Chapter 197: Crimson Lotus's Steam! The Gentle Tyrant and the Tacit Escape
Although the dawn brought light, it could not dispel the shadow of death currently looming over everyone's hearts.
Sanji's eyes, hidden by his blond hair, stared intently at Kuma as he said coldly:
"If you want to touch our Captain, you'll have to step over our corpses first."
Facing the life-or-death determination of the two main forces.
Tatsuya, who had been standing at the back, showed an unusual composure.
Looking at his companions who were on high alert, Tatsuya silently closed his eyes and cut off the supply of Chakra.
He deactivated his heavily taxing Mangekyo Sharingan, returning his eyes to their normal black state.
In this desperate situation.
Tatsuya knew the true identity of the man on the wall better than anyone present.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Tyrant Kuma.
But this was only a facade he used to deceive others.
His true identity was a high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Army, and more importantly, the life-and-death friend of Luffy's father—Monkey D. Dragon.
He was a truly tragic character.
"Kuma is only appearing here on the orders of the World Government to eliminate the witnesses of Moria's defeat," Tatsuya calculated inwardly, his eyes deep.
Tatsuya calculated in his heart, his eyes deep:
"He has no intention of killing us at all."
"But he needs a reason to report back to the World Government."
"In that case... let me provide a logical way out for you, senior of the Revolutionary Army."
Having made up his mind, Tatsuya stepped forward with long strides.
He went directly past Zoro and Sanji, using his own body to shield these two scarred companions behind him.
Without looking back, he lowered his voice and spoke quickly at a volume only the three of them could hear:
"Zoro, Sanji, get ready."
Hearing this cryptic instruction, Zoro and Sanji were clearly stunned.
They had no idea what world-shaking plan this usually unfathomable Vice Captain had in mind when facing a Shichibukai at full strength.
But along the way, the absolute trust forged between life and death surpassed all words.
Neither of them questioned him.
They immediately forced the last bit of strength in their bodies, tensing their muscles to the breaking point, and responded in low voices:
"Understood."
Tatsuya took a deep breath, the cool morning air filling his lungs.
The next second, he raised his hands, and his fingers instantly turned into a dazzling blur of shadows.
Amidst a complex series of hand signs.
Two completely different types of Chakra simultaneously condensed within Tatsuya's body.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Accompanied by a low shout, a violent tremor shook the ground.
In the foul-smelling moat surrounding the castle, a large amount of seawater was forcibly drawn by an invisible, massive power.
"Roar—!"
The water soared into the sky, converging and twisting in mid-air into a massive, clawed, roaring water dragon.
With the force of ten thousand tons, it slammed toward the sky above the two of them.
Immediately after, Tatsuya's hand signs switched instantly.
His chest puffed out high, he tilted his head back, and spat out a terrifying flame as surging as a tsunami toward the water dragon in the sky without reservation.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A supreme steam explosion descended at this moment.
The extreme high-temperature flames and the giant water dragon collided head-on in mid-air without any buffer.
"Sssssss————!!!"
The deafening sound of the explosive reaction instantly echoed through the clouds.
Under the terrifying high-temperature scorching of the Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation.
The massive water dragon formed from tons of seawater was completely evaporated the moment it made contact.
The collision of water and fire erupted into an unimaginable high-temperature white steam.
This steam was like a reverse avalanche, spreading frantically in all directions with thunderous momentum.
In the blink of an eye, the thick white mist covering the sky completely swallowed the ruins for several kilometers around.
The entire world fell into a vast expanse where one couldn't see their hand in front of their face, and even Kuma's figure on the wall was completely obscured.
Seeing this familiar white mist, the eyes of Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp instantly lit up.
Images deep in their memories were awakened.
"This is... the move Tatsuya used when we escaped the Marine fleet in Loguetown!!"
In the center of the white mist, Tatsuya turned around.
With a confident smile on his face, as if everything was under control, he shouted loudly to his companions with a grin:
"Now's the time! Run!!!"
"Oh!!!"
No extra explanation was needed; the Straw Hat Pirates' chemistry reached its peak at this moment.
No one hesitated.
No one questioned why they weren't staying to fight.
Franky's arms shook violently, and relying on his massive cyborg physique, he unhesitatingly charged to the front, clearing a path through the mist like a bulldozer.
Tatsuya's movements were skilled as he scooped up the exhausted Nami in his arms and ran as fast as the wind.
Robin light laughed, her long legs moving as she immediately followed.
Zoro hoisted the weakened Luffy onto his broad shoulders and sprinted with gritted teeth.
Usopp burst out with an incredible desire to survive, clutching Chopper under his left arm and Lassoo under his right, rushing out like a gust of wind.
Sanji and the Crow Clay circling in the sky consciously stayed at the very back of the group to cover the rear.
Using the high-temperature thick mist that made it impossible to see as cover, everyone squeezed the last bit of potential from their bodies.
They burst out with extreme speed.
Racing toward the Thousand Sunny anchored in the waters at the edge of the island.
...
And in the very center of the mist.
On the ruins of the wall, Kuma still stood quietly in place.
He didn't take a single step to pursue, nor did he take off his gloves to use the Paw-Paw Fruit's ability to repel everything to clear the troublesome mist.
He just stood silently in the white mist, letting the warm steam dampen his black coat.
Listening to the fading, chaotic footsteps of the Straw Hat crew deep in the thick mist.
This cold man, famous across the seas, who struck terror into the hearts of countless pirates and was known as the "Tyrant."
On his lifeless face, a rare, gentle smile filled with human brilliance appeared.
"You have a good son... Dragon."
Kuma murmured to himself in the mist in a low voice only he could hear:
"And a group of excellent companions."
"He is not alone on this sea."
After confirming that the Straw Hat crew had safely escaped, Kuma slowly withdrew his smile and resumed his indifferent expression.
From his broad chest, he took out a unique gold-plated Transponder Snail with a majestic design and steadily pressed the answer button.
"Click."
The signal on the other side of the Transponder Snail was instantly connected.
The golden Transponder Snail immediately mimicked Kuma's current calm and emotionless face.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Kuma's voice was steady and powerful as he reported in a businesslike manner.
"The Straw Hat crew has defeated Moria."
There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a deep breath suppressing anger.
Kuma didn't pause and continued in that flat tone:
"However, just as I was about to execute the elimination order on them..."
"I was intercepted by an extremely strange thick mist created by the man named 'Crimson Lotus'."
"Taking advantage of my obstructed vision, they have all escaped and left this sea area."
"What?!"
From the other end of the Transponder Snail, the violent roar of Fleet Admiral Sengoku flipping over a massive office desk instantly came through, accompanied by the sound of papers scattering everywhere:
"Damn it!!"
"What on earth is that 'Crimson Lotus'?!"
"Even a combatant of your level couldn't stop him?!!"
Sengoku's roar was so loud that the Transponder Snail was trembling:
"Curse those Straw Hats! To think they've escaped again!"
"In front of these lunatics, the World Government's face is almost completely lost!"
"Phew..." Sengoku forcibly suppressed his anger and quickly made a decision.
"Since they've already escaped, leave them for now!"
"The mist in that sea area is too thick; pursuing them would be a waste of time."
"I will immediately arrange for Marine generals to set up a tight interception at the Sabaody Archipelago—the mandatory path to the New World!"
"They must not be allowed to cross the Red Line!"
"Kuma!" Sengoku's voice became extremely stern.
"Go now and confirm Moria's condition! Do not let him die, no matter what!"
"And under no circumstances let the news of a Shichibukai's defeat leak out!"
"It would cause a massive upheaval on the seas!"
Facing the Fleet Admiral's roar, Kuma's expression still didn't fluctuate in the slightest, as he simply replied with two words:
"Understood."
"Clack."
As the Transponder Snail was hung up, the high-temperature thick mist that had covered several kilometers gradually dissipated under the blowing sea breeze.
Sunlight once again bathed the devastated land.
Kuma stood silently atop the high ruins, gazing at the distant horizon.
Although nothing was there anymore, he seemed to still be able to see their determined backs as they gradually disappeared at the junction of sea and sky.
After a long time.
Kuma put away the Transponder Snail and turned around.
He walked with steady and heavy steps, treading on the gravel and debris all over the ground, toward the ruins crushed by Oars.
There, the dying Gecko Moria was waiting for his rescue.
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