Geppo! Soru!
As a former Marine Rear Admiral, Drake knew these two highly practical Six Powers techniques. The instant he vanished, Absalom felt a sudden jolt of alarm and a chill at the back of his neck.
Without thinking, he threw himself forward.
The enemy ahead was armed, and lunging toward him could get him hurt. But with his life on the line, the choice was simple.
Squelch!
The blade sank into Absalom's flesh. He slapped the soldier from Cannibal Island aside, clutched his stabbed stomach, and warily watched the spot where he had just stood.
Almost the instant he left it, a huge, scale-covered hand plunged into the sand, sending yellow grit spraying everywhere.
His first strike had failed, but Drake showed no disappointment. He attacked Absalom again. He had always followed one rule: once someone was confirmed as an enemy, he showed no mercy.
This time, Drake shifted straight into his half-beast form. A ring of blue markings appeared on his forehead, and his speed climbed another notch.
"Bastard!"
Absalom cursed and raised both hands. His fruit power had rendered the rocket launchers invisible, but they fired two shells with a boom.
"Hand of the Dead!"
Huh? Something's there— Drake could not see the attack, but he sensed Absalom's movements. With no time to think, he jerked his head up and formed an Ice Shield before him.
Boom!
The rockets struck the Ice Shield, blasting shards of ice in every direction. Yet Absalom felt little joy at shattering it with one volley. Because—
"Die!"
The next instant, Drake appeared behind him. His savage Tyrannosaurus head opened wide in his half-beast form, jaws snapping down hard.
The bite force of a Tyrannosaurus, an ancient apex predator, was beyond question. If those jaws caught Absalom, even his modified body would