Pinch Tashigi's little cheeks!

The Overlord Chu's single punch completely deprived Smoker of any ability to fight back.

Yet, Smoker still harbored deep resentment in his heart.

He even believed that had the Overlord Chu not intentionally played the pig to eat the tiger, his strength would never have allowed him to lose in such a miserable fashion.

What he did not know, however, was that the Overlord Chu had not even used his full strength with that punch, utilizing perhaps a mere one percent of his power.

After all, his intention was to take Tashigi in as his secretary; if he were to smash Smoker's dog-like head into pieces with a single punch, it would simply be a bit too bloody......

"What, unconvinced?"

The Overlord Chu extended his left hand, pressing it down onto Smoker's shoulder to anchor his body in place.

Looking into Smoker's rather resentful eyes, he knew that this stubborn old fellow was still unwilling to face his own defeat.

Smoker's mouth twitched, and he said through gritted teeth, "I don't need your pity, don't help me up!"

The punch the Overlord Chu had just delivered was far too fierce; right up to this moment, he felt as though all his internal organs had completely shifted out of place, aching so intensely they no longer felt like his own.

Merely enduring the agony had already consumed all his mental fortitude.

Should he attempt to resist or move, he would likely pass out from the pain on the spot.......

Unexpectedly.

Hearing this, the Overlord Chu merely shrugged his shoulders and said with a faint smile:

"You misunderstood, I actually wasn't trying to help you up."

"Huh? What is the meaning of this......"

Smoker looked at the iron-like hand the Overlord Chu had rested upon his shoulder.

The Overlord Chu wore an utterly serious expression, his demeanor solemn as he declared:

"As you wish, let us have a proper and honorable duel!!"

"The only reason I used my left hand to hold your body was simply to fix this posture, making it convenient for my right hand to strike!"

"That is all."

Hiss~

Everyone present drew in a sharp breath.

Fix this posture, making it convenient for my right hand to strike!

Convenient for my right hand to strike......

Convenient to strike......

Are you a demon?!

When saying such words, doesn't your conscience hurt at all?!

Seeing the Overlord Chu's sandbag-sized fist about to smash into his face once more, Smoker panicked entirely~

"Wait, I surrender! I surrender!"

Smoker secretly exchanged a glance, signaling Tashigi to run—to run as far away as possible.

Though deeply unwilling, he was now left with no other choice.

If another punch landed, Smoker would genuinely be brought to tears by the pain.

The Overlord Chu gave a faint smile, his gaze playful: "Smoker, a true duel determines both victory and defeat, as well as life and death! Surely you didn't think a duel would end just because one party surrendered?!"

The Overlord Chu's fist halted right in front of Smoker's nose bridge.

Wrapped heavily around it was an immensely dense Armament Haki, twisting together into a pitch-black iron fist.

"Terrifying to this degree."

The previous attack had happened far too quickly; Smoker hadn't even had the time to observe the Overlord Chu's dense and terrifying Armament Haki.

Only under such close-range scrutiny could one truly perceive the horrifying nature of the Overlord Chu's Armament Haki!!

It was practically condensed into a tangible substance.

"You intend to kill me?"

Anxiety and panic filled Smoker's heart.

In the face of death, no one can maintain absolute calm!

"You were the one who proposed the duel; I am merely fulfilling your wish."

The Overlord Chu sneered, raising his fist and bringing it crashing down upon Smoker's face.

What is known as lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet?

This right here is lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet!

Wouldn't it have been fine if you had just honestly let me take Tashigi away? Why did you have to stand here flapping your gums—if I don't beat you, who should I beat?!

Splash!!

An iron fist imbued with Haki was simply not something a mere mortal like Smoker could possibly resist!!

At first, Smoker could still let out muffled grunts to express his agony, until finally even the muffled groans vanished entirely.......

Large swathes of blood splattered onto the ground, completely staining the grey bricks red.

One punch, two punches, three punches......

Each blow caused Smoker's head to ring incessantly, as if someone had placed a bronze bell over his head and was striking it with all their might.

"You demon! Stop this instant, do you want to kill Colonel Smoker?!"

Tashigi rushed forward, tears streaming down her face as she finally snapped out of the shock of Smoker's defeat.

Everything had happened far too fast.

Before she could even react, Smoker had been defeated.

Before she could even react, Smoker had been pounded into a puddle of bloody pulp.

Before she could even react, Smoker might well become a dead man.......

"Seventy-Two Transformations: Immobilization Spell!"

With a single thought, the Overlord Chu executed a hand seal and chanted an incantation, freezing the fleeing Tashigi right in her tracks.

The so-called Immobilization Spell is a magic technique capable of rendering a person completely motionless.

Back in the day, when the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, was summoned to the heavenly palace by the Jade Emperor and assigned to manage the Peaches of Immortality Garden,

the Seven Fairies came by imperial decree to harvest the peaches, only to be immobilized by Sun Wukong right beneath the peach trees.

And following that, as everyone well knows, came the famous tale of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven creating havoc in heaven.

Even celestial beings of the caliber of the Seven Fairies could be immobilized, let alone someone as mundane as Tashigi.

"You—what did you do to me? Why can't I move?!"

Tashigi demanded, terror gripping her heart.

While the Immobilization Spell renders a person incapable of movement, it still allows them to speak.

"Little country bumpkin, Smoker has already been defeated; according to our agreement, you now belong to me!"

The Overlord Chu reached out and lifted Tashigi's chin.

Tashigi's chest had already begun to develop into a small swell, currently in the season of a flower about to bud. Making an investment at this exact moment was clearly most appropriate.

There was no way he was going to let that perverted old uncle Smoker benefit from this!

"You scoundrel...... let me go!"

"Mmph...... it hurts!"

Tashigi struggled, wishing she could bite off the Overlord Chu's finger right on the spot.

"Little country bumpkin, you aren't being very obedient."

The Overlord Chu's finger slid upward from her chin, thrusting directly into Tashigi's small mouth.

"A golden opportunity! You scoundrel, how dare you flirt with me!"

Seeing that the Overlord Chu had carelessly thrust his finger right into her little mouth, Tashigi bit down hard without hesitation.

Crack~

Hisss!

It hurts!

What on earth kind of finger is this? Is it made of steel? Why is it so hard?!

Tashigi felt as though her teeth were about to shatter!

Tashigi was on the verge of tears, her eyes welling up.

If Nami were here as well, she would undoubtedly share the exact same sentiment regarding Tashigi's plight.

After all, this very finger had once been used to poke people to death quite literally!

"A naturally ditsy girl is truly adorable~"

The Overlord Chu laughed heartily, extending his left hand to pinch Tashigi's delicate face into a round ball.

The smooth, soft texture felt genuinely wonderful!

No wonder so many people loved pinching their girlfriends' little cheeks~

"White Devil Over...... Overlord! Let go of Assistant Tashigi right now, or we're going to open fire!"

Knowing full well it was a futile gesture, the rear-guard captain still raised the rifle in his hands, aiming it squarely at the Overlord Chu.