The lion tail behind Drake wrapped around Kikunojo, then single-handedly caught Laffitte's follow-up attack. Her free arm, wrapped in electricity, swung out, scattering a flurry of white feathers in the air.
Noticing the vicious claw marks across his chest and his nearly broken wings, Laffitte's already pale face showed a hint of terror. Drake's casual strike had cut off his escape route, and everything he did seemed to be within her expectations.
This wasn't due to Observation Haki; it was muscle memory. She was King's deputy and often sparred with him in training, making her well-acquainted with the battle habits of the "Sky People".
Moreover, for Drake, Blackbeard was the real trouble. She managed a special teleportation through Volt Exchange, but Blackbeard wasted no time in catching up.
When he realized Drake truly cared about Kikunojo, the barrage of attacks was directed towards Kikunojo instead.
Given Blackbeard's considerable strength, Drake avoided close combat and continuously attacked him from a distance.
The damage absorbed by the Dark Water released from Blackbeard's hand didn't cause him pain, yet strikes elsewhere were different. The continuous electric shock and added damage from the Dark-Dark Fruit made Blackbeard feel a pain akin to dismemberment.
Thud!
The rising Defend Barrier blocked Blackbeard's attack, allowing Kikunojo to catch his breath. However, Blackbeard seized the moment to grab Drake's neck, pinning her to the ground.
Darkness spread from his palm, covering large portions of the ground, and the gravitational force within it grappled Kikunojo like phantom hands. Drake could even feel a tearing sensation emanating from her body.
"Zehahaha, now you're stuck! This is your last chance, join me and become my crew! Otherwise, you and your companions will die here!"
Blackbeard felt certain of his victory again. With a hostage in hand, he extended his invitation to Drake once more.
"Heh, has anyone told you that you're ugly and talk too much? Just looking at you is annoying."
"You really don't know what's good for you, woman."
Seeing the captured Drake still mocking him, Blackbeard's patience was almost exhausted. His eyes scrutinized Drake as if he were contemplating something, while his grip gradually tightened.
"Like what you see...? Then you better watch closely. Arrogance... comes at a price!"
"Hmm? Ah!! My eyes, my eyes!"
As he was about to act, a blinding flash of light erupted from within Drake, causing even nearby people to squint. Blackbeard, who was staring intently at Drake, screamed in agony.
It was the Flash Technique, a skill originally meant to illuminate caves, but also used as a powerful flashbang.
Blackbeard's hand still clutched Drake's neck, and the intense flash provoked him to crush it, but before he could act, he suffered a devastating blow.
While he was babbling, he failed to notice Drake crossing her legs in a peculiar manner. As the Flash Technique burst forth, the Z-Crystal she wore also blazed brightly.
Releasing a Z Move requires a peculiar dance, but this process merely channels the Z-Crystal's power within the body.
The awkward dance is a prerequisite, but it allows for some variation.
Just moments ago, Drake substituted her hands with her feet to complete the dance, setting up the conditions to unleash the Z Move. Blackbeard, unaware, mistook it for Drake's feeble struggle.
Previously, Blackbeard had pinned Drake to the ground while kneeling, unintentionally placing her in a perfect position to kick his groin.
"Die for me! Gigavolt Havoc!"
Instead of striking, she infused lightning into her leg and then kicked toward Blackbeard's groin.
Crack...
Even with the Dark-Dark Fruit, the sound of something shattering echoed in everyone's ears. Drake, wearing thick-soled Martin boots, had a sole hardened by Haki tougher than Tekkai.
The amplified power of the Z Move made Drake's attack far more intense than before, and in Blackbeard's negligence, Drake's kick landed precisely on target.
This was pain no human could endure; regardless of gender, such a kick was unbearable, let alone with the double pain debuff on Blackbeard.
"Ecstasy at its peak" was the only feeling Blackbeard had at that moment. He unintentionally released his hold on Drake, mouth agape, unable to make a sound, the indescribable pain beyond what words could convey.
Eye gouge and groin kick were an effective combo, suitable for any street brawl scenario.
The nearly crippling blow awakened Blackbeard's ferocity. Channeling all his energy, he clawed at Drake and Kikunojo, forgetting his previous words and thinking only of killing the two before him.
Post Z Move, Drake entered a brief period of exhaustion, but she still pushed Kikunojo away, as a spray of blood splattered the air.
Blackbeard had lost the strength to continue his assault; that was his last act of persistence. Afterward, he clutched his groin and collapsed, twitching uncontrollably...
"Miss Drake! Your... eyes..."
"Cut the chatter, let's go. I'm out of strength but not dead yet... If this guy recovers, we're doomed..."
Clutching her right eye, she glanced at Blackbeard's subordinates, who hadn't recovered from the Flash Technique. Drake was ready to leave immediately, as the Z Move had already worn her down extensively.
After using significant energy in the previous battle, she now lacked any combat strength, combined with her current injuries.
Blackbeard's vitality was such a hassle that letting him recover could mean big trouble for them.
"Yes, I understand."
Kikunojo supported Drake as they ran towards the distant dock, planning to temporarily leave this troublesome place....
...
When the effect of Drake's Flash Technique faded, they were long gone. Laffitte and the others only saw Blackbeard lying on the ground, unable to stand.
Doc Q approached Blackbeard's groin with disdain. Though he moved lightly, Blackbeard twitched a couple of times.
"What happened to the Captain?"
"Isn't it obvious? Without the Dark-Dark Fruit, even the Giant Race would have shattered to bits from that, but this pain... he'll have to deal with it himself."
Throwing up his hands, Doc Q gave his diagnosis, also expressing his helplessness regarding the situation.