"Gomu Gomu no... King Kong Gun!!!"
"Gomu Gomu no... Rhino Schneider!!!"
"Orc... Slash!!!"
"Orc... Heavy Hammer!!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom...
Rumble, rumble, rumble...
The battle between Luffy and Otto raged on. Their violent exchange easily shattered meter-thick stone walls; even the reinforced rooms laced with metal alloys could not withstand the collateral damage of their clash.
It felt as though the entire research institute was convulsing. Massive slabs of debris rained down, while countless stone fragments swept outward, caught in the wild tempests of their shockwaves. Billowing dust spiraled toward the ceiling. In an instant, over half of Building B had been transformed into their private arena, with various laboratories and specialized rooms reduced to a total mess.
In his Gear 4 state, Luffy possessed speed far exceeding Gear 2 and power surpassing Gear 3. Even in his berserk state, Otto was completely outmatched. For the vast majority of the fight, he was forced to simply endure a one-sided barrage of blows.
Fortunately, as a bio-genetically modified human, Otto's physical constitution, defensive capabilities, and regenerative powers were those of a transcendent monster. Even when dealing with wounds that would be fatal to an ordinary man, he could fully recover within a few short breaths.
Watching Otto being sent flying once again, crashing through several walls, Monet broke into a cold sweat. "O-Otto... is actually being suppressed!" she stammered in disbelief.
"My institute! My laboratory!" Caesar wailed, clutching his head in agony as he watched the destruction Luffy and Otto were wreaking upon Building B.
Meanwhile, the others caught in the chaotic melee in the front half of Building B were forced to retreat toward the interior of Building R to avoid the fallout of the main fight.
While Zoro remained behind to keep Cavendish occupied, an injured Sanji, accompanied by Franky and Brook, pressed toward Caesar and Monet. Of course, Franky and Brook didn't dare let Sanji face Monet alone; that would be nothing short of handing over a free kill.
"Hurry up and get over here! Help carry these two!" Tashigi called out to the G5 Marines, directing them to move the still-paralyzed Chopper and Robin.
"Thank you!" Nami said, looking at Tashigi with gratitude.
At that moment, Jason saw the tide turning. Furthermore, the effects of his Great Power Potion were nearing their limit. Ignoring the two women he had been tangling with, he turned tail and bolted.
"I need to get to the secret port in Building R first and have Edmond bring men to protect me. Dammit, how did things end up like this? I'll have to inform the Captain... I just hope he doesn't blame me!" Jason muttered to himself, using the last of his potion's strength to sprint toward Building R.
"Dammit, we can't let Jason escape!" Seeing his retreating back, Tashigi gritted her teeth, gripped her Meito, Shigure, and gave chase alone.
…
Building D.
SAD Manufacturing Room.
"Two years have passed since the Paramount War. What have those people... been doing? You've just been staying quiet!"
"Whitebeard merely put an end to an era. Marine Headquarters has consolidated new forces, and the big names haven't made a move, as if they're preparing for something. That war was merely a prologue!"
"You kept saying it: the New Era of champions is coming, riding an unstoppable wave!"
"The gears... I have broken them!"
"Now, there is no turning back for anyone!"
Trafalgar Law slowly retracted Kikoku, staring grimly at the pink Den Den Mushi perched on a checkered coat.
On the other end of the line was the middleman of the entire Underworld, 'Joker,' one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the 'Heavenly Yaksha' Donquixote Doflamingo.
The room was a testament to an incredibly fierce battle. The entire SAD Manufacturing Room had been reduced to ruins. The massive machinery was almost entirely destroyed, with jagged fissures crisscrossing the floor. The largest crack had nearly split the entire room open. Thick streams of green liquid leaked from the shattered steel vats.
Behind Law, Vergo, whose entire body had been coated in Armament Haki, had been sliced into four pieces. His arms were severed from his torso, and his upper body was separated from his lower half. No blood flowed from the wounds; it was the result of Law's ability.
Huff… huff…
On the other side, Smoker lay on the ground, battered and gasping for breath. Facing the combined efforts of Law and Smoker, the powerful Vergo had once held the upper hand, even severely wounding Smoker.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated Law's cutting power, believing his own Armament Haki could still withstand Law's strikes as it had in the past. But Vergo hadn't realized that Law's growth had far exceeded his imagination. His prideful Haki had failed to stop the blade.
"You broke the gears? No turning back? How laughable." Vergo lay flat on the ground, straining to lift his head slightly to look at Law.
Law turned, gazing at Vergo with an expressionless face.
"Consider your own weight, Law," Vergo said calmly. "Don't forget, your betrayal this time won't just infuriate Doflamingo. There is another man who will be livid."
Law remained silent, merely staring.
"Even if you capture Caesar and Jason, even if you kill me, Otto, and Cavendish... then what?" Vergo asked mockingly. "How do you plan to handle that monster's wrath next?"
"Every man has a weakness," Law replied calmly, shouldering Kikoku. "Strike the weakness, and no one is invincible."
"Do you really think you'll throw everything into chaos? Law, you will regret this!" The veins on Vergo's forehead bulged as he snarled, "Now that you know that man's secret... that organization isn't so easy to join. You will be hunted relentlessly across the New World!"
"Furthermore, you know nothing of Joker's past. That ignorance will be the death of you!"
Law's eyes narrowed. Smoker, who was struggling to pull himself up, froze in his tracks.
Vergo glared at the two of them, his voice savage. "The world isn't so shallow that it can be replaced by a 'New Generation' that's only just made a name for itself. Go tell him, Smoker! The horror of that monster... you Marines should already—"
"ROOM!!!"
Law's brow furrowed. He extended his hand, and beneath his palm, a swirling, hollow white vortex appeared. The hemispherical 'membrane' expanded rapidly, enveloping Vergo.
The next moment, Law unsheathed his blade.
Shing—!
A flash of sword light. An invisible blade instantly cleaved Vergo's head and torso straight down the middle.
…
Punk Hazard.
Surrounding Sea.
Rumble—!
A bolt of lightning struck from a clear sky as three brilliant flashes of electricity streaked across the sea.
"One side ice, one side fire... Yahahaha~ It seems we've arrived. Punk Hazard!"
A figure manifested within the lightning, a face coiling out of the sparks as he looked toward the distant island of ice and fire.