"Lightning Chain!"
Imai thrust her hand skyward, summoning a crackling bolt of lightning that tore through the heavens. The brilliant arc descended, electrifying the pack of lemurs mid-leap. Their screeches were cut short as their bodies spasmed and collapsed, their eyes rolling back before they hit the ground.
"HAHA! FLAME ERUPTION!" Rei yelled with unrestrained enthusiasm. She slammed her flaming fist onto the skull of a charging alligator.
The creature's massive body jerked as an icicle, formed from Rei's combined flames and frost, pierced its head from top to bottom. It wavered for a moment before succumbing to the inevitable, its colossal frame crumpling lifelessly to the forest floor.
Uta, however, was relying on a simpler weapon—a katana given to her by Imai. Her devil fruit powers were too risky to use in close proximity to her comrades. Despite the handicap, her confidence remained intact as she squared off against a towering praying mantis.
The insect's gleaming, blade-like arms sliced through the air, a deadly display of its intent to end the battle swiftly.
"Let's see what you've got, insect," Uta muttered, gripping her katana tightly.
The mantis let out a high-pitched screech and lunged, its blade-like arm slashing downward. Uta sidestepped nimbly, countering with a precise strike to the joint of its forelimb.
Clang!
Her katana bounced off the hard exoskeleton like a twig striking steel.
"What the—?" Uta's eyes widened as the mantis responded with another swift attack, forcing her to retreat.
The mantis was relentless, its movements a blur of sharp, metallic swipes. Yet Uta refused to give in. She studied her opponent, her keen gaze darting over its body in search of a weakness.
"Everything is armored..." she murmured to herself. Her focus sharpened as she noticed a pattern: the mantis hesitated to move forward, retreating slightly with every attack.
"The neck? The eyes? No…" Uta muttered, her brow furrowing. Suddenly, her eyes widened with realization.
Her instincts kicked in, honed by countless hours of training with Imai. She could now sense the ebb and flow of battle—the subtle shifts in movement, the unspoken tells of her opponent's next move. Her Observation Haki, though nascent, was beginning to awaken.
For a brief moment, she saw it: the mantis's next swing, a horizontal slash aimed at her midsection.
"Got it," Uta whispered with a grin.
The mantis screeched, its bladed arm cutting through the air. But Uta was already moving, ducking beneath the attack and dashing to its side.
"Too slow," she taunted, her confidence growing.
The mantis grew visibly frustrated. Its attacks became erratic, each swing more desperate than the last. Uta smirked. "You're losing control."
Exploiting its emotional vulnerability, Uta slipped under the mantis, darting behind it. In one fluid motion, she leaped onto its back and raced up its long neck.
"Goodbye," she said softly.
With precision and force, Uta drove her katana into the nape of the mantis, slicing cleanly through its hardened exterior. The creature let out one final screech before its head toppled to the ground.
Click.
Uta sheathed her katana, brushing her white thigh-high socks only to frown at the streak of green blood staining them. "A spear might suit me better," she muttered.
Meanwhile, Rei reveled in the chaos, her devil fruit abilities unleashed without restraint. A blue inferno consumed the horde of monsters pursuing her, her laughter echoing through the forest.
Imai, on the other hand, dispatched her foes with precise, almost clinical efficiency. Lightning danced around her, striking down the oversized lemurs with ease. To her, these creatures barely qualified as a challenge.
"Animals should stay as animals," she said dryly, brushing her hands off.
When the battle finally ended, the trio regrouped in the clearing, none of them bearing a scratch.
"So?" Imai asked, looking at her crew with a satisfied expression.
"That was amazing!" Rei stretched, her excitement still bubbling. "I feel so free! It's been forever since I could let loose like this!"
"I learned a lot," Uta added, her tone calm but tinged with pride.
Imai's lips curved into a small smile as she observed Uta. The younger girl radiated a new sense of confidence—a refreshing aura that hinted at her growth.
She's improving faster than I expected. A true genius, Imai thought.
Truly, she had found a rare gem in Uta.
"So, what now?" Rei asked, practically bouncing on her heels.
"We follow the trail and see where it leads," Imai replied, turning toward a worn path cutting through the dense forest.
"Are you sure about this?" Uta questioned, glancing warily at the ominous trees.
"What other choice do we have?" Imai said, shrugging. "Besides, these creatures didn't get this way on their own. There's something behind this, and I intend to find out what."
Rei's eyes sparkled. "This calls for an adventure! Aren't you excited, Uta?"
Caught off guard by Rei's boundless energy, Uta could only nod.
"Alright then, let's go!" Rei cheered, sprinting ahead.
Imai smiled to herself as she followed. Whatever awaited them, she knew they would face it together.