You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
As Animal Path spoke, he had already taken a step forward and was sprinting deeper into the King's Great Hall.
The Deva Path slowly set Lordling and Robin down, then stepped forward to stand protectively in front of them, his eyes warily scanning the distance.
"Rojen!"
Lordling's gaze immediately fell upon Rojen, and she cried out in joyous surprise.
She had believed herself trapped in hell, certain she would never escape this time. But then, Rojen had appeared.
Rojen's sudden appearance sent a wave of shock and delight through Lordling, followed by a profound sense of gratitude.
Four years ago, Rojen had shouldered everything alone, accepting all the blame to ensure their safety. He had even ended up imprisoned in Impel Down's sixth-level cell. Though they had faith he wouldn't remain confined, doubt still lingered in their hearts. After all, this was Impel Down!
"You... you really got out!"
The longing deep within her heart surged forth like a raging tide, bursting from her chest. Tears streamed down Lordling's face as she threw herself into Rojen's arms.
"I sensed my little kitten was in grave danger, so I came to rescue you," Rojen teased, pulling her into a tight embrace. His eyes, too, were filled with longing.
"Wūūūūū!"
Lordling clung to him fiercely, her entire body trembling.
Her initial confusion upon arriving in Ohara, the terror of the Buster Call, and the countless betrayals she had endured during her growth, Lordling had experienced far too much in just four short years. She and Robin had relied on each other for survival, transforming from a fragile girl into an increasingly resilient woman. She had even developed her Devil Fruit abilities, growing a second tail.
"You've changed so much," Rojen murmured, feeling the fullness of Lordling's figure. A flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by deep emotion.
"You've changed too," Lordling replied, her cheeks flushing crimson. She was no longer the girl she had been four years ago, but a mature woman. The moment their bodies touched, the electric tension between them flared to life.
"Mm, our companions must have grown so much too!" Rojen said with a bright smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I haven't seen them in ages," Lordling said wistfully.
'If I could be with them again, life wouldn't be this miserable.' Every day was spent fleeing, barely surviving on meager rations and living in constant anxiety. Over the past four years, she had faced life-or-death situations countless times, each time convinced she was about to die.
'Growth is truly painful!'
"Don't worry, you'll see them again soon," Rojen reassured her, patting her shoulder.
At the same time, he noticed Robin trembling nearby, nervously watching him.
"Rojen, this is Robin. She's been my companion these past four years. We're great partners!" Lordling introduced, pulling Robin closer.
"Mm," Rojen said, turning to Robin with a warm smile. "Hello, Robin. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mm," Robin replied, clearly shy around strangers, taking a step back and clinging closer to Lordling.
"Don't be scared," Lordling reassured her. "Now that he's here, we'll be safe!"
Lordling said with a smile.
"Who is he?" Robin asked, puzzled.
"My partner! I told you about them, they're finally here!"
Lordling tilted her head back, her eyes still glistening, but her face now radiant with joy.
Deep within the King's Great Hall, Abdon watched as the Animal Path approached and slowly came to a halt before him.
"You... you seem familiar," Abdon said, rising slowly. He extended his withered right hand from beneath his sleeve, holding a magic staff that flickered between the form of a venomous serpent and its original shape, a faint black mist swirling around him, creating an eerie aura.
"Spare your words. You'll soon be reduced to a cripple!"
With that, the Animal Path strode forward, the wind roaring in his wake, closing the distance to Abdon in a single step. He threw a punch.
Bang!
The punch traveled only a foot before being blocked by the venomous serpent that shot forth from Abdon's magic staff.
The ferocious snake widened its jaws and bit down on the Animal Path's fist.
"This serpent's venom can kill an elephant in three breaths. You're being careless."
Abdon laughed mockingly.
But what made his pupils constrict was the fact that the Animal Path's other fist had already struck.
Bang!
The punch was devastating, slamming into Abdon's face with such force that his cheek deformed, a sharp cracking sound of bones shattering filled the air, and he was sent flying backward, crashing into a stone pillar.
"How is this possible?" Abdon gasped, slowly rising to his feet, shock etched across his face.
Animal Path didn't even glance at the venomous snake clamped onto his right fist. With a violent flick of his wrist, he hurled the creature to the ground.
"Your poison is a fake!" he mocked.
With a flick of his wrist, a black bead appeared in Animal Path's right hand.
He then flicked the bead forward with a snap.
Whoosh!
"Magnify by 20x."
In an instant, the black bead transformed into a pitch-black cannonball, hurtling toward Abdon at blinding speed.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Abdon's pupils constricted as he frantically waved his right hand forward.
"Evil Fire Abyss!"
With a whoosh, a vast expanse of blue flames erupted in the void, colliding instantly with the incoming artillery shells. The pitch-black projectiles hummed ominously before detonating with a deafening boom, showering the battlefield with fire.
A moment later, a dark mist shot out from the heart of the inferno, flashing three times before reaching the Animal Path.
"Despair Magic! Sink into the abyss!"
A beam of blue light surged forward with astonishing speed, closing the distance to the Animal Path in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
Caught completely off guard, the Animal Path was struck by the blue beam.
The impact sent a violent shudder through its entire body.
"Ha ha! This is Despair Magic! Anyone struck by it will be plunged into inescapable despair! You're finished!" Abdon cackled maniacally.
To his astonishment, the Animal Path immediately retaliated with a ferocious punch, acting as if nothing had happened.
Bang!
The blow sent Abdon flying, crashing heavily to the ground.
Snapping his head up, Abdon's eyes burned with disbelief.
"How is this possible?! How can you be unscathed?"
He was a powerhouse who had mastered black magic to its peak, each spell unleashing terrifying power. Yet, against this creature before him, none of his magic had any effect whatsoever.
Abdon refused to believe that his opponent was immune to his magic and raised his staff once more.
"Weep! Succumb to despair!"
Another beam of light shot forth, striking the Animal Path. To his dismay, it remained utterly ineffective.
"This is impossible!" Abdon roared.
Two consecutive spells had struck the target, yet they had failed to produce any effect!
He leaped into the air, his body transforming into a black mist that darted and flickered through the King's Great Hall as he unleashed a relentless barrage of black magic.
Abdon's casting speed was truly astonishing—a flash of light, and a spell had already struck the Animal Path.
But what made his face twitch violently was this:
Every single spell was utterly ineffective!
(End Of This Chapter)