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Issho's sudden intervention devastated the Marine forces led by Akainu.
Garp, deeply caring for his men, couldn't bear the sight of their suffering. He charged toward Noir, iron fists clenched, determined to end the battle swiftly.
A gust of wind rushed towards Noir's face, but with his upgraded Observation Haki, Observation Haki, he effortlessly reacted, sidestepping just as Garp's fist slammed into empty space.
'This kid's Observation Haki has gotten even sharper…' Garp thought, furrowing his brow. He prepared to launch another attack, his massive fist cocked back, when Tsuru arrived to provide support.
Faced with two seasoned veterans, Noir remained calm, feigning a sigh. "Why must we resort to violence?" he asked dramatically.
As the two Admirals closed in, Noir casually snapped his fingers.
"Wh-what?! No!"
Garp froze mid-stride, while Tsuru quickly retracted her attack, both turning towards the source of the scream.
A Marine officer, adorned with a Captain's insignia, clutched his head in agony, his face contorted in terror. Exposed to the sunlight, his skin began to sizzle and smoke.
A plume of acrid smoke rose as the Marine's flesh, blood, and even bone were incinerated, leaving behind only a pile of ash.
Garp glared at Noir, his voice a furious roar. "What did you do?!"
Noir simply smiled, offering no explanation. He snapped his fingers again.
As if echoing the sound, another Marine screamed in agony, suffering the same gruesome fate as the first.
Tsuru's eyes widened in realization as she glanced at the Marines' shadows. "The Shadow-Shadow Fruit!" she exclaimed, her voice grim. "Noir marked the hostages beforehand!"
Noir's smile widened. "Indeed. A precaution against your predictable tactics. Just as planned."
Garp's face serious. He turned to Tsuru, his voice low. "What do we do now?"
Tsuru's eyes flickered with thought. There was only one solution: eliminate Devil Noir, the World Greatest Menace.
But Noir possessed not only the Shadow-Shadow Fruit but also the Glint-Glint Fruit and the ability to vanish into mist.
Kizaru, along with Garp and Tsuru, could at best stall Noir and his crew, preventing them from escaping into the mist, but they couldn't stop him from snapping his fingers.
Seeing the two Marine pillars hesitate, Noir continued snapping his fingers, each snap punctuated by another Marine's agonizing death.
The crisp, faint sounds cut through the din of battle, each one a chilling reminder of the power Noir held over their comrades' lives.
Noir didn't pressure them for a decision, silently claiming the lives of one Marine after another.
The Celestial Dragons, who had been so arrogant before, now trembled, hiding behind the Marines, fearing they would be next.
But their fear was misplaced. Noir was targeting Marine officers to weaken their forces. The Celestial Dragons were…expendable. They posed no threat to him.
As more Marines perished, Tsuru's eyes filled with tears. After a moment of agonizing hesitation, she lowered her hands.
"Stop, Noir," she said, her voice heavy with weariness. "You can leave…"
Garp, his hand resting supportively on Tsuru's shoulder, glared at Noir, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Noir stopped snapping his fingers. He looked at Tsuru. "Let us leave safely, and the Marines' shadows will return to them unharmed."
He knew when to stop. He had achieved his objective.
Further provocation would only corner Garp and Tsuru, forcing them into a desperate, potentially fatal counterattack.
Tsuru raised her hand, her face etched with sorrow, and addressed the remaining Marines. "Let them go."
Akainu, locked in a fierce battle with the equally powerful Issho, roared in protest. "Why?! We can capture them all!"
Tsuru offered a bitter smile. Capture them all? At what cost?
Sacrificing Zephyr, countless elite Marines, and even Celestial Dragons for a chance to capture Noir, a chance that wasn't even guaranteed…
The Marines had lost this battle from the start.
Noir smirked. He hadn't come so brazenly without a plan.
Besides holding the Marines hostage with their shadows, he had…
A ripple appeared in the air, and a shimmering, transparent doorway opened, revealing a figure stepping through.
Blueno, having opened the Air Door, bowed slightly to Noir. "Captain, as scheduled, I've come."
Noir nodded. "Where's the Maxim?"
Blueno grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "Transported. Don't worry."
Bringing the Ark Maxim to a sheltered island had been a ploy to lower Tsuru's guard. There was no need to use it for their escape.
Noir had arranged for Blueno's timely arrival, ensuring a swift getaway.
The sight of the Door-Door Fruit user deepened the bitterness in Tsuru's heart.
The Underworld Pirates weren't just strong; they were masters of escape!
Air Doors, lightning, light speed, a Pteranodon, and mysterious black mist – their diverse and unpredictable escape methods were a nightmare for the modern Marines.
Under the watchful eyes of the Marines, Enel and the others began loading treasure chests onto the ship, a mountain of beli vanishing into the portal.
Noir, practically drooling with greed, oversaw the transport of his spoils.
As for the ransom for the Marines whose shadows he'd stolen… well…he wasn't about to pay them a single beli!
Transporting the vast fortune took considerable time. Once finished, Noir turned to the Marine officers, a wide smile on his face. "Well then, farewell!"
Akainu, his eyes bloodshot with fury, roared at the departing pirates. "Stop!"
Who would listen to him?
Noir spun around, slashing with Devil Blade. A massive wave of black energy hurtled toward Akainu.
Akainu reacted swiftly, transforming into magma to evade the attack, but the force of the slash still sent him staggering backward.
The Underworld Pirates quickly stepped through the Air Door. Noir, standing within the portal, waved mockingly at Akainu. "Don't bother seeing us out. Bye-bye!"
Enraged, Akainu unleashed a magma hound, but the Air Door slammed shut, missing even a shred of Noir's clothing.
Kizaru, who had been observing the chaos from a safe distance, sighed inwardly as he watched the enraged Akainu and the dissipating shockwave. 'Of all the people to fight, you chose the one with the sharpest tongue…'
The mission was a failure, and a heavy gloom settled over the Marines. They felt a deep sense of frustration and helplessness.
Only Kizaru felt no surprise.
As the Admiral who had clashed with Noir the most, he understood the pirate captain's cunning better than anyone.
If Noir could be caught by a plan like this, Kizaru wouldn't have to work so much overtime!
...
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