Mr. 5 flicked a booger toward Kai with a look of utter contempt. "A mere boy from the East Blue thinking he can challenge an officer agent of Baroque Works? Perish."
The small projectile flew through the air, glowing with a faint, dangerous light. Kai didn't move. He activated [Soul Vision], seeing the explosive energy woven into the very essence of the attack.
[Warning: Kinetic Explosion detected.]
[Action: Deploying Emerald Aegis.]
BOOM! The explosion rocked the banquet hall, filling the air with smoke. Miss Valentine laughed, hovering mid-air with her yellow umbrella. "Too easy. Another arrogant rookie dead."
"Is that all?" Kai's voice emerged from the smoke, cold and undisturbed.
As the dust settled, Kai stood behind a translucent green barrier. The [Emerald Aegis] had cracked slightly, but it held. His golden eyes were now fixed on Mr. 5's soul—a swirling, unstable mass of orange and black.
"You have a unique soul," Kai said, his violet dagger humming. "It's unstable, fueled by the power of your fruit. I wonder... how many Soul Coins is a 'Bomu Bomu' essence worth?"
Mr. 5's eyes widened. "How did you survive that?"
"I don't just survive," Kai replied, vanishing into a [Shadow Step].
He reappeared directly above Mr. 5. This time, Kai didn't strike with the blade. He reached out with his left hand, his fingers glowing with a predatory violet light.
[Skill Activated: Soul Siphon (Targeted).]
As Kai's hand touched Mr. 5's shoulder, the officer agent felt a sudden, terrifying emptiness. It wasn't physical pain; it was as if the very 'spark' that allowed him to use his powers was being drained through a straw.
"Get off me!" Mr. 5 roared, trying to trigger an explosion from his skin, but his power flickered and died.
[Ding! Soul Energy Harvested: 15 Coins.]
[Temporary Buff: Your next attack will carry 'Explosive Resonance'.]
"Silas! Now!" Kai shouted.