"Hmph!"
Lucci glanced at Spandam with contempt and snorted coldly, but still stood in front of him protectively.
As useless as he was, letting Spandam die here would cause unnecessary trouble.
With Rob Lucci shielding him, Spandam let out a sigh of relief and cautiously poked his head out, watching Caelan's every move.
"Kalifa, you used to work for this guy? That's just embarrassing."
Nami didn't hold back, glaring at Spandam like he was trash.
Kalifa covered her face.
If CP9 had a different leader, she might not have defected so easily. But under Spandam? There was no second thought.
"Kalifa, do you really intend to become our enemy?"
Lucci looked at her seriously. Kaku, Blueno, and the others also turned their attention to her, waiting for her response.
"Surrender. You don't stand a chance against Caelan."
Kalifa stood beside Caelan, letting out a quiet sigh.
It was a final warning out of professional courtesy and long-standing teamwork.
But returning to CP9? Impossible.
Caelan was far more reliable than the rotten leadership of the World Government. Besides, she could no longer leave this ship.
"Lucci, don't listen to her nonsense! Betraying the World Government never ends well!"
Spandam suddenly panicked, speaking in a flurry.
If Lucci and the others turned traitor, how would a weakling with only 9 Doriki like him survive?
"Relax. I'm not changing sides."
Lucci glanced at the terrified Spandam, but even he felt a twinge of doubt.
Being around this spineless worm was killing his motivation.
"That's right, Lucci! There's no need to fear Caelan. He must have been seriously injured in his fight with Admiral Aokiji!"
Spandam's voice rose with excitement as he stepped slightly out from behind Lucci, trying to act brave.
Even now, he stubbornly believed Caelan was badly injured.
As for Caelan's healthy complexion and calm presence?
Obviously faking it!
There was no way someone could injure an admiral without taking damage themselves.
Someone that strong shouldn't exist in this world!
"Believe whatever you want."
"But right now, you'd better start thinking about how you want to die."
Caelan spoke with an uninterested tone and a curled lip, not even bothering to explain himself to the idiot.
"Lucci, Kaku, Blueno—he's definitely injured! Go! Kill him!"
Spandam shouted in panic, pushing the order.
"Shut up."
Lucci scowled and threw Spandam aside onto the deck like trash.
He was getting sick of this guy.
"You..."
Spandam opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but seeing Lucci's glare, he shut it.
But deep down, he silently added Lucci and the others to his mental blacklist. Once this was over, they'd pay.
"Caelan. Whether you're injured or not, I'm taking you down today!"
"A man recognized as being on par with the Four Emperors… killing you would be an honor!"
Lucci raised his fist toward Caelan, his fighting spirit erupting.
He was the strongest genius CP9 had produced in 800 years.
He wouldn't be intimidated by someone who had only recently become famous!
"Wow, Lucci is fired up."
Kaku and Blueno twitched their mouths, feeling like they were watching someone walk toward their own funeral.
They couldn't understand where Lucci got the courage to say something like that to Caelan.
This was a man who had defeated an admiral and now stood among the top powers in the world.
Truthfully, they were ready to surrender.
"That's it, Lucci! Go knock him down!"
Spandam's eyes lit up with hope, cheering from the sidelines.
Lucci's Doriki surpassed 4,000. He was the strongest among them, and Spandam was clinging to him like a life raft.
"Come on then, CP9's strongest genius. Let me see how much you weigh."
Caelan casually beckoned Lucci with one hand, looking almost bored.
To him, someone like Lucci wasn't even worth thinking about anymore.
"Damn it! Don't look down on me!"
Caelan's calm arrogance pushed Lucci over the edge. He felt completely humiliated.
"Roar!"
Lucci transformed into his leopard-human hybrid form, muscles bulging and coiled like a predator ready to strike.
In this state, his Doriki soared. A single punch from him could generate shockwaves akin to sword slashes.
"Come on."
Caelan rolled his neck and lightly stretched, completely unfazed.
Kaku and Blueno watched tensely from the side. This was the first time they had seen Lucci so serious. On the other hand, Caelan exuded overwhelming presence.
Injury or not, this was going to be an intense battle.
"Shave!"
Lucci vanished with a burst of Soru, his already frightening speed multiplied several times. Like a missile, he dashed toward Caelan in a straight line, Rokushiki skills and bestial aura erupting in full force.
"Finger Pistol!"
As he closed the gap, Lucci bent his index finger and launched a flurry of Shigan strikes, each aimed with deadly precision at Caelan's head and chest.
The speed and volume of attacks were blinding—an instant flurry impossible to follow.
Caelan chuckled softly, amused by the flurry like a boxer watching a rookie.
He tilted his head, leaned back, shifted his stance—dodging everything with fluid, effortless grace before Lucci even made contact.
Caelan's playful attitude only enraged Lucci further.
Lucci roared, both fists crashing toward Caelan like cannonballs, backed by the explosive force of Rokuogan.
It was a move capable of pulverizing monsters.
But it did nothing.
The barrage of strikes all missed. Caelan easily weaved and slipped past them, casually shaking his head as he did.
At one point, Lucci even saw Caelan yawn.
The mockery was unbearable.
Huff, huff…
Lucci panted heavily, glaring at Caelan in disbelief.
In front of him, he felt completely exposed.
The advanced Rokushiki techniques he had trained for years were useless. Caelan saw through them all like child's play.
But Lucci's pride wouldn't allow him to admit defeat.
"As expected of a Four Emperors–level fighter. I acknowledge you!"
"But is this all you can do? Just dodging?"
Lucci forced a grim smile, trying to provoke Caelan.
As CP9's greatest genius in 800 years, he would never yield so easily.
At the very least, he wanted to see Caelan's real power.
(To be continued.)
***
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