[Survive, Amphy…]
[Amphy, promise Mom that even after I'm gone, you'll survive…]
Amphitrite—this was the name of the Lunarian woman, or more precisely, girl.
At this moment, she recalled her parents' final words.
Although the Lunarians possess racial talents that could be described as terrifying, possessing abilities at birth that many people could not achieve in their entire lives.
In this era, they did not live well.
The Lunarians were once legends of the Red Line, residents of the Kingdom of Gods. Now, they were targets hunted by the World Government, a pursuit that had lasted for hundreds of years.
Unlike races such as the Davy Clan or the Buccaneers, whose appearances were not markedly different and thus relatively easy to hide, Lunarians' physical traits were far too conspicuous, and they were now on the brink of extinction.
From the moment they were born, Lunarians had to learn how to run, how to fight.
That was why she had been fleeing all this time. Killing a few CP9 agents meant nothing. To the World Government, they were merely expendable pieces that could be replaced at any time. Wasting time would only draw more pursuers.
Thus, Amphitrite's goal had always been to escape, to survive. This was the only demand her parents had ever made of her.
It was only when Amphitrite realized that this time there truly was no way out that she began to fight with everything she had.
When attacked by a group, focusing all efforts on killing one person. This was a combat method she had learned.
For Lunarians, fighting many against one was the norm.
After killing Barlow, the flames behind Amphitrite ignited once more. Although she had just chosen to trade injury for a kill, that didn't mean she enjoyed taking hits.
When preparing for battle, this defensive mode was still far more effective.
Using almost the same tactic, Amphitrite took down two more CP9 agents. Of those present, only two agents remained alive.
"I'm saying, are we still trying to capture her alive? If we don't go for the kill, I think we'll be the ones left here instead…"
"And why do you think I haven't been going for the kill? This damned Lunarian talent, if she didn't extinguish her flames on her own to increase her speed for a lethal strike, we probably wouldn't even be able to injure her…"
"It's all the trouble left behind by that idiot Barlow!"
Long-range attacks continued to arrive from the sky to support them, but even so, they had already paid a bitter price due to the prearranged plan.
For CP9, however, there was good news. Their reinforcements had finally arrived. Even the ship carrying the CP9 chief himself had appeared on the sea not far away.
Her stamina was dwindling, and the number of enemies was steadily increasing. The situation for Amphitrite was growing worse by the moment.
And then, suddenly, her vision went black. She nearly fell from the sky. Though she managed to steady herself, she was still overcome with dizziness.
"What's going on…?"
"Has it finally taken effect? This is an anesthetic that even dinosaurs can't withstand. For you to hold it off this long under such intense combat. Your race's drug resistance is truly terrifying."
Seeing her movements falter, the CP9 chief finally used Geppo to rise into the air and spoke smugly.
"Judging by your wounds, you must have been hit by my shuriken. That was a drug developed by the esteemed Saint Saturn himself. You should feel honored."
Most CP9 chiefs had the authority to meet the Five Elders, and not just once, but on fairly regular terms.
The Saint Saturn he mentioned was Jaygarcia Saturn, Saturn of the Five Elders, known within the World Government as the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
His actual level of scientific expertise was unknown, but he frequently conducted research into viruses and drugs. The drugs given to CP9 were merely for field tests.
Objects thrown using the Mark-Mark Fruit are only theoretically guaranteed to hit, they aren't causally inevitable. As long as something intercepts them, the fruit's ability can be stopped.
Most of the weapons he had thrown earlier were blocked by the Lunarians' racial talent. It was only in that brief state just now that he had managed to break through Amphitrite's defenses and let the drug enter her body.
"The last person who explained the ability to me like that… I already killed him."
Amphitrite raised her blade and pointed it at the CP9 chief before her. Had she known he was this kind of Devil Fruit user, she would have gone all out to kill him before attempting to break out of the encirclement earlier.
It was too late to say such things now, but that didn't stop her from planning to drag him down with her.
"Barlow, that big-mouth? Sure, he ruined my perfect plan, but he was still my subordinate. I can't just do nothing.
Once I capture you, you'll understand what it means for death itself to be mercy."
[Blazing Phoenix • Falling Star!]
Flames gathered at the tip of her blade, stacking higher and higher as their power continued to rise. As Amphitrite spread her wings and swung downward, the trailing flames were just like a meteor falling from the horizon.
But before her slash could land, a sudden wave of discomfort surged through her body, as if something inside had grabbed her arm, preventing her from swinging the blade.
"Don't be so impatient. I haven't finished speaking yet. After the drug developed by Saint Saturn takes full effect, it only paralyzes the body—consciousness remains intact. You'll still be fully aware of everything happening around you."
"The higher-ups only want a living Lunarian. Everything else is irrelevant."
As he spoke, the CP9 chief did not advance, instead pulling back to put some distance between them.
"The drug has taken effect! All of you, attack together. Take her down!"
He worked so desperately to climb the ranks, rising from a frontline agent to a CP9 chief, not to keep fighting on the front lines. This kind of risky work was best left to his subordinates.
Yet the subordinates who had always obeyed him without question did not move. Instead, they stared at their chief with looks of sheer terror.
"What's wrong with you? That drug doesn't spread through the air. Why do you all look like you've been poisoned too?"
"Cap… y-you… you… b-behind… behind you…"
As if his tongue were tied in knots, the agent who had been swaggering just moments ago could barely form words now, as if he had witnessed some unspeakable terror.
After a long moment, he finally raised a trembling hand and pointed behind the CP9 chief.
"..."
The CP9 chief had already realized that there had to be something behind him.
Without another word, he used Soru and Geppo simultaneously, flashing more than a hundred meters away in an instant, then looked back at the spot where he had just been standing.
There was nothing there.
Though the space was clearly empty, his subordinates' expressions did not change. He shifted positions several more times, even turning to look behind himself during the process, yet still discovered nothing at all.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Yes, what is going on? What exactly are you looking for? A man who was just flaunting his power over a young girl. What is he so afraid of?"
A strange voice sounded beside his ear, razor-sharp fingernails resting against his throat like blades.
Though phrased as a question, it held not curiosity, but more of a death threat.
Only then did the CP9 chief finally see who was behind him.
The most dangerous wanted criminal in the eyes of Cipher Pol and the Marines alike.
Nereus the Vampire.
Bounty: 3,983,900,000 Berries.
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