One Piece; Full Counter!

Chapter 17: CP6

The forest stood silent for a moment, its dense canopy casting fragmented shadows over the battlefield. Members of Cipher Pol 6, clad in their identical blue uniforms, encircled the diminutive figure of Meliodas. His golden hair, tousled and bright like sunlight, caught the eye of the black-haired woman who led them. A smirk played on her lips as she lunged forward, her movements precise and deadly.

But Meliodas was faster.

In a blur, his fist connected with her cheek, the impact echoing through the woods. Her body launched backward like a broken doll, crashing through trees as splinters rained down. Gasps of disbelief escaped the other agents. Before they could react, the Meliodas they had been attacking—prone and seemingly vulnerable—vanished into nothingness. A mere illusion crafted by Lostvayne, his blade of legend.

Standing amidst the chaos, Meliodas tilted his head slightly, his emerald eyes gleaming with mischief and menace. "If you're as weak as her," he said, his voice calm yet charged with dangerous energy, "then this won't even be fun."

Behind him, Elizabeth stood frozen, her hands clasped over her mouth. Her wide silver-blue eyes darted between Meliodas and the fallen woman, disbelief etched on her face. "How...?" she whispered to herself. "He looks like a child, yet he's this strong?"

From the sidelines, the villagers who had been watching in fear began to stir. For the first time in weeks, a glimmer of hope sparked in their eyes. They called out to him, their voices trembling with desperation.

"Young man, save us!"

"Please, we can't endure this any longer!"

"We don't want to be slaves anymore!"

Meliodas turned his head slightly to glance at them. Their tear-streaked faces and trembling hands tugged at something deep within him. He listened to their cries, their words heavy with fear and longing. But the moment was shattered by a sharp crack.

A Celestial Dragon, perched arrogantly atop a golden litter carried by terrified villagers, snapped his whip through the air. The jeweled handle gleamed under the scattered sunlight. "Silence, you disgusting vermin!" he roared, his voice dripping with disdain. His wide face twisted into a sneer, his eyes hidden behind a transparent bubble helmet. "If you don't shut your filthy mouths, I'll kill him—and then I'll kill all of you! Your voices disgust me! Your lives disgust me! Why were you even born? To be my slaves—that's your only purpose! A privilege you don't deserve!"

Meliodas' green eyes flickered, a storm brewing within their depths. His grip on Lostvayne tightened. A memory clawed its way to the surface of his mind—one he had tried to bury.

Another version of himself, a king known as Yulion, sat upon his throne. Before him knelt a slave trader, his greasy hands wringing a feathered hat as he spoke with a sickly grin.

"My liege, may I interest you in some of my finest stock? Strong men for your armies, and women of unparalleled beauty to satisfy your desires. Our reputation spans the globe! I assure you—"

The trader's words were cut short as Yulion seized him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The king's voice was low and menacing. "Sell me every slave you have—every last one. Take the gold and disappear. But hear me, scum: if I learn you've resumed this trade, I'll hunt you down myself. And I won't stop until you beg for death."

The trader's eyes widened in terror. "Y-yes, Your Majesty! I swear, you'll never see me again!"

Meliodas snapped back to the present as the Celestial Dragon barked orders to Cipher Pol 6. "Kill him! Now!"

Four remaining agents, their expressions grim, charged toward Meliodas. Each moved with lethal precision, their bodies honed through years of training. But as they closed in, Meliodas vanished, his small figure darting forward with impossible speed.

The agents skidded to a halt, staring at the empty spot where their target had stood. One of them, a man with short-cropped hair, muttered, "Where—"

Before he could finish, Meliodas reappeared directly in front of the Celestial Dragon. The noble's face twisted into shock, his trembling hands clutching his whip. Meliodas' yellow hair swayed gently, catching the faint breeze as he raised Lostvayne.

But just as he swung, a pink thread wrapped around his wrist, pulling him back with tremendous force. Trees splintered and toppled as his small frame crashed through them, leaving a trail of destruction.

On the other end of the thread stood the black-haired woman, blood dripping down her face. Despite the wound on her forehead, she grinned maniacally. "I am the leader of Cipher Pol 6," she declared. "You think I'd let you harm a Celestial Dragon while I'm here? Don't underestimate me!"

Meliodas narrowed his eyes, his grip firm on the pink thread. In one swift motion, he sliced it with Lostvayne. The woman's grin faltered, her dark eyes widening in disbelief as she was yanked forward.

"No..." she whispered as her body hurtled toward him, her thoughts racing. Did he just pull me in? With that small, frail body? What kind of monster—

Before she could finish her thought, Meliodas swung his blade, his voice cold and unrelenting. "Hurt him? Who said I planned to hurt him? I'm going to kill him."

The edge of Lostvayne bit into her shoulder, avoiding her neck with deliberate precision. She cried out as the force of the strike sent an invisible wave of power behind her, slicing through the forest like a phantom wind. Trees toppled in silence, their trunks cleaved effortlessly.

Blood sprayed from her wound as she collapsed, her consciousness fading. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "Defeated... by a child...? This must be a joke..."

The remaining Cipher Pol agents unleashed their Zoan forms, their bodies twisting into monstrous hybrids. One, a fox-like creature, charged a glowing orb of red energy in his maw before firing a laser beam straight at Meliodas. The crimson blast tore through the forest, vaporizing everything in its path.

Meliodas stood his ground, eyes narrowing as he analyzed the trajectory. With a sharp breath, he tightened his grip on Lostvayne and summoned four clones. They darted into position, each preparing to counter.

"Full Counter!" Meliodas yelled, striking the beam. The energy recoiled, surging skyward like a crimson comet.

Before the agents could react, Meliodas vaulted above the blast, his clones descending upon the Zoan users. Their synchronized attacks created a storm of power, culminating in a fiery explosion. The air shimmered with heat, and a red glow consumed the sky.

Elizabeth shielded her face from the scorching wind, her silver-blue hair whipping wildly. The villagers clung to one another, children wailing in terror.

High above, bathed in the crimson light of the explosion, Meliodas hovered. His green eyes blazed with determination as his voice rang out, clear and resolute.

"Execution Cube."

The battlefield erupted into silence, the overwhelming power of his presence leaving even the heavens trembling.

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