Between Two Worlds: Nen and Haki

"It's not quite that extreme; I'm just a little surprised," Nico Robin replied, her attention caught by Baby 5's provocation.

Since Baby 5 slept in Zane's quarters every night, Nico Robin naturally knew about their relationship.

Likewise, being quite keen, she had already detected Baby 5's hostile attitude toward her.

This hostility didn't stem from hatred, but rather from a woman's sense of wariness.

In truth, Nico Robin didn't mind.

After all, she had joined the Hunting Team primarily for self-preservation, not to compete for anyone's favor.

In response to Baby 5's provocation, Nico Robin merely gave a casual, elegant smile.

Battle.

While she didn't particularly enjoy it, she didn't reject it either.

Furthermore, based on her observations of Zane over the past few days, he clearly placed great emphasis on his subordinates' efforts to train and improve their strength.

Catering to his preferences.

She naturally didn't mind showing off a bit in this regard.

"Attention! A ship is approaching!!"

"It's not one of ours! It's one I've never seen before!"

"What a massive ship!!!"

"

Given the scale of the New Riding the Wind and Waves, the battleship was easily spotted by the Happo Navy guarding the Jewel Ice Sheet, even from a great distance.

Some were stunned by the sheer size of the vessel, while others immediately raised the signal to expel it upon realizing it was an unknown ship.

"A major pirate force that once roamed the New World... This is the perfect chance to test the New Riding the Wind and Waves' firepower!"

As the battleship drew closer and the Jewel Ice Sheet became clearly visible, Zane gave the attack order with a lazy air, his right arm resting on the armrest and his cheek supported by his fist.

The Happo Navy might call themselves a navy, but they were essentially pirates, so there was no need to be polite.

At his command, the Hunting Team, already in combat readiness, immediately went into high gear.

Click-clack!!!

On the giant battleship, one heavy cannon after another aligned its sights.

Specifically, on the deck.

The deck at the bow split apart toward both sides, and three massive, parallel gun barrels rose from below.

Lightning Beam Cannons!

These three enormous barrels were the battleship's main forward batteries.

As the barrels locked into place, a massive amount of electricity surged toward the muzzles, blooming into a dazzling radiance.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After five seconds of charging, the entire space in front of the battleship seemed to tremble.

In a burst of blinding light, three staggering beams of lightning thundered out from the barrels.

The terrifying impact kicked up layer after layer of airwaves, and with frightening speed, the beams instantly streaked across the sea, slamming violently into the Happo Navy stationed on the coast of the Jewel Ice Sheet.

BOOM!!!!

An earth-shaking roar echoed across the entire sea.

From a distance, it looked as if a cloud made of pure lightning had risen from the coast of the Jewel Ice Sheet.

The raging, churning radiation of the lightning blanketed a radius of several hundred meters.

Within this area, even the exceptionally hardened ice could not withstand the force and began to shatter into pieces.

If the ice fared that poorly, the people stood even less of a chance.

Those at the center of the lightning-covered zone were instantly reduced to ash.

Those in the outer regions screamed as they were charred black by the encroaching lightning.

Furthermore, the shockwave generated by the lightning bombardment radiated further outward, hitting peripheral personnel like a speeding train, sending them flying and causing horrific casualties.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The bombardment from the Lightning Beam Cannons was clearly just the beginning.

As the lightning struck the shore, the gunners of the New Riding the Wind and Waves also began firing their heavy cannons in succession.

Dense shells, like a flock of birds, streaked through the sky over the sea, continuously bombarding the surviving members of the Happo Navy.

"You bastards!!!"

A roar erupted.

An officer of the Happo Navy, his hair and beard already white, dodged the bombardment in a fit of rage and alarm. He hoisted a nearby cannon onto his shoulder, using his own body as a mount, and fired back at the New Riding the Wind and Waves.

Rat-tat-tat...

Her arms transformed into machine guns.

Baby 5 was the first to rush to the bow. Turning into a violent maid, she unleashed a fierce barrage of firepower, intercepting the incoming shells mid-air.

Cien Fleur: Clutch!

Seeing Baby 5 take action, Nico Robin did not fall behind.

Standing her ground, she gazed at the distant shore and crossed her arms before her chest, causing petals to flutter in the air.

On the shore, several surviving Happo Navy members had yet to recover from the horrific bombardment when pairs of arms sprouted from their bodies.

Snap!

Utilizing joint locks on their necks, many of the Happo Navy men had their necks snapped on the spot, caught completely off guard.

But...

Nico Robin suddenly let out a muffled groan, a look of pain crossing her face.

The Flower-Flower Fruit allowed Nico Robin to sprout arms on enemies from a distance.

However, the senses of these sprouted arms were also linked to her own.

Any injury sustained by the sprouted limbs would be fed back to her original body.

This was the source of Nico Robin's pain.

Among the targets she had attacked, some were not killed by the joint locks; instead, they used brute force to shatter the arms on their bodies.

"Your ability is actually very well-suited for combat. In terms of technique, your joint locks aren't bad, but your body is simply too weak. You can't bring out the full power of the Flower-Flower Fruit," Zane remarked, noticing her pain.

"...I will work on that later," she replied.

Nico Robin took a deep breath and nodded without looking back.

She understood what he meant perfectly well.

It was just that everyone had different goals.

While she didn't shy away from combat, she hadn't focused much on increasing her physical strength.

Consequently, once she mastered the joint locks to complement her fruit ability, she hadn't pursued further power.

Of course.

That was in the past.

Now that she had joined the Hunting Team, things were bound to change.

Even if only to gain Zane's trust, she had to start pursuing greater strength.

Amidst the cannon fire, the New Riding the Wind and Waves did not slow down, continuing its steady course toward the port.

As they drew closer.

Baby 5 was no longer satisfied with just intercepting counterattacks and began to take the initiative.

A torrential downpour of bullets swept toward the survivors on the coast without pause.

Faced with the overwhelming firepower of the machine guns, most people were either shot down or fled in panic.

However, a few remained composed and neutralized Baby 5's attack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their bodies were coated in Armament Haki.

The bullets that rained down were deformed and deflected away.

"Die for me!!"

The old man who had first counterattacked with the cannon took to the air after his ammunition was exhausted. Using his immense strength, he hurled the cannon like a bomb toward the approaching New Riding the Wind and Waves.

"A master indeed!"

Seeing the cannon hurtling toward her, Baby 5's eyes lit up. Instead of retreating, she surged forward. Her feet transformed into mechanical parts, spewing flames as she flew out at high speed.

The concept of weaponry is vast.

With the various modern weapon blueprints provided by Zane, along with his guidance and supervision, Baby 5 had undergone a complete transformation compared to who she once was.

"

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