"Damn it, it's a Devil Fruit user!" Seeing the vines dancing wildly and tying up everyone, Neru looked grim. As he possessed the strongest Observation Haki in the team and also served as a sniper, he should have been able to detect the enemy immediately and be prepared. However, he relaxed his vigilance because he was too focused on the duel between Dorry and Brogy. Although he managed to avoid the opponent's vines at the critical moment, the rest of his companions were trapped.
"Oh my, you're quick to react." A voice suddenly sounded in Neru's ears, causing his expression to change instantly. His mind was in a mess, and he even neglected his Observation Haki. Neru lowered his head, and two thick vines grew out from the ground, binding his feet tightly. "But it's useless, this is my home ground!"
Neru looked up, and then he could see the attacker's face. This was a slender man dressed in strange clothes with a rather odd appearance. He was twisting his body in a weird posture.
"Massive~~" The vines under his feet continued to grow, binding up Neru's body bit by bit. "Give up, I am the user of the Flourishing Fruit." Noticing the struggle of the crowd, the man showed a strange smile on his face. "I can control the growth of the surrounding plants. On this ancient island full of plants, there is no way you can escape from me." The vines were still growing, bearing their fangs and claws, trying to completely tie up everyone.
"Binz, stop talking nonsense to them and arrest them all." A girl with short blue hair, Ain, came out of the woods with a team of Navy personnel. She glanced at the people who were tied up, then turned to her companion and said.
"Don't worry, Ain." Binz glanced at the people who were trapped by him and unable to move. "There is no way they can escape my abilities."
The Crew's Response: Despair and Determination
"Indeed, I can't get away." Gray gave up resistance instantly and decided to wait for rescue.
"Too hard!" Bepo tried his best to break free from the vines that were wrapped around his body, but failed. He bit down hard, but ended up breaking his teeth in pain.
"Hateful!" Nia looked unwilling. The role she could play on the ship became smaller and smaller, just like last time and this time, she was unable to help anyone at all.
"It's so uncomfortable…" Under the pressure of the vines, Minina felt her chest bulging, and she was almost unable to breathe.
"Former Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, Black Arm Zephyr!" The moment she saw Zephyr appear, Robin fell into despair, and the deep darkness almost swallowed her whole. The Admiral of the Navy Headquarters—this had always been an insurmountable mountain weighing on her heart. Zephyr's appearance once again aroused the fear deep in her heart. Perhaps, it would be good to end my life here.
"Hey, Penguin."
"I know, Shachi!" Penguin and Shachi were also covered with vines, with only half of their heads sticking out. However, there was no worry or tension on their faces. Instead, they were filled with excitement.
"The Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, Black Arm Zephyr! He is a legend from the last era!"
"That's right!"
"I am very sure that this moment is the moment when the two of us will emerge and make our voices heard to the world!"
"Certainly!"
"This is our art!"
"Art is an explosion!" X2
Boom!!! There was a loud explosion, and flames shot into the sky. The vines created by Binz's ability were instantly destroyed by the powerful blast.
"I'm sorry, it's your misfortune to run into the two of us."
"Your home court? Not now." Under the strong explosion, a huge deep pit appeared on the ground, and the grass and trees were all destroyed by the blast.
"Saved." Genos tore off his clothes that were damaged by the explosion, and the injuries caused by the explosion healed in the blink of an eye.
"No, luckily it didn't affect me." Gray looked at the huge pit not far away and suddenly felt that it was a good thing that he was tied up by vines. Otherwise, his small body would not be able to withstand the random explosions from Penguin and Shachi just now.
"That's too much!" Law appeared not far from Dorroy and Brogy, holding Bepo in his hand. He had just been looking for the right opportunity to instantly inflict heavy damage on the Navy and rescue his companions. Who knew that Penguin and Shachi would make such a big fuss, and the original sneak attack plan had to be abandoned.
Daz Bones's Defeat
Seeing the few people who had escaped, Ain frowned slightly and looked at the few people who were still tied up because of the distance. If we let them escape one by one, it would be troublesome.
Shave! The long sword in her hand was drawn out instantly. Ain flashed in front of Nia and stabbed out with the long sword.
"Dust-Slashing Speed Sword!" Daz Bones's body suddenly rushed out, his arms and fingers all turned into blades, and he stabbed at Ain fiercely.
Clang-- Ain blocked Daz Bones's attack with her sword, her eyes calm. Another Devil Fruit user, and one who was not mentioned in the previous intelligence. A new member of the Rhodes Pirates? They are growing at a very fast rate.
"You are a swordsman, right?" Daz Bones looked at Ain. "I am the one who ate the Dice-Dice Fruit. I can turn my entire body into a blade. There is no way a swordsman can defeat me!"
"I see. So, you turned your entire body into blades and cut through the vines that bound you." Ain glanced at the vines that were broken into pieces. "But it's just a blade. Do you think it won't be cut off?"
"Destroying Slash!" Seeing the female Navy officer on the opposite side rushing towards him, Daz Bones crossed his hands in front of his chest, and his arms instantly turned into blades, which he then swung fiercely at the opponent.
Swoosh— Silently, the blade cut through Daz Bones's body.
Puff-- A huge wound pierced through Daz Bones's body, and blood spurted out continuously. Daz Bones half-knelt on the ground, his eyes turning white. Lost again! And it's different from before. The reason he lost to Genos was that his physical strength was exhausted, and the reason he lost to Rhodes was that he lost to absolute power. And this time, the failure was a failure of technique.
"It's just a blade. If you can't even cut through steel, how can you be called a swordsman?"
"I see, a swordsman?" Daz Bones was slightly stunned. It turned out that the ability he was so proud of could be easily cut off by any swordsman. What a complete failure!
Clang-- Turning around again, Ain blocked Genos's attack with the sword in her hand, without any change in her expression. As someone who was able to enter the Navy's elite class, she had already entered the realm of a swordsman several years ago. The group of pirates in front of us has just entered the Grand Line. Except for Captain Rhodes, the others are nothing to be afraid of!
<><><><><>
As Zephyr clashes with Rhodes, the rest of the Rhodes Pirates are ambushed by Binz, a Flourishing Fruit user. However, Penguin and Shachi quickly free themselves and some crewmates with a powerful explosion, demonstrating their "art." Meanwhile, Daz Bones confronts Ain, a formidable swordswoman and Zephyr's disciple, who swiftly defeats him by demonstrating the superiority of true swordsmanship over his Devil Fruit blade abilities.