Chapter 189: Wood's Daring Escape

In the Land of the Dead, there is a flower called the Higanbana that grows in places filled with death but paradoxically holds a touch of life and beauty. It's said that those who see the Higanbana are witnessing the embodiment of death itself. The flower offers a vision of beauty to those on the brink of death, allowing them to see something truly magnificent before passing away.

The three CP0 agents facing Wood never expected that his slash would not only be powerful but also dazzling. As the radiant blade, stretching hundreds of meters, enveloped them, they were momentarily stunned. Just as they attempted to dodge or defend, the sheer brilliance of the attack entranced them, freezing them in place.

In that fleeting moment of vulnerability, the massive, glowing slash cut through the sky, slicing all three CP0 agents cleanly in half. They died with strange smiles on their faces, passing in a state of eerie tranquility, as if they had glimpsed something beautiful at the end of their lives.

The enormous crescent slash, after effortlessly killing the three CP0 agents, continued to grow, expanding to a terrifying length of nearly a kilometer. It then cut through the sea, slicing three large warships in half before vanishing into the distant horizon, leaving behind massive waves.

Both Garp and the CP0 commander were stunned, as were the remaining twenty-seven warships filled with intelligence agents. In a single strike, Wood had not only eliminated three elite CP0 agents but also destroyed three large warships.

For the ordinary intelligence agents aboard the warships, it was a shocking display, something they could barely comprehend. Even seasoned figures like Garp and the CP0 commander took a moment to regain their composure.

Garp was shocked because, during the battle on Enies Lobby, he had believed he had gauged Wood's strength accurately. But now, it was clear that Wood had held back a significant portion of his power—more than Garp had ever imagined.

The CP0 commander, on the other hand, was stunned by the ease with which Wood had slain his subordinates. The slash was undeniably powerful, but the fact that his three skilled agents hadn't even had time to react was what truly unsettled him. He had seen them start to move, only to freeze in place as if something had suddenly jammed their minds.

Garp, seizing the opportunity to rub salt in the wound, said, "I did tell you that the Navy traitor Wood was powerful, didn't I? You mocked the strength of our headquarters, but it seems that CP0, the so-called strongest intelligence agency of the World Government, isn't all that impressive. At least when we fought him, we managed to push him back without getting killed in a single blow."

The CP0 commander, already fuming, nearly exploded with rage at Garp's mocking words. He had seen clearly that Garp was just as shocked by Wood's attack as he was. It was obvious that either Wood had held back when fighting Garp or that the slash was a last-resort technique, something he couldn't use repeatedly.

Regardless of the reason, the CP0 commander was furious, knowing he had no solid proof to argue with Garp, especially with Garp being as stubborn as he was. Instead, he had to swallow his pride and admit that Wood's strength far exceeded their expectations.

Enraged by the loss of his subordinates and the need to restore his pride in front of Garp, the CP0 commander decided to personally engage Wood. He was convinced that the devastating slash was a one-time move, something Wood couldn't replicate in quick succession.

His assumption was correct. The power of the "Heart of the Gods" had drained a significant amount of Wood's life force, resulting in the extraordinary power of that slash. Now, Wood was far too exhausted to fight the CP0 commander or unleash another attack of that magnitude.

Drained and fatigued, both mentally and physically, Wood forced himself to push through, using "Moonwalk" to flee at high speed once more. The silver rune on his chest glowed again, though dimmer this time, and it enhanced his speed to such an extent that he covered several kilometers in mere seconds.

The CP0 commander, who had just prepared to give chase with "Moonwalk," froze as he watched Wood's incredible burst of speed. At that distance, even if he pushed himself to the limit, he knew he had no hope of catching up.

Garp, ever the provocateur, couldn't resist commenting, "Not going after him? I was looking forward to seeing how the strongest intelligence officer of the World Government measures up. But it looks like I'll have to miss out this time…"

The CP0 commander, already seething with frustration, nearly exploded in anger at Garp's taunt. Unable to do anything to Garp, he redirected his fury elsewhere, ordering his forces to intensify the bombardment and sink Enies Lobby as quickly as possible.

As Wood sped away with the power of the "Heart of the Gods" augmenting his "Moonwalk," his feet left sonic booms in the air, making him appear like a blur as he darted across the sky. But after covering hundreds of nautical miles and sensing that the pursuit had ceased, his body, worn out and depleted, suddenly lost its momentum, and he plummeted into the sea like a kite with its string cut.

Back at Enies Lobby, the twenty-seven remaining warships continued their bombardment, waiting for the island to be completely destroyed. However, apart from Wood and Momousagi who had left earlier, no one else attempted to leave the island.

This meant that before Wood's departure, the World Government's most wanted criminal, Fisher Tiger, and his crew of Fish-Men had likely already escaped.

The CP0 commander was far from satisfied with this outcome. Despite mobilizing such a massive force, they had failed to capture Fisher Tiger or obtain the blueprints for Pluton. To make matters worse, they had lost three warships and seen their agents cut down effortlessly. How would he ever explain this failure when he returned?

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 320+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a