Boom boom boom…!!!
The ground was shattered by tremendous force, sending massive triangular fragments of earth flying outwards.
Amidst the dust, a figure was suddenly sent flying backward.
Bazel wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, mentally commanding the remaining seven serpent spirits to spew poisonous mist again, creating advantageous terrain.
He himself turned into a shadow and vanished into the fog.
"Damn cunning insect..."
Whoosh!
A ferocious spinosaurus, nearly fifteen meters tall, leaped out from the poisonous mist!
Its body was covered in bizarre, multicolored patterns, and while still in mid-air, it transformed into its human-beast form.
The morning star connected to the sickle in its hand swung with fierce momentum!
"Die!!"
The morning star suddenly shot toward a specific spot within the poisonous mist below.
Whoosh…
A large hole was blasted through the purple mist, but there was no sign of Bazel behind it.
Hanafuda wasn't surprised. Although he had the advantage in raw strength, his speed was considerably lacking.
Even with the help of Observation Haki, he couldn't easily capture the quickly moving figure of his enemy.
Suddenly!
Two holes the thickness of a thigh tore through the poisonous mist, and two semi-transparent phantom serpent spirits shot forth!
Before the serpents even reached him, their hissing cries already sent chills down one's spine.
Poison mist!
Venomous Flame!
The mist and flames merged, bearing down on the enemy like a torrential downpour.
Seeing this, Hanafuda frowned deeply.
He chose not to stubbornly tank the attack head-on. Instead, he shifted his footing, quickly moving toward a safer area.
'I couldn't take it head-on!'
Hanafuda felt a piercing sense of crisis.
If he chose to tank the attacks of the two serpent spirits to kill them, it would not only increase the accumulation of poisons within his body but also give the real enemy hiding in the shadows a chance for a full-powered sneak attack.
His steps never ceased retreating as he swung his morning star, trying to kill the two pursuing serpent spirits.
But Hanafuda, currently preoccupied with Bazel's true killing move, put only seventy percent of his strength into each swing of the morning star, saving some force for a rapid change in tactics later.
…
King, who was watching from the sidelines, frowned, "Kaido-san, why isn't Bazel going all out? If he used his poisons at full power, the enemy should be poisoned and collapsed by now."
Toki instinctively pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.
"It's not that simple, Arber."
Kaido's eyes were fixed intently on a specific point within the poison mist, where a figure was hidden, gathering strength for a killing move.
"The enemy is an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit User."
"Even if Bazel went all out, Hanafuda could rely on his formidable physical strength, recovery power, and a temporary adrenaline rush to withstand the poisons and launch a counterattack."
"Bazel's strength is slightly inferior to Hanafuda's. If he attacks now, he risks being dragged into a mutually destructive situation."
"Biding his time and letting the poisons accumulate further is the correct choice."
"This is the nature of a serpent. Even the Mythical Zoan-type Yamata no Orochi can't avoid this."
King nodded, somewhat understanding, "I think I get it. So, when a serpent lacks strength equal to its enemy, it chooses to lie in wait."
"Then, when the time for a one-hit kill arrives, it strikes, delivering a fatal blow to the enemy, right?"
Kaido suddenly transformed into his hybrid form.
"King, stay here and protect Bazel's woman and that kid. Neither Bazel nor Hanafuda has realized the severity of the situation yet."
"We can't let Bazel use his sure-kill move. I don't want a partner I've taken a liking to crippled by serpent venom."
"Understood, Kaido-san!" The flames on King's back surged as his expression turned grave.
…
"It's about time..."
The murmur was concealed by the poison mist.
Bazel was currently in his Venom Body mode, his scales taking on an extremely ominous deep purple.
His gaze locked onto the enemy, who was being harassed by five serpent spirits. His right hand subconsciously took the form of a Shigan, and he was about to shoot forward using Soru when...
Bazel suddenly stopped.
'That was close. I can't use that move here.'
He changed the Finger Gun into a fist, channeling all the serpent venom to the surface of his knuckles.
"Next is the sure kill."
His right foot stomped heavily forward, and his entire body shot out like an arrow from a bow!
"Got you...!?"
Seeing Kaido suddenly appear, Bazel's expression changed. The punch he was throwing contained a significant amount of serpent venom.
If it landed successfully, it would absolutely bring Hanafuda down.
"Bazel, that's enough. I don't want my newly joined partner to end up crippled."
The kanabo parried the punch Bazel threw. Sensing the power behind the blow, Kaido's eyes lit up.
"Kid, you've gotten stronger again!"
While expressing his amazement, his other hand, coated in Haki, swatted away the morning star Hanafuda had thrown.
"You've lost, Hanafuda. If that punch had hit you, the poisons accumulated in your body would have instantly multiplied. At that point, forget fighting, surviving would be a question mark."
Just as his dragon tail wrapped around Hanafuda's ankle, preparing to throw him, a golden flying slash dozens of meters long suddenly fell from the sky.
Sensing the familiar aura with his Observation Haki, Kaido's expression changed drastically, "Shiki, you bastard, again!!!"
"Shihahaha, long time no see, Kaido brat!"
Thud…!!
"Kaido!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Bazel controlled the serpent spirits to change direction and launch an attack at the man in the sky.
Poison mist and venomous flames shot out, arriving later but striking first!
"Hanafuda!"
Hanafuda shook his dizzy head:
"I know, stop yelling!"
"Hey, Bazel, get this poison out of me! I can't fight a second round like this!"
Bazel, who was supporting a retreating Kaido, placed his palm on Hanafuda.
In just a few breaths, he had sucked all the poisons out of him.
Feeling his mind clear, Hanafuda picked up his sickle and, without hesitation, cut a wound into his own arm.
His muscles bulged, forcing out the last traces of poisoned blood.
The fatigue in Hanafuda's eyes vanished as his body transformed into a massive Spinosaurus.
"Hey, pirate, what do you think you're doing to my recognized comrade!?"
The enormous dinosaur's maw chomped down on the enemy.
Using his two swords to prop open the enemy's jaws, Shiki raised an eyebrow lightly, "Oh~ an Ancient Zoan piece of trash."
The Spinosaurus shook its head, flinging the enemy towards a nearby forest.
"Really just like the old days, Shiki. Should I thank you for holding back?"
Kaido slowly stood up, his left hand brushing over the not-too-serious slash wound on his chest and abdomen.
"Shihahaha, haven't seen you in years. Heard you snatched a good prospect from that guy Newgate a while back, right?"
As Shiki spoke, massive shadows suddenly fell from the previously clear sky.
Hanafuda instinctively looked up, his face horrified: "Why are pirate ships flying in the sky!?"
"I ate the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, I'm a Floating Human."
As dozens of pirate ships aimed their cannons, Shiki stopped about 30 meters away from the group.
A cigar dangled from his mouth, his golden mane of hair billowing like a lion's.
"Kaido, hand that guy over to me. I just happen to need a vice-captain."
"Hand him over? Worororo…"
Conqueror's Haki erupted violently.
Kaido's eyes widened, the brutality and anger within them unconcealed.
"Let's settle our old scores, Shiki. I received plenty of your 'care' back when I was an apprentice!"
"King, the enemies in the sky are yours!"
King acknowledged and was about to charge when Bazel grabbed him.
"King, your target isn't the sails, it's the powder depot."
Bazel's crimson vertical pupils looked towards the sky.
"Just blow up the ships. Shiki absolutely won't be able to split his focus to help so many pirates."
"Leave the rest to me."
"Understood."
King didn't question whether Bazel could handle it. The flames on his back surged violently.
He drew the katana he had picked up at his waist.
Flames wrapped around the blade.
Whoosh…
"I'm going, Bazel!"
Bang…!
The ground cracked into a spiderweb under the tremendous force!
Bazel turned and hugged Toki and Olga.
"Stay on my head later and don't move. I'll try to control the range of the poison mist."
"Hanafuda, take your men to the dock, be ready to set sail at any time."
"This fight won't last long."
Glancing towards the Kaido's battle already deep in the forest, Bazel's body began to rapidly enlarge.
"Let's save the final showdown with the Flying Pirates for the future. Now is not the best time."
"I understand! My pirate ship will be waiting for you at the dock!"
"Men, let's go!"
Meanwhile, in the sky, a fiery meteor streaked towards the Flying Pirates' fleet with brilliant flames.
"Fire the cannons!!"
"Fire now!"
Boom, boom...
Countless cannonballs shot towards King.
But under the special racial traits of the Lunarian Tribe, these cannonballs couldn't even kill King, let alone singe a hair on his head.
"I am the Conflagration, King of the Beasts Pirates! Remember that name!"
"To those who dare oppose Kaido-san…"
Whoosh… Boom!!!
A swelling, distorted fire dragon plunged into the fleet!
"There is only death."
"Karyudon!"