Controlling the Venomous Vine Serpent to form a two-meter non-toxic circle around them, Bazel carried Toki on his back and charged towards the enemies who were still flying incessantly towards the sea.
"Are the enemies on the sea?" Toki asked.
"Yeah, probably trying to rely on the seawater to limit my movements."
The red light representing Observation Haki within his eye sockets flickered at an extremely steady frequency as Bazel analyzed the upcoming battle situation.
"Aside from the seawater, Byrnndi World has learned the Marine's Geppo, and coupled with his extremely strong physical prowess, he shouldn't fall into the sea, at least for a short period of time."
"In his view, we probably only have two choices."
"I know!"
Toki raised her hand:
"The first is to stand on the shore and exchange long-range attacks!"
"The second is to risk going out to sea and chase the enemy on the ocean, but that would mean falling right into the enemy's trap."
"Byrnndi World is a Moa Moa no Mi user. His long-range attacks are much more powerful than ours, so no matter how we fight, his probability of winning is higher."
"Theoretically, that's correct."
Bazel said with a playful smile, "But he overlooked one thing: I also know how to use Geppo, that kind of aerial technique. And the power of the Venomous Vine Serpent isn't just as simple as a Poison Realm."
"If God doesn't help him, today will be the end of the World Pirates."
"The toxins accumulated in his body can no longer support him for a second round of combat."
…
Near the northwest coast of Jaya Island.
Byrnndi World hovered high in the air, his gaze occasionally sweeping the coastline to confirm the enemy's traces.
"So you've finally come. Come on, enter the sea and fight me. I will make this your grave."
A figure dashed out from the forest. It was Bazel, carrying Toki on his back.
"Bondi Wold, your pirate career is over."
"Barororo~~~"
"Don't joke around, brat! I was already fighting on the seas when you were still drinking milk in your mother's hug!"
Byrnndi World toyed with the crushed stones in his hand, a mocking look in his eyes.
"Come on, brat. Either you kill me today, or it'll be my turn to make sure you can't sleep at night."
"…"
Bazel slowly walked towards the nearby sea, jumped onto a reef close to the shore, and, under Byrnndi World's incredulous gaze, reached his right hand into the sea.
"What, planning to surrender because you know you can't win against me?"
"Surrender? You'll find out soon enough."
The white Venomous Vine Serpent wound around Bazel's arm and drilled into the sea.
Thump thump~~
The waves near Bazel began to pulsate as if they had a consciousness of their own.
This detail was naturally noticed by Byrnndi World.
'Something's wrong!!'
"More More Jubai Sandan!"
The crushed stones shot towards Bazel at an extremely high speed.
But...
"Disassemble, Venomous Vine Serpent, Poison Heart!"
Bzzt…!!
In the span of a single breath, the nearby sea area within 1 kilometer suddenly turned the same deep purple color as Bazel's scales.
"Awaken, Poison Sea!"
Boom!
A hundred-meter-high wave abruptly surged up, swallowing the stones flying towards Bazel.
"Only 3 minutes? But it should be enough."
Due to activating the Venom Body's Gear 2, only three Phantom Snake Spirits from the Venomous Vine Serpent were available.
Moreover, after using this disassembly skill, these three Phantom Snake Spirits would directly vanish.
Bazel would have to use the Atoner to convert them into new Phantom Snake Spirits afterward.
"Megatsunami."
Taking advantage of the giant waves stirred up by the sea, Bazel returned to the coastline, carrying Toki, who had already drawn her sword, on his back.
"Ready?"
"Charge, charge, charge!" Toki exclaimed excitedly, waving her sword.
Soru, Geppo!
Byrnndi World, who was dodging in panic, had his expression changed.
"How do you know the Marine's Rokushiki!?"
"Isn't this simple movement technique something you can learn just by seeing it once?"
Bazel retorted using the same words Byrnndi World had said earlier, his left hand supporting his partner's gluteus maximus from behind, his right hand clenched into a fist.
Armament Haki dyed his entire right arm jet black.
"Let's go!"
"Okay! Watch my flying slash!"
Toki swung her sword with all her might, sending a flying slash less than ten meters long shooting towards the enemy.
Bazel: ...
After getting used to Shiki's hundred-meter slashes, seeing such a small one felt a bit unfamiliar...
As Bazel had anticipated.
The flying slash Toki sent out wasn't even enough to injure the enemy, and Byrnndi World didn't even bother to dodge.
He simply waved his hand casually and destroyed the slash.
Poison flowed from within his body to the surface of his right fist. Bazel closed in on the enemy at high speed and then threw a punch.
Bang!
"Tch, such a troublesome ability."
Looking at the layer of purple glow now staining the Armament Haki on his arm, Byrnndi World frowned.
"More More Hyakubai Soku."
After applying the high-speed buff to himself again, Byrnndi World first retreated, then circled around at a speed invisible to the naked eye, arriving at Bazel's side.
He threw a punch towards the enemy's cheek.
His Observation Haki detected this punch, but Bazel had no intention of dodging.
First, he mobilized poison to the area the enemy was attacking, then delivered a full-force whip kick.
"Damn it!!"
Although he had successfully hit the enemy, Byrnndi World knew that he was still the one at a disadvantage in this exchange.
The fist that struck the enemy was once again contaminated with toxins, and the side of his waist, where he had been kicked, was also tainted with poison.
He quickly retreated.
Byrnndi World shook his severely dizzy head.
The enemy in his vision had multiplied from one to three.
Seeing the enemy's pupils begin to dilate slightly, Bazel understood.
The accumulated poison had exceeded the limit of what Byrnndi World could endure. All that was needed now was a few more attacks.
After that, he wouldn't even need to personally intervene; the poison would gradually consume the enemy's body and nerves on their own.
He retreated some distance, opened his right hand, and aimed his palm at the enemy.
"Devour!"
The purple sea beneath Byrnndi World's feet began to bubble like boiling water.
Before the seawater could surge into waves, several rotting bone fish leaped out of the water, their sharp teeth embedding into Byrnndi World's legs.
"Damn it!!"
Byrnndi World crushed the bone fish with his hands, dodged the incoming poison waves, and glared fiercely at Bazel.
He knew he had to retreat. If he delayed any longer, the toxins inside his body would become the final bullet that killed him.
"I'll remember you, Bazel!!"
Hearing this, Bazel knew the enemy was about to flee.
Immediately, he stopped stacking toxins and charged towards the enemy using Geppo.
Bang!
Fists collided, while Toki extended her blade to block another punch thrown by the enemy.
"Venomous Vine Serpent!!"
With Bazel's roar, the sea erupted completely.
But what followed wasn't purely a sea of poison.
Sensing something was wrong, Byrnndi World's expression changed drastically.
"Hey, hey, this isn't right, you bastard! Let go of my hand! This isn't your attack!!"
Byrnndi World tried to break free from Bazel's grip, his face filled with anxiety.
"This is an Knock Up Stream! If we're caught by this thing, we Devil Fruit users will be in huge trouble!"
'Knock Up Stream?!'
Bazel suddenly looked down.
The blue-and-purple mixed seawater had already surged to within half a meter below them, leaving almost no time to escape.
"Toki!"
Bazel had no time to deliver a finishing blow. He pulled Toki into his arms, turning his back toward the descending current.
Armament Haki covered his entire body.
"Tuck in! Don't leave any part of your body exposed!!"
Toki instinctively complied, but after realizing what was happening, she looked at the man in horror.
"Wait, Bazel, what are you going to do!?"
"I won't die. It's just a sea current."
Bazel lowered his head and grinned at Toki, "If we make it to Sky Island afterward, I'll be counting on you for my safety!"
Boom…
The Knock Up Stream arrived, its swirling waters engulfing all three of them and carrying them continuously upward toward the sky.
Bazel spat out a mouthful of blood.
Splattered with his scorching hot blood, Toki didn't bother to wipe it off. Instead, her small trembling hand rested on Bazel's face.
"You'll be okay..."
Bazel no longer had the strength to respond. The power of the Knock Up Stream had completely exceeded his expectations.
He had thought that as long as he withstood the initial impact, the rest would just involve being carried high into the air while exhausted.
But he never expected that after making contact with the impact current, the swirling tornado-like forces would begin to destroy his body.
Fortunately, the seawater was still mixed with the poison sea released when the Venomous Vine Serpent disassembled.
Without time to worry about whether Toki would be poisoned, Bazel manipulated the poison sea to form a spherical membrane around their bodies.
"The rest..."
Bazel opened his eyes, and the accumulated fatigue and injuries rushed over him at this moment.
"I'm counting on you."
---
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