Yayoi's one wing was stained with blood, yet the pain couldn't make her even furrow her brow. With one hand pressing down on the Vulture Fruit user, she stabbed her blade into his heart and twisted it forcefully.
"Aaaah—"
First, he let out a pained roar, then his life slowly faded. His struggling wings drooped, and he stopped breathing.
Yayoi tried to flap her wings, but due to her injury, they were difficult to extend. She could only fall toward the ground, carrying the corpse with her.
'Am I going to die from the fall?'
That thought crossed her mind. She had flown too high, and now with injured wings, falling from this height might kill her. But Yayoi had no intention of dying just like that.
She adjusted her angle in mid-air, positioning the deceased Vulture Fruit user beneath her to use as a cushion, while extending her uninjured left wing to try and reduce the impact.
The sound of rushing wind filled her ears, and the weightlessness of the fall made her dizzy.
As she got closer to the battlefield, the sounds of battle seemed to grow farther away, as if they were reaching her ears across an entire summer's noon, making her feel as if she were in another world.
At that moment, Yayoi recalled the days she had spent in Kyori and began to reminisce early on.
Although it could be said that she had left her home and become someone else's servant, this period had been her most carefree time. She knew the purpose of the black curse mark on her body but felt no resistance in her heart.
"Shi—!"
Her entire body plunged into the soft snow. The white snow had piled up thicker than a house, instantly swallowing her.
Yayoi managed to dig herself out of the snowdrift. She took a large bite of snow and lifted her black eyes to look at the woman who moved with such light grace.
"Miss Yukiko?"
"You're alright? You can't die here." Yukiko smiled. It was her ability that had created snowflakes to catch Yayoi, but even with the ice buffer, the pirate's body beneath Yayoi had been crushed into pulp by the force of the impact.
"I'm fine." Yayoi recovered, folding her wings away. She didn't even intend to leave the battlefield. Even without wings, she was a formidable swordswoman in her own right.
"By the way, it looks like Shuutenmaru needs some help over there." Yayoi jumped out of the snow, the clean snow washing away some of the bloodstains on her. Part of her armor had been shattered, but Yayoi still planned to continue fighting.
Just now, while in the air, she had caught a glimpse of the situation over there. Shuutenmaru and Garah were almost completely at a disadvantage.
"Even they...?" Yukiko's expression also turned serious. Although the overall situation on the battlefield was more in their favor, a single John could completely reverse the tide of battle.
"...I'll go help them. You find a place to rest for a while." After speaking, Yukiko's body scattered like ice and snow, and she turned into wind, soaring high into the sky.
Yayoi watched her leave but chose not to rest. She drew her sword and was about to continue fighting when she heard July's voice.
"Big Sister!"
"July!"
In the distance, a green Ryuukishu leaped forward. Her posture was agile, and although she had dinosaur-like limbs and a tail with a fierce face, she possessed a unique beauty.
July had originally planned to return to the ship, but the powerful recovery ability brought by her Ancient Species quickly healed her injured right foot. She happened to see Yayoi fall from the sky and rushed over in a panic.
"Are you alright, Big Sister?"
The Ryuukishu-shaped July was much taller than Yayoi. She bent over with a worried expression, looking like a beauty and the beast.
"I'm fine. Let's fight together!"
...
John struck with a slash that sent both Shuutenmaru and Garah flying back. There was an essential gap in their combat power. Even fighting two at once, John showed no openings at all, one could even say it was effortless for him.
"Rotation·Turbo Boost."
Garah took a deep breath and then held it, as if entering another mode. His entire skin turned bright red, even his body temperature rising.
"Oh? Something new?" John grinned, as if Garah's new form brought him a bit of amusement. He looked expectant, but underneath, he was disdainful.
Steam rose from Garah's body. The principle of this mode was similar to a car engine, allowing his body's performance to become stronger at the same energy consumption!
"Huuu—"
After about half a minute, he exhaled the gas he had inhaled, and the exhaled air was almost scalding steam. He wasn't holding his breath but had slowed his breathing rate.
Inside his body, his heartbeat became stronger, like a water pump, frantically transporting blood to every corner of his body.
"Captain, don't you have any trump cards? This form of mine can't be maintained for long. It would be better to use all your strength at once." Garah's eyes locked onto John, as if afraid he would suddenly attack.
"I can't say I don't, but don't get your hopes up too high!" Shuutenmaru used his sword to support himself on the ground and then stood up. His body was also undergoing some changes at this time.
His sakura-like long hair grew backward like creeping plants, almost reaching his waist. His originally obese body seemed to have become more robust. Most importantly, his thin legs had become thick and powerful.
Short bone spines grew on Shuutenmaru's back, and from the end of his spine, a thick, powerful tail grew out of nowhere. The skin on his arms became rough and wrinkled, and two sharp horns grew on his forehead!
Actually, it wasn't just his forehead; a short horn also grew on his nose, and along with his mouth, it turned into a bird-like beak shape.
"This is... an Ancient Species?" Garah exclaimed in surprise. He really didn't expect that Shuutenmaru was actually an Ancient Species Devil Fruit user.
"Triceratops Form." Shuutenmaru said flatly.
But in reality, like July, he was a Ryuukishu in Triceratops Form, not an ability user who couldn't swim. This power had been granted to him by Ren before this war began.
If viewed from the front, Shuutenmaru at this moment resembled the legendary Akuma with red horns.
"Crack—"
He reached up and squeezed his shoulder, moving his neck, the sound resembling a fracture.
But to break the bones of him in this form would not be an easy task.
[
Hey everyone,
I need to tell you what's actually happening.
I just got hit with mass cancellations. On top of being buried in academics until the 9th. I'm in deep financial trouble right now—like, genuinely don't-know-how-I-cover-next-month trouble.
I want to do more for you. I have another Naruto fic ready to drop the moment this academic hell ends. But I can't keep creating if I can't survive.
I'm not powerless about the work—I know I can deliver for you. But I'm powerless to stop the bleeding alone.
If you've ever thought about supporting, this is the moment. Not "someday." Now.
If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting on Patreon. You'll get 30 advance chapters immediately, plus monthly updates and bonus content. Every subscription keeps the chapters coming.
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Every new member literally buys me another week of doing this. Every existing member staying is the reason I'm still here.
]