Stussy Refused to Waste Energy on Internal Strife

"[Hasshoken: Martial Heel]!"

Cai Wu's eyes turned fierce. With a swift step forward, he drew on the strength of his waist and abdomen, raised his right leg wrapped in Armament Haki high, and unleashed a vicious high kick at Stella.

Facing the heavy, powerful attack, Stella instantly shifted into her human-beast form. Using Soru, she moved like lightning and made a light, swift retreat, narrowly evading the kick that could have split stone and shattered monuments.

At the same time, her right leg lashed out like a scorpion's tail, slamming hard into Cai Wu's abdomen.

"Pfft!"

Caught off guard, Cai Wu felt a tremendous force strike him. It was as though his organs had all shifted out of place. He coughed up a mouthful of blood uncontrollably and flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing into several Eight Treasures Navy members charging behind him and sending them sprawling.

"A Zoan ability user..."

Cai Wu struggled free of the subordinates supporting him and wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression growing more solemn. He grabbed the Naginata beside him, used its shaft to vault himself forward, and lunged at Stella once more. Stronger Armament Haki and Hasshoken shockwaves gathered around his fists.

"Don't get too full of yourself, little girl! External power like a Devil Fruit can't compare to the strength I've tempered through a thousand trials, or to Hasshoken!"

Whoosh!

Stella vanished from where she stood again, even faster than before!

Cai Wu's attack missed again. His pupils suddenly shrank. His Observation Haki had foreseen her next move, but his body could not keep up with her speed!

Squelch!

The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out, and blood sprayed. Cai Wu felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw three horrific