As the cannonballs whistled towards them, Bellamy showed no intention of stopping his attack.
Just then, Onigumo, with his back to his enemy, revealed a resolute smile.
Life Return: Death Cell!
His eight swords clattered to the ground. Onigumo forcibly twisted his body around and seized Bellamy's shoulders with his bare hands. At the same time, Bellamy's fingers plunged into Onigumo's throat. A brilliant spray of blood blossomed, splashing near the corner of Bellamy's eye.
"What are you doing?"
He couldn't understand. Not only had Onigumo not reacted as he'd expected, but he had actively exposed his vital points. Was the fight really going to end like this?
Onigumo didn't answer; the damage to his throat had robbed him of his ability to speak. He used his shattered larynx to pin Bellamy's fingers in place. The six hair-like arms that coiled behind Onigumo's back shot forward, binding Bellamy tightly like shackles.
By now, the hundreds of cannonballs, filled with destructive energy, were almost upon them.
From Onigumo's unwavering gaze, Bellamy finally understood what he was trying to do.
"You want to drag me to hell with you?"
This absolute resolve earned Bellamy's great admiration.
"This battle... is finally getting interesting!"
Only such a formidable enemy was worthy of all the effort he had put into this.
The whistling rain of cannonballs finally fell from above. In an instant, countless flames and explosions covered the entire block. One after another, cannonballs were fired from the warship, a continuous, devastating bombardment that seemed intent on completely destroying the whole of Sun and Moon Island.
The spectators watching from the sidelines cried out in alarm. "Oh no, the captain's in danger!"
Drake immediately called out to the others. "Everyone, with me!" He was going to destroy those warships and forcibly stop the cannonade. If this bombardment continued, Bellamy would be dead or at least severely injured.
Meanwhile, on the Marine warship, the soldiers were also deeply concerned about Onigumo's situation.
"The Vice Admiral is still in there! Should we stop the firing?"
"We can't! Vice Admiral Onigumo gave orders beforehand. Once the firing starts, we are not to stop until all the cannonballs have been fired."
"But the Vice Admiral himself is in there!"
The highest-ranking officer left on the warship was only a Captain. Faced with the questions of his subordinates, he couldn't give a definitive answer. "I need to report to Headquarters immediately. You all keep an eye on the battlefield." The Captain hurried off to the communications room. The soldiers, left with no other choice, could only follow the Vice Admiral's last orders and continue the bombardment.
The rain of cannonballs fell relentlessly, turning the entire port district into a living hell. And in the midst of this inferno, the two men were still locked in a death grip.
Onigumo's larger frame took more damage than Bellamy's. Countless flames completely engulfed him. He was like a burning hungry ghost from purgatory, determined to drag his enemy to hell with him even in death.
Bellamy's hands strained against Onigumo's powerful arms. "Let... me... go!"
The intensely burning flames were rapidly incinerating the hair-like appendages, and the restraints on Bellamy's body began to weaken. But the power a strong man could unleash when he put his life on the line was not so easily broken. Bellamy tried to break free several times, but each time he was forced back by Onigumo's arms.
I won't let you escape!
Although Onigumo couldn't speak, his will seemed to scream out into the void. With bloodshot eyes, the two men struggled madly amidst the cannon fire.
At that moment, a cannonball scored a direct hit on the spot where they stood. Onigumo, being the taller of the two, took the full brunt of the impact. After a massive explosion, a spray of flesh and blood splattered across Bellamy's face.
A gaping hole had been blown right through the center of Onigumo's chest. The entire area had been blasted to pieces by the terrifying explosion. Only a few bones were left, barely holding his body together.
The injury was so horrific that even Bellamy couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. For an instant, Onigumo's eyes glazed over, and Bellamy could feel the arms gripping him begin to weaken.
But the next second, the fighting spirit in Bellamy's heart was completely ignited.
Those arms... were once again holding him tight.
"ONI...GUMO!"
"ROAR!"
Bellamy let out a beast-like roar. He felt as if he were about to reach a climax.
This was exhilarating!
Only an enemy like this could give him such a thrilling, satisfying battle.
Bellamy released his condensed Gear Third form, unleashing all the power stored in his Life Essence Apertures. In an instant, his body began to rapidly expand. The 1.6-meter-tall adolescent form shot up to a height of three meters. This instantaneous, full-power burst made it impossible for Onigumo to hold onto him any longer.
But Bellamy did not choose to run.
"Come on! I'm not running!"
Let's see which of them would fall first.
"Gyahahahaha!"
Faced with such an enemy, he would never back down. Bellamy wanted to show Onigumo that he was simply stronger. Whether in body, will, or skill, Onigumo was not his opponent.
He was going to make him accept his defeat, completely and without question.