"One."
Watching Mohji strike that arrogant pose with his single finger extended, the veins on Viktor's forehead throbbed. He actually found it a little funny, his lips curling into a mocking arc.
"Damn... since when does riding a lion give you the right to act this cool?"
Before his voice even faded, chakra surged beneath Viktor's feet. He became like an arrow released from a bow, turning into a black blur as he charged straight at the man and beast.
"Hey! Don't go hogging all the glory,! Zoro, seeing the opening, raised Wado Ichimonji. His eyes flashed with a battle-hungry light as he followed close behind.
"You're asking for death! Richie, eat them!" Mohji roared.
"ROAR—!!"
Richie let out a thunderous growl and raised a massive paw. With terrifying strength capable of crushing solid rock, he swung down at the closest target: Viktor.
Facing this mountain-toppling strike, Viktor didn't slow down. Instead, he let out a cold laugh. Those pitch-black eyes instantly bled into a deep crimson, a single tomoe spinning slowly within the pupil.
The world slowed down.
Under the insight of the Sharingan, Richie's rapid strike became transparent—every muscle twitch and shift in weight was crystal clear.
"Too slow."
Viktor's body tilted slightly, effortlessly evading the first swipe. Then, timing it perfectly, he used the back of Richie's retreating paw as a stepping stone. He leaped lightly into the air like a nimble black cat and landed firmly right on top of the giant lion's head!
"W-what?!"
Looking at the pair of scarlet eyes suddenly appearing right in front of him, Mohji felt his soul nearly leave his body. His previous arrogance evaporated instantly. "Richie! Get him off!" Mohji screamed in panic.
Richie understood the command. He roared and raised his other paw, intending to slap his own forehead to crush this "flea."
But Viktor was faster.
The moment Mohji gave the order, Viktor used chakra to stick to the lion's fur, took a step forward, and closed the distance to Mohji's side in a flash.
"Get the hell down!"
Mohji frantically swung his whip, trying to fight back. Viktor didn't even look; he caught the tip of the whip mid-air with one hand, twisted his wrist sharply, and yanked it toward his chest!
A massive force surged through the cord. Mohji, unable to keep his balance, stumbled forward toward Viktor. Waiting for him was a perfectly timed, powerful front kick!
BAM!
The kick landed squarely on Mohji's abdomen.
"PU-AGHH—!!" Mohji's eyes bulged. Gastric acid mixed with his breakfast sprayed out instantly. He was sent flying off the lion's back like a sack of trash, hitting the hard street and tumbling several times before coming to a stop.
Viktor stood atop the lion's head, looking down and extending a single finger. "One."
Just then, Richie's clumsy paw whistled toward his own forehead. Viktor only spared it a sideways glance. He reached back and pulled out a paper slip inscribed with runes, slapping it onto the thick fur of Richie's neck.
Then, he leaped backward with agility, flipped in mid-air, and landed steadily on the ground.
SLAP!
Without fail, Richie's powerful paw slammed right into his own face.
"Awooo..." The lion saw stars. Richie shook his massive head, staggering as his fierce momentum completely collapsed.
"Not bad, Vice-Captain!" Zoro, watching from the front, let out a smirk.
Taking advantage of the moment, Richie was wide open due to dizziness and pain, Zoro gripped his swords, the third held firmly in his teeth. He cut into the battlefield like a ghost.
"Three-Sword Style—" Zoro's arms crossed, his blades flickering like spirit-fire. "—ONI GIRI!!"
SHING!
Three sharp slashes tore through the air, carving deep into the joints of Richie's thick hind legs. Lion-muscle parted; blood sprayed!
"ROAR—!!" Richie let out a piteous wail. With his support legs sliced, his massive frame lost balance and crashed onto its side, twitching in agony.
Zoro cleanly sheathed his swords, glancing at the rolling "big cat." Although he often complained about Viktor being a jerk, he had to admit—fighting alongside this guy was incredibly smooth. Viktor always used those "flashy" tricks to pinpoint the enemy's weakness, leaving Zoro only the task of seizing the moment for the finishing blow.
"It's not over yet."
Viktor looked at the wailing lion with no mercy in his eyes. He never showed softness toward beasts that aided tyrants. He formed a one-handed seal and muttered:
"Explode."
BOOM—!!
The Explosive Tag he had slapped on the lion's neck detonated! A flash of fire erupted, leaving Richie's back a bloody mess. The massive shockwave silenced his cries; his eyes rolled back, and he fell into a deep unconsciousness.
"Ri... Richie!!" Mohji, clutching his stomach on the ground, burst into tears seeing his beloved lion beaten so badly. "You... you monsters! I shouldn't have messed with you..."
Viktor walked toward him wordlessly, twirling a kunai in his hand.
"No... NO! Please..." Mohji scrambled backward in terror. "Don't kill me..."
"You're not scared," Viktor's voice was as cold as ice. "You're just realizing you're about to die."
Before Viktor could strike—
"WOOF!!"
Chou-Chou, who had been guarding the shop, suddenly charged forward. A massive amount of rage exploded from his tiny body as he bit down hard on Mohji's arm.
"AGH!! IT HURTS! You dumb dog! Let go!" Mohji screamed, violently flinging his arm and tossing the few-pound dog through the air.
"Hmph."
Viktor's hand was quick, catching Chou-Chou mid-air. He used the momentum to spin, delivering a vicious roundhouse kick straight to Mohji's jaw.
THWACK!
Mohji flew like a soccer ball, landing right next to the unconscious Richie, completely blacked out.
"It's over."
[Ding! Defeated Mohji and Richie alongside Zoro.]
[Combat Evaluation: S (Perfect Coordination).]
[Reward: 250 Ninja Path Points.]
Viktor patted Chou-Chou's head, prepared to say something cool to wrap things up. Suddenly—
Zoro, who had been standing by with his arms crossed, saw his pupils shrink. Every hair on his body stood on end! He looked at a rapidly approaching red point of light in the distance and roared at the top of his lungs:
"VIKTOR!! GET OUT OF THERE!!!"
Viktor heard the shout and simultaneously felt an instinctive threat of death—a pressure a hundred times more terrifying than facing any beast. He didn't have time to look back. Every ounce of chakra in his legs exploded to the limit.
"Go!"
Viktor grabbed Chou-Chou, hooked his arm around Zoro's, and leaped with everything he had into a side alley.
The moment they dove—
"BOOM-RUMBLE-RUMBLE————!!!"
It was as if a meteorite had struck. The entire street was swallowed by a horrifying red light! A massive shockwave of rubble and heat swept across everything.
Mohji and Richie didn't even have time to scream before they were vaporized by the blast. The level street became a massive crater in the blink of an eye. Ash fell from the sky like black snow.
After a long silence.
"Cough... cough..."
Viktor pushed aside the debris pinning him down and struggled to stand. His clothes were singed in several places, looking quite ragged. Zoro was also clearly hurt, leaning on Viktor's outstretched hand to stand up. "Damn it... it's that Buggy."
"Viktor! Zoro!"
Luffy, now free, arrived with Nami and Mayor Boodle. Looking at the hellish landscape, they were frozen in shock.
"Viktor! Are you okay?!" Luffy shouted anxiously.
Viktor waved him off, wiping dust from the corner of his mouth. "Cough... I'm fine. Almost became a BBQ, though."
Suddenly, Chou-Chou struggled out of his arms and ran toward the center of the blast.
"Chou-Chou!" Nami cried.
At the edge of the crater, the pet food shop had lost its windows and the walls were cracked, but it miraculously remained standing. Chou-Chou stood at the door, let out a furious roar toward the distance.
"Woof! Woof-woof!!"
Everyone followed Chou-Chou's gaze. Hundreds of meters away on high ground, Buggy stood next to a smoking cannon, squinting at the scene.
"Tch, I missed?" Buggy's face was terrifyingly grim. He gritted his teeth and barked at his subordinates: "Cursed pests! What luck! Give me another one—a Special Buggy Ball!!"
"This time, I'm going to blow this entire town to pieces, grandly!!"