Chapter 413: Utter Shock

Bonney was unharmed, but her face was full of fury.

"Captain Bonney!"

Seeing Bonney safe and sound, the crew finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Bonney paid them no mind, instead lowering her gaze to the object clutched tightly in her hand—a slice of pizza now covered in dust, clearly no longer edible.

Yet, despite the sudden blow that had sent her flying, she had stubbornly refused to let go of the pizza—exhibiting a resolve akin to that of a swordsman who would never release their blade, even in death.

"Bastard!"

Bonney's eyes burned with rage as she snapped her head up, locking onto the culprit—Maude.

If it had been a mere accidental injury, she might have endured it, considering the consequences.

But to ruin her precious food? That was something she absolutely could not forgive.

"Captain Bonney, please calm down!!!"

Seeing Bonney striding forward with clear intent to confront Maude, her crew members swarmed around her, clinging desperately to her legs in an attempt to restrain her.

"Let go!"

Bonney shook her long legs, but her crew refused to budge.

"Captain Bonney, that man is far too strong! Even Urouge, with a bounty of 220 million, couldn't last three moves against him. We should leave this place at once!"

"Huh?"

Bonney was momentarily stunned.

Only now, thanks to her crew's warning, did she notice Urouge lying defeated among the wreckage.

It had only been a few seconds…

At that moment, Bonney's eyes shifted toward Maude, who was sprinting across the battlefield, closing in on Apoo in the distance.

The sight made Bonney instantly sober.

Damn monster…

Realizing this place was no longer safe, Bonney's desire for revenge quickly faded.

However, just as she was about to flee, Maude's gaze shifted slightly, casting a brief glance her way.

His eyes… were the eyes of a predator sizing up its prey.

A chill ran down Bonney's spine, spreading to her limbs.

Maude retracted his gaze, refocusing on his primary target—the Supernova with the bizarre Devil Fruit power, Scratchmen Apoo.

The On Air Pirates crew watched in terror as Maude charged toward them.

Apoo's face darkened.

"Run!"

Without hesitation, Apoo turned and fled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

His crew followed suit, scattering like frightened rats.

"Trying to escape?"

Maude sneered.

Unlike the sluggish Kizaru, he had no intention of letting his prey slip away—not when he held the absolute advantage in speed.

Stealth Walk.

His figure flickered in and out of sight, silently closing the distance between himself and the fleeing pirates.

"So fast!"

The On Air Pirates crew paled.

Though Maude hadn't used his advanced Shadow Step technique, his speed alone was enough to drive them into despair.

When the distance shrank to fifty meters, Apoo suddenly spun around.

From the very beginning, he had known that simply running wouldn't work.

Only by creating some trouble for Maude could he buy himself a chance to escape.

"Ching-Ching—!"

"Boom-Bang—!"

Apoo's mouth, arms, chest—even his teeth—transformed into various musical instruments, producing a combat melody in an instant.

Invisible soundwaves rippled outward, enveloping Maude.

The high-level music resonated through the air, bypassing all obstacles and drilling into Maude's ears.

Apoo's confidence surged as he confirmed this.

"Even Observation Haki can't predict my attacks!"

Certain of his advantage, Apoo skipped his usual rap prelude and launched his assault directly.

"Boom—!"

Clenching his right fist, Apoo struck his chest with a thunderous sound.

Boom!

Without warning, Maude's upper body erupted as if struck by cannon fire, halting his pursuit mid-step. Black smoke enveloped his figure, obscuring his face.

"Apa-Apa."

Apoo laughed triumphantly.

That was his ability—turning sound into attacks that bypass both Observation and Armament Haki.

However, the weakness was equally clear.

As long as one blocked their ears, they could nullify the attack entirely.

The fact that Maude had been caught off guard was exactly as Apoo had anticipated.

Initially, Apoo had planned to keep running—but seeing how effective his attack was, a dangerous thought took root.

Why not… kill Bacardi Maude right here?

The idea spread like wildfire in his mind, impossible to suppress.

"This is my chance!"

Gritting his teeth, Apoo slapped his forehead.

His mouth, now a cymbal, clashed together with a loud clang.

Slash—!

A killing blow fell upon Maude.

Shhh—!

The black smoke parted, revealing Maude's body sliced cleanly in two.

"I did it!"

Apoo danced with glee.

He knew full well that Maude possessed a Paramecia Devil Fruit—not a Logia.

With the combined effect of his Boom and Slash attacks, there was no way Maude could have survived.

Even Apoo hadn't expected it to be so easy.

Maude's bisected body collapsed to the ground.

The On Air Pirates crew, the Bonney Pirates, and countless hidden onlookers all witnessed the scene, their faces frozen in shock.

"The Warlord Bacardi Maude… killed just like that…?"

Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to believe what they had just seen.

Even Apoo himself thought Maude was dead.

However—

Maude's severed body began to dissolve into dark shadows.

It was… a three-dimensional shadow?

"Huh?"

Apoo's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's impossible… The Shadow-Shadow Fruit is a Paramecia!"

A chill crawled up his spine as an unprecedented sense of danger gripped him.

"Not bad… I'll be taking the Devil Fruit residing in your body."

A voice like the whisper of a devil echoed from behind.

Only Apoo could hear it.

The speaker was none other than Maude—who had silently appeared at his back.

Apoo's mind raced, trying to think of a way out—but Maude gave him no chance.

With a single punch, he shattered Apoo's spine.

For good measure, he twisted all four of Apoo's limbs.

The searing pain wrenched a scream from Apoo's throat as his body crumpled to the ground.

"Apoo-san!"

The On Air Pirates crew paled.

Though terrified, they drew their weapons in a show of loyalty.

What awaited them was a swift, unstoppable flying slash.

In an instant, the On Air Pirates were cut down, their bodies strewn across pools of blood—on the verge of annihilation.

The sudden reversal left all onlookers dumbstruck.

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