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At the same time, more and more soldiers began to attack them from all sides, swords raised and guns ready, but the expressions of a select few among the attackers remained unchanged.
These particular six men had faces like stone no fear, no joy, no anger, no sorrow. Their calm composure persisted, much like it had from the moment they entered the palace grounds.
The chaos around them seemed irrelevant, not a single emotion flickered in their eyes.
They were like machines, soulless beings, moving forward without hesitation.
After the initial clash, these six men adjusted their suits with precision, brushing off the dust with a quiet elegance.
They didn't seem to care about the soldiers now lying unconscious around them, some groaning in pain while others were too injured to move.
They acted as if they had been performing a chore, and now that it was done, they merely wanted to move on to the next.
Just as they continued to advance toward the palace's deeper chambers, a dark figure suddenly darted toward them from the shadows.
Moving with incredible speed, this figure man threw himself at the two-meter-tall man leading the group. His leg swung out, aiming for the giant's head with deadly precision, a kick that would have taken down a normal opponent.
However, the tall man blocked the attack effortlessly with his arm. His expression remained unchanged, showing neither surprise nor concern for this sudden assault. It was as though he had expected it all along.
"Haki? In a place like this?" the tall man said, his voice betraying a hint of amusement, though a sneer still lingered on his lips. "I never would have thought that someone like you could appear in a small kingdom of the South Blue. It's almost laughable."
This was the first time the tall man had spoken since entering the palace. His voice, calm but filled with arrogance, hung in the air like a taunt.
Despite the words, there was a layer of mockery behind them, a subtle implication that the man facing him was nothing more than an insignificant insect.
Haruya, the dark figure who had attacked, landed gracefully a few feet away.
He stood tall and revealed his true nature a warrior capable of using Haki. The sheen of Armament Haki still shimmered faintly on his leg where it had connected with the tall man's arm.
Although his initial attack had been effortlessly blocked, Haruya did not hesitate. His eyes locked onto his target as he surged forward once again, this time faster, his body a blur of motion.
This time, his legs were fully coated in Armament Haki as he charged toward the group.
Leaping into the air, he used Geppo, the Skywalk technique, to propel himself high above them.
From the peak of his jump, he descended with explosive force, aiming to strike down the tall man directly.
It was a move he hoped would break through his opponent's defence.
But Haruya had gravely underestimated the figures standing before him.
The tall man took two steps back as Haruya plummeted downward, but just as Haruya was about to make contact, another figure stepped forward.
This man wore a red tie that contrasted sharply with the rest of his formal black suit. He moved with lightning-fast reflexes, positioning himself between Haruya and the tall man.
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As Haruya's leg connected with the red-tie man, he immediately knew something was wrong.
The man had sensed the attack, but he hadn't even flinched. He hadn't raised his hands, nor had he moved to defend himself.
Instead, he allowed Haruya's full-force strike to land directly on his body without so much as blinking.
Haruya's attack hit the ground, causing the stone tiles beneath their feet to shatter. Pieces of debris shot into the air, and dust clouded the surroundings.
When the dust settled, Haruya looked down in disbelief. The red-tie man stood there, his body coated in a thick layer of Armament Haki, his skin now black and hardened. His feet had sunk deep into the shattered tiles, but his body remained completely unharmed.
He was unfazed by the attack, as though Haruya's best efforts were nothing more than a light breeze.
Haruya began to step back, realizing the situation was dire, but before he could retreat, the red-tie man struck. With incredible speed, he grabbed Haruya's leg with his right hand, his grip like iron.
Without hesitation, he pulled Haruya toward him and threw a powerful left-handed punch into Haruya's stomach.
Even with his quick reflexes, Haruya had barely any time to defend himself. He crossed his arms over his abdomen, reinforcing them with Haki, but the punch was too strong.
The impact was so forceful that it sent shockwaves through his body, knocking the wind out of him.
Haruya was hurled through the air, slamming into the wall behind him. The stone cracked and crumbled from the force of the impact.
When he fell to the ground, Haruya coughed violently, blood splattering from his lips. His injuries were severe; his body trembled as he struggled to stand, but his legs gave out beneath him.
He collapsed, unable to move. This was no ordinary foe. These men were the strongest he had ever encountered. Their strength was overwhelming, beyond anything he had faced before.
"Who are you…?" Haruya gasped weakly, barely able to speak. "Why have you forced your way into my royal palace?"
The tall man at the front, the leader of the group, stepped forward once more. "We are CP2," he said in a cold, emotionless tone. "We are here to find your king, Anos."
The words sent a chill through Haruya. CP2 is one of the Cipher Pol organizations.
Their reputation was infamous, and if they were here, it could only mean trouble.
The man with the red tie, still standing above Haruya, laughed darkly. "Boss, why bother talking to this insect? Let's just crush him already."
The red-tie man's eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he stepped toward Haruya, clearly intending to finish him off. His twisted smile showed just how little he cared about their mission.
It was clear that he took pleasure in toying with his opponents before delivering the final blow.
"You South Blue ants are so weak," the red-tie man sneered. "But you gave me a good laugh today, so I'll leave you with a parting gift."
He raised his hand, and a white bubble began to form on his palm. The strange energy inside the bubble shimmered as it grew.
Just as the man was about to place the bubble on Haruya's chest, intending to finish him off with some unknown technique, a hand shot out from the side and grabbed the man's wrist in mid-motion.
The red-tie man's eyes widened in shock as he turned to see who had stopped him. Standing beside him, holding his wrist firmly, was none other than Anos, the king of Tru.
"Are all CP2 agents as pathetic as you?" Anos asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "I can't believe the Five Elders waste their time training trash like you."
"Your Majesty…" Haruya gasped, his voice barely audible as he recognized his king standing before him.
The red-tie man, who had been so confident moments ago, now found himself speechless. His arrogance evaporated as he realized who he was up against.
Ignoring the red-tie man entirely, Anos called out to his men, "Get him treated. Take him away immediately."
Two figures appeared from the shadows, moving swiftly to Haruya's side. They lifted him gently and began to carry him away, but their path was soon blocked by one of the other CP2 agents.
"Interesting," the tall man with sunglasses said as he stepped forward. "You must be King Anos of Tru. I'm surprised you know about the Five Elders. Tell me, how did you come by such knowledge?"
Anos didn't respond immediately. He cast a glance around the courtyard, surveying the carnage. Bodies littered the ground, and blood stained the cobblestones.
He had lost many of his men today, but his expression didn't show anger. Instead, a cold smile played on his lips.
As the tall man approached, Anos's calm demeanour shifted in an instant. His body tensed, and his eyes darkened with fury.
"CP2?" he growled. "You dare to invade my Kingdom, storm my palace, and murder my people? Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
Before the red-tie man could react, Anos vanished from sight. His speed was so incredible that none of the CP2 agents could follow his movement.
When he reappeared, Anos was already beside the shorter CP2 agent who had blocked Haruya's escape.
Without warning, Anos delivered a brutal kick aimed at the agent's head. Though the agent raised his hand to block, the force behind Anos's strike was overwhelming.
The agent was sent flying, his body crashing through several walls before finally coming to a stop.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two men carrying Haruya wasted no time. Taking advantage of the distraction, they disappeared from the courtyard, escaping with Haruya in Silence.
As the dust settled, the entire palace was quickly sealed off. No word of the battle would leave these walls.
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