"Huff... huff... huff..."
Monet panted heavily, looking helplessly at the deceptively cute fire bear blocking her path.
She had tried countless methods—whether it was a frontal assault or trying to bypass it—but this seemingly slow and clumsy fire bear was always able to use strength and speed superior to her own to force her back to her original position.
So, despite the chaotic clash of fire and snow that had just occurred, Monet had effectively remained rooted in the same spot.
In truth, as a Logia fruit user, Monet strength within the Donquixote Family was likely ranked just below the four Elite Officers. Among the remaining officers, perhaps only Lao G in his Battle Insurance form stood a chance of defeating her.
And yet today, she was being utterly suppressed by the summon of a little kitten...
While elemental disadvantage certainly played a role, Monet knew deep down that if she couldn't even overcome a single summon, the elemental matchup wouldn't have changed the ultimate outcome.
But she refused to give up...
"Young Master needs me right now... How can I... just admit defeat like this! Blizzard!"
A massive amount of snow erupted from Monet body, swirling to shroud her figure and forming a giant snow tornado that crashed toward the fire bear standing in her way.
"Homu!"
The Dodo Advance, which now possessed a baseline level of basic intelligence, roared as it raised its rounded arms. Simultaneously, a counter-swirling fire tornado erupted around its body, meeting the attack head-on without yielding an inch.
As the two massive tornadoes collided, the red and white colors began to diminish at a pace visible to the naked eye, gradually revealing the fire bear hidden within and...
A hideous white snow monster.
Perhaps because she had not been transformed into a "Harpy" by Law, the monster Monet had transformed into still maintained a humanoid shape.
"Die!"
The snow monster, composed entirely of white snow, spread its arms and locked the Dodo Advance in a death grip.
Opening its mouth wide, it slammed teeth made of ice shards deep into the fire bear body. Monet frantically channeled her fruit powers, continuously generating fresh snow to blanket the Dodo Advance.
A massive amount of water vapor billowed up between the two. Under Monet reckless, blood-for-blood tactics, the Dodo Advance finally dissipated into a wisp of green smoke.
"Huff... huff... I—I finally succeeded..."
Monet, who had reverted to her human form, knelt on the ground, gasping heavily for air. Her skin was flushed red all over, and visible burn marks could be seen near her arms and mouth.
Clearly, that previous method of fighting had not been easy on her.
However, Monet paid no mind to her own injuries. Her gaze immediately locked onto Doflamingo and Law, who had already taken their fight outside. Struggling to her feet, she stumbled forward, desperately trying to rush toward the Heavenly Yaksha location.
"Young Master... wait... wait for me... I'm coming to help you..."
Only...
"Even though you look very pitiful, Klee Meow still can't let you go... who told you to be a bad person?"
(=`へ=)
Noticing that her dodo had dissipated, the little Ragdoll—who had been perched on Sherwin shoulder watching Law take a beating—couldn't help but wrinkle her nose. She waved her little paw in Monet direction, and a brand-new dodo appeared once more to block the woman path.
Well, it truly was brand new—so new that even the design was different...
"Wow! It Father!"
Bonney, standing nearby, immediately began to cheer.
"Hehe~ This is the new dodo Klee Meow developed based on Uncle Kuma appearance—dodo Number Two Meow!"
＜(=`=)＞
The little Ragdoll proudly showed off to her friend. "And Klee Meow can change Uncle Kuma appearance however she wants meow~"
Under the little Ragdoll control, the flame bear—which originally looked exactly like Kuma—was instantly widened, returning to the original shape of a dodo...
But the facial features and the design of the clothes still retained Kuma appearance.
To put it simply, it was a flame Bear with Kuma face and a priest outfit.
Well...
"Pfft!"
Sherwin couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Little Bonney was even more unscrupulous, laughing uproariously while rolling around on her father body.
"Hahahaha! Daddy is so funny like this!"
Bartholomew Kuma: "..."
Seeing her work receiving such high praise, Klee Meow enthusiasm soared even higher.
"There more, there more! The moves Uncle Kuma uses, Dodo Bear No. 2 can do them too, meow!" (=＞＜=)
To prove her claim, the Guoba-version Flame Kuma, under the control of the small puppet, raised its palm and pushed through the air toward Monet—who was already staggering but still dragging her feet in an attempt to bypass it...
"Bang!"
A cluster of bear-paw-shaped flames flew out from the palm of Dodo Advance...
This was clearly the spark of a directional blast!
Sherwin, who saw through its nature at a glance, did not rain on Klee Meow parade. Instead, he rubbed her feline head with a look of approval.
Although it was fundamentally different from Kuma Ursus Shock, the power of this "Flame Pressure Cannon" was not lacking Monet was sent flying horizontally by the strike.
Already at the end of her rope, Monet could no longer hold on under this blow. She lost consciousness while still soaring through the air.
After a brief thought, Sherwin swung his arm and launched the gauntlet-form Dodo Advance, dragging the unconscious Monet back...
He then bound her with Sea Prism Stone chains and tossed her aside.
He had no intention of showing mercy. Not only did Monet possess the Logia fruit he desired, but the mere fact that she assisted Caesar in experimenting on children in the manga left Sherwin with absolutely no sympathy for her.
After capturing Monet, the Hunter continued to crane his neck alongside the Felynes to watch Law get beaten.
However...
The continuous "rumbling" of explosions coming from the other corner of the arena, the distinct wild laughter of the little crazy Felyne, and the frantically spreading smoke and flying debris all made Sherwin feel a bit uneasy even as he enjoyed the spectacle.
...
"Meow-hahahahaha! Why are you running, meow?! Aren't you the Pop-Pop Fruit user? Come and trade blasts with me, meow!!!"
(=`=)
Seeing Gladius focusing only on escaping, Jinx felt a bit bored and finally ceased her "Felyne Blasting Punch," standing with her paws on her hips to let her opponent catch his breath.
Of course, the main reason the little crazy Felyne stopped was that her Observation Haki was warning her of danger ahead.
Previously, after understanding the details of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, Sherwin had believed that Gladius Pop-Pop Fruit basically couldn't hurt Jinx, who had eaten the Bomb-Bomb Fruit...
This was actually a mistaken guess.
In Sherwin impression, the explosions Gladius created appeared like balloons or soap bubbles, seemingly only possessing explosive force.
In reality, the Pop-Pop Fruit ability is to turn inorganic matter into explosives the converted inorganic matter itself becomes shrapnel flying outward, and this shrapnel could indeed wound Jinx.
"Damn it!"
Gladius, who had been secretly laying landmine bombs while retreating, cursed inwardly when he saw Jinx suddenly stop the pursuit.
Quickly devising a strategy, he immediately raised one arm, aiming it at the little blue Felyne who was glaring at him with her paws on her hips.
"Rock Drum Blast!"
As the gears on Gladius arm turned, several black projectiles were launched, rapidly expanding mid-flight before violently detonating as they neared Jinx.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In an instant, the little blue cat figure was swallowed by the flames and smoke produced by the explosions.
"Yes! A hit!"
Gladius pumped his fist in excitement.
However, from within the smoke that had yet to dissipate, Jinx confused voice drifted out...
"Huh?"
ヾ(=`ー=)ジ
The little blue cat waved her paws, fanning away the surrounding smoke, and appeared before Gladius completely unharmed.
(ω≡ω)
Shaking her head to brush off the dust, Jinx narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and tilted her head back. Despite being a tiny creature who barely reached Gladius shins, she struck a pose as if she were far above him, "looking down" on him with a face full of contempt.
"What did you just say... hit meow?"
(ω)