Death.
Spandam saw death, not of others, but his own.
He wanted to flee, to scream, but the fear in his heart was like an abyss, pulling at his soul, preventing him from making a sound, unable to even tremble.
And the source of it all was the guy who suddenly appeared before him.
"You can't kill me, you can't kill me! I am the Chief of CP9, the World Government's elite intelligence agency. If you kill me, you will be an enemy of the entire world. From now on, there will be no place in this world for you or your companions."
This was the cry from his heart, but it couldn't escape.
He deeply regretted his decision to seek trouble with the silver-haired group.
"Why didn't I heed CP9's advice!"
"How could I have been so foolish, to come to Water Seven!"
"Ah~"
Just then, Spandam felt a strange energy surge within him. A small black dot, from the hand that the silver-haired man had placed on his shoulder, fell upon him, and finally entered his heart.
Then, his entire body seemed to ignite, engulfed by this power that instantly crushed him. The extreme pain caused his mouth to gape open, his eyes to bulge.
He wanted to roar, to vent his pain, but he couldn't. At this moment, he was like a soul fallen into true hell, enduring the agony of being shattered.
*Woooo.*
The wind blew.
Spandam vanished without a sound, turning into dust, slowly, slowly dissipating with the wind.
Kong Tai didn't inflict too much pain on him.
Well...
If you didn't look at his contorted face, which was no longer recognizable as human.
Indeed, there wasn't too much pain; he died peacefully.
Watching Spandam, who had been alive moments ago, turn into dust with a single pat from the silver-haired man and drift away with the wind.
Lucci and the others' pupils contracted to their limits.
Fear instantly flooded their souls.
They had known of the silver-haired man's terrifying power beforehand, but they never imagined it would be this terrifying.
"Is this the strength of someone who can fight an Admiral and wound four Vice Admirals with a single strike?"
"This is too terrifying!"
Before coming here, they had thought that even if they couldn't win, they could escape using Bruno's devil fruit ability. But in this situation...
Escape?
How could they escape?
Unless someone could hold back the silver-haired man for even a moment, they wouldn't be able to get away.
"Maa!"
"You are the captain of CP9, Rob Lucci, aren't you!"
Putting down his hand, Kong Tai's gaze fell on Lucci, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
This guy, like those from CP0, was purely a killing machine cultivated by the World Government.
If he hadn't lacked Haki, he would have been promoted to CP0 long ago.
Lucci and the others stared at Kong Tai, not replying. The pressure exerted on their souls made them feel as if they had just surfaced from the sea, their bodies drenched in sweat.
"We can't wait any longer. If we delay, we really won't be able to leave."
Lucci's brow furrowed into a knot. Ignoring the sweat trickling down his eyelids, a glint of killing intent appeared deep within his eyes.
He knew that if anyone here was to hold back Kong Tai, it had to be him, and only him.
After all, he was the captain of CP9, and the strongest among them.
Escape was impossible.
Let alone him, perhaps no one in this world could escape from this man's grasp.
He could only place his hope on Bruno.
Without hesitation.
If they waited any longer, the gradually increasing pressure would immobilize them, preventing them from even moving.
His body sank, his legs slightly bent. Like a hunting leopard, he pushed off the ground and charged rapidly towards Kong Tai.
The instant he charged forward, the other CP9 members around him moved with perfect synchronicity.
They quickly gathered around Bruno.
Knowing the gravity of the situation and the urgency of time.
Bruno wasted no effort, quickly extending his hands and pulling them through the air before him.
*Crrreeak—!*
The sound of a door opening.
In the silence of the night, the slightly jarring sound of a door opening echoed through the entire space.
Without even glancing at Lucci charging towards him, Kong Tai tilted his head, dodging Lucci's punch, and his gaze landed on Bruno.
"Door-Door Fruit?"
He had almost forgotten about this divine fruit that this guy possessed.
The ability to open doors anywhere, including in the air.
He wasn't sure if the world behind the door was a teleportation or if one had to walk through and then open another door to exit.
He had long forgotten about this detail, so he didn't know.
Whether it was teleportation or walking, this fruit deserved the title of a divine fruit.
In a battle between two forces, this fruit was incredibly useful for both offense, surprise attacks, and for retreating and escaping.
Turning his head, his azure eyes once again fixed on Lucci.
This guy's speed was incredible, especially when using the "Soru" technique. But in front of him, Lucci's proud speed and strength were like that of a primary school student, weak and feeble.
He raised his right hand, intercepting Lucci's full-power punch just in time, blocking the right side of his head.
With a *bang*, he blocked Lucci's punch, and before Lucci could react, he twisted his hand and gripped Lucci's fist.
Then, he flicked downwards.
Like shaking noodles.
*Crack!*
The sound of bone breaking.
Then, Lucci's body, as if struck from above by a punch, arched forward and crashed into the ground with a *thump*.
As the dust was about to rise and the sound was about to spread, a layer of space isolated this area, preventing sound from escaping and disturbing the sleep of those nearby.
Pressure.
Absolute, overwhelming pressure.
No longer a mental or spiritual pressure, but a physical one, filling the entire space in an instant, preventing the dust kicked up by Lucci's impact from scattering.
It also pressed Lucci's body deep into the ground, preventing him from getting up.
"Lucci."
The others, seeing Lucci lying there like a beached fish, his body and arm twisted at unnatural angles, couldn't help but cry out.
Their voices were loud, but similarly, they couldn't escape this enclosed space.
"Maa! Why were you in such a hurry to die?"
"Even though I wouldn't let you go, couldn't you have lived a little longer?"
Kong Tai released his right hand, and the pressure disappeared, allowing Lucci's body to slide down like soft mud, falling into the rubble he had just created with a *thump*, kicking up a faint cloud of dust.
"Ugh~"
He opened his mouth, and a mouthful of bright red blood spurted out like an arrow.
The bones in his right arm and multiple bones in his body had fractured. At this moment, he felt as if his entire body had fallen apart.
Even though he had sustained more severe injuries in the past, he had never felt this desperate.
The man before him was not human at all; he was a true monster.
The power in that grip and flick was something he could not resist.
Propping himself up with his left hand, he struggled to slowly rise. As his body arched, he couldn't help but cough up another mouthful of blood.
The blood fell to the ground, and under the faint moonlight, it shone with a cold, melancholic light, as if his life were nearing its end.
*Bang—!*
He didn't get up.
He knew he couldn't fight Kong Tai. So, the moment he braced himself, his feet dug into the ground, and gritting his teeth, he shot towards the door Bruno had opened like a fired bullet.
His comrades had already entered, waiting for him.
As long as he got through the door, even if this terrifying guy had the power of the heavens, he wouldn't be able to harm him.
Of course, nor would he be able to find them.
Kong Tai stood in place, making no move to stop Bruno or the others from entering the door, nor to stop Lucci.
He was also curious about what lay beyond Bruno's door.
With a "whoosh," Lucci's figure plunged through the door.
Then, Bruno, who was waiting behind the door, quickly closed it.
Following that, the CP9 members seemed to lose all their strength simultaneously. They leaned against the spatial wall with their backs, their legs went weak, and they slid to the ground, gasping for air.