Fiona moved across the battlefield like a ghost, her blade flashing with deadly light as she engaged in fierce combat with three CP0 agents. The four clashed back and forth, sword strikes interweaving in a blur, and for a moment, it was impossible to determine a victor.
By her true strength, Fiona could have easily overwhelmed the three, but now she found herself locked in a stalemate. Earlier, she had sent a clone to aid Chiyo. Although the clone possessed half of her power, it inevitably reduced Fiona's own strength. This was why she could not dispatch her opponents quickly.
Meanwhile, Chiyo, now transformed into the three-blue-bird form, arrived with powerful gusts sweeping from her wings. Suddenly, she expelled a blast of bone-chilling cold fire toward one CP0 agent attacking Fiona. The agent, clearly unprepared for reinforcements, was struck instantly.
In an instant, the cold spread everywhere, encasing the agent in a massive block of ice. Yet, as a trained CP0 agent, he reacted swiftly, gathering his energy to shatter the ice completely.
But in that fleeting moment, Fiona had already seized the opportunity. Her blades struck like lightning, one piercing the agent's heart and the other his throat.
A harrowing scream echoed as the agent collapsed, dead on the spot. Blood gushed onto the ground. Fiona's expression remained impassive, her vigilance unbroken, for two other CP0 agents still watched her with lethal intent.
The sudden loss shocked the remaining CP0 agents. The calm they had maintained was replaced by panic.
They understood all too well that even the three of them together could only barely hold their own against Fiona. Now, with one down and reinforcements arriving for the enemy, fear gripped them.
Yet Fiona felt no mercy. Her blade gleamed with relentless intent, each strike brimming with lethal precision. With perfect coordination between Chiyo, Philina, and Reiko, it did not take long before the two remaining agents collapsed into a pool of blood.
Fiona exhaled deeply, tension finally loosening slightly. She turned to her companions, asking, "How did you end up here?"
Philina, anxious, replied quickly, "Sister, you need to go help Big Pan! That strange-haired old man has entered the fight. He's far too strong, we can't match him alone. Big Pan is fighting him fiercely, and we're powerless to assist. That's why we came here to support you first. Sister, hurry! We still need to help Dotai and Simon!"
Seeing Philina so anxious, Fiona understood immediately. To provoke such urgency in her usually composed sister, the situation with Big Pan must be extremely dire. Without further hesitation, she dashed toward Big Pan's battlefield like an arrow released from a bow.
Soon, Fiona arrived to witness Big Pan locked in combat with Grinco Saint. Her heart sank.
Big Pan was covered in blood and wounds, his situation precarious.
Fiona did not hesitate. She activated her Thread Fruit powers. Countless fine threads streamed from her fingertips, hard as steel needles, striking at Grinco Saint like a torrential storm.
Individually, these threads were not as strong as her sword, but their sheer number and stealth made them lethal.
She had hoped to catch him off guard, but she underestimated Grinco Saint's keen senses.
As the threads neared him, Grinco Saint suddenly retaliated, kicking Big Pan like a cannonball across the field. He then unleashed a massive fireball, scorching everything in its path. The threads were incinerated instantly, and the residual fire surged toward Fiona with terrifying force.
Fiona's eyes widened. "He's a Devil Fruit user, and a powerful one at that!"
There was no time to think further. She shouted, "Thread Shield!" and spun her threads into an enormous oval barrier, enclosing herself.
The fireball slammed into the shield with a deafening roar. Sparks flew, and heat surged like a wave. Though the shield held, the threads gradually burned away.
As the fireball's energy finally waned, Fiona was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, but her vigilance remained sharp.
Grinco Saint laughed cruelly, "Impressive, little girl. You withstood my Flame Breath. You have some skill, worthy of facing me directly."
He lunged again with his long blade.
"Watch out, Fiona! He's at Big Bro level!" Big Pan warned, swallowing another healing pill. Though exhausted, he gripped his Panlong Staff and charged like a tiger.
He knew that if he did not hold Grinco Saint in place, Fiona could be overwhelmed.
Fiona understood immediately the threat she faced. She did not meet him head-on. Six blades of chilling light shot toward Grinco Saint, creating a brief distraction as she ghosted backward.
Grinco Saint sneered, "Pathetic tricks." His blade moved like lightning, shattering the incoming knives with ease.
Suddenly, a massive column of intertwined threads slammed toward him like a roaring dragon. Grinco Saint dodged, but the column exploded, scattering countless threads toward him.
He did not dodge this time. Dark scales emerged from beneath his skin, forming an impenetrable shield that deflected the barrage.
Fiona and Big Pan stared in disbelief. "What kind of ability is this?"
A cold, merciless voice echoed: "Pathetic insects, prepare to be punished!"
In an instant, Grinco Saint vanished.
Big Pan tensed. "His speed… it's increased!"
A sharp pain struck his chest. A deep gash appeared, and he was sent flying like a kite. Grinco Saint reappeared where Big Pan had stood, blood dripping from his blade.
"Big Pan!" Fiona shouted, rushing to him.
Grinco Saint vanished again. Fiona's eyes narrowed, weaving a massive thread shield to protect both herself and Big Pan.
A tremendous crash shook the air as Grinco Saint struck. The shield held, though maintaining it was exhausting.
"Big Pan, are you okay?" Fiona called, sweat streaming down her forehead.
"I'm fine," Big Pan replied through gritted teeth. "Thanks to the healing pill. The wound still hurts, but it didn't hit any vital organs. But our situation… it's bad."
Fiona nodded grimly. "This shield won't last long. We need a plan."
"He's too fast. We need to restrict his speed first," Big Pan said, focusing through the pain. He then stood, summoning his energy. His Panlong Staff glowed with brilliant light.
He struck it to the ground, sending a rippling wave outward. The air twisted, radiating an intimidating aura. Grinco Saint felt a sudden restraint, his movements slightly delayed.
Big Pan shouted, "Panlong Staff Secret Technique: Martial Extreme Break!"
The shield cracked. The staff struck like a rampaging dragon, colliding with Grinco Saint's blade.
"Pathetic!" Grinco Saint sneered, swinging his blade.
The collision sent a shockwave through him, hurling his blade aside. The staff struck his chest, and blood sprayed as he crashed into a mound, leaving a massive crater.
"Did we… succeed, Big Pan?" Fiona asked anxiously.
"No," he said gravely, sensing Grinco Saint's power still radiating through the smoke.
From the swirling dust came a chilling, sinister laughter, sending shivers down their spines.