One Piece: Heaven-Defying Talent

On the other side of the battlefield, Trebol unleashed a torrent of slime toward Helmeppo. But in a flash, Helmeppo's powerful fruit ability came into play, drying up all the slime with intense heat.

Trebol's powers were clearly outmatched by Helmeppo's Lava-Lava Fruit, and Helmeppo couldn't resist laughing. "You slimy slug, is that all you've got? Show me what else you can do—if you even have any tricks left, hahaha!"

Seeing that he was at a disadvantage, Trebol turned and began running.

"Where do you think you're going, you coward?" Helmeppo shouted, starting after him. "I'll catch you, drag you back to Master Chiba, and claim the reward!"

He continued with a grin, "Even though your fruit power is revolting, I bet Master Chiba could still find a use for it."

Helmeppo's laughter echoed as he pursued Trebol, who soon stopped beside a cluster of enormous pools. Helmeppo paused, glancing around warily for any ambush, but saw none.

"Why'd you stop? Ready to surrender?" Helmeppo taunted. "If you give up now, maybe I'll let you live."

Trebol sneered back. "Foolish boy, do you really think I'm afraid of you? You'll see soon enough how I deal with pests."

With those words, he unleashed a powerful wave of mucus, transforming the ground into a sticky, undulating sea of slime.

Helmeppo's eyes widened. "You—you can cover the whole area in slime? Don't tell me… your Devil Fruit has awakened?"

Trebol smirked. "I should thank your precious Master Chiba. Without his experiments, his miraculous elixirs, and the Haki and Qi training he shared, I might never have reached this level."

He continued with malice, "As a sign of gratitude, I'll send his prized disciple to a watery grave!"

Trebol's power surged, and the slime covered the entire area, turning into a churning, sticky wave aimed directly at Helmeppo.

"Damn it, he set me up!" Helmeppo's face went pale as he summoned more of the Lava-Lava Fruit's power, generating a surge of magma that dried the slime on contact. But as fast as he incinerated it, more slime rushed in, overwhelming him.

Surrounded by the relentless ooze, Helmeppo felt himself dragged toward one of the massive pools.

As he fell into the water, his strength vanished, and the magma dissipated instantly. "Damn it… this is seawater!" he realized in horror. "That slimy snake lured me here to drown me."

Standing safely on the shore, Trebol watched Helmeppo struggling in the pool with a satisfied smile. "Such a shame to see the Lava-Lava Fruit wasted on a brat like you. If Akainu were here, he'd have wiped me out with a single attack."

With a dismissive snort, Trebol turned and began walking back to the palace.

But before he could take more than a few steps, he stopped abruptly, sensing a sudden heat. His face twisted with shock as a fiery hand shot out, striking him square in the chest.

A burst of magma exploded from Trebol's torso. He spun around to see Helmeppo standing behind him, somehow alive and radiating intense heat.

"H-How? You're a Devil Fruit user! How did you survive in the sea?" Trebol stammered in disbelief.

---

Elsewhere on the Battlefield

Koby and Vergo were locked in fierce combat, each testing the other's skill. Koby held back from using his fruit powers; he was focused on honing his Armament Haki, using Vergo as a training ground.

He knew that Haki was not just a skill but the expression of his spirit and will. Only through intense, life-or-death battles could he hope to grow his Haki to a level that could match true masters.

Though his Armament Haki was still weaker than Vergo's, Koby pressed on. He could overpower Vergo with his Shock Fruit if he wanted, but that wasn't his goal. His goal was to strengthen himself and use Vergo as his personal whetstone.

Charging forward with his arms coated in Armament Haki, Koby's sword, Luo Bai, gleamed with the same dark energy as he swung it toward Vergo. Vergo met the blow with a sea-stone club, covered in his own powerful Armament Haki, clashing with Koby's sword. In a split-second counter, Vergo struck another ghostly blow, aiming for Koby's throat.

Koby tilted his head just in time, but Vergo's club came down hard on his shoulder. Pain shot through him as if his bones were shattered, but instead of retreating, Koby pressed on with renewed ferocity.

Vergo's combat experience was vast, and his mastery over Haki was formidable. Without his fruit powers, Koby struggled, almost overwhelmed by Vergo's attacks. Yet, as he fought, Vergo couldn't help but notice something unusual.

"This kid," Vergo muttered to himself, "he's tougher than anyone I've faced before. Most fighters would've had their bones broken by now, but he just keeps coming back for more."

Each time Vergo landed a blow, Koby absorbed it, his bones somehow bending rather than breaking. Despite the damage, he recovered quickly, his resilience and determination growing with every hit.

"This little brat must've gotten some kind of training from Chiba," Vergo thought with grudging admiration. "To be so resilient… his body is as soft as it is strong."

As Vergo's attacks rained down, Koby's aura intensified, his spirit sharpened like the edge of a blade. Blood and pain fueled his resolve, and he fought back like a wounded beast, refusing to yield until he tore his opponent apart.

Gradually, his Armament Haki grew stronger, nourished by his relentless energy and spirit. With each swing, each strike, Koby's Haki took on a new strength, tempered by the heat of battle.