Chapter 15: Perfect Cooperative Combat
"One."
Watching Mohji strike a pretentious pose with one finger extended, the veins on Tatsuya's forehead couldn't help but throb.
He even felt it was a bit ridiculous, his lips curling into a mocking arc: "Damn, these days people think they can act so tough just by riding a lion?"
Before his voice even faded, the Chakra beneath Tatsuya's feet surged violently.
Then, like an arrow released from a bow, his entire being transformed into a black shadow, racing toward the man and his lion.
"Hey! Don't think you're the only one who gets to show off, Vice Captain."
Seeing this, Zoro also raised his Wado Ichimonji, a bellicose cold light flickering in his eyes as he followed closely behind.
"You're looking for death! Richie, eat them!" Mohji roared.
"Roar—!!"
Richie let out a roar and raised a massive lion paw, carrying a terrifying monstrous strength capable of crushing rock, and slammed it down toward the nearest target, Tatsuya.
Facing this blow that felt like a mountain pressing down, Tatsuya didn't slow down; instead, he let out a cold laugh.
Those pitch-black eyes instantly turned red, the single tomoe slowly spinning within his pupils.
The world slowed down.
Under the insight of the Sharingan, every muscle tremor of Richie's swift strike was clearly visible.
"Too slow."
Tatsuya shifted his body slightly to the side, easily dodging the first swipe.
Then, timing it perfectly, he actually kicked off the back of Richie's paw before the lion could retract it.
He soared lightly into the air like an agile black cat, landing steadily atop the giant lion's head!
"W-What?!"
Looking at those crimson eyes that had suddenly appeared before him, Mohji was scared out of his wits, his previous arrogance vanishing completely.
"Richie! Get him off me, quick!" Mohji screamed in terror.
Richie understood the command.
It roared and raised its other paw, about to slam it down on its own forehead in an attempt to squash this 'flea' to death.
But Tatsuya was clearly faster.
The moment Mohji gave the order.
With Chakra adhering to his feet, Tatsuya took a step and instantly closed in on Mohji's side.
"Get the hell down!"
Mohji frantically waved the long whip in his hand, trying to counterattack.
Tatsuya didn't even look; he accurately caught the tip of the whip mid-air with one hand, gave his wrist a sharp twist, and then pulled forcefully toward his chest!
A massive force transferred over, and Mohji couldn't keep his seat, stumbling as he was dragged toward Tatsuya.
What greeted him was a front kick that Tatsuya had been charging for a while!
"Bang!"
The kick landed solidly on Mohji's abdomen.
"Pfft—Argh—!!"
Mohji's eyes bulged, and stomach acid mixed with his breakfast instantly sprayed out.
He was kicked off the lion's back like a tattered sack, slamming heavily onto the hard street and rolling several times before stopping.
Tatsuya stood atop the lion's head, looking down as he extended a single finger: "One."
Just then, Richie's somewhat clumsy paw came whistling toward its own forehead with the sound of rushing wind.
Tatsuya only spared it a glance from the corner of his eye.
Then, he pulled out a slip of paper drawn with runes and slapped it onto the thick fur of Richie's nape with a 'pa' sound.
Following that, he leaped backward with agile grace, flipped in the air, and landed steadily.
"Slap!"
Without surprise, Richie's powerful large paw slammed hard onto its own forehead.
"Awoo..."
This slap left the lion seeing stars.
Richie shook its massive head, its steps faltering; its originally fierce posture instantly crumbled by half.
"Not bad, Vice Captain!"
Seeing this from ahead, Zoro's lips curled into a smile.
Taking advantage of the moment Richie's guard was wide open due to dizziness and pain, Zoro held a sword in each hand and the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, cutting into the battlefield like a phantom.
"Three Sword Style—"
Zoro crossed his arms, the sword light flickering like ghost fire.
—Oni Giri!!"
"Slash!"
Three sharp slashes instantly tore through the air, striking heavily at the joints of Richie's thick hind legs.
The lion's legs were severed! Blood splattered everywhere!
"Roar—!!"
Richie let out a shrill wail of agony.
With its supporting legs cut, its massive body instantly lost balance, crashing sideways to the ground with a rumble, twitching in pain.
Zoro neatly sheathed his swords and glanced at the large cat rolling on the ground.
Although he often complained that Tatsuya was a bastard, he had to admit that fighting alongside this guy was excessively comfortable.
Tatsuya could always use those flashy methods to precisely create openings in the enemy.
It left him only responsible for seizing the opportunity to deliver the final killing blow.
"It's not over yet."
Tatsuya looked at the wailing lion, his eyes devoid of any pity.
He had never been soft-hearted toward beasts that aided villains.
He formed a hand seal and gave a low shout:
"Explode."
"Boom—!!"
The Explosive Tag he had just stuck to the lion's nape instantly detonated!
Flames erupted, and Richie's back was instantly blown into a bloody mess.
The massive force of the impact made it unable to even let out a final wail; its eyes rolled back, and it completely passed out.
"R-Richie!!"
Lying on the ground clutching his stomach, Mohji burst into tears seeing his beloved lion beaten so miserably.
"You... you demons! I shouldn't have come to provoke you..."
Tatsuya walked toward him expressionlessly, the Kunai in his hand spinning once, glinting with a cold light.
"No... no! Please..."
Looking at the red-eyed youth, Mohji was so terrified he tried desperately to shrink back, "Don't kill me..."
"You're not afraid," Tatsuya's voice was cold as ice, "you just know you're about to die."
Before Tatsuya could make a move.
"Woof!!"
Chouchou, who had been guarding the store entrance, suddenly rushed over. A massive fury erupted from his small body as he bit down hard on Mohji's arm.
"Ah!! It hurts! You stupid dog! Let go of me!"
Mohji screamed, swinging his arm forcefully and throwing the few-pound Chouchou away.
"Hmph."
Tatsuya was quick, catching Chouchou in mid-air.
Then, following the momentum, he spun around and delivered a vicious roundhouse kick directly to Mohji's chin.
"Bang!"
Mohji flew out like a soccer ball, landing right next to the unconscious Richie, completely motionless.
"It's over."
[Ding! Defeated Mohji and Richie alongside Zoro.]
[Combat Evaluation: S (Perfect Cooperative Combat).]
[Obtained Ninja Points: 250.]
Tatsuya patted Chouchou's head, just about to say something pretentious.
Suddenly—
Zoro, who had been watching the show with his arms crossed, had his pupils contract violently, and every hair on his body stood on end in an instant!
Looking at the red point of light rapidly approaching from the distance, he roared at the top of his lungs:
"Tatsuya!! Get out of there!!!"
Tatsuya heard Zoro's cry and instinctively felt the threat of death.
It was a pressure a hundred times more terrifying than facing a wild beast.
He didn't have time to look back; all the Chakra beneath his feet instantly exploded to its limit.
"Go!"
Tatsuya held Chouchou and simultaneously grabbed Zoro's arm.
He leaped backward and to the side with all his might, pulling the man with him into a side alley.
The moment they fell.
"BOOMMMMMMMMM————!!!"
It was as if a meteorite had fallen.
The entire street was instantly swallowed by a terrifying red light!
A massive shockwave, mixed with rubble and a heatwave, swept everything away!
Mohji and the giant lion Richie didn't even have time to scream before they were instantly submerged in the flames of the explosion.
The originally smooth street turned into a massive crater in the blink of an eye.
Ash filled the sky, falling like black snow.
A long time passed.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Tatsuya pushed away the rubble pressing on him and managed to stand up.
His clothes were scorched in several places, making him look somewhat bedraggled.
Zoro was also clearly injured; he stood up with the help of Tatsuya's extended hand. "Damn it, it's that Buggy."
"Tatsuya! Zoro!"
At this time, Luffy, who had just been freed, arrived on the scene with Nami and Mayor Boodle.
Looking at the hellish scene before them, everyone was stunned.
"Tatsuya! Are you okay!" Luffy shouted anxiously.
Tatsuya waved his hand and wiped the dust from the corner of his mouth: "Cough... I'm fine, I almost turned into roasted meat."
At that moment, Chouchou in his arms suddenly struggled violently, leaping from his hands and charging toward the center of the explosion regardless of everything.
"Chouchou!" Nami exclaimed.
At the edge of the explosion, although the pet food shop's glass had been shattered by the shockwave and cracks had appeared in the walls,
it miraculously remained standing, its main structure intact.
Chouchou lay at the shop entrance, letting out an angry roar toward the distance.
"Woof! Woof woof!!"
Everyone followed Chouchou's gaze.
On the high ground several hundred meters away.
Buggy stood next to a cannon that was still emitting blue smoke, squinting as he watched the scene.
"Tch, did I miss?"
Buggy's face was terrifyingly grim as he roared at his subordinates through gritted teeth:
"Damn pests! Their luck is really good! Give me another one—a Special Buggy Ball!!"
"This time, I'm going to flashily blow the entire town away!!"