Smoothie was embedded in the tree trunk with her limbs spread wide, every bone in her body aching as if it were about to shatter.
Her skin burned fiercely, and the wrist holding her sword trembled, nearly too weak to move.
After cautiously probing each other for so long, she had finally been caught off guard and dealt a devastating blow.
"Am I really going to lose to a newcomer who just entered the New World?"
Smoothie could not help thinking so. The injuries all over her body left her dazed for a moment.
Her Squeeze-Squeeze Fruit could drain the moisture from anything she touched. Against most opponents who relied on close combat, all she needed was one opportunity to grab them to easily decide the battle.
Yet despite being a Logia with a natural advantage in close combat, her opponent was not arrogant in the slightest.
She could even be called overly cautious, never giving Smoothie any chance to get close.
Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, Smoothie struggled free from the tree trunk. The moment she landed, a blinding bolt of lightning shot toward her.
Smoothie immediately leaped aside and rolled several times across the ground to evade.
Boom!
Lightning struck the tree trunk, blasting splinters everywhere.
Her pupils darted around. Flashes of electricity flickered between the layers of dark tree shadows around her.
"She really won't give me even a moment to catch my breath."
Smoothie kicked off and rushed out, swiftly weaving through the forest. She used obstacles to evade and block the attacks while her sword continuously swept across the grass and trees, draining their moisture to replenish her strength.
She spread out her Observation Haki to search for Nami's position, steadily closing the distance even as she dodged.
A prolonged defense