Luffy only saw a thick tentacle rapidly approaching him. The Upper Moon Four, whom he had previously knocked away, had merged into that tentacle and was swallowed whole in less than a second.
Then, he heard an extremely tragic scream. Had the Upper Moon Four demon, who had looked so cold just moments ago, died like that?
Luffy's pupils widened. He hadn't imagined that the demon king would execute his own subordinate so readily.
That's right. The moment he and Zoro stepped off the ship, they had sensed the dangerous aura filling the island. A burning sensation ran down his back, a feeling that only occurred in moments of extreme peril.
Zoro, too, had incredibly sharp senses. After they exchanged a glance and communicated, they knew their feelings were not wrong; even if Kibutsuji Muzan wasn't here, there had to be an even stronger Upper Moon on this island!
However, he was cautious. Seeing them venture deep into enemy territory alone, he hadn't appeared. He must have still been wary of Zoro's sword.
That's why Zoro and Luffy feigned weakness at first, trying to lure him out. Although not a word was spoken, their unspoken understanding was as natural as if it were innate; a mere exchange of glances conveyed each other's thoughts.
They looked at each other again. Zoro said gravely, "It seems the 'Great Demon' has arrived."
"Yeah!" Luffy nodded. They hadn't seen him yet, but the fierce aura that washed over them from afar made them feel immense pressure. This kind of aura wasn't something an Upper Moon could emit.
And in the very next moment, the tentacles vanished. In their place stood a man with skin as pale as paper. He had black hair and a pair of plum-red eyes that, in the darkness, seemed like flowing blood.
The progenitor of demons, Kibutsuji Muzan!
Upon his appearance, he didn't even bother looking at Luffy. His eyes were fixed only on Zoro, or rather, on the black sword in his hand.
"You have a connection to that person. I must eliminate you as soon as possible."
Anger was evident in the man's eyes. The moment he appeared, his back bulged, revealing nine long whips like tentacles. The speed of these whips was so great that they were almost invisible in the air!
Zoro's pupils constricted. He only had one sword in his hand at the moment. Although he had wanted to activate the moonlight of the Black Blade Dark Moon, or rather, its cursed power, when Muzan appeared, it was already too late!
So fast!
Zoro swung his sword up and managed to block three of the whips that were coming straight at him. But Muzan was using a total of nine!
The remaining six whips swept in from the sides and above. No one would doubt the power contained within those whips. If one were hit by those six whips, it wouldn't necessarily mean instant death, but they would at least lose their ability to fight.
Luffy reacted a bit faster than Zoro. As Muzan was slashing at Zoro with his tentacles, Luffy had already extended his hand. Even though his speed wasn't as fast as Muzan's, he was closer. So, just as the six whips were about to slice Zoro into pieces, he yanked him back with all his might, finally pulling Zoro out of that area.
But it wasn't enough!
This was because Muzan's whips were a full eight meters long. This was Muzan empowered by Genichi, making all his abilities stronger than they originally were!
Although he dodged the pincer attack of six whips, he was still swept across the chest by one of them. Instantly, he felt as if he had been hit by a speeding tank. A tremendous force surged into his body, and at the same time, his chest made a sizzling sound as if being corroded by something.
"Zoro!" Luffy shouted loudly, watching Zoro's chest begin to bleed. But Muzan had no intention of giving them a chance to survive. Before his previous attack had even finished, he launched another one.
His arm elongated and enlarged again, transforming into a massive tentacle to swallow them both. Luffy, in turn, extended his arm and launched a barrage of attacks.
"Gomu Gomu no Gatling!"
This was Luffy's first full-power fight since setting sail. The sacred mark on his back burned his body like charcoal, but at the same time, it provided him with immense strength. His hands blurred like phantoms as they hammered towards Muzan's tentacle.
However, even with all his strength, his power was no match for Muzan. While the tentacle was battered and bloody, it healed rapidly and soon engulfed both Zoro and Luffy.
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At the critical moment, Luffy extended his arm backward, grabbing a huge iron pillar from a distance. Before being completely swallowed by the tentacle, he pulled back with all his might, violently yanking Zoro free from the massive tentacle.
He brought Zoro to the iron pillar and, panting, watched Muzan approach.
Muzan looked at Luffy with his indifferent plum-red eyes and said calmly, "I admire you."
He extended his now normal arm towards Luffy, as if about to draw blood from his fingers.
"Kill him, and I will bestow my blood upon you, granting you eternal life."
He spoke to Luffy as if giving a command.
Luffy stared intensely at Muzan before him and, without thinking, replied, "I refuse!"
Muzan's gaze turned cold. "You should know you're no match for me. Do you intend to die with him?"
"I won't die! I'll defeat you!" Luffy gritted his teeth and threw another punch, his fist even turning black.
However, even using Haki, his attack couldn't harm Muzan. Muzan simply tilted his head slightly, and Luffy's punch missed. Before Luffy could even retract his blow, Muzan's hand pierced his chest.
Luffy's pupils widened in shock. He felt his strength rapidly draining away. Zoro, whom he was holding with his other arm, dropped to the ground. Zoro's condition was similar to Luffy's; his chest was a mangled mess, and even blood wouldn't flow out. Instead, Muzan's blood, attached to the whip, continued to corrode Zoro's cells.
"Armament Haki?"
Muzan looked slightly surprised. "It seems not only this swordsman but you are also extraordinary. Then..."
He wasn't tall, but at this moment, he seemed to look down on the two of them from a great height.
"Die."
Muzan said coldly. However, just as he was about to execute them, Nami, who had been hiding, walked over.
"They have no ability to fight back against you. Why must you kill them?!"
Nami watched the battle situation change again and again. Originally, the two were evenly matched with Gato's group. But then Zoro suddenly unleashed his power and defeated Buggy. In the next moment, Muzan appeared and reversed the situation, defeating the two with overwhelming force.
At this moment, she still stepped forward.
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