Chapter 154: Playing Around

Chapter 154: Playing Around

Bahr drew the Black Sword Autumn Water from his back with a reverse grip. The blade gleamed with a dull luster as sea breeze whistled faintly across its surface.

This was his answer.

Smoothie's pupils contracted sharply. With a twist of her wrist, her sword shot from its Spiral Scabbard like lightning, the gleaming blade piercing toward Bahr's face with a sharp whistle.

Her drawing speed far exceeded normal human reaction—truly befitting a top executive of the Big Mom Pirates.

Bahr's wrist rotated slightly as Autumn Water arced through the air like black lightning, precisely deflecting her blade.

"Clang!"

The metallic clash sent numbing vibrations through their eardrums. The sound waves rippled outward like stones thrown into water, making even the surrounding air tremble faintly.

Smoothie felt violent tremors run up her arm. She quickly stabilized her stance, eyes locked intently on Bahr without the slightest relaxation.

At that moment, Bahr's figure suddenly blurred like moonlight reflected in water, vanishing from his original position.

Smoothie's heart tightened. Years of combat instinct made her whirl around, sword sweeping behind her—only to cut through empty air.

"Over here." Bahr's voice came from her left.

She turned sharply to see Bahr had somehow appeared at her left rear. Autumn Water descended toward her neck with biting wind pressure. Barely managing to block with her sword, she was sent stumbling rightward by the impact.

Before she could steady herself, Bahr disappeared again.

Her pupils constricted as she instinctively raised her sword defensively, scanning her surroundings warily. Then came the sound of slicing wind from above—she looked up to see Bahr descending from midair, Autumn Water falling like a meteor toward her head.

Their blades met again with a shower of sparks.

"Not bad reflexes." Bahr chuckled before flickering to her right side.

Smoothie twisted to defend, but Bahr's attacks came like a storm, always pulling back at the last moment like a cat toying with its prey.

Utilizing his Spatial ability, Bahr kept teleporting—left, right, front, back, above, below—attacking from every tricky angle until Autumn Water's afterimages formed an inescapable net around Smoothie.

Though her swordsmanship was exquisite and reactions sharp, against these ghostly, mocking strikes, she gradually found herself overwhelmed.

Her blade danced defensively before her, blocking desperately, yet many sword winds still grazed past her body.

"Rip!" Autumn Water cleanly sliced through her pink-white uniform, revealing a patch of wheat-colored skin.

"Tsk tsk, not bad figure. Just too stiff in temperament." Bahr's voice carried a teasing lilt.

Smoothie's face flushed instantly, ears burning. Her steady breathing hitched slightly.

But she didn't shout in anger—only her gaze sharpened like a blade, grip tightening as her attacks grew fiercer yet less controlled, leaving more openings.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Rapid metallic clashes echoed across the deck. Sweat beaded on Smoothie's forehead as she strained to track Bahr's movements, neck aching from constant turns yet never predicting his next position.

Suddenly, Bahr vanished before her eyes.

Her heart lurched as she started searching—only to feel cool air on her back. Whirling around, she found Bahr behind her, Autumn Water's flat lightly brushing her wrist.

She jerked her sword back defensively, but numbness spread through her wrist, nearly making her drop her weapon.

Bahr gave no time to recover, flashing before her as Autumn Water's gale-force slash tore a long rent in her sleeve.

Smoothie reflexively retracted her arm, eyes turning colder.

This bastard could end the fight anytime yet chose to humiliate her. Unforgivable.

Her anger bred recklessness, creating clear openings Bahr exploited—teleporting sideways to deliver a brutal kick to her abdomen.

Smoothie flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto shoreline rocks with a dull thud.

Before she could recover, Bahr descended like a falling star, his right foot pinning her to the stone with crushing force.

Gasping for breath, her eyes burned with humiliation and fury, lips pressed into a thin line of silent defiance.

Bahr looked down, tilting her chin up with Autumn Water's tip. "Seems you're just so-so."

He increased pressure slightly, making her brows twitch in pain though she refused to vocalize it.

"Consider this a lesson." His tone turned icy. "Tell Big Mom that if she wants me as a son-in-law, she's not qualified. If she disagrees, she's welcome to declare full-scale war—I'll be waiting."

Big Mom had sent people for marriage, not as sacrifices. Actually killing this "mobile tower" would likely make that madwoman come charging with Napoleon overnight.

With his current forces, direct confrontation wouldn't end well.

But neither was there need to fear—with Ark Maxim as an aerial fortress and Porche's Float-Float Fruit abilities, guerrilla tactics were always an option. He could bombard Whole Cake Island daily until someone cracked.

Turning away, Autumn Water traced a cold arc through sunlight, splitting sea-tossed hair strands.

Still... this woman was tough. Without her muscular cushioning, that kick would've made her spit blood!

On the rocks, Smoothie finally breathed freely, the dull chest pain making her hunch over. Her fists clenched tightly, eyes filled with unwillingness and restraint.

Bahr walked leisurely ahead, sea breeze fluttering his coat as Autumn Water swayed behind him. Approaching Nico Robin—

"The Boss certainly has interesting hobbies," she remarked calmly, arms crossed with subtle mockery.

She'd seen everything—how Bahr had toyed with Smoothie, especially deliberately cutting her clothes. Very much his brand of mischief.

Bahr ignored Robin's barb. "Notify everyone—full crew meeting tonight. Important announcements."

Robin nodded. "Understood. I'll arrange it immediately."

Without another word, Bahr headed toward the cabins while Robin turned to gather the crew.