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CHAPTER 63

The island loomed ahead, and they needed a secure place to dock their ship. Kreegan turned to Lex and inquired, "How deep can we dive now?"

Lex replied, "I've managed to increase it to 50 meters and added a small submarine."

Kuina and Eagle exchanged puzzled glances, not quite comprehending the technical discussion. They all boarded the ship, and Lex began operating various controls. Kreegan reassured them, "Do not panic. We are not sinking."

True to his words, the ship descended into the water and moved forward, albeit slowly. When they were approximately 500 meters from the island, they halted and dropped anchor. They made their way to the diving chamber. Kreegan spotted a familiar face approaching them.

"I'll handle this. You guys head to the submarine and make your way to the shore," Kreegan said decisively.

Taking a deep breath, Kreegan exited the ship through the pressure chamber, entering the water. The approaching figure was none other than Momoo, the giant sea cow. Despite its massive size, Momoo was only a level 4 creature. Kreegan activated Jolt on both of his swords, gripping their hilts while waiting for the sea cow to draw nearer.

As Momoo came within striking range, Kreegan planted his feet against the side of the ship and propelled himself toward the creature. He executed his technique, "Jolt, Nitoryu Iai: Rashomon."

Two substantial slashes ripped across the sea cow's belly, causing its eyes to cloud over with distress. The wounds were severe but not fatal. Kreegan had no intention of killing the innocent beast, knowing that it was forced into service. He spared Momoo's life and swam back to the surface. If he couldn't finish it in a single strike, he'd have to utilize one of the air bubble stacks, and he didn't want to waste one here. Once he reached the shore, Lex expressed concern.

"Don't you think there will be more patrols in the sea?"

Kreegan remained resolute, replying, "We won't give them the chance to patrol. Let's head straight to the Arlong Park and launch our attack."

When they reached the wooded area right next to Arlong Park, Kreegan issued his instructions with a stern tone, "Don't wait for them. The moment we initiate our attack, we have to eliminate as many of them as possible in our ambush. Seize the first opportunity to strike. Don't let them dive into the water, and if they do, do not pursue."

He then turned his gaze to Kuina and added, "Kuina, show no mercy! Fish-men are more robust and resilient than humans, so you'll need to cut with more power and deeper to kill or incapacitate them."

Eagle positioned himself behind some elevated rocks, securing a vantage point, while the other three members of their group charged toward the park's gate. Two fish-men stood guard at the entrance, but before they could raise the alarm, Kreegan swiftly decapitated them.

Kreegan had five level 1 and two level 2 spell slots. For his level 1 slots, he selected Burning Hands, Shocking Grasp, Shocking Grasp, Expeditious Retreat, and Ray of Enfeeblement. His level 2 choices were Cat's Grace and Mirror Image.

Following the swift elimination of the gate guards, the trio attacked the park's walls, causing significant damage. With this breach, Eagle gained a clear line of sight and wasted no time in taking shots at the fish-men. The Arlong pirates inside the park were left bewildered by the sudden onslaught.

Kreegan burst through the shattered wall, invoking Tatsumaki to wreak havoc among the mob of fish-men. Amid the chaos, his eyes locked onto Chew, and with determination, he charged straight for him. Kuina had her sights set on Hatchan, while Lex was closing in on Kuroobi. However, Arlong had yet to make his appearance.

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Chew attempted to counter by unleashing his water gun attack, but Kreegan had already activated his two-speed spells. His speed was now unmatched, and Chew stood no chance.

"Shishi Sonson."

With a swift, deadly strike, Kreegan cleaved through Chew's neck. Blood gushed from the severed artery like a crimson waterfall, and Chew slumped lifeless to the ground, his last moments shrouded in confusion.

As Kreegan turned his attention to Arlong, he unleashed Burning Hands, directing a searing cone of flames not only at Arlong but also at the surrounding mob. The inferno raged, consuming many fish-men in its path. Yet, it became painfully clear that it would take more than fire to severely harm Arlong, who was revealed to be a formidable adversary with his formidable white level 6 power.

In the midst of the heated battle, Lex found himself squaring off against Kuroobi. Both men were adept at close-range combat, but Lex possessed the added advantage of his ranged attacks. Kuroobi was a level 40 black belt practitioner of fish-man karate. While he wasn't yet a true master, he was well on his way.

Lex lunged forward with his steel staff, aiming a powerful strike at Kuroobi. However, Kuroobi proved to be exceptionally agile, deftly sidestepping the attack. In response, he countered with a devastating Hyakumaigawara Seiken(Hundred Tile True Punch), a punch that carried enough force to send Lex hurtling into the nearby building's wall.

Shaking off the impact and trying to regain his composure, Lex pushed himself up from the ground. Before he could fully recover, Kuroobi closed in swiftly, launching a brutal Harakudashigeri(Stomach Drop Kick). Lex reacted defensively, crossing both arms in front of him to block the incoming kick. Despite his best efforts, the sheer power behind Kuroobi's strike sent Lex flying backward once again, this time executing a somersault to land on his feet.

Without a moment's pause, Lex unleashed an Ou Resshō (King/Big Laceration) directed squarely at Kuroobi. This time, the tables turned as Kuroobi, somewhat caught off guard, decided to confront the attack head-on rather than evade it. It was a costly mistake driven by arrogance, a common trait among Arlong Pirates, who viewed humans as inferior beings.

The white compressed air struck with precision, slashing across both of Kuroobi's arms. While the wounds weren't deep, they provided Lex with a newfound advantage. Empowered by the opportunity, Lex pressed forward with renewed energy, leaving Kuroobi to grapple with the pain in his arms, now hindered in combat.

Kuroobi, realizing he was now slower and weaker due to Lex's previous attack, closed the distance, aiming to strike him with his formidable arm blades. However, Lex's enhanced agility enabled him to deftly evade the incoming blow. With unparalleled precision, Lex struck back, the wind whipping around him, sharpening his claws into deadly instruments. His strike landed with devastating effect, carving six deep gashes into Kuroobi's chest.

Each breath Kuroobi took grew heavier as his strength waned. In this dire moment, a chilling realization crept into his mind—he was teetering on the precipice of defeat, about to meet his end at the hands of this inferior human. All he could think was, how is this possible?

Driven by fear and desperation, Kuroobi made a daring decision. With a swift motion, he leaped into the water, plunging beneath its surface. Lex wasted no time and followed suit, but before he submerged, he urgently called out for Kreegan's assistance.

"Kreegan! A little help here!"

Almost instantly, a protective, transparent membrane enveloped Lex's face as he descended into the watery depths. Underwater, he could breathe with ease, but Kuroobi remained unaware of this fact. He believed his fortune had taken a turn, thinking that Lex, in all his arrogance, had recklessly entered the water—where fish-men held a significant power advantage over humans.

Beneath the surface, Kuroobi began swimming toward Lex with every ounce of strength he could muster, although he still felt weakened. Summoning his last reserves, he unleashed his mightiest attack.

"Senmaigawara Seiken! (Thousand Tile True Punch)"

Lex, sensing the impending assault, extended his right claw, his hand poised like a knife, and clamped onto his right wrist with his other hand. He focused all his electrical energy, transforming his right hand into a claw wreathed in crackling lightning.

"Kaminari Hishu! (Lightning dagger)"

Their strikes collided with a thunderous clash, both impacting squarely on their chests. However, Lex skillfully twisted with the force of the blow, mitigating some of the damage. As a result, he was propelled back only a few meters, but the powerful impact knocked the wind out of him. Blood trickled from his mouth, his gaze fixed on Kuroobi, who remained motionless, a gruesome cavity gaping where his heart should have been.

Lex ascended toward the water's surface, and once he secured a foothold on land, he intentionally ruptured the protective membrane enveloping his head. Kreegan's prior warning had etched itself firmly into his thoughts—avoid revealing the air bubble unnecessarily to the fish-men.

Emerging from the water proved to be an arduous endeavor. Even though he had surfaced almost immediately after breaking the bubble, an overwhelming sense of weakness washed over him. This lingering feebleness was the result of an amalgamation of factors: the enormous energy expenditure required for wielding the Kaminari Hishu, coupled with the ever-present debilitating influence of the sea.

The air bubble he had utilized was nothing short of miraculous. It defied the ocean's inherent restrictions on Devil Fruit users, granting them a degree of respite from its otherwise crippling effects. Though Lex remained weakened and somewhat slowed, with the air bubble, he had managed to escape becoming a mere hammer in the sea's relentless grip.