The sky was illuminated by dazzling 'fireworks'.
Bazel, now in his complete form of Yamata no Orochi, was rapidly accumulating poison mist within his body.
"Toki, protect Elizabeth and Olga. Make sure they don't fall into the poison."
"Understood, Bazel-kun!"
Toki held the sea lizard and the little girl, also pulling out a rope to firmly secure herself to a protruding serpent scale.
Apart from the serpent head carrying Toki, the other seven heads rose high, their flickering tongues releasing wisps of poison mist.
"Bazel!!"
Following King's shout from the sky, Bazel activated his Observation Haki, locking onto the members of the Flying Pirates' crews who were momentarily stunned by the explosions.
"Hey, there's a super huge serpent down below. Be careful!"
"Dammit, we let our guard down. Who'd have thought that nobody would possess such terrifying power?!"
"Hey, hey, what's with that eight-headed serpent down there?!"
"Why does it matter? It's obviously an enemy. Just kill it! Otherwise, when Shiki-sama returns, we'll be in trouble!"
As more and more pirate ships were ignited by King, pirates fell to the ground like dumplings.
Fortunately, most pirates had tough physiques, so they didn't die from the first wave of falls.
But…
Poison mist!
The serpent head controlling the venom ability opened wide, spewing poison mist!
"It's poison!!"
"Hold your breath!!"
"Kill him!!"
The pirates trying to pull the triggers of their guns shook their heads dizzily. The eight-headed serpent in their vision suddenly multiplied from one to two, then to four.
A suffocating sensation and violent coughs struck simultaneously.
An indescribable itch made them instinctively drop their weapons, frantically scratching their bodies.
"Save… save me…"
"Cough, cough…"
"Kill me, just kill me!"
Screams of agony filled the air.
Where there were weaklings, there were also strong ones. As King was intercepted by captains under the Flying Pirates in the sky, several pirates also broke through the poison mist.
These individuals were all clad in Armament Haki, their eyes sharp. Though their breathing was somewhat labored, they were far better off than their panicked comrades.
"Hey, hey, what do you think you're doing to my comrade?!"
A spinosaurus over ten meters tall suddenly charged from the side, sending the pirates attempting to attack Bazel flying.
After transforming into his hybrid form, Hanafuda quickly put on a gas mask.
Turning around, he gave a thumbs-up to Bazel.
"Did I make it in time?"
"It couldn't be more timely."
"Naraku's Poison!"
The poison shifted from purple to gray!
Amidst the spine-chilling sound of joints cracking, bestial roars erupted.
Bazel didn't immediately use Yamata's Phantoms.
Instead, he controlled the ferocious-looking atoners to launch a counterattack.
"What the hell are these things?!"
"Shiki-sama, Shiki-sama, help!!"
Hanafuda glanced at the atoners, then swung his morning star skyward.
Boom…!
The incoming cannonballs were all smashed mid-air.
"Your ability is truly terrifying, just like a natural disaster."
"To think you can resurrect dead enemies to fight for you… what kind of Devil Fruit did you eat anyway?"
"Hebi Hebi no Mi, Mythical Zoan-type: Yamata no Orochi."
Bazel took a moment to explain, "This is just a minor application of serpent venom. Mythical Zoan Fruits are even rarer than your Ancient Zoan-type."
As more and more enemies were killed by the atoners, only to be resurrected by the Naraku's Poison, Bazel's forces of atoners didn't diminish but instead grew larger the longer the battle went on.
Just as the situation was progressing ideally, an overwhelming burst of Haki suddenly erupted.
"Shihahahaha! Truly an impressive ability! To think my crewmembers have become your subordinates?!"
"Bazel, be careful!!"
A streak of golden light shot over from the distance. Seeing Shiki materialize before him, Bazel's pupils constricted sharply.
His Observation Haki sensed it, but his body couldn't react in time!
Even though the enemy's body wasn't even as long as one of his fangs now, the aura he emitted was like a star, absolutely impossible to ignore!
Shiki glanced peripherally at the chaotic battlefield behind him, the pressure of his Conqueror's Haki intensifying once more.
The atoners twitched a few times like toys losing power before collapsing to the ground.
"Let me teach you a lesson. Haki is the true essence of this sea."
Crackle…
Black-red lightning suddenly coiled around Kogarashi's blade.
Bazel had barely completed his hybrid transformation when Shiki's sword arrived.
A gash was slashed across his left shoulder and chest, blood gushing out!
Fortunately, Hanafuda was nearby.
The hybrid spinosaurus swung his sickle, but it was blocked by Shiki's other famed blade, Oto.
"Trash daring to swing a sword at me?"
Lifting his leg, Shiki kicked Hanafuda away, then turned his attention back to Bazel, who was struggling to rise.
"Oh~? It was those metal-like scales that blocked a fatal strike, huh?"
"But it doesn't matter. Just means a second strike is needed… Hey, hey, Kaido, I'm in the middle of educating my future vice-captain."
Shiki suddenly ascended higher, dodging the incoming Bolo Breath.
Bazel's expression changed again. Without time to hesitate, he crossed his arms in front of him, activating his Armament Haki to its fullest.
Tekkai!
Boom…!!!
'This power...'
Sensing the unusual power in the Boro Breath, Bazel instantly understood Kaido's intention.
He used the force of the Bolo Breath to retreat with Toki.
As for Olga, she had already been carried away by Elizabeth to a great distance.
"Hanafuda, take Toki and the others to evacuate to the ship. I'm going to help Kaido!"
Toki instinctively resisted: "I don't want to! I want to stay and fight with you!"
Bazel reached out and ruffled Toki's light green hair.
"I won't die. Believe me. If I can't even handle a fight of this level, then I'm not worthy of marrying you."
"And this is just a greeting for now. I'm still quite far from the pinnacle of the sea."
"What kind of time is this for that?!"
Toki swatted away Bazel's hand in exasperation, shooting him a glare, "Stop with the smooth talk, Bazel-kun!"
"Yes, yes, yes. Go evacuate quickly. Leave the upcoming fight to us men."
He picked up Toki and tossed her towards the sea lizard.
"Olga, I'm counting on you!"
"I know! Let's go, Toki-nee!"
Olga raised her arms and shouted, "Go, Elizabeth! We're starting the great escape operation!"
"That stupid serpent definitely won't die. Hmph, definitely not, because he's strong."
Toki, caught between tears and laughter, gently tapped Olga, "You said what you were thinking out loud again, Olga. And you have to call him Bazel-nii."
"Nii? I'm old enough to be his grandmother's grandmother. It's just that my body hasn't grown up yet."
Amidst a series of weird laughs, the spinosaurus escorted the sea lizard as they quickly disappeared into the forest.
…
On the battlefield, Bazel and King regrouped, forming a triangle with Kaido to surround Shiki.
"Oh, how terrifying. I was almost scared enough to wet my pants."
Shiki spat out the cigar butt in his mouth nonchalantly, his eyes narrowing with undisguised contempt.
"Kaido, the apprentice from the Rocks Pirates has grown up too."
"The apprentice thing is in the past, Shiki. You're surrounded now."
Kaido rested his kanabo on his shoulder, the slash wounds on his upper body were already showing signs of healing.
"I haven't settled the score with you for destroying my pirate ship a while back. Since you delivered yourself today, don't blame me for not remembering old ties."
"Surrounded? Me?"
Shiki threw his head back and laughed wildly, even squeezing out a few tears.
"That's the funniest joke I've ever heard! You're saying... I'm surrounded?"
"It's you who are surrounded!"
Conqueror's Haki erupted once more!
Bazel and King instinctively took half a step back, their expressions grim.
'This pressure was even stronger than Kaido's!'
Kaido's eyes glared, and his own Conqueror's Haki burst forth.
But compared to the fully matured Golden Lion, Kaido at this point was clearly outmatched.
"Such an immature Haki...!"
Swish…!
Observation Haki detected the enemy's aura rushing towards him. Prepared, Bazel opened his mouth and spewed a blast of poisonous mist.
Simultaneously, his right fist shot forward, while his left hand secretly snapped its fingers.
The serpent spirits hidden in the nearby soil burst forth, charging towards the atoners who had been affected by Shiki's Haki earlier.
Yamata's Phantoms: Naraku's Poison!
Boom…!
Oto blocked the fist. As Shiki was about to swing Kogarashi, the flames vanished, and King, his speed boosted, charged in front of him, raising his sword for a downward slash!
Shiki retreated a step, his wooden clog kicking King's thigh. As his opponent staggered, he released his grip on his swords, grabbed Bazel and King by their collars, and threw them aside.
He then quickly turned around, gripping his two swords inverted in his hands, attempting to block Kaido's descending kanabo.
"Daiitoku Raimei Hakke!!"
Seeing this, Shiki's expression changed slightly, "You bastard!!"
"Fly away, Shiki!!"
Kaido glared furiously, the muscles in his arms swelling again.
"I am Kaido of the Beasts, the man destined to change the world!!!"
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