"The same joke isn't funny the second time. Big brother, let me send him on his way."
Babel's Haki began wrapping around his body,
until it looked almost like transparent flames burning around him.
🔥
That was extremely dense Armament Haki—
and not just ordinary usage,
but one of its advanced applications.
In simple terms:
Haki was projected outside the body,
flowing like an invisible armor,
then entering the target to destroy from within.
Because of that flowing property,
Wano called it Ryuo.
And in this area,
Babel had considerable mastery.
"No. This one's interesting. I'll handle him myself."
"Big brother, if someone this ignorant requires you personally, Sebastian will definitely laugh at me later."
"Babel, your strength is enough to deal with him.
But he seems to have some tricks.
It would still take you time.
We're almost at God Valley—
I was just planning to loosen up a little.
You go ahead with Rocks and the others.
I'll follow shortly."
Hearing that,
Babel stopped insisting.
But he still glared viciously at Valentine,
muttering something under his breath.
If Sebastian had been here,
he would absolutely have said:
Babel the monk was cursing someone again,
not performing proper salvation.
🙏⚡
Then Nereus gave a light leap—
and landed directly aboard Valentine's ship.
That instantly caused several people on Rocks's ship to start a betting pool.
But the betting collapsed almost immediately.
Because:
everyone bet on Nereus winning.
There was no opposing side at all.
😂
Aboard Valentine's Ship
Seeing Nereus arrive alone,
Valentine did not order immediate attack.
Instead,
he stepped back two paces—
and bowed deeply.
Then he asked politely:
"Mr. Nereus, you jumped aboard alone just like this.
Such confidence?
No—
of course, because it is you,
this confidence is only natural.
This is exactly what someone I admire should do.
I only hope that at the end,
the person I admire does not flee in fear
or reveal an unsightly side."
🕴️
"No need to worry.
I won't run.
I won't dodge either.
There are many pirates in the New World who fear me.
It's been a long time since I met someone this... interesting.
So I'm a little impatient.
You'd better show me something worth my attention."
"Attack!"
Valentine's arm cut forward sharply.
At once—
the entire crew opened fire.
Unlike ordinary sea pirates using flintlocks,
every weapon aboard this ship was automatic.
🔫🔫🔫
DADADADADADA!
"Die! Once we kill you, our names will shake the seas!"
"This is what arrogance gets you! Become our stepping stone!"
The firepower was far beyond ordinary pirate crews.
Clearly,
Valentine had spent heavily on weaponry.
Under the dense barrage,
Nereus's body was shredded apart.
Even the deck where he stood was torn apart by bullets.
Blood poured through broken planks,
spreading everywhere.
From a medical standpoint—
the blood loss was absurd.
Far beyond normal.
Enough to stain an entire section of deck red.
🩸
And none of the pirates noticed:
that blood was spreading strangely—
creeping beneath their feet.
But the attack had achieved nothing.
When the smoke cleared—
Nereus stood there unharmed.
Completely intact.
And in his hand:
one bullet head.
"Silver bullets.
A little thought went into that.
But no practical value."
⚪🩸
The moment his voice fell—
the blood on deck suddenly moved.
It twisted under control,
forming crimson thorn-vines.
In an instant,
Valentine's ship became a forest of blood.
🌹
The thorns sharpened—
then transformed into countless scarlet spears.
They pierced every pirate on deck instantly.
Only Valentine remained outside the strike zone.
And at the exact moment the spears pierced them—
their blood was dragged out by unseen force,
flowing directly into the crimson thorns.
Every corpse quickly turned pale.
Empty.
"As expected...
That still cannot kill you.
They say the Vampire Fruit can steal lifespan—
allowing its user to escape time itself.
Combined with recovery like this...
Then the underworld rumor of an immortal creature must be true."
Valentine's tone carried unhealthy reverence.
He wanted to kill Nereus—
yet spoke like a devoted worshipper.
"This kind of powerful form...
is exactly the target I should kill!"
Nereus gave a faint snort.
"Boring.
True immortality does not exist.
You simply haven't found the right method.
Looks like I expected too much.
Even as entertainment—
you're not qualified."
🦇
Valentine did not answer.
Instead,
his eyes moved across the corpses.
Their pale skin proved it:
not a drop of blood remained inside them.
A move on that scale must consume stamina.
No matter what, his loss should be greater than mine.
And he's underestimating me...
There's still a chance.
Valentine never cared about the crew.
To him,
they were tools.
If their deaths could lower Nereus's guard,
then it was worth everything.
Ever since Nereus boarded,
Valentine had been preparing.
Then suddenly—
he noticed something.
Nereus had turned his head.
Looking not at him—
but toward the departing direction of Rocks's ship.
⚡
Valentine exploded forward instantly.
At this distance—even Observation Haki can't avoid it!
He did not attack.
Instead—
he wrapped both arms tightly around Nereus's waist
and threw both of them directly into the sea.
🌊
The instant freezing seawater soaked through his clothes,
ecstasy burst across Valentine's face.
"HAHAHA! Mr. Nereus!
No matter how strong you are—
you are still a Devil Fruit user!
Even a fish-man becomes powerless in the sea after eating one!
I may be human—
but I was born in the freezing port of Swallow Island in North Blue!
People there are excellent swimmers—
and so am I!
As a fish-man—
defeated by a human in the sea—
how does that feel?!"
😆🌊
"Swallow Island...
I remember that island.
Also called Seagull Island, isn't it?"
Nereus's tone remained completely calm.
He did remember it.
In the original timeline,
Law's two crew members—
Shachi and Penguin—
came from there.
Though human,
they fought underwater like:
human submarineshigh-pressure water cannons
Yet Nereus showed zero fear.
And after his brief ecstasy,
Valentine suddenly realized:
something was wrong.
Very wrong.
By all logic,
Nereus should need his support to stay afloat.
But—
Valentine had already released him.
And yet—
Nereus remained floating steadily on the sea.
Still there.
Unmoving.
🌊🦇
"W-what... how is that possible?!"