One Piece: Fist of the World

Witnessing Genos's instantaneous recovery and relentless advance, Mr. 5's expression tightened with a flicker of genuine concern.

Despite the intelligence reports, witnessing such terrifying regenerative capabilities firsthand was still a shock.

"Ahahaha, come and taste my attack! The 10,000-Kilogram Guillotine!"

A shrill, piercing voice echoed through the air as a figure plummeted from the sky, a long, straight leg hurtling downwards with immense force.

Although she seemingly halted her descent at the last possible moment, the sheer momentum of the aerial strike still slammed into Genos.

Snap—

Genos distinctly heard the sickening crack of his bones breaking.

Boom!!

The devastating kick connected with Genos and then slammed into the ground, creating a sizable crater. Following this brutal assault, Ms. Valentine's body floated back upwards, her umbrella spinning lazily in her hand, a disturbingly cheerful smile plastered across her face.

"This guy has declared war on our company. Even if we eliminate him here, it shouldn't pose a problem."

"Indeed!"

Mr. 5 nonchalantly inserted a finger into his nostril, rolled the extracted mucus into a small ball, then flicked it forcefully towards Genos.

"Snot out Fantasy Cannon!"

Observing the projectile hurtling towards him, a look of genuine panic flashed across Genos's face for the first time. Ignoring the searing pain radiating from his shoulder, he frantically swung his axe to intercept the disgusting attack.

Anything but that hitting my body!

Boom!!

The instant Genos's axe collided with the snot projectile, a horrific explosion engulfed everything, completely swallowing Genos in a violent eruption.

"No matter how potent your body's regenerative abilities are, recovery from an explosion of this magnitude will be far too slow."

Gazing at the figure consumed by the blast, a faint smile played on Mr. 5's lips.

He was a seasoned veteran from the Grand Line; dealing with mere small fry in these lesser seas was hardly a challenge.

"Mr. 11!"

Amidst the ongoing battle, a man bearing the Baroque Works logo prominently tattooed on his chest stealthily approached Mr. 11, surreptitiously handing him a box.

"What's this?"

Mr. 11 eyed the shifty-looking subordinate with a strange curiosity.

While this particular individual wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing, he was undeniably quick-witted and adaptable, proving to be a useful asset in their North Sea operations.

However, at this critical juncture in the fight, whatever he had to report must be significant.

"It's that zombie man's dog!"

The subordinate hunched over, rubbing his hands together, and spoke in a fawning, unpleasant tone.

"That guy has no family, no friends, only this dog to rely on. As long as we use this dog to threaten him, we can be sure he'll agree to our terms."

"You truly are a cunning fellow!"

Mr. 11 regarded the subordinate with a mixture of admiration and a hint of regret.

"But it's too late. Our objective now is to eliminate him!"

"Ah!?"

Reaching out and patting the stunned subordinate on the head, Mr. 11 offered a promise.

"I've seen your resourcefulness. From now on, just follow my lead."

"It's my honor!!"

A look of elation spread across the subordinate's face. His diligent efforts had finally been recognized!

"Then... this dog..."

"Dispose of it."

Mr. 11 waved his hand dismissively.

Hearing his superior's instruction, the subordinate nodded eagerly, clutching the box as he turned to leave, intending to sell the stolen puppy to the restaurant next door.

At least I can get a bottle of wine out of it. Mr. 11 loves his drinks.

Hmm—

As the subordinate rounded a corner and entered a dimly lit alleyway, a hand suddenly shot out from the shadows, clamping firmly over his mouth. A sharp knife then struck the back of his head, rendering him instantly unconscious.

"I hope he wasn't knocked out cold."

Observing the passerby now foaming at the mouth, Neru voiced his concern.

"Impossible. I controlled my strength perfectly."

Rhodes retrieved the box from the fallen subordinate, placing it gently on the ground. He glanced at the unconscious figure, then subtly clenched his fist.

Still a bit lacking in precise force control.

"This dog must have just been rendered unconscious."

Rhodes opened the box, revealing a pure white puppy curled up inside, seemingly fast asleep.

"After all, their initial plan was to use the puppy as leverage. Simply killing it wouldn't serve as a threat."

Neru turned his gaze towards the ongoing brutal fight in the street, then back to Rhodes.

"What's our next move?"

Rhodes stood up, his eyes fixed on the figure still battling fiercely against two opponents, recovering rapidly from seemingly fatal injuries. A glint of intrigue flashed in his eyes.

"Naturally, we'll have him join our crew!"

"I knew it."

Neru nodded almost imperceptibly.

Whether it was challenging the Seven Warlords of the Sea or dominating the vast ocean, it was a feat that couldn't be accomplished by a mere handful of individuals.

They needed allies!

The "Zombie Man" fighting not far away was the partner Rhodes had set his sights on.

Boom!

Another violent explosion rocked the street. As the smoke dissipated, Mr. 5 saw Genos's eyes burning with renewed ferocity.

Mr. 5 unconsciously took a half step back, an unsettling feeling creeping into his gut.

What exactly is this Devil Fruit power?

Whether his arms were blown off, his bones shattered, or his internal organs ruptured, causing him to vomit blood, this relentless figure before them could regenerate in mere moments, launching himself back into the fray with tireless aggression.

Ms. Valentine floated silently in the air, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a look of palpable frustration.

In the past few minutes, she had struck the opponent countless times, broken his bones repeatedly, and been repeatedly unnerved by his unwavering, fearless resilience.

"Let's attack together! He's just one guy, and all he can do is recover quickly. His actual fighting prowess isn't exceptional. Let's finish him off as a team!"

Realizing that the two Chief Executives seemed unable to decisively defeat their opponent, Mr. 11 shouted loudly. As his voice echoed, dozens of figures wielding various weapons emerged from the surrounding taverns, the Baroque Works insignia emblazoned on different parts of their attire.

"Die, monster!"

"Go!"

"Kill him!"

"..."

Accompanied by a cacophony of shouts, the horde of Baroque Works members surged towards Genos, weapons raised menacingly.

"You two stay put. We'll attack after the zombie man has exhausted some more of his strength. Even if his regeneration is potent, as long as we pierce his heart and sever his head in one swift strike, he'll likely die!"

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Mr. 11 mistakenly assumed it was the quick-witted subordinate returning after dealing with Genos's dog. Without even turning his head, he barked out the order.

"That's a sound plan. If your sneak attack succeeds, it might actually inflict fatal damage."

That's not the person from before!

Hearing the voice coming from behind him, Mr. 11's expression abruptly shifted. He moved forward rapidly, drawing the long sword at his waist, and slashed directly towards the source of the sound.

"Too slow!"

Mr. 11 only caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure flashing before his eyes. The next instant, a sharp pain shot through his wrist, and the hand gripping his sword loosened involuntarily.

"Nice knife, though!"

Rhodes grasped the dislodged sword, testing its balance for a moment. A flicker of surprise registered in his eyes.

"One of the 50 Skillful Blades, Hanasu!"