"Pfft."
Werther's sword pierced Jack's defenses with ease and drove toward his heart.
But once it was a third of the way in, Werther found that Jack's muscles had clamped tight around the blade. Immense resistance came through the sword, slowing its advance to a crawl.
Jack had already recovered from the paralysis. He had felt the sword enter his body.
That searing pain returned, along with the sensation of his life force being drained away.
But Jack ignored it. He raised a foreleg and kicked hard at Werther.
Werther hadn't expected Jack to recover so quickly. With his sword still buried in Jack's chest, he reacted a moment too late and took the kick square in his own chest.
Just before the impact, Werther covered his chest with a thick layer of Armament Haki.
His Armament Haki had grown formidable. Beneath that heavy coating, his entire chest seemed as hard as metal.
A dull thud rang out. Jack sent Werther flying like a cannonball, straight into the vines behind him.
Werther smashed through masses of vines without slowing. Jack had put everything he had into that kick.
As he hurtled through the air, Werther spat blood and immediately grasped his situation. If he did nothing, he would be kicked into the sea.
He channeled lightning into Intent Blood, then hurled it toward the ground below.
The sharp Intent Blood plunged into the earth, leaving only its Sword Hilt exposed. Lightning burst from the Sword Hilt.
Lightning gathered in Werther's hand as he flew. The Electromagnetic Force between the two currents slowed him until he landed steadily.
Werther braced one hand against the ground and pressed the other to his chest. Once his breathing steadied, he spat out a mouthful of blood. The tightness in his chest faded, and he