horror.
How could this happen so quickly?
He could see it clearly now, Oboro had provided no opportunity for negotiation and felt no inclination to waste precious time. The God Slayer wasn't even interested in "toying" with a Vice Admiral-level opponent.
This overwhelming presence resembled his legendary confrontation with Dracule Mihawk at Twin Capes.
Lucci had assumed Oboro wouldn't treat a mere Vice Admiral with such lethal seriousness, since Giant hardly qualified as a "worthy adversary." This miscalculation should have provided more maneuvering room, but reality had proven otherwise.
Oboro's polished black leather shoes tapped methodically against the grass as he slowly turned around.
Behind him lay newly formed ruins and a haze of destruction that obscured the afternoon sky.
He adjusted the brim of his hat with casual precision and approached Dom and the others, a faint smile playing across his scarred features.
Lucci felt cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Several meters away lay the unconscious Celestial Dragon.
The Vice Admiral was dead.
The CP9 agent couldn't sense any remaining life force from Giant's position.
In other words, from this moment forward, he would have to "fight alone."
But such resistance would prove futile.
Lucci understood that relying solely on his own capabilities represented a certain path to failure. Even employing his full arsenal, Rokushiki techniques, Zoan Devil Fruit powers, and years of assassination training, wouldn't suffice against the God Slayer's demonstrated abilities.
The sound of shattering glass pierced through Lucci's numbed consciousness. He turned to observe Dom approaching the fallen Celestial Dragon, savagely destroying the protective breathing apparatus that covered Saint Purming's head. The Hell Pirate officer then seized the World Knovle by his elaborately styled hair, lifting him like discarded refuse.
"How could this pathetic creature possibly become a World Knovle, a supposed ruler of nations?" Dom tugged at the Celestial Dragon's hair experimentally, shaking the semi-conscious figure while speaking with cold contempt.
This would be the Celestial Dragon they were about to execute.
Upon hearing these words, the other Hell Pirates also focused their attention on Saint Purming, their expressions reflecting a mixture of disgust and anticipation.
"Captain, what comes next?"
Kaka clasped his hands behind his head, addressing Oboro with his characteristic relaxed demeanor.
He was referring to the ceremony, the ritual through which they would officially become full crew members.
"Wake him up," Oboro commanded softly, his hands resting casually in his coat pockets.
Drowsily, Saint Purming regained consciousness.
He first experienced sharp pain throughout his body, particularly concentrated on his face and scalp. Then he discovered himself lying on filthy grass, his once magnificent and noble garments now torn and soiled beyond recognition.
The surrounding environment had transformed completely from what he remembered before losing consciousness.
The ornate palace complex before him had become dilapidated ruins shrouded in settling dust.
Several unknown individuals stood or sat nearby, none of whom he recognized.
As for the royal family members and marine personnel who had been attending him, they all lay unconscious across the courtyard.
"Who are you people? What's happened to me? What's going on here?" he shouted in confusion initially.
Then his arrogance reasserted itself as he "remembered" his station. "You lowly commoners, what are you standing around for? Help me up immediately! Do you have a death wish?!"
However, his imperious demands met with complete indifference from the assembled Hell Pirates.
"Damn it! Where is that Vice Admiral from the Marine? Where is he? Get over here this instant! What are your names, I'm furious, I'm going to have you all executed! No, not just you, but this entire country as well! Damn it! How dare you make a great Celestial Dragon like me suffer such indignities!"
Saint Purming raged with mounting fury, his arrogance spilling into every word he screamed.
It seemed he hadn't yet grasped the reality of his situation.
"I demand that you, " Schlick.
Just as the Celestial Dragon began issuing another command, time appeared to freeze.
A subtle sound caused Saint Purming's facial expression to lock in place while his limbs began moving erratically.
Because a razor-sharp blade had suddenly removed his scalp in one swift motion.
Torrents of blood flowed from the top of his skull, covering his face and turning his vision crimson.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
But what made his condition even more unbearable was the excruciating agony.
Saint Purming remained stunned for several seconds before releasing a piercing scream and rolling wildly across the blood-stained grass.
"I am a Celestial Dragon! You actually dare, "
He continued rolling while shouting protests.
But these sounds only accelerated the countdown to his demise.
A merciless boot crushed his ankle with deliberate force.
"Most people in this world seem terrified of them. Just hearing the words 'Celestial Dragons' strikes fear into their hearts, but aside from their political background, they're remarkably fragile." Kaka slowly lifted his foot and commented with a cold smile. "Have their lives of absolute luxury robbed them of basic survival instincts?"
"When people fail to grow and develop, aren't they simply wasting food and resources in this world? What distinguishes them from ordinary garbage?"
"Although I must admit, I envy their carefree existence. Sometimes I wish I could be a Celestial Dragon myself," Kaka added with dark humor.
Meanwhile, Rob Lucci's legs felt completely numb. He understood that the ritual had officially begun.
The others were participating with obvious enthusiasm.
He had been absolutely determined to save Saint Purming at any cost, even if such an attempt meant his own death.
But now he found himself paralyzed with inaction. This wasn't fear in the conventional sense, but rather a different form of despair.
Because he couldn't save the Celestial Dragon, Saint Purming was doomed to die, and Lucci couldn't alter that outcome.
Instead, he would become implicated when his infiltration was exposed, his carefully constructed cover blown completely. So he could only watch helplessly as events unfolded according to the God Slayer's design.
Reason and tactical awareness demanded that he maintain his charade in this situation, but witnessing these events was shaking his fundamental convictions about his "mission."
A Celestial Dragon was being systematically tortured before his eyes, and what was he doing? Standing idle like a statue.
If word of this incident reached his superiors, Lucci believed everyone would understand his inability to intervene effectively.
His immediate decision to remain inactive was undoubtedly tactically sound, but the Celestial Dragons wouldn't view it that way.
In the eyes of the World Nobles, any action detrimental to their interests was unforgivable, regardless of circumstances or logic.
First it was Yingge's turn, then Kaka's, followed by Dolan. Yurivich showed no interest in prolonging the torture of such worthless prey.
Lucci was designated last.
The Hell Pirates refrained from delivering the killing blow, clearly preserving a vestige of life within the Celestial Dragon for the final participant.
The same arrogant World Knovle who had been issuing commands mere minutes earlier was now begging pathetically for mercy. Faced with the terror of imminent death, even someone with his limited intellect had finally learned basic self-preservation.
"Saint Purming, we meet again," Oboro finally spoke as they approached the conclusion.
Dolan gripped the bloodied and mangled head of the Celestial Dragon, raising it to meet Oboro's penetrating gaze.
"It's you..." When Saint Purming's blurred vision revealed the identity of his approaching executioner, he completely lost his composure.
He knew Oboro intimately.
The God Slayer had once been a Celestial Dragon slave, a plaything belonging to Saint Charlos in Marijoa, frequently encountering other World Nobles during his captivity. Although he had met Purming previously, the latter hadn't bothered to remember Oboro before, a slave wasn't worth committing to memory. Only after Saint Charlos's assassination, when the name "God Slayer" had enraged and terrified the Celestial Dragons, had Saint Purming finally recalled this particular subject.
The God Slayer's appearance had become the final blow that crushed Saint Purming's hopes of survival.
He had been weakly begging for mercy, promising them wealth, power, and anything else in the world in exchange for his life.
But now he knew he was doomed.
He would become the second Celestial Dragon to be slain, following Saint Charlos.
Even with blood streaming down his face, he burst into uncontrollable tears.
"Damn the Marine! The incompetent World Government, what the hell are they doing?!"
"Why am I going to die? Why are creatures like you still alive? I'll kill them! I'll kill them all!"
Suddenly, Saint Purming erupted in hysterical screaming.
"Hadori, it's your turn."
Oboro turned slightly, directing his attention toward Rob Lucci, who had remained motionless throughout the proceedings.
"Silence our Celestial Dragon guest... permanently."
"Kill him."
"..."
Rob Lucci stood frozen, the weight of impossible choice crushing down upon him like the depths of the ocean itself.