One Piece: A Warlord's Path-Chapter 688: CP0’s Assassination

"Who's there?!"

Gin's expression shifted instantly as two tonfa-hammers appeared in his hands. Simultaneously, over a dozen burly men clad in black Offensive Exoskeleton Combat Suits lunged from the shadows of the room, weapons drawn, surrounding the figures in the settling dust.

As one of the world's most renowned intelligence chiefs, Mina had dealt with nearly every spy agency in existence. One look at those distinctive white suits and bizarre masks, and she recognized them immediately. They were old rivals.

"CP0!"

Mina stood up slowly from her armchair, her gaze fixed on them. A look of disdain crossed her beautiful face as she mocked, "What a hideous Kabuki Mask. Your taste is as bottomless as ever."

"Is that so? I think it looks quite alright," the burly man in the Kabuki Mask replied, scanning Mina up and down. He let out a contemptuous laugh. "A mere pirate intelligence agency run by a woman... truly laughable! Hahahaha!"

"Rokushiki: Geppo!"

"Rokushiki: Rankyaku!"

Suddenly, from the rooftop across the street, another figure in white emerged. Unlike the first, this one wore a Tulip Mask. He kicked the air, leaping through the sky, and unleashed a horizontal sweeping kick.

Shua—!

A blue-white vacuum blade several meters long tore through the air, slashing toward the balcony.

"Bastard, don't you dare!" Gin roared. He blurred, appearing behind Mina. Bracing his feet against the balcony railing, he swung his tonfa-hammer with explosive force. He had known that if CP0 intended to assassinate Mina, they wouldn't strike alone; they would have backup. He had been on high alert the entire time.

Clang!

The vacuum blade collided with the metal tonfa, producing a sharp, metallic ring.

Whoosh—!

The slash shattered, dissipating into flecks of white light. A shockwave of wind rippled outward, knocking several potted plants on the balcony to the ground.

Suddenly, from behind the man in the Tulip Mask, a third figure appeared wearing a red and yellow Clown Mask.

"Rokushiki, Geppo: Dash!"

The man in the Clown Mask stamped violently against the air, creating a visible ripple. He accelerated instantly, crossing dozens of meters in a heartbeat to appear right in front of Gin.

"Armament Hardening, Rokushiki: Shigan!"

His index finger turned pitch black, resembling a thick steel needle. It thrust forward with the speed of an arrow, a strike capable of punching a hole through solid armor plating.

"Not good!" Gin gasped. He tried to defend, but realized he was too late.

Puchi—!

Blood sprayed. The black finger pierced directly into Gin's chest.

"Ugh..." Gin groaned as a surge of agonizing pain flared in his chest. He staggered back, stepping off the railing and back onto the balcony.

"Move!" The man in the Clown Mask withdrew his finger and delivered a savage kick directly to Gin's chest.

BAM! CRASH! 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

With a dull thud, Gin was sent flying. He smashed into the back wall with enough force to crater the masonry. The entire floor seemed to shudder as a dozen thick cracks spider-webbed across the wall.

"Captain Gin!" the members of the Elite Strike Team cried out in horror.

"As expected of CP0," Mina remarked, a playful smile on her lips. She didn't look worried at all.

"It's a bit of a hassle, but as long as we succeed, it's worth it. Wouldn't you agree, Mina-san?" The man in the Clown Mask stood on the railing and gave a slight, mocking bow. "Allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Aberly."

At that moment, the man in the Tulip Mask landed beside Aberly using Geppo.

"This is my partner, Dick," Aberly said, pointing to the man beside him. He then gestured to the burly man in the Kabuki Mask inside the room. "And he is Kitayama."

"Names are irrelevant. I don't care to know them," Mina said dismissively, as if the three didn't exist.

"That's fair. Dead people don't need to know much," Aberly replied flatly. "In that case, Mina-san, please die right here."

"Move out!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Kitayama, in the Kabuki Mask, swung a massive fist at the nearest guard.

"Think again!" Three Elite Strike Team members lunged forward simultaneously, their blades aimed at his head, throat, and chest.

At nearly the same time, Aberly and Dick attacked together. Using Shigan, they lunged toward Mina's throat.

"Heh... don't underestimate me either!"

A flash of crimson flickered in Mina's eyes. Her fangs elongated slightly, and she vanished from the spot.

Thump!

Two index fingers pierced through the grand armchair like iron bolts.

"Where is she?!" Aberly gasped.

"On the right!" Dick's eyes shifted. He twisted his torso and swung a leg to the right.

BOOM!

The two legs collided. The sheer force generated a powerful gale, flipping the remaining plants, the armchair, and the tea service into the air.

"Such power!" Dick felt his left leg go numb from the vibration, his heart racing with shock.

"Nice reflexes," Mina said, her eyebrows arching playfully.

Aberly sensed something was wrong. According to their intel, this woman wasn't supposed to be a combatant. How could she go toe-to-toe with CP0 elite agents? Had the intelligence been wrong?

"Your strength is decent. I bet your blood is quite... lively," Mina said, her tongue darting out to lick her red lips. Her eyes turned a brilliant, ruby red. Her fingernails grew long and sharp.

"Blood Claw!"

Her nails turned a deep crimson as she lunged at Dick with a vicious swipe.

"What is this?!" Dick felt a chill. Not daring to take the hit head-on, he leaped into the air, using Geppo to retreat.

Mina's claw missed, and Aberly seized the opening.

"Rokushiki, Tekkai: Iron Fist!"

Aberly stepped forward, his arm muscles tightening until they caught a faint, metallic sheen. He threw a heavy punch at Mina.

"Child's play," Mina sneered, meeting the punch with a backhand swipe of her claws.

CLANG—!

The moment fist and claw met, a sound like clashing metal rang out. The resulting shockwave turned into a violent wind.

"Nani?!" Aberly stared in disbelief. Her nails had actually pierced his fist. Fresh blood trickled down. Though they hadn't gone deep, it proved her claws could breach his Tekkai.

BOOM!

In mid-air, Dick kicked the atmosphere and dove downward, aiming a fist at the top of Mina's head.

"Too slow!"

Mina leaped backward, turning into a streak of crimson light as she vaulted onto the roof.

CRASH—! RUMBLE!

Dick's punch slammed into the balcony floor. The massive force punched a hole straight through the boards, and cracks raced outward. The dozens of square meters of the balcony couldn't hold; it collapsed instantly into a pile of rubble and stone, crashing down onto the street below and kicking up a massive curtain of dust.