"Huh?!"
Looking at the shark biting Kin'emon's body, Sanji was utterly dumbfounded.
Is this guy really that unlucky?
After a moment of silence, Sanji shook his head and thought: Forget it, I'll just bring this guy back first.
With that in mind, Sanji quickly swam toward the shark.
Collarbone SHOOT!
"Thump!"
An incredibly heavy whip kick struck the shark's face, forcefully knocking it unconscious with its eyes rolling back, while also making it spit out Kin'emon from its mouth.
After catching Kin'emon, Sanji thought: Franky's mechanical legs really are something else!
Is this the power of a steel body? It sure packs a punch!
While thinking this, Sanji turned his gaze to Kin'emon's body.
The last piece of the body is found, so now this samurai's body can be put back together, Sanji muttered to himself.
This time, he was definitely going to kick this samurai bastard to death!
With a cold snort in his heart, Sanji looked upward and noticed the rapidly spreading venom.
"Damn, how is it so fast?!"
The venom was spreading much quicker than he had imagined!
Thinking this, Sanji began swimming rapidly, intending to reach the surface as fast as possible.
But to his despair, at his current speed, he couldn't make it back to the surface before the venom reached him.
"Then I'll have to use this move!
"Sea Walk!"
As he thought this, Sanji tried to use the technique he originally employed with Franky's body, but to his surprise, Franky's steel body couldn't perform the special physical techniques that relied on muscle control.
"It's over..."
Just then, an enormous Wood Dragon appeared above him, rushing toward him at incredible speed.
As if understanding something, Sanji's eyes immediately lit up.
"This is... Meiser's Wood Release Technique!"
The next moment...
"Crunch!"
The massive dragon head reached Sanji and swallowed him in one bite.
Then, it shot toward the water's surface at breakneck speed.
Finally, it successfully carried Sanji away from the venom's assault!
"Boom!!"
After breaking the surface, an opening appeared in the Wood Dragon's body, and Sanji stepped out from it.
"Huh?"
For a moment, Sanji looked confused. Wasn't he just inside the Wood Dragon's mouth? How did he end up on shore?
Meiser, standing not far from him, spoke up: "The Wood Dragon was covered in too much venom. If I had let you out directly from its mouth, you would have been poisoned to death."
"So I transferred your location."
Using the power of Wood Release to move someone from inside the Wood Dragon was another application technique of Wood Release.
Then, Meiser tossed the massive creature into the lake ahead, clearly intending to discard this venom-soaked Wood Dragon.
"I see."
Sanji nodded, then carried Kin'emon's body over to the samurai and helped him reassemble it completely.
"Ah!"
"Ah!!"
"Ah!!"
"It's my body!"
"My body!!"
Kin'emon looked at his own body with tears streaming down his face and said, "My body has finally returned!"
This is great, truly wonderful!
The feeling of having a complete body again is just too good!
"You're quite tall, Mr. Samurai," Brook remarked. "Almost as tall as me."
Zoro was also sizing up this over-three-meter-tall figure, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
This guy was even taller than he had imagined.
"My stature is indeed somewhat taller than that of ordinary people," Kin'emon nodded in agreement.
After saying this, Kin'emon seemed to remember something and added, "Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet."
"My name is Kin'emon!!"
"Alright, I know your name now, so stop with the nonsense!" Sanji, hugging his arms, shivered as he spoke. "Hurry up and make me some clothes!"
If he didn't put on a winter coat soon, he felt like he would freeze to death.
"Ah, my apologies."
With that, Kin'emon used his ability to create a set of winter clothes for Sanji, which made Sanji feel a bit better.
Of course, it was only a slight improvement.
"It's still pretty cold..."
"Of course it's cold," Meiser glanced at Sanji and said. "After all, the water on you hasn't dried yet."
In this situation, even wearing warm winter clothes wouldn't bring immediate relief.
Hearing this, Sanji sighed helplessly. There were no conditions right now for him to dry off.
"Sir," Kin'emon said earnestly, looking at Sanji. "Your name is Sanji, correct?"
"That's right, I am Sanji!"
After saying this, Sanji darted right up to Kin'emon's face, gritting his teeth as he spoke. "You bastard, you haven't forgotten what you did before, have you?!"
"Taking advantage of the fact that you couldn't do anything, you insulted me in every possible way... Believe me, I'll kick you to death!"
Seeing the furious Sanji, Kin'emon couldn't help but recall some scenes from when they first met.
Then, his tears began to flow uncontrollably.
"How could I dare forget!"
As he spoke, Kin'emon knelt directly on the ground, lowering his head at the same time.
"Your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget for the rest of my life. I am endlessly grateful!"
"And..."
"I actually doubted all of you before I regained my body, truly..."
"I beg for your forgiveness."
With that, Kin'emon began to kowtow to Sanji, each bow heavier than the last.
Watching this scene, Sanji frowned deeply.
"Stop kowtowing, you idiot!" Sanji grabbed Kin'emon's face and lifted it, saying angrily, "A real man doesn't kneel to others so easily, you fool!"
"But... if I hadn't met you, sir, I might never have regained my body."
In that case, he wouldn't have been able to protect himself, let alone rescue the young master.
Thinking of this, Kin'emon cried even harder.
Seeing this, Sanji felt somewhat helpless and didn't know what to say for a moment.
With this bastard acting like this, how could he possibly kick him to death?!
Just then, Brook approached the two and said, "Um... although it's not a good time to interrupt, it seems we've fallen into a desperate crisis."
"Look, we're surrounded by these huge slimes."
Upon hearing Brook's words, Sanji's expression immediately changed.
"Hey, didn't I tell you guys to figure out a way to deal with this thing?" Sanji said irritably.
Why were these things still here after he came up?!
"Can't do anything about it," Zoro said, picking his nose.
"That's right~"
Brook also made a nose-picking gesture, causing Sanji's anger to flare up instantly.
"Stop acting cute, you bastards!" Sanji roared, opening his shark mouth.
After saying that, Sanji turned to look at Meiser and asked, "Can't you do anything either?"
"I was just watching the water~" Meiser shrugged. "Otherwise, why do you think I saved you right before you were about to be killed?"
His Observation Haki had been firmly locked onto this idiot.
Sanji fell silent upon hearing this, realizing that made sense.
"But don't worry, there's still a way," Meiser said, glancing at the slimes surrounding them. "We just have to break through."
Using the Wood Dragon to carve a path wouldn't be difficult for him.
As for the poison?
Even if the Wood Dragon got poisoned, it wouldn't affect him directly, so there was no need to worry about the poison issue.
Zoro seemed to understand something, his eyes lighting up as he said, "You plan to..."
"That's right, let me..."
"Allow me!"
Kin'emon stood up and declared.
"You?"
Meiser glanced at Kin'emon and asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"What about burning them?"
"Burning them?"
Several question marks immediately appeared above Brook's head. "Can you actually create fire?"
If he remembered correctly, this guy was an Ability User who could create clothes.
How could he possibly create fire?
"That's right, I can create fire!" Kin'emon drew the long sword at his waist and declared, "I am known as Foxfire Kin'emon!"
"A Sword Master who can slash with flames!"
"Now, allow me to carve a path to survival for all of you!"
With that, Kin'emon launched his attack without hesitation.
"One Sword Style·Foxfire!"
"Clang!"
A sharp Flying Slash shot out, transforming in an instant into a slashing attack burning with flames!
The next moment...
"Clang!"
"Boom!!"
The slime that was struck instantly erupted in a terrifying explosion!
At that very moment, Kin'emon swung his sword several more times, forcibly cutting through the sea of fire before him and perfectly resolving the crisis!
"Alright, the path is open now. We can leave," Kin'emon said.
"Interesting~" Meiser remarked with a slight smile.
Seeing that the crisis had been resolved, he lowered his hands.
"How did you do that?" Brook asked in amazement, looking at Kin'emon. "You actually managed to cut through the flames from the explosion?"
This was truly astonishing!
Could anyone in this world actually do such a thing?
"Because I can not only slash with flames, but also cut through flames!"
"You can do that too?"
"Of course!"
Kin'emon explained, "Because the secret technique of my Foxfire Style is to slash with flames and cut through flames!"
"There is no flame in this world that I cannot cut through!"
Listening to Kin'emon's explanation, Brook was even more astonished.
Could such a miraculous sword technique truly exist in this world?
How incredible!
Meanwhile, Meiser wore an intrigued expression.
No flame he couldn't cut?
Could this guy cut through his own Fire Release Technique?
He was rather curious about that.
"Everyone."
Kin'emon turned to glance at Sanji and the others, saying, "I must go to the research institute to rescue Momonosuke, so I'll take my leave first."
"Once I've saved him, I'll return to properly thank all of you."
With that, Kin'emon strode forward without hesitation, clearly intending to return to the research institute as quickly as possible to rescue his young master.
"Wait a moment," Zoro said. "I've become interested in samurai combat. I'll go with you."
Upon hearing this, Kin'emon froze for a moment, then his body gradually began to tremble.
"You're actually willing to..."
"Don't misunderstand," Zoro said calmly. "I'm just very interested in samurai combat, that's all.
"Of course, it would be even better if you're willing to spar with me afterward."
"Understood.
Kin'emon raised his arm to wipe his face, then said with a serious expression, "After rescuing Momonosuke, I will spar with you!"
This wasn't an unreasonable request to him, so he was willing to agree.
Seeing that Kin'emon had agreed, Zoro smiled even more happily.
Then, he turned to look at his companions and said, "I plan to go to the research institute with this guy. What about you all?"
"Do you even need to ask!" Sanji roared, opening his shark mouth. "If you're going, then of course we're going too!"
"Otherwise, what if you get lost?"
"Who would get lost!" Zoro snapped angrily.
Was this bastard looking down on him too much? How could he possibly get lost in a place like this, damn it!
"Of course it's you!" Sanji retorted angrily. "If you get separated from Kin'emon along the way, we'll have to search the entire island for you!"
That would be a huge hassle, you know!
"Huh?"
Zoro said irritably, "How could I possibly get lost? If anyone's going to get lost, it's you guys!"
"How does an idiot like you have the nerve to say something like that?"
"Who are you calling an idiot!"
"You, Moss Head!"
Clang! Bang! Crash!
Kin'emon: ...
Watching the two who had inexplicably started fighting, a bead of sweat immediately appeared on Kin'emon's forehead.
What was going on?
Why were they fighting?
"You'll get used to it," Meiser said somewhat helplessly.
Really, those two idiots Sanji and Zoro could start arguing no matter the time or place.
It was quite unbelievable.
Hearing this, Kin'emon's mouth twitched slightly, unsure what to say for a moment.
Just then, the Slime on the opposite bank of the river let out an incredibly terrifying roar, making Sanji and the others' scalps tingle.
"What's that thing roaring about?"
"Isn't it obvious!" Brook exclaimed, clutching his afro. "That Slime must be angry!
"
It must be roaring out of rage.
"Angry?"
Zoro paused, then stroked his chin and said, "Is it angry because those little Slimes exploded earlier?"
Well, thinking about it carefully, it's not impossible.
After all, that thing separated from the other's body—it might even be his child.
"Does that mean I killed his son?" Kin'emon said. "But given the situation at the time, there was no other choice."
After all, if they hadn't acted, they would have been poisoned to death by that strange Slime!
"Whether it's his son or not, I don't know, but..."
Before Meiser could finish his sentence, he noticed a startling transformation taking place in the Slime on the opposite shore.
"Hey, it looks like it's starting to change shape!"
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