Smoothie was embedded in a tree trunk, her body sprawled in a starfish shape. The pain ran deep, as if every bone in her body were about to shatter.
Her skin burned, and her sword hand trembled, her wrist on the verge of giving out.
After a long, cautious back-and-forth, her opponent had finally found an opening to land a devastating blow.
Am I really going to lose to a rookie who just entered the New World...?
Smoothie couldn't help thinking. The injuries all over her body left her momentarily dazed.
Her Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit could drain the moisture from anything she touched. Most opponents who relied on close-quarters combat could be easily defeated as soon as she found an opening to grab them.
Yet, despite having the natural advantage in close combat, her opponent showed not a trace of arrogance.
If anything, Nami was overly cautious, giving Smoothie no chance to get close at all.
Smoothie raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, then struggled free of the tree trunk. The moment she hit the ground, a blinding streak of lightning shot toward her.
Smoothie immediately leaped to one side and rolled across the ground several times, dodging the attack.
Boom!
The lightning struck a tree trunk and exploded, sending wood chips flying.
Her pupils darted around. Lightning flickered amid the layers of dark tree shadows surrounding her.
"She's not giving me a moment to catch my breath."
Smoothie charged forward, continuing to weave rapidly through the forest. She used obstacles to evade and block the attacks, while her sword swept across the grass and trees, draining their moisture to replenish her stamina.
She spread her Observation Haki to search for Nami's position, closing the distance while dodging.
Smoothie knew that if she kept