The Martial Arts Arena.
Barn and Aishi stood on the arena platform in the middle of the Martial Arts Arena, surrounded by tightly packed crowds from Amazon Lily.
"Hey, look, look! That creature called a man is going to challenge Lady Aishi!"
"Hmph, he really doesn't know his limits. Lady Aishi is invincible!"
"Yeah, yeah! Lady Aishi is amazing!"
Barn patted Fitz, who was perched on his head, and said, "Go on, Fitz!"
Fitz took flight and circled above the Martial Arts Arena, while Barn gripped the hilt of the Nidai Kitetsu. Taking a sword-drawing stance, he said to Aishi,
"Ladies first. You can make the first move!"
Aishi snorted coldly. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
The snake that had been coiled loosely around Aishi's neck transformed into a bow, which she gripped tightly. She then drew three arrows from the quiver on her back and shot them at Barn.
The three arrows shifted their angles in midair, deftly cutting off Barn's possible escape routes.
Fitz chirped twice overhead, and Barn sensed the danger as well.
"Mind's Eye, activate!"
With a thought, Barn activated Asura's passive skill, Mind's Eye. Three arrows approaching from different angles appeared in his mind.
Barn swiftly drew the Nidai Kitetsu, slashing upward with his right hand before switching to his left and cutting downward. All three arrows were severed in an instant. It was the Ghostblade skill Moonlight Slash, which Barn could naturally use now that he had completed his class advancement.
"I'm not done yet!" Barn said, unleashing a slash with his left hand. It was Evil Light Slash!
A flicker of surprise appeared in Aishi's eyes when she saw her three arrows cut apart, but her usual cold gaze quickly returned. Watching the white slash fly toward her, she swiftly drew another arrow from her quiver and fired it at the attack.
"It's no use..."
Barn had just been about to say that when something unexpected happened. Aishi's arrow pierced straight through the Evil Light Slash and flew toward him!
"What?"
Barn was clearly stunned. Even a flintlock shot couldn't easily pierce his Evil Light Slash, yet an arrow had just penetrated it?
But Barn immediately understood why. Haki! Knowing the story, he naturally knew that every warrior on Amazon Lily could wield Haki proficiently!
York had once said that his left arm carried the aura of a Devil Fruit. Could Haki, supposedly the only power capable of countering Devil Fruit abilities, also suppress his curse of Kazaan?
"Looks like this fight won't be as simple as I imagined."
Once Barn figured it out, he stopped holding back. Using Triple Slash, he evaded the incoming arrow, swiftly closed in on Aishi, and brought his blade down!
Anyone who specialized in ranged attacks had to be weak in close combat. That was common knowledge, and Barn knew it too. The moment he learned that Aishi could use Haki, he decided not to give her another chance to shoot.
But Barn had underestimated her. The snake that had become a bow in Aishi's hands transformed again, turning into a staff. Aishi coated it with Haki and blocked Barn's blade, then swung it back to strike him!
Fitz chirped a warning to Barn from above.
The image of a staff appeared in Barn's mind, swinging straight toward his head!
"Murderous Intent Wave, activate!"
At that critical instant, he activated Murderous Intent Wave. Tangible murderous intent suddenly manifested around him, slowing Aishi's counterattack.
"What is this?" Aishi was startled when she felt its effects.
Barn's murderous intent noticeably slowed Aishi's reactions, causing a blow that should have been certain to hit to miss instead.
Barn hopped backward to evade Aishi's staff, putting some distance between them at the same time.
"You're strong!" Barn told Aishi solemnly.
"You're not bad yourself!" Aishi replied in the same icy tone.
"Haha, then let's go again!" Five years had quieted Barn's combative heart, but now it had been reignited. Clearly, neither of them would stop until this fight had a winner.
Barn charged with his blade, and Aishi refused to back down, meeting him with her Haki-coated snake staff.
The two fought for a long time, but Aishi lacked the combat experience Barn had accumulated over the years. In the end, he held his blade to her throat.
Fitz flew back and perched on Barn's head, puffing out his chest and holding his head high in a triumphant display.
Though reluctant to accept it, Aishi was no sore loser. She said calmly, "I lost. You can leave! But before you go, please tell me your name."
Barn stroked Fitz on his head and smiled before saying,
"Barn Bashut. I'm a pirate."
Just then, something unexpected happened, and the spectators around them broke into an uproar.
"This is bad! The Snake God is angry!"
"How can that be? The Snake God Festival is still three days away! Why would the Snake God suddenly get angry?"
"Run! The Snake God is eating people!"
Barn frowned at the commotion around him. "What's going on?"
At that moment, one wall of the Martial Arts Arena collapsed with a thunderous crash, and an enormous snake head thrust through the opening.
"The Snake God!" Aishi was startled too, retreating several steps as she trembled.
Barn, however, sniffed the air. "What's this? The smell of blood!"