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A strange cry pierced the air, momentarily stunning the busy guards.
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Hearing the commotion, several Celestial Dragons emerged from their residences. Upon seeing Noir''s face, their expressions morphed into masks of terror.
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That detestable man... the enemy of God... the God Slayer!
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None of the Celestial Dragons would ever forget that night of raging black flames, the night that Noir, alone, had carved a path of destruction through the slave prison.
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More importantly, he had kidnapped over thirty nobles and, in full view of everyone, executed one of them.
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The horrifying inferno was seared into their memories. Some Celestial Dragons collapsed in terror, scrambling to escape.
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Noir, Devil Blade in hand, said to Blueno, "Prepare the escape route. I''m going to give them a little parting gift."
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Blueno, with a grimace, began creating an Air Door, resigned to his role as the getaway driver.
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Due to the vast distance, the portal opened slowly, giving Noir ample time to wreak havoc.
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He leaped from the tower, charging towards the densest concentration of people like a wild stallion unleashed.
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Last time, he''d been hampered by the need to protect his crew. Today, he was unburdened.
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The massive shadow beneath him stretched and expanded, ensnaring a large group of guards.
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The shadows twisted, and a sickening crack echoed as the necks of those caught within its grasp snapped.
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This was the power of his Paramecia Devil Fruit, the "rule" of shadows. The shadows mimicked his movements. But the reverse was also true; manipulating the shadows could control the movements of those connected to them.
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Even the buildings caught in the shadows began to crumble and collapse. Several Celestial Dragons huddled in corners, trembling with fear.
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Noir, clutching a wrapped bundle, grinned ominously as more guards swarmed towards him.
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A red wave of Conqueror''s Haki erupted from him, washing over the battlefield. Countless guards collapsed, unconscious.
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"Hum hum hum…"
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Noir hummed a cheerful tune as he strode through the fallen bodies. He then raised his sword with a playful smile, cleaving through the door of a nearby building.
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Inside, several goggle-eyed Celestial Dragons stared at him in abject terror.
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This ruthless man didn''t care if you were a Celestial Dragon or not. He was a Devil, a Devil who dared to defy the Gods!
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Noir tossed the bundle at the Celestial Dragons. "Here''s a little something for the Marines. Be sure to deliver it."
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He turned to leave, and the Celestial Dragons breathed a sigh of relief.
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But then, Noir suddenly reappeared, flashing back with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I couldn''t resist."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
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A flash of crimson light. A chilling sensation in their chests.
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The obese bodies of the Celestial Dragons slumped to the floor, each with a gaping hole where their heart used to be, their eyes wide with the finality of death.
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Noir flicked the blood from his blade, a look of mock regret on his face. "Consider it a parting gift. A hundred billion Berries for each of Y..."
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He finally left the building. From the arms of one of the corpses, the unwrapped bundle tumbled to the floor.
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It was the severed head of a Celestial Dragon, the skin flayed and dyed crimson. Carved into the forehead was a message:
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35 days remaining.
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A brief eruption of chaos, then silence returned to the Holy Land. The scattered bodies and the ravaged landscape bore witness to the swift and brutal attack.
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Soon, the blue and white Marine flags appeared on the horizon. A large contingent of Marine officers raced towards Mary Geoise.
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If Noir had seen them, he would have congratulated himself on his timely escape.
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Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, and Admiral Akainu, recently returned from a mission.
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This formidable lineup of seasoned veterans, a force to be reckoned with, would have been more than a match for Noir, even a Yonko might struggle against them.
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Sengoku surveyed the ruined Holy Land, his heart filled with a mixture of grief and rage that he couldn''t express.
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Barely a day after the previous attack, that damned Noir had returned!
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Why would he come back? Did he think they wouldn''t reinforce their defenses?
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How dare he?!
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Such reckless, gambler-like behavior! That devil!
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I will kill you!
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Akainu retrieved a severed head from the rubble, his expression impassive.
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Garp, seeing it, read the inscription aloud. "35 days remaining."
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Tsuru glanced at the corpses on the ground and sighed. "These must be Celestial Dragons as well."
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Sengoku adjusted his spectacles, but the murderous intent in his eyes was unmistakable. Waves of Haki pulsed from his body.
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"Noir! Damn him!"
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Seeing Sengoku''s fury, Tsuru spoke calmly. "One of his subordinates has the Door-Door Fruit. It makes him incredibly difficult to defend against. We can''t remain passive any longer."
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Sengoku looked at her, his voice strained with suppressed rage. "What do you suggest?"
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Tsuru''s eyes gleamed with intelligence. "Moria is most likely dead, killed by Noir. We''ve already deduced that."
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"And Noir is currently… most likely at Moria''s territory."
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Sengoku paused, then said, "You''re saying he didn''t go to the New World, but instead returned to Thriller Bark?"
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Tsuru nodded. "Judging by his actions, Devil Noir prefers to do the unexpected. Therefore…"
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Sengoku considered her words, the possibility solidifying in his mind.
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He''d practically turned the New World upside down searching for Noir, leaving only the Yonko''s territories unchecked. Tsuru''s deduction made perfect sense.
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Sengoku barked out orders. "Garp! Sakazuki!"
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Garp yawned. Akainu snapped to attention, his face grim. "We''ll complete the mission, Fleet Admiral."
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At this point, Sengoku didn''t care about slaves, morals, or anything else.
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Noir was a grave threat to the Marines. If they didn''t eliminate him now, he would become an insurmountable problem in the future.
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Garp understood this as well and didn''t object.
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How much effort he would actually put in, however, was known only to him.
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Akainu, the ever-diligent Admiral, and Garp, the veteran Vice Admiral, set off for the first half of the Grand Line with three warships.
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Meanwhile, Noir, back in his "home" after his successful raid, stretched contentedly.
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This provocation should force Sengoku''s hand. A fierce battle was likely on the horizon.
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The coming days would be the most challenging Noir had faced at sea.
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But if he could endure, if even one of the Celestial Dragons in his possession survived, he could negotiate with the Government from a position of strength, taunting the Marines with impunity.
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The World Government wouldn''t abandon the Celestial Dragons. Noir had planted a seed of fear in the hearts of those who believed themselves untouchable.
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You are not Gods. You are merely lucky to have escaped Noir''s wrath...
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If the Marines disregarded the safety of the Celestial Dragons and attacked Noir directly, they risked incurring the suspicion and opposition of all the World Nobles.
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Time was running out for the Marines...