"[Hasshoken: Martial Heel]!"
Cai Wu's eyes turned vicious. With a swift step forward, he drew on the strength of his waist and abdomen, raised his right leg high as Armament Haki coiled around it, and unleashed a fierce high kick at Stella.
Facing that powerful attack, Stella instantly shifted into her human-beast form. Using Soru, she moved like lightning and made a light, rapid retreat, narrowly evading the kick that could have shattered stone monuments.
At the same time, her right leg whipped out like a scorpion's tail and slammed hard into Cai Wu's abdomen.
"Pfft!"
Caught off guard, Cai Wu felt an enormous force strike him. It was as though his internal organs had all shifted out of place. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a kite with a severed string, crashing into several Happo Navy members who had charged behind him and knocking them sprawling.
"A Zoan user..."
Cai Wu struggled to push away the subordinates supporting him and wiped the blood from his mouth. His expression grew even grimmer. He grabbed a Naginata beside him, used its shaft to vault himself into the air, and lunged at Stella again. Stronger Armament Haki and Hasshoken shockwaves gathered around his fist.
"Little girl, don't get too full of yourself! External power like a Devil Fruit can't compare to the strength I've tempered through countless trials, or to Hasshoken!"
Swish!
Stella vanished from where she stood once more, even faster than before!
Cai Wu's attack missed again. His pupils contracted sharply. His Observation Haki had foreseen her next move, but his body could not keep up with her speed!
Squelch!
The sound of blades piercing flesh rang out as blood sprayed through the air. A sharp pain tore through Cai Wu's chest. Looking down, he