Asura Kabuto's expression stiffened. In his view, a shadow flickered, and King's figure appeared before him.
Currently, King had released his giant sand monster form and showed his real face before Asura Kabuto.
King's expressionless eyes slightly narrowed, and those three terrifying scars made Asura Kabuto's heart tremble.
(This man is truly too frightening.)
In his heart, Asura Kabuto had already placed King on the same height level as Saitama.
Unmatched!
"I say, I actually wanted to help you all capture those people. Actually I'm on your side, do you believe me?" Asura Kabuto forced a smile.
Tatsumaki sneered: "What do you think?"
Asura Kabuto laughed awkwardly. He himself didn't believe it either.
Suddenly, from the side came a pitiful angry shout: "Imu!"
Everyone immediately turned.
Bang could be seen, with bulging muscles enveloped in Busoshoku Haki like a demon god, intercepting Imu who was trying to quietly escape not far from there. However it was very clear that he wasn't Imu's match.
Bang's shoulder was half-slashed by Imu's sword, blood spurted like a fountain, and he roared in pain.
Currently, Imu wore a cruel grin.
At the One Punch Man World Hero Association, the only person who could restrict her, Saitama, had disappeared who knows where. In the earlier battle, she had also freed herself from the Sea Stone shackles. Now, she had no more doubts.
During the days at the Hero Association, Imu had received many inhumane treatments. To extract secret information from the One Piece World, the Hero Association used more than one method.
Imu remembered it very deeply and couldn't possibly forget it. And all that grudge she now directed at these S-Class heroes.
Initially Imu didn't really want to conflict with them here, but rather wanted to sneak away first and compile long-term plans after her strength recovered. However this old man (Bang) foolishly insisted on blocking her, then don't blame her.
The former supreme ruler of the World Government, although having lost her fangs, wasn't an existence that could be faced by Bang. If talking about strength, Imu in her prime could definitely enter the Strongest List's top ten, an existence even stronger than the Four Emperors (Yonko) like Shirohige. Bang was indeed a bit overconfident.
Seeing Bang's tragic condition, everyone's faces changed.
"Imu!"
Tatsumaki instantly became angry, and King's face also quickly became gloomy. The familiar King Engine began sounding again, dense and heavy drum beats pounding everyone's hearts.
Metal Bat mysteriously became enthusiastic: "This Imu truly doesn't know life and death. Although Saitama is gone, King hasn't left. Does she really think that in the Hero Association there's no one besides Saitama who can subdue her?"
"Kid, are you afraid?" Shukaku's voice echoed in King's mind.
Besides Saitama and King himself, perhaps only Shukaku knew King's real condition.
Before uniting with King, this person was indeed truly an ordinary human. What was called King Engine was just because his heart experienced tremendous surges due to strong stimulation.
King responded in his heart with an expressionless face: "Damn, how could I not be afraid! This person is the former supreme ruler in the One Piece World, her strength is very terrifying. Saitama-kun isn't here, who can restrict her? Don't be rash, both of us advancing might not necessarily be her match!"
Shukaku was a bit speechless: "Where did your earlier courage go?"
King answered confidently: "Earlier that was Saitama-kun who was in danger. He's my life's savior, I had to intervene. What's my business with this person (Imu)? If she escapes then she escapes, after all the information we need has been obtained, no need to directly conflict with her."
As for Bang who lost his arm, King didn't feel too guilty, he just felt a bit angry, that's all. His relationship with Bang wasn't that deep.
On a battlefield like this, not losing one's life was already good enough. Before he was just an ordinary human, he didn't have that high heroic consciousness. Now, although he had awakened as an Esper and united with Shukaku and obtained inheritance from Rank One, that change happened too fast; he himself hadn't even had time to adapt to his power.
"You want to block me?" Imu laughed arrogantly, her gaze sweeping the S-Class heroes' faces full of contempt.
Sensing Imu's mockery, Tatsumaki felt insulted. Her entire body floated into the air, her right hand waved, and invisible psychic power instantly pressed down, transforming into a terrifying air hammer to strike Imu's head.
Imu slightly raised her gaze, her hand pressed the sword hilt.
*SWOOSH!*
Sword energy split the sky!
That air hammer formed from high-concentration mental power was split in two by one sword slash, then shattered into fragments and scattered.
"Puh—"
Tatsumaki spewed fresh blood, her green dress stained with thick red spots. She fell from the air; her mental condition instantly suffered severe trauma.
"Tatsumaki!" King floated up and caught Tatsumaki, his expression tensing.
"Little girl, truly doesn't know her place!" Imu laughed coldly continuously.
Suddenly her gaze shifted, fixed on Shirohige and Shanks, then stared at Kizaru and Aokiji and other former Marine executives. Her expression slowly became very cold.
"Traitors, all must die!"
Kizaru and Aokiji's faces changed slightly, uncontrollable cold sweat poured on their foreheads. This former Marine supreme superior was truly angry!
Previously they were Marine Admirals directly under World Government jurisdiction. Strictly speaking, they could be considered this person's subordinates. Now they had discarded their Marine official status and joined the World Council, even becoming leaders there; that indeed could be considered betrayal of the old World Government.
But so what? Even the World Government's supreme ruler had once been someone else's prisoner, and the World Government had already collapsed into ruins. It was natural if they sought other ways out. Change kings, change followers; they couldn't possibly die foolishly for a tree that was already leaning.
"Who are you threatening, Imu!" Shirohige laughed uproariously: "Being confined for so long must not have been pleasant, right? If not because that Saitama disappeared, would you dare act insolently like this? Even dare threaten my comrades? Now the World Government no longer exists. Want to fight? I'll face you!"
The Gryphon sword at Shanks' waist also hummed faintly, his face remained calm: "Imu, you've already lost power. What's called revenge is meaningless. You're just alone, while here are experts on the Strongest List. If you move, you won't gain any benefit. Give me a little respect (give me face), leaving now still isn't too late."
Imu's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. She was unwilling, yet her heart weighed pros and cons.
What Shanks said was fact. Her current strength hadn't recovered; if she moved, she wouldn't gain benefits, there was even the possibility of being captured again.
Once she attacked, the Hero Association would definitely move, and most likely Shirohige and the others would also help. When that happened, she wouldn't be able to leave as she pleased anymore.