"This... is the Cursed Eye?"
Meiser's face twisted in agony as tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks, his expression one of unbearable suffering.
"Keh keh keh..."
"HAHAHAHA!!"
"Damn this cursed fate!!"
As he felt the Pupil Technique dwelling within his eyes, Meiser's mental state gradually descended into madness.
"Has this guy gone insane??"
Akainu, who had landed on the ground, watched with confusion as Meiser's psyche seemed to collapse before his eyes. From Akainu's perspective, Meiser stood there laughing and crying hysterically, his features contorted beyond recognition—like a complete madman.
Not that Akainu cared much. How many pirates had he driven to the brink of sanity? This ninja brat was just one among many, hardly worth his attention.
"Listen, ninja brat. I am Admiral Akainu of Marine Headquarters," Akainu declared. "You're coming with me."
At these words, Meiser's head snapped up as if reconnecting with reality, his gaze locking onto Akainu with chilling intensity. The look in his eyes promised nothing short of dismemberment.
Akainu blinked in surprise. 'His eye pattern changed?' He distinctly remembered three tomoe in the kid's eyes earlier. Now they'd transformed into something else entirely. What did this mean? Had his eyes... evolved?
Cautious by nature, Akainu averted his gaze from Meiser's eyes.
"Why did you kill her?"
"Her?"
Akainu glanced indifferently at the smoldering magma on the ground. "You mean that little girl?"
Meiser didn't respond, only continued staring at him with murderous coldness, his killing intent leaking uncontrollably.
Unfazed, Akainu crossed his arms and stated calmly, "That girl belonged to your Straw Hat Pirates, did she not?"
"If she's a pirate, then she had no right to live."
He cared not how she'd become a pirate, nor how young she'd been. The moment her identity as a pirate was confirmed... his execution was inevitable. As an iron-fisted Marine, he would never allow potential threats time to grow stronger.
So... dead she was.
"Iron-fisted, huh... I see now."
Not even sparing a child... Is this the Marines' so-called justice?
How utterly... disgusting!!
With eyes brimming with frigid killing intent, Meiser charged at Akainu.
"Still resisting, I see..."
Akainu frowned. "Very well. I'll just knock you unconscious first."
While he couldn't kill this one, crippling him wouldn't be an issue!
With that thought, Akainu rushed forward to meet Meiser's charge. At the moment of impact, he raised his right arm without hesitation, aiming straight for Meiser's shoulder.
"Dark Hound!!"
"SPLAT!!"
The terrifyingly hot magma attack effortlessly obliterated Meiser's right shoulder, instantly carbonizing the entire area.
Ignoring Meiser, who was staggering backward on his knees, Akainu said, "Injuries like these are enough to render you powerless."
After speaking, Akainu glanced back at Meiser and continued, "Just lie down quietly."
If this brat knew what was good for him, he wouldn't bother attacking further.
However, in the next moment, Akainu's expression changed.
He realized that the ninja brat he had just severely injured... had suddenly vanished?
What was going on?
Where was he?
Just then, Akainu's Observation Haki detected a figure appearing beside him, raising a fist to strike his body!
"What the—?!"
Seeing Meiser completely unharmed, Akainu's pupils constricted sharply.
This brat... was actually fine?
Without time to think, Akainu immediately infused Haki into his leg and raised his knee to block.
"Clang!!"
The collision of Haki produced a sharp metallic ring!
"Brat, what's going on with you?" Akainu said coldly.
He was certain he had crippled the boy earlier—his Observation Haki had even sensed his life force rapidly fading.
Yet, in the next instant, he was completely fine?
"Why should I tell you?" Meiser replied icily.
At this moment, Meiser fully grasped just how powerful his Pupil Technique was.
This time, he had activated the Mangekyō Sharingan Pupil Technique embedded in his right eye—one called Kitsugu Mitamasahiko.
Effect: Upon activation, the user enters a state blending illusion and reality.
All unfavorable conditions can be converted into illusions, while all favorable conditions can be made real!
Duration depends on Pupil Power—the more power used, the longer it lasts.
The effect resembles Izanagi, but... it does not cause the Mangekyō Sharingan to lose its light and can be used for extended periods!
Meanwhile, the Mangekyō Sharingan Pupil Technique embedded in his left eye was called Takemikazuchichinahiko!
Effect: Upon activation, the user can reverse their own time, restoring all previous conditions!!!
The extent of time reversal depends on the amount of Pupil Power consumed—the more power used, the further back time is rewound.
This was the information instinctively imprinted in Meiser's mind the moment he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan.
As for deeper insights, he would need to uncover them gradually.
Meiser had a hunch that these two Pupil Techniques could be used in tandem.
But... right now, he wasn't in the mood to ponder such things. All he wanted... was to kill this old dog!
"Won't talk?" Akainu snorted. "No matter. Once I capture you, I'll have plenty of ways to make you speak!"
"Hound's Maw Crimson Lotus!!"
Terrifyingly scorching magma erupted from Akainu's hand, morphing into a massive wolf-dog head that viciously clamped down on Meiser's body!
Once again, Meiser made no attempt to dodge, enduring the attack head-on as part of his body was charred to ashes.
But the next moment...
"Armament - Super Strength Fist!!"
"Boom!!"
A crushing force slammed into Akainu, sending him skidding backward.
"This brat... is seriously unnatural..."
What kind of ability does this guy even have?
His attacks had clearly landed on the opponent, burning away part of his body.
Yet... it was still ineffective?
Just what the hell is up with this kid?
Refusing to believe it, Akainu went all out this time, launching a massive magma fist straight at him.
"Great Eruption!"
"BOOM!!"
"Akainu, I am invincible."
Meiser's body, charred by the magma, twisted grotesquely before dissolving into bubbles and vanishing.
The next moment, he reappeared right in front of the magma.
The visual impact was absolutely staggering!
"Truly an absurdly bizarre ability..." Akainu frowned. "Logia type?"
"No... no way... it can't be Logia."
Even if it were a Logia-type ability, there was no way the opponent could instantly appear beside him after taking a hit and counterattack.
This brat's ability seemed more like... something rule-based.
Just what the hell is this?
"Take another guess."
"Whatever the ability, activation always requires stamina," Akainu said coldly. "I refuse to believe your stamina surpasses mine!"
As he spoke, massive amounts of magma surged from Akainu's body, flooding the entire area where the two stood.
In the next instant, the magma rushed toward Meiser, swallowing him whole once more.
But this time, Akainu didn't stop attacking. Instead, he kept the magma churning violently around him, attempting to kill Meiser the moment he reappeared nearby.
His instincts proved correct—Meiser did reappear beside him each time, only to be obliterated again and again.
"It's working!"
Though he couldn't finish off the brat directly... in a battle of attrition, he wasn't afraid.
"A battle of attrition, huh?"
"I might not lose to you!"
The next moment, Meiser activated the Pupil Technique of his left eye—Takemikazuchichinahiko.
As the technique took effect, Meiser felt his condition rapidly recovering.
Stamina, Chakra, and even... Pupil Power!!
At this moment, even the Pupil Power of his right eye was restored!!
This discovery shocked Meiser.
The left eye's Pupil Technique... can restore the right eye's Pupil Power?
Then, could the right eye's Pupil Technique restore the left eye's Pupil Power?
With this thought, Meiser tested it—and... it actually worked!!
Moreover, because the right eye's Pupil Technique was unique—instantly converting unfavorable conditions into illusions—his left eye's Pupil Power was restored in an instant!!
Only now did Meiser truly grasp the terrifying potential of these eyes.
After carefully assessing his condition, Meiser murmured inwardly, "Aside from mental fatigue gradually accumulating, there are no additional side effects... Is this the benefit of a positive mutation in the Sharingan?"
If that's the case, then he no longer needed to worry about Pupil Power consumption.
Perhaps... he too had become a monster capable of fighting nonstop for days on end!
With this realization, Meiser grinned savagely. "Akainu!"
"Let's see who gets worn out first!"
"Fine by me. I'll fight you for days if I have to," Akainu replied coldly.
It would still be several days before Fire Fist Ace's public execution, so... he wasn't in any particular hurry to return.
"Then let's give it a try!"
"Susanoo..."
Just then, a massive figure approached from not far away, step by step drawing closer.
This immediately caught the attention of both men.
"Moria?"
Meiser was taken aback—why was this guy here?
Meanwhile, Akainu's expression darkened at the sight of Moria swaggering toward them. "Moria... you dare show your face before me, pirate?"
"Gehihihihi!"
"If I hadn't come, that little one would surely be dead by now." As he spoke, Moria waved his hand as if summoning something.
The next moment, the mass of magma that had buried Merry shuddered before exploding violently with a—
"BOOM!!"
A small winged black box flew out, darting swiftly toward Moria.
When it reached him, the top of the black box slowly opened, revealing the small figure inside.
Cradling Merry in his left hand, Moria laughed heartily. "Gehihihihi!"
"Surprised, Akainu~"
"This bastard..."
Akainu's face darkened further. How had this guy managed to save the brat right under his nose?
Damn it... if only he'd used Observation Haki from the start, this wouldn't have happened.
That damned Moria...
"Merry!!!"
Seeing Merry rubbing her eyes, Meiser became intensely emotional.
It was the joy of recovering what had been lost, stabilizing his increasingly deranged mental state.
Ignoring Akainu, Meiser rushed toward Moria.
"I... I didn't die?" Merry murmured groggily.
Hadn't she just been hit by magma?
For a moment, everything had gone black—she couldn't see a thing.
Though she hadn't felt any pain, the naive Merry assumed she must have been killed instantly, which was why it didn't hurt.
At the time, she'd been relieved not to suffer... though she'd worried about Meiser, wondering how he was doing.
"Don't worry, you're alive," Moria chuckled. "Someone as adorable as you—I couldn't let you die here." He'd noticed Akainu's presence early on.
To prevent the mad dog from harming the child, he'd stealthily released his Shadow, hiding it within the shade of the tree where Merry stood.
And sure enough, it came in handy.
"Th... thank you."
"You're welcome."
Moria smiled gently before setting Merry down. "Go to Meiser now."
"Mm!"
The little one nodded, tearfully making her way toward Meiser.
"Meiser!!"
"Merry!!"
Scooping her into his arms, Meiser said fervently, "I'm so glad you're okay."
"Waaah!"
"Meiser, I thought I died!"
"It's alright... it's alright..."
Meiser patted Merry's back soothingly, comforting her... and himself in the process.
His increasingly deranged mind began to stabilize after confirming that Merry was still alive.
"Thank you, Moria..." Meiser said. "I owe you one."
"No need for such words."
As he spoke, Moria drew his massive blade and added, "After all, I owe you a debt too."
"That's a separate matter."
"Such a stubborn brat." Moria shook his head. "Regardless, I refuse to let such an adorable little one die at the hands of this old dog!"
With those words, Moria charged forward, slashing directly at the approaching Akainu!
"CLANG!!"
The blade infused with Haki struck Akainu's arm, forcibly halting his advance.
"Don't interfere, Moria!"
"Can't do that." Moria tilted his head slightly, grinning. "I won't let you disturb their reunion."
Little Merry had just faced death—she must be terrified.
Under no circumstances could this Red Dog be allowed near her now!!
"Then I'll kill you first!" Akainu said coldly.
Perfect—this man was already one of his targets anyway. He'd eliminate him first.
After dealing with this nuisance, he'd hunt down the Blood-Eyed Ninja and that girl named Merry.
Just then, a familiar roar echoed from the distance.
"Kuma!!"
"Huh?!"
Hearing that voice, both Meiser and Merry froze momentarily before their faces lit up with joy.
"It's Luffy!!"
"Go." Moria spoke without turning around. "I'll hold this guy off for you."
"I'll remember this kindness!"
"Such a sentimental brat..." Moria smirked. "Now hurry up!"
"Right!"
"Poof—"
With an Earth Release Technique, Meiser vanished underground with Merry.
Witnessing this, Akainu's expression darkened.
"You're dead!"
"Then try me!"
"CLANG!"
"BOOM!!"
"Damn it... damn it!!!"
Luffy, sprawled on the ground, groaned in anguish. "Why couldn't I protect them? Why...?"
Everyone had tried so hard to escape, yet they still couldn't evade this monster's pursuit.
Then Luffy looked up at Kuma and shouted, "You bastard! Why won't you fight me?!"
Kuma offered no response, merely watching Luffy calmly—as if... waiting for something.
The next moment...
"Poof!"
Emerging from the earth, Meiser immediately spotted Luffy beside Kuma and swiftly activated his ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Rock Hand Technique!"
"Thud!"
A massive stone hand suddenly erupted beneath Luffy, seizing him and dragging him underground.
Moments later, the stone hand reappeared beside Meiser, releasing Luffy.
"Meiser!!"
"Zoro and the others... they vanished right in front of me!" Luffy cried in agony.
"Vanished?"
Meiser paused. Not dead?
Could it be...?
At that moment, Kuma, who had been standing in the distance, suddenly appeared before them, gazing at them calmly.
Meiser's expression changed as he exclaimed, "It's you!"
This ability... this guy is the real Kuma!
Without hesitation, Meiser immediately activated the Pupil Technique of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Susanoo!!"
In the next instant, skeletal arms and ribs materialized around Meiser, shielding all three of them inside.
Hiss...
Pain!
That was Meiser's first reaction.
The moment he activated Susanoo, he felt his body begin to ache as if every cell was screaming in agony!
But... it didn't matter. As long as he didn't die, he could use his Pupil Technique to heal his body.
The immediate priority was to eliminate the man before them!
Just then, Kuma spoke calmly, "We won't meet again."
"Farewell."
"Huh?!"
Hearing the faint sorrow in Kuma's voice, Meiser froze.
Why... did this man sound so mournful?
The next instant—
"Thud—"
Kuma's palm struck Meiser's Susanoo, sending all three of them flying.
Bartholomew Kuma... silently watched the direction they had disappeared in for a long time.
"Dragon... this is the last thing I can do for you."
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