Ten minutes earlier

" I must confess to being happy to see you again. " Zoro confessed.

"Really?" Asked Cocytus.

"Of course." The swordsman assured, tying his bandana around his head.

Then, putting a saber between his teeth, he declared.

"You interfered in my fight against the elf and left when we only had time to fight briefly! Nevertheless..."

With a broad smile, he assured.

"I know you are strong."

"I can't wait to see the same thing." Cocytus chimed in. "Very few people managed to catch my eye."

Creating a magic circle on the side, he made his arm disappear there, before grabbing a huge sword.

"So don't disappoint me."

"You can count on me."

But before a confrontation could take place, the third person on the scene began to roar.

"Hey, if I'm disturbing someone, you have to tell me."

Having his hand clutching the hilt of his sword, Brain looked at the two men, before finally facing Cocytus. He didn't know either fighter, but Cocytus looked more monstrous than Zoro. Because of this, he prioritized him as an enemy to defeat, and decided to shift his attention to Zoro later.

"May I know who you are?"

Directing his gaze towards him, Cocytus tried to identify him. Still, he didn't remember seeing his face among Luffy's companions. And he didn't seem like a hero of this country either.

"You're being rude." The ice monster asserted. "Before you ask my name, you should introduce yourself first."

"My name is Brain." The man assured, positioning his saber in front of him. "Brain Unglaus."

"My name is Cocytus." His opponent assured, imitating him. "I have no reason to fight you! So if you decide to stay here as a mere spectator, I promise to save your life! Killing you or even fighting you is of no interest to me."

Having already heard a similar speech coming from Zoro, Brain gritted his teeth, while feeling his ego being lowered.

"Me too, I have no reason to fight against you! But nevertheless, I will! You only have to see what you look like to understand that you are the one who started the chaos around us."

"If you want advice, don't rely on people's appearance to jump to conclusions." Cocytus retorted. "It could force you to make a lot of mistakes."

"Grrrr! Do you take me for a beginner?"

"Your ability makes me think so." Cocytus confessed.

Angered by this, Brain suddenly sheathed his saber, before roaring.

" ENOUGH! LET'S FIGHT!"

Seeing him still having his hand clutching the grip of his sword, Cocytus noticed that he was adopting a different fighting pose. However, being in no way frightened, the warrior advanced towards Brain. Then he raised his sword above him.

Immediately, seeing him approaching him, Brain let his magic invade him and boost his abilities.

" ABILITY BOOST ! "

Staying behind him, Zoro thought he was casting an aura around the man, while a dome seemed to be created all around him. Walking towards this dome, Cocytus was about to enter the trap prepared by Brain.

"I will make you regret the humiliation you have caused me to experience."

Finally, the instant Cocytus set foot on the surface bounded by his magic, Brain drew his sword, ready to slash him. Brain had the ability to perceive everything within a three meter radius all around him and act faster than anyone. In this field he was creating around him, Brain was invincible.

And yet… yet… as his saber was halfway out of its scabbard, Brain suddenly froze. having already appeared in front of him, Cocytus' saber was ready to strike the top of his skull, and cut him in half down to the level of his crotch.

" That ... ? "

Seeming to see the action in slow motion, Brain saw the weapon closing in on him in slow motion. And yet, while he seemed to have time to avoid it, Brain had the feeling of being perfectly frozen. It was as if his brain understood the situation, but his body was unable to react to avoid the death that was coming his way.

at that moment, Brain had understood it. He had fully understood the difference in power that separated him from Cocytus.

"What...? Am I going to die?"

At that moment, a shock wave spread throughout the area. Still unharmed, Brain felt the wave hit his body, knocking him onto his ass. having appeared in front of him, Zoro had blocked Cocytus' attack with his own sword, stopping him without the slightest problem.

"Hey, you're going to make me jealous." The pirate asserted, with a mean smile on his face.

"Sorry for this unforeseen setback." Cocytus said. "But now that I know his level, I know you're the only one I can call a threat."

Striking the ground with his foot, Cocytus created a huge stalagmite that appeared beneath Zoro before rushing skyward, in order to skewer him. Anticipating this, Zoro immediately jumped back. However, barely having time to put a foot on the ground, he saw the spike of ice explode into pieces, while Cocytus had pulverized it, while running towards Zoro.

Raising his saber again, he lowered it towards Zoro. Not trying to flee a second time, Zoro crossed his sabers above him, and blocked Cocytus' weapon. However, the force of the shock created a shower of sparks, while the concrete cracked under Zoro's feet.

Gritting his teeth, Zoro felt the titanic power of Cocytus, as the muscles in his arms began to swell from the effort. However, managing to move his arms, Zoro made a powerful movement to the right, surprising Cocytus.

Beginning to lose his balance, the ice monster saw Zoro position his swords behind him, before aiming them at full speed in his direction.

" 1080 POUND CANNON ! "

Seeing sharp gusts of air rushing towards him, Cocytus immediately crossed his arms in front of him and took the attack. Nevertheless, stepping back several meters, Cocytus felt his feet slipping on the ground, despite the fact of his imposing weight. Still, using some of his true power, Cocytus managed to uncross his arms and dispersed Zoro's attack around him.

Then, stretching an arm in front of him, he created a magic circle. Appearing all around him, ice cannonballs appeared by dozens, before being launched at full speed towards Zoro.

Seeing the first projectile appear in front of him, Zoro bent down in extremis, while the ball grazed him. Continuing its course, the projectile struck a building and had no trouble pulverizing an entire facade upon impact. And already, nine other projectiles appeared all around the swordsman, ready to pulverize him too.

Yet, displaying a stoic gaze, Zoro remained perfectly still, even when the balls of ice swooped down on him.

" RODUKO NO TSUJI ! "

Seeing the fight, Brain couldn't help but widen his eyes. Zoro remained perfectly still. And yet, without Brain being able to see it or even understand it, the projectiles were suddenly cut in two and passed around Zoro, without being able to touch him.

" How ... ? "

Then flexing his legs, Zoro then rushed towards Cocytus.

" RENGOKU ONI GIRI! "

Standing still, Cocytus simply lifted his foot and slammed it against the ground again. And the next moment, a huge wall of ice materialized in front of him.

"Let's see if you can put me in danger."

In response, Zoro's sabers slammed into the ice wall. But immediately, Zoro was surprised to find that his attack hadn't made the slightest scratch to the protection.

" What ... ? "

Seeing this, Cocytus clapped all four of his hands on the ice wall and, using his titanic strength, the monster managed to push the wall away, along with Zoro. Trying to struggle, Zoro found that he was backing up towards a building. Cocytus wanted to crush him between his ice wall and a concrete wall.

"If you can't slice through this wall, then you're not up to it." Cocytus affirmed.

Feeling his feet slipping back, Zoro gritted his teeth. Seeing him do this, Brain saw that even he was helpless. Cocytus seemed invincible. But in that case, why did a smile suddenly appear on Zoro's face.

" You are very interesting. "

"Huh?" Cocytus and Brain wondered.

Suddenly, Zoro's arm muscles tripled in size.

" DOUBLE GORILLA SLASH ! "

Having a tenfold offensive force, Zoro's sabers hit the wall of ice again, and managed to cut it into pieces. Seeing this, Cocytus immediately created another teleportation portal in order to release a golden halberd.

Already in front of him, Zoro attempted to disembowel him, but his sabers were blocked by Cocytus' two weapons. Seeming perfectly evenly matched, the duo then proceeded to perform a series of quick moves that combined ice attacks and slashing gusts of wind.

Still sitting on the ground, Brain remained motionless...Even when an attack from Zoro missed Cocytus and hit the ground near Brain...Even when Coytus froze the ground, turning it into a skating rink, while the ice covered the asphalt, before stopping right in front of Brain's feet... And even when the duo created new shock waves when their weapons clashed, Brain remained motionless.

But while he initially felt fear, the man eventually showed admiration in his gaze, while his eyes resembled Midoriya's when, as a child, he watched All Might's exploits.

" Sugoi ! "

Having seen Usopp running away, chased by Albedo, Sanji tried to get up. Bleeding from his face, he felt dizzy as he couldn't help cursing his performance. Again, he had been defeated by a woman and because of that, Usopp was now in danger.

" Damn it ! "

Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind him. Turning immediately, Sanji saw a white-haired woman staring at him in surprise.

"Pitpocket-chan?" he wondered, recognizing Sydney.

Since he separated, the young woman had tried in vain to leave the city. Unfortunately, the presence of the Nomus had forced him to run towards the city center, to try to shake them off. And that's how she had Sanji fight Albedo.

"How?" She wondered. "How can you still be able to stand?"

Looking at the young woman, Sanji declared.

"I'm relieved to see you still alive! When you ran away, I thought you had a bad encounter."

" Huh ? "

Managing to get up, Sanji walked over to Shoto's unconscious body and picked it up. Then he went to Sydney and gave her the child's body.

"Sorry to ask you that, but take care of him."

" What ? "

"Run out of town." The blond ordered, before walking in the direction Usopp had fled. "

"And you? Where are you going?"

" I'm going to save my friends. " Sanji affirmed.

"WHAT? Are you stupid or what?" Sydney questioned her. "Getting beaten once wasn't enough for you? You don't stand a chance! You're going to get killed."

"Maybe..." Sanji affirmed. "But that's no reason to run away."

Then he ran and disappeared from Sydney's sight.

"This guy...he's crazy."

Being hidden behind a wall, Foire had seen the whole scene. But she didn't know what to think. What had Usopp thought in intervening in this way? He had no chance of defeating Albedo, and yet he hadn't hesitated to get her attention, to protect Sanji.

"Tssss! That idiot." She said. "He's even dumber than I thought."

Then, having noticed that no nomu was still in town, Foire decided to leave her hiding place to leave the hell that this place had become.

"He can die here, it's not me who will mourn his death."

Yet, surprising itself, the homunculus paused for a moment, before looking in the direction Usopp had fled. Thinking back to when the man had intervened to save her, Foire seemed slightly hesitant.

However, finally shaking her head, to drive away any stupid idea, she resumed her run and moved away from the city center.

A few years ago, a Jamaican runner managed to break the sprint record ever achieved by a human being. And yet, today, someone had pulverized this achievement.

Running at full speed through Hosu's quarters, Usopp cried out in fear, his sprint kicking up dust behind him. Crying with fear, he tried in vain to call for help.

" LUFFY ! HELP MEEEEEEEEEEE ! "

Seeing a wrecked car in front of him, the sniper jumped over it and resumed his run. However, the next second, the car wreck was pulverized, then a flying figure chased Usopp.

"Where do you think you're going?" Albedo roared.

Holding her halberd with both hands, she created sharp gusts of wind, which targeted Usopp. Screaming again in fear, Usopp heard the destruction unfold behind him, as the attacks devastated everything behind him.

Seeing him running quickly, or suddenly zigzagging, Albedo felt the anger rising within her. Usopp was just running away. And yet, he seemed to be able to dodge each of her attacks, without even needing to stare at her.

"Are you going to stop running?" She roared.

Flying faster, the Succubus eventually lands in front of Usopp, forcing him to stop.

"The comedy stops here."

However, already having his slingshot in hand, Usopp was aiming for it.

" SMOKE STAR ! "

Hitting her armor, the projectile created a cloud of smoke, which surrounded the succubus. Seeing this, Albedo murmured.

"It's not even fit for a child."

Then, flapping her wings, her created a storm that had no trouble clearing the smoke. However, she groaned in displeasure, seeing that Usopp was no longer there.

" Where is he ? "

" EGG STAR ! "

An egg slammed into the front of her helm. Standing still, Albedo let the liquid from the food drip onto her helm, while an unpleasant odor could be smelled. Clutching the hilt of her halberd, Albedo's grip cracked the weapon, showing the rage she felt.

It didn't look like a fight at all. Usopp behaved like a coward. But, in this case, how did he manage to humiliate her so much?

Being hidden in an alley, Usopp saw the succubus standing still. Seeing that she didn't seem to know where he was, the sniper decided to leave silently.

"I have fulfilled my mission." He affirmed. "Thanks to me, Sanji wasn't killed by that succubus! I saved his life."

Then, leaving the alley, he rushed to where his friend's body was to be.

"I'm picking up Sanii and we're leaving this town! It's become too dangerous."

Suddenly, a wall next to him exploded and a sharp gust of wind slammed into him. His eyes widening as blood spilled from his mouth as he fell to the ground. Having an injury to his abdomen, Usopp rolled in his mouth, while screaming in pain.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"I finally hit you." Albedo affirmed, landing in front of him. "You seem to be able to run away quickly...but that's it."

Feeling his fear replacing the pain he was feeling, Usopp attempted to grab hold of his Kabuto again. Unfortunately, Albedo's fist hit his face, pulverizing his nose and part of his teeth.

Collapsing on his back, Usopp felt blood running down his face as a tooth fell to the floor. With her fist still clenched, Albedo completely ignored the blood that was coating her gauntlet and starting to drip onto the floor.

"Pitiful." She asserted. "Is that really the power of Mugiwara's crew?"

Then she took a step forward. And it was at this moment that dozens of creepers came out of the ground and began to tie her up.

" What ? "

Seeing her immobilized, Usopp suddenly sat up, while his Kabuto was aimed at the succubus. Even though he was bleeding and felt like his skull was in pieces, the sniper was ready to start a counterattack.

" SNAKE FIREWORKS ! Et now ... "

He fired a projectile, which exploded as it slammed into Albedo's armor.

" SKULL EXPLODING ! "

The explosion that took place caused a new wave of shock felt throughout the city. Feeling the gusts of wind caused by his own explosion, Usopp crawled on the ground as he tried to get up.

"I don't know if I managed to knock her out, but I have to take the opportunity to escape! This woman, she is far too dangerous."

"Hey! Is that really the limit of your power?"

Widening his eyes, Usopp felt his entire body freeze. Then, slowly turning his head behind him, he saw a figure visible through the explosion. Walking as if nothing had happened, Albedo was still standing, perfectly unscathed. Her armor barely had a few burn marks.

" Ho ... How ? "

"Oh? Are you surprised? Sorry, it's my fault! After all, I didn't tell you that my armor had the ability to absorb an entire attack, without letting me feel any damage. "

Hearing this, Usopp attempted to back away, while Albedo continued to walk towards him.

"Who's got God Usopp? How come a god backs down from a demon?"

In response, Usopp fired another projectile at her.

" EXPLODING STAR !"

Another explosion took place. But, again, Albedo could be seen walking through the explosion.

" EXPLODING STAR ! EXPLODING STAR ! EXPLODING STAR ! "

Several explosions could be heard, but none managed to stop the advance of Albedo who finally found herself in front of Usopp. Feeling his arms shaking, the sniper was now unable to do anything, as he heard a horrible chuckle, coming from Albedo's helm.

Screaming in fear, he tried to run away, but Albedo grabbed a handful of his hair to stop him from running away.

"I had thought of offering the blonde's head to your captain! Nevertheless, I will have to settle for yours."

" HELLLLLPPPPPP ! "

"Die in silence!" Albedo ordered him, ready to kill him.

" HORN POINT ! "

Completely surprising the succubus, the ground cracked at her feet and a figure emerged. Unable to react in time, Albedo felt a huge pair of horns hit her abdomen. Letting go of Usopp, the succubus' body flew backwards, before crashing into the facade of a building.

Falling to the ground, Usopp felt uncontrolled shivers run through his body, as he realized he had once again come close to death.

"Usopp!" called his savior, kneeling before him. " How's it going ? "

"CHOPPER !" Cried the sniper, sobbing. "I've never been so glad to see you."

"Who was that person?" Asked the reindeer.

"I don't know and I don't want to know! Let's get out of here and get Sanji back! That woman...she's too powerful for us."

" Huh ? "

Suddenly, Chopper's eyes widened. As dumbfounded as he was, Usopp had seen a projectile hit Chopper's left side and pierce him completely. Slowly lowering his gaze, the reindeer saw a hole had formed down the left side of his abdomen.

Spitting blood, he collapsed on the ground.

" CHOPPPPPPEEEEERRRRR ! "

" Did you understand ? "

Flying through the sky again, Albedo was visible, with a stone in his hand. Having thrown a first pebble, she threw it with enough force to hurt Chopper. And now that she knew the true level of her second target, she knew that a single attack would be enough to kill him.

"You really are pathetic." She asserted, throwing her second pebble at Usopp.

" BIRD FIRE STAR ! "

A firebird flew towards the stone and managed to pulverize it, before flying towards Albedo.

"DIE!" Usopp shouted. "Die and never come back."

Far from being impressed, Albedo only made Ginnungagap appear in her hand. Then, she aimed the end of the weapon at Usopp's attack.

"It's you who will disappear."

The next moment, an explosion hit the firebird, consuming it completely. Then, the explosion headed towards Usopp, who had no chance of avoiding it. Standing still, he was so terrified that he didn't even try to run away.

" Luffy ... help. "

" GUARD POINT ! "

Again, Chopper surprised Albedo. Despite the visible hole in his left side, the reindeer had found the strength to get up and transform again. He took the form of a huge ball of fur about ten meters in diameter. Having positioned himself in front of Usopp, Chopper had put his body in the path of the explosion and had taken the attack.

Flabbergasted, Usopp heard the shock wave caused by the attack. Then, his body flew backwards, as shock waves and smoke turned what was left of the neighborhood into chaos.

Feeling his body perform several back rolls, Usopp eventually felt his back slam into a car. Groaning in pain as his abdominal injury worsened, Usopp opened one eye. Which allowed him to see a silhouette flying in the sky.

Having reverted to his chibi form, Chopper lost consciousness as the attack threw him into a building he passed through. Then, his body hit the ground of another district, while his body covered with blood remained inert. Even his defensive form couldn't stop Albedo's attack.

Seeing this, Usopp wanted to wake up. What was happening ? Why did this person want to kill them? How could he defeat her? He had no chance. He wanted to realize he was having a simple nightmare and wake up as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, appearing in front of him, Albedo pointed at Ginnungagap in front of him, before affirming.

" It's over. "

Then, a new explosion was produced.

Countdown to a potential end of the story: 4 chapters remaining.