Compared to Setsuna, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi have one advantage, and that's their size advantage; the male Fur Race members are generally taller and stronger than the females.
Although Nekomamushi was one-sidedly beaten yesterday, had he not been thoroughly roughed up by a group of Miltank first, he wouldn't have been left defenseless to such an extent. Now, when facing Setsuna's attacks, he can still fight back.
Haki is like an invisible armor. Using its protection, she treats Nekomamushi's swinging blade as a parallel bar, flipping over to dodge Nekomamushi's punch and then, using the momentum, kicks toward his neck.
Nekomamushi has the advantage in size, while Setsuna is more agile. During this process, Nekomamushi attempts to launch a new attack, which, although deters Setsuna's offense, he couldn't hit Setsuna, and instead, Setsuna closed the distance.
The blade gives him a longer attack range, but once the opponent enters his close range, the speed of adjusting the blade can't match the speed of throwing a punch.
Nekomamushi's attacks kept missing, while Setsuna's attacks landed solidly on him. As Setsuna's elbow strike hit his abdomen, Nekomamushi's expression turned grim.
Although he seems bulky, he's not clumsy; relatively speaking, he's quite agile. However, compared to Setsuna, his agility falls short.
Unable to catch even a shadow, Nekomamushi became increasingly anxious. After missing another attack, Setsuna's legs wrapped around his neck.
She wanted to take advantage of the situation to finish off Nekomamushi, but Setsuna realized she made a mistake. Nekomamushi's neck was too thick and short, so her attack didn't have the intended effect, and instead, Nekomamushi grabbed her calf.
"Finally caught you... You're really tough to handle..." His voice sounded a bit odd; Setsuna's earlier attack was quite forceful. Had it not been for his inherent physique giving him a short neck, that blow alone could have taken him down.
If he could resolve the opponent on his own, Nekomamushi didn't want Inuarashi to intervene. Two against one isn't all that honorable, so he grabbed Setsuna's leg and tossed her into the sky.
"Now you have nowhere to hide, give up!"
He sheathed his sword, assuming an Iaido stance. One can't adjust their posture in mid-air. When Setsuna falls, he can try to end it with one strike.
So, in his view, Setsuna had already lost, and even felt a sense of pride.
But Inuarashi, standing by, issued a warning.
"You stupid cat! Look out above!"
Covering his forehead with one hand, Nekomamushi looked up, but it was already too late.
At this moment, Setsuna was not falling as he imagined; instead, she floated directly in the air. After steadying herself, she launched another attack.
Just as she was about to kick Nekomamushi on the head, Inuarashi's attack blocked hers. If Inuarashi hadn't intervened, the careless Nekomamushi might have lost his combat capability right there.
"You just couldn't resist stepping in."
However, Inuarashi didn't answer that remark but asked another question instead.
"A Devil Fruit user? Did you eat a Devil Fruit?!"
The Fur Race naturally has no ability to fly, so in Inuarashi's view, this power could only come from a Devil Fruit.
"There are many things you don't understand. This is power I gained through my own efforts, unrelated to any Devil Fruit!"
Electromagnetic Floating, one of the skills Arceus taught her. While it doesn't enable her to fly at super speeds like Zeraora, it's sufficient. Possessing the ability to fly means her combat now becomes more three-dimensional.
"Efforts, we've been making efforts too. Inuarashi, let this girl witness our achievements. Flying is no big deal. Oden's One-Sword Style: Neko Niko Ban!"
"Sorry, Setsuna. We need what we gain from victory, Oden's One-Sword Style: Inu Spire!"
A thrust and a slash, two attacks crossed towards Setsuna. However, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi hadn't learned techniques like Moonwalk; in the sky, they couldn't leverage themselves. Facing Setsuna, who could glide freely, their attacks fell flat.
However, Setsuna didn't stay floating up there forever. She didn't bring a bow and arrow, which is her usual weapon. If she had, then in this state, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi would be her targets.
Stalemating endlessly isn't a solution, but upon lowering her altitude, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's combined attacks certainly posed a challenge. They have lived together for years and experienced plenty of battles on the pirate ships outside, making their combat experience much richer than hers.
"Setsuna, you're overextending, you're no match for both of us, surrender."
"Surrender? Do you know why I chose today?"
The Fur Race is quite sensitive to dates, always planning dangerous actions on full moon days. With what Setsuna said, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
"Wait! You're crazy! The Moon Lion's loss of control could kill you!" Inuarashi angrily rebuked. He didn't believe the two-years-younger Setsuna had mastered this secret technique.
But Setsuna had already lifted her head to stare directly at the moon. The full moon reflected in her eyes as her pupils began to constrict. Her body swayed slightly, static electricity crackled continuously around her fur.
Her canine teeth grew sharper, and low growls came from her mouth. Initially, her hair was simply tied with a hairband, only reaching her shoulders.
But as her growling continued, her hair began to grow rapidly, popping the hairband open. Her long hair now reached her waist, swaying with the sea breeze, with the fur on her tail doing the same. The extended fur was now dragging on the sand.
"Awooo!"
A wolf's howl echoed across the beach, electric light soaring into the clouds as those living near the beach experienced a dazzling white flash.
Setsuna twisted her neck, her crimson eyes fixed on Inuarashi and Nekomamushi.
"Come on, round two, begins now!"
"You... you've mastered the Moon Lion?!"
"Why not? Get ready, it might hurt a lot now."
Accompanied by a massive surge of electricity, Setsuna's figure burst forth. The sand beneath where she stood melted under the high temperature of the lightning, turning into irregularly shaped glass crystals.
Speed, strength, lightning—Moon Lion provides the Fur Race with an all-round enhancement.
Originally, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi held some advantages, but now, those advantages vanished completely.
"Wolf Fang Flash."
Inuarashi could barely see Setsuna's movements, feeling only a tremendous force coming from his chest, which sent him flying into the sea.
"Come on, silly cat, it's a full moon today; we've got all the time to play."