A fierce blade flashed toward Bartholomew's nape.
At the critical moment, Zoro stepped forward.
Clang!
Three crossed swords held back the deadly slash Momousagi had aimed at Bartholomew's nape.
"Annoying."
Seeing Zoro block the attack for Bartholomew, a cold glint flashed through Momousagi's wine-red eyes.
She activated her ability without a sound, releasing an aroma that made one's bones go weak.
Zoro knew nothing about Momousagi's ability. He inhaled the immediately effective aroma without any precautions.
"Hm?"
A sudden sensation of weakness surged through his limbs, startling Zoro slightly and exposing an opening in his defense.
Momousagi pressed down with her sword.
Kompira's blade smashed through the three swords Zoro had raised before him, then heavily slashed across his chest.
A fierce flash of sword light passed.
A great deal of blood sprayed from Zoro's body.
Zoro grunted and collapsed to the ground.
"Zoro!!!"
Seeing Zoro collapse in a spray of blood,
the Straw Hat Pirates, who had only just steadied themselves, immediately widened their eyes in panic.
Momousagi paid no attention to Zoro lying before her. She swiftly withdrew her sword, then thrust it straight toward Bartholomew's face.
The entire sequence flowed together seamlessly, clean and decisive.
But Zoro's protection had still bought Bartholomew enough time to form his "ability gesture."
"Barrier-Barrier!!!"
Just as Bartholomew barely crossed his middle and index fingers, before the barrier had appeared,
two tiny crescent-shaped air bullets flew over from Chaton's direction and struck Bartholomew's middle and index fingers first.
Squelch!
Blood splattered.
Four severed fingers spun through the air.
Bartholomew froze, staring blankly at the bloody stumps where his fingers had been.
Every powerful Devil Fruit was subject to certain limitations.
The Barrier-Barrier Fruit, which possessed a degree of absolute-defense properties, was naturally no exception.
The fact that its ability required the middle