Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki Chapter 86 86 Wild Sand and Water

*Gulp.*

The sound of soone swallowing hard echoed.

Galdino froze in place; he didn't even dare to turn his head, let alone move.

It wasn't just the faint crackle of electricity dancing on the hand resting on his shoulder; it was the suffocating, near-tangible pressure emanating from behind him.

"I-It's nothing... My hand just slipped, that's all."

Cold sweat dripped down Galdino's face as he choked out a pathetic excuse in his panic.

*Crackle! Pop!*

Since the excuse was so poor, Zane generously treated him to a session of electrotherapy.

"Aaaaah!!!"

The intense electrical discharge was so bright it almost illuminated the bones within Galdino's body.

Amidst his screams, Galdino turned charred and smoking, collapsing onto the ground instantly.

Zane didn't kill Galdino.

Although he needed Devil Fruits to accelerate the nurturing of his Imprint Entries.

But compared to that, Galdino—the Wax-Wax Fruit user mockingly known as Mr. 3—was far more valuable alive.

"It really is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit power!"

From the mont Zane appeared, Crocodile had imdiately halted his assault.

Ignoring Manlong, he fixed his gaze intently on Zane.

Between the bounty poster photo and that unmistakable third eye, Zane's identity was instantly recognizable.

Not to ntion the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Turning into lightning and unleashing thunder at will.

Such a display was proof enough that the World Economic Journal's report of Zane being a suspected Rumble-Rumble Fruit user was accurate.

"Don't look at . He's your opponent right now!"

Having dealt with the interloper Galdino, Zane looked back at Crocodile.

He stood with his right hand on his hip, casually gesturing toward Manlong on the other side.

Manlong hadn't fallen yet, nor had he called for help.

This ant Manlong had no intention of giving up his fight against Crocodile.

Zane would never let down a subordinate he trusted.

"Hmph?!"

A shadow crossed Crocodile's eyes at Zane's words.

The main target had arrived but refused to engage, instead pushing him off onto a subordinate.

Such behavior was the height of arrogance and pure contempt.

*Whoosh!*

Responding to Zane's lead, Manlong—whose arms had already stopped bleeding—leapt into the space between Zane and Crocodile.

There were no words, only a silent, unwavering resolve.

His arms coated in Armant Haki, Manlong strode toward Crocodile.

"A re Three-Eye and a Fishman... Do you truly think you can stand against ?!"

Enraged by Zane's disdain, Crocodile laughed in fury and swung his hand, unleashing a sandstorm.

"Sables: Pesado!!"

The sandstorm began no larger than the palm of his hand, but the mont it left Crocodile's grip, it expanded violently into a hundred-ter-tall vortex, sweeping toward Manlong and Zane.

Debris from the bar and houses from the nearby streets were sucked into the vortex, their mass only adding to the sandstorm's destructive power.

Fishman Karate Secret Technique: Vagabond Drill!

Faced with the terrifying sandstorm, Manlong didn't back down. He broke into a sprint, a massive sphere of water instantly condensing in his palm.

"Hah!!"

With a thunderous roar, the heavy water sphere was launched as a devastating shockwave.

The air exploded with force.

The sandstorm was pierced and dispersed by the shockwave, which continued unabated until it reached Crocodile.

He instinctively activated his elental state.

Crocodile transford into a cloud of drifting sand, allowing the moisture-laden shockwave to pass through him and smash into the buildings behind, easily gutting several structures in the town.

*Whoosh!*

Manlong followed the trail of the shockwave, appearing right where the grains of sand were scattered.

He threw a punch heavily coated in Armant Haki.

*Bang!!*

Forced out of his elental state by the Armant Haki, Crocodile's body solidified instantly upon impact.

Crocodile, who had crossed his arms in defense, was sent flying by the force of the blow.

"You're dead!!"

Shocked and enraged at being forced into physical form, Crocodile stabilized himself and unleashed several sharp blades of sand.

He swerved around.

Learning from their previous exchange...

...Manlong decisively moved at high speed to the side the mont the sand blades were launched.

Manlong circled Crocodile rapidly, leaving a trail of avoided sand blades in his wake.

A figure lunged forward.

It was Bones.

He had been sent flying by Manlong earlier.

Though he had taken so damage, he clearly wasn't finished yet.

Now that he had recovered, he struck again, aiming to intercept Manlong and assist his boss in the fight.

"Your opponent is !"

Just as Bones rushed to intercept Manlong, a booming voice rang out.

Startled, Bones turned his head just in ti to be t with a fierce flying kick.

*Thwack!!*

Caught off guard, Bones was sent tumbling back.

The newcor was none other than Wyper.

Clearly, Wyper had his own ambitions.

After failing to find any worthy opponents at the harbor, he had followed the sounds of battle here.

*'So hard... This guy's body is like steel. No, he's actually turned into steel. Is it a Devil Fruit power?'*

Wyper landed and looked at the fallen Bones with surprise.

Having joined the Hunting Team and received training from Zane...

...Wyper's knowledge had expanded significantly alongside his strength.

Whether it was Haki or Devil Fruits...

...he was no longer ignorant of the fundantal concepts of the Grand Line.

Realizing Bones' body was made of steel, Wyper imdiately deduced it was a Devil Fruit ability.

Unfazed, he charged forward to press the attack.

Stabilizing himself with so difficulty...

...Bones acted decisively as he saw Wyper approaching. He activated his Dice-Dice Fruit, transforming his right arm into a blade and slashing out violently.

"Six Powers: Iron Body!"

As the strongest of the Shandia, Wyper possessed exceptional talent and willpower.

Building upon his already impressive physique, he had managed to master all the Six Powers in just three months under Zane's guidance.

Especially Iron Body.

Having challenged Enel ti and ti again, Wyper's stubborn nature was a perfect match for Iron Body, leading him to master the technique with profound skill.

Steel blade vs. steel body.

When Bones' slash struck Wyper's guarded arms, it only managed to leave a shallow cut.

"What?!"

Bones' expression darkened at the sight of his ineffective strike.

How could a human body be this resilient?

"Tempest Kick!"

Ignoring his opponent's shock, Wyper parried the blow and leaped back, imdiately unleashing a vacuum blade with a kick.

*Boom!!!*

The vacuum blade sent the unresponsive Bones flying backward.

However, the natural steel constitution of the Dice-Dice Fruit ant the vacuum blade failed to inflict any significant damage.

Seeing this, Wyper's fighting spirit soared even higher.

Now fully integrated into the Hunting Team, he knew he had to grow stronger—both for himself and for his people.

Only then could he earn more of his captain's attention and trust.

Manlong vs. Crocodile.

Wyper vs. Bones.

Aside from Galdino, whom Zane had already neutralized...

...the other Baroque Works officers weren't just standing around idle.

Wyper wasn't the only one who had rushed over from the harbor.

Many other elites of the Hunting Team were arriving as well.

Including fellow Shandia like Kamakiri, Braham, and others.

There were also veteran mbers from Angel Island and the Hunting Team's early days.