That ferocious and violent gaze, combined with her towering and massive frame, exerted a crushing pressure on Nao, standing right at her feet.
Reacting instantly, he decisively activated his scanner.
[Character: "Giant Bear" Sano]
[Age: 38]
[Strength: 13]
[Agility: 11]
[Stamina: 11]
[Intelligence: 4]
[Charisma: 1]
[Skills: Zoan-type transformation ability, close-quarters combat (intermediate), Armament Haki (basic)...]
[Estimated Strategy Points for Success: Ambiguous Relationship – 2000 points; Romantic Relationship – 5000 points]
"Her strength and agility are both lower than mine, and her stamina is way below mine too."
Ignoring the last line entirely, Nao closed the panel and calmly locked eyes with Sano's bloodshot glare.
"Still, with her having a bit of Armament Haki and that Devil Fruit ability, this fight won't be easy..."
Shing!
With that thought, he instantly activated Soru, flashing behind Sano in a blink.
Drawing both the Wind Blade and Azakana's Sword, he crossed them at the back of her neck, slashing down simultaneously!
Nao had no intention of calling out attacks like some characters—this was a life-or-death battle, and surprise was the key!
Squelch!
Blood spurted, but without full Armament Haki reinforcement, the blades only managed to cut a small piece of skin at her neck.
"You little brat!"
Roaring in pain, the giant bear Sano belatedly reacted, furiously swiping her right hand like she was swatting a mosquito.
"Thick-skinned brute."
Seeing his attack fail, Nao immediately abandoned any thought of trading blows. Utilizing intermediate Geppo and Kami-e, he shifted into full evasion mode, dodging her swipe with ease.
Then, stepping down with force, he propelled himself high into the air, almost fifteen meters up. Both swords came down sharply from an angle, aiming for Sano's massive head.
Buzz!
Even before the blades reached her, two thin arcs of sword energy burst from their tips.
Though Nao wasn't yet a true swordmaster, in moments of intense focus and calm, he could occasionally unleash powerful flying slashes.
This time, his luck wasn't bad.
Boom!
The sword energy struck Sano's head, forcing her massive body to stumble back several meters.
No wonder that fool Kark ended up dead—this guy's really tricky!
That was the first thought to flash through Sano's mind. Driven by a surge of crisis, her eyes instantly turned blood-red. She stopped holding back and unleashed her Zoan powers!
ROAR!
With a deafening roar that shook the ground, her massive body swelled and morphed in an instant. In just a few heartbeats, she had transformed into a towering black-furred giant bear, easily over ten meters tall, radiating a menacing, primal force.
"I was originally thinking you looked decent and had some skills. I thought about bringing you onto my crew as a potential officer..."
The towering bear's scarlet eyes locked onto Nao, who was suspended midair with Geppo, her voice as icy as death.
"But now, I've changed my mind. You hurt me, brat. You should just die!"
The next instant—
With a furious roar, the black bear stomped the ground, shattering it into spiderweb cracks, and launched herself skyward like a cannonball, her massive claw slashing toward Nao!
Wham!
Even before her claw reached him, the air itself howled from the force of her attack.
Just looking at it, Nao could sense the sheer destructive power packed into that swipe. There was no way he was going to meet it head-on.
"Soru!"
With a low shout, Nao shifted his position again, using sheer speed to zip behind her. His blades slashed out horizontally, aiming for her waist!
But—
This time, it was as if the giant bear had eyes in the back of her head. She had anticipated his move.
Just as Nao's blades closed in, she suddenly demonstrated an agility that seemed impossible for her massive frame. She spun around and swung her claw, directly meeting Nao's swords!
Clang!
A deep, metallic crash echoed as sparks scattered from the clash of claw and blade.
The grinding sound of metal-on-metal sent shivers down Nao's spine.
"After transforming into a bear, her strength has at least doubled!"
Nao was startled. In just a few seconds of deadlock, a flood of immense force surged toward him like a tidal wave.
He stared at the bear's claws, pouring all his strength into his arms. But even so, the blades inched backward under the relentless pressure.
After a few tense moments of deadlock, the standoff was finally broken.
With a low growl, Sano surged her strength, blasting Nao's swords aside. Her other claw, now coated in a faint layer of Armament Haki, smashed toward Nao's chest.
Boom!
With a dull thud, Nao's body flew back like a broken puppet, crashing through a crumbling wall and slamming into a three-story building half a street away.
Bricks scattered, dust billowed.
"That's all you've got?"
Sano's face twisted into a vicious grin. Her massive footsteps shook the ground as she approached Nao, her voice dripping with menace.
"Tell me, kid. How do you want to die?"
She'd once roamed the treacherous Grand Line, leading her crew to dominate the underworld of the West Blue. Countless victories had given her absolute confidence in her power.
From her experience, anyone struck by her claw—amplified by Armament Haki—would be either dead or crippled.
This young Marine, no matter how skilled, wouldn't be an exception.
Crossing the dust-choked street, Sano spotted the figure embedded in the wall, still faintly visible.
Grinning wickedly, she licked her lips, ready to finish him off—only to see that figure suddenly dart forward like a flash of lightning, charging at her once more!
His speed was incredible, swift and agile like a predator, as if her powerful strike had left him completely unscathed!
"What?!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"That hit really hurt..."
Soaring toward her with Geppo, Nao's tattered shirt revealed his slightly dented chest, but his sharp gaze was unwavering. He grinned as his swords descended in a relentless attack.
"But if you think that's enough to bring me down, you'll need to land five hundred... no, a thousand more of those punches!"
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