"Pant... pant..."
The two n gasped for air as they resurfaced.
"That brat's speed underwater is terrifying," Doberman said. "No wonder he's so confident."
Doberman considered himself quite fast, yet that kid moved even quicker beneath the waves!
"Just a cheap trick," Strawberry replied. "Find a way to break his Ninjutsu!"
Strawberry speculated that the opponent's terrifying underwater mobility must stem from the unique properties of his Water Release technique. Once forced onto land, their superior speed should make killing him easy.
"Easier said than done..."
Doberman grimaced at iser's taunting gaze from below the surface. The sheer speed made countering the technique nearly impossible. They'd tried slashing through the water sphere before, but it reford instantly - a complete waste of effort.
"Thud~"
The distinctive sound of Moonwalk drew their attention.
Seeing Momonga return alone, Strawberry first brightened, then frowned. "Where are the others?"
Even with one arm missing, Onigumo shouldn't have been imdiately incapacitated - that hardline hawk was ruthless against all enemies. And if he faltered, Doberman should still have been combat-ready.
"Gentlen, brace yourselves," Momonga took a deep breath. "The enemy we're facing... is utterly despicable."
Under their puzzled stares, he recounted recent events. Glancing down, he noted iser had stopped pursuing ordinary marines, instead beckoning them with a co-hither gesture.
The unspoken challenge: Co down, and I'll spare them.
"Truly... vile..." Doberman ground his teeth. "That cowardly bastard!"
Refusing direct combat, abstaining from offensive Ninjutsu, instead resorting to... poison as his ultimate weapon. The absolute scum!
"No wonder they couldn't escape the water sphere," Strawberry analyzed coldly. "From now on, maintain maximum Observation Haki at all tis. Don't let a single attack land."
"And never inhale seawater. Surface for air when oxygen runs low before reengaging." He paused, then added, "Though I can't confirm whether he'd poison this entire body of water... we can't afford to gamble."
With two vice admirals already down - potentially fatally if this dragged on - they couldn't afford another mistake.
"Then we keep fighting!" Doberman declared. "At least buy ti for the others to escape."
The subrged marines had long realized their predicant - staying ant certain drowning. They'd been struggling toward safety since the beginning, though so had been intercepted and killed by iser.
The stronger ones tried their best to carry their comrades along.
But taking everyone was nearly impossible. This ti... so were inevitably destined to be left behind in the vast sea.
"Honestly, I really want to cut them down," Momonga growled, his grip on his sword tightening until veins bulged as he glanced toward the Straw Hat Pirates.
Yet he knew he absolutely couldn't strike now—otherwise, the consequences would be irreversible!
"Leave it to those guys," Strawberry said. "Not all the marines who ca with us this ti are ordinary soldiers."
"That damn brat will eventually learn just how unshakable the Navy's will is!"
Once the marines escaped this massive body of water, they would have a chance to capture the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates. And this... was also one of their current objectives in stalling the enemy!
"Moonwalk!"
Strawberry shouted lightly, darting downward at high speed, heading straight for iser!
Seeing this, the other two wasted no ti and quickly followed.
This ti, however, all three pushed their Observation Haki to the limit, ready at any mont to reinforce their bodies with Armant Haki—at the very least, they couldn't let themselves be hit by poison attacks.
Die, brat!
A fierce killing intent flashed in Momonga's eyes. Before he even got close, a Flying Slash shot out!
"Whoosh—"
The slash rippled through the seawater, stirring turbulent waves.
But unfortunately, Momonga's Flying Slash couldn't even hit iser on land, let alone underwater.
"Thud!"
The slash sliced through the water unimpeded, striking a Navy Battleship on the surface. With a single slash, the ship was cleaved apart, instantly rendered inoperable.
Momonga: "..."
Staring at his handiwork, Momonga was utterly speechless.
Doberman patted his shoulder, signaling that he shouldn't dwell on it.
The mont the battleship was enveloped by the water, it was already as good as destroyed—the enemy could have wrecked it at any ti!
The only reason they hadn't was likely because they didn't want to waste energy.
Two-Sword Style: Pinnacle!
Strawberry's speed suddenly skyrocketed, darting toward iser like a swordfish at blinding speed.
The instant he closed in, Strawberry raised his twin blades and slashed down!
Die, brat!
A cold glint of murder flashed in Strawberry's eyes as his Haki-wreathed weapons rcilessly severed iser's body!!
"Thud!"
Did it work?! The other two thought excitedly.
But Strawberry wasn't as pleased—because he realized what he'd cut wasn't the real body. The sensation was completely off!
"BOOM!!"
The bisected iser didn't dissipate. Instead, it exploded violently.
Strawberry's pupils shrank. Damn ninja, did you really think I'd fall for this trick?!
With Onigumo and the others as cautionary examples, how could he let himself be trapped in a water prison?!
Thinking this, Strawberry swiftly retreated, intending to escape the attack range first.
Yet before he could get far, his Observation Haki sensed sothing flying toward him—right where he was pulling back.
Damn it... can't dodge—
"Armant Haki, Hardening!"
Without a second thought, Strawberry quickly covered his body with Armant Haki, preparing to withstand the attack.
The next mont...
"BOOM!!"
A spear made of water struck Strawberry's body, transforming into a terrifyingly massive waterspout upon impact.
The overwhelming force tore at Strawberry's body, forcing him to maintain his Armant Haki without a mont's respite.
In the end, the devastating force hurled him away, slamming him violently into the ocean and creating a vacuum zone upon impact!!
"BOOM!!"
Monts later, the seawater rushed back in, burying Strawberry beneath it.
Blood trickled from the corner of Strawberry's mouth, his expression turning grim.
Without Armant Haki protecting his body, this attack would have killed him!
"Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
iser, still in his throwing stance, calmly observed the scene.
Then, he shifted his gaze to Doberman and Momonga, his eyes seemingly saying: Your turn.
'Damn it...'
Doberman was furious—this guy refused to engage them in close combat.
In that case... even if it ant destroying their warship, they had to cut through this accursed water!!
He exchanged a few hand signals with Momonga, signaling him to attack together.
Understanding the ssage, Momonga didn't hesitate and charged onto the water's surface alongside Doberman.
Then, the two unleashed their slashes simultaneously!
"One-Sword Style: Water Severance!"
"One-Sword Style: Incinerating Fla!"
"BOOM!!"
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