Chapter 411: Nero vs Honey

Nero looked at Honey. "You lot have been creating a ruckus everywhere," Nero remarked. 

"We are only trying to save our friend," Honey replied.

"A wanted criminal," Nero replied. "I will capture you and all your friends," Nero added. 

Honey looked at Nero. "Storm Leg," Nero shouted as he kicked at high speed and unleashed a razor-sharp blade of compressed air. It went towards Honey. 

Honey jumped out of the way. She avoided the attack and saw the wall behind her damaged. It was not completely cut however the bricks fell over. "Liquid Air Blast," Honey said as she raised her hand and launched a torrent of purple liquid at Nero. 

"Moonwalk," Nero said, propelling himself upward with rapid kicks against the air. He dodged the attack. He kicked the air and went towards Honey. 

"Liquid Bullet Barrage!" Honey shouted. She raised her hand, shaping her fingers into the form of a gun. She began firing rapid bursts of purple liquid bullets from her fingertips. 

Nero's eyes widened as the barrage approached. He kicked the air to leap around the incoming bullets. He darted through the air, dodging most of the projectiles with a series of rapid flips and sidesteps. The bullets kept coming. 

Honey looked at Nero "You can't dodge them all!" she said, her fingers releasing another flurry of liquid bullets.

Nero twisted mid-air to avoid another cluster, but one of the bullets grazed his side. He winced, losing a bit of his momentum. Another bullet struck his leg, then a third hit him square in the shoulder. The force of the impact sent him spinning out of control, his body crashing into the ground with a heavy thud. Dust and debris flew up from the impact as he skidded to a stop.

Nero groaned. He thought he got hit. She got lucky, he thought. "Storm Leg: Line," Nero said as he stomped down with force, blasting the air straight ahead in a concentrated line toward Honey. 

The attack came towards Honey. She changed her body into liquid. The attack went past the gap she created. She put her body back together. 

"You are a logia user," Nero shouted.

Honey nodded. "Double Air Blast," Honey said as she raised both her hands and launched a torrent of purple liquid at Nero. The liquid went through the air and sped towards Nero. 

"Iron Body," Nero declared with a smirk as he tensed his muscles and hardened his body. The double streams of the liquid hit Nero. He slid back from the force. He dug his heels and stopped moving backwards and smiled. 

Honey stopped the attack and looked. "You have to do better than that," Nero remarked. 

"Shave," Nero muttered, disappearing in a flash as he accelerated forward with blinding speed, darting toward Honey. He appeared in front of Honey. "Finger Pistol," Nero added, as he thrust his index finger forward. He hit a purple liquid. Honey had changed her body into a liquid. 

She looked at Honey. "You knew I was a devil fruit user," Honey remarked. 

"Liquid Trident," Honey said as she created and transformed a stream of liquid into a sharp, trident-like projection. She held it and impaled Nero. Nero spat blood. He got stabbed in the stomach. He moved back. He was panting. 

"Why you," he shouted. 

"Liquid Bomb," Honey said as she created a large red ball of liquid with both her hands.

"Another colour, means nothing to me," Nero shouted. "Iron Body," Nero added, with a smirk as he tensed his muscles and hardened his body. Honey threw the giant ball. It travelled through the room. Nero gritted his teeth. He thought he could take this. He had it before. It was only a different colour. He had faced worse before, or so he thought. The moment the large red ball made contact with his body, he realised his mistake.

The explosion erupted with a deafening roar, engulfing him in a burst of scorching heat and blinding light. The force of the blast sent Nero hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, his body twisting and tumbling as flames licked at his skin. He felt the searing pain as his flesh burned. 

When Nero finally hit the ground, he skidded across the dirt, leaving a trail of scorched earth in his wake. His body was a mess, his clothes were charred, his skin burned and blistered. Pain shot through him with every breath, his muscles screaming in agony. Blood trickled from his mouth. 

Nero pushed himself up. His arms shook violently as he forced them to hold his weight, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Nero struggled to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. His vision blurred for a moment, "I'm not done yet," he muttered. His body was a wreck. Nero looked up. "Is that all you've got?" he rasped.

"Liquid Serpent!" Honey said as she raised her hands. She created a swirling mass of red liquid. The liquid began to coil and twist, taking on the shape of a massive, sinuous serpent. Its eyes glowed with an ominous light.

With a flick of her wrist, Honey sent the liquid serpent hurtling towards Nero, its mouth wide open as if ready to strike. The serpent slithered through the air with incredible speed, its body elongating and weaving like a living creature. It twisted and turned, zig-zagging unpredictably.

Nero's eyes widened as the red serpent closed in on him. The serpent snapped its jaws, lunged at him and bit his body. The liquid serpent burst into a violent detonation, erupting in a fiery explosion that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The force of the blast engulfed Nero, flames and liquid shrapnel tearing through the space around him. He was thrown off his feet and landed on the ground. Nero was unconscious. 

Honey smiled. She walked up to him and checked his pockets. She found a Den Den Mushi and pistols. She thought, maybe he was smart enough, to realise they were not going to be useful. Maybe not, she thought. She got up and walked out. She saw Raki and Nojiko carrying an unconscious woman. 

"Honey, are you okay?" Nojiko shouted.

"I'm fine!" Honey called back. "Re-Energy Blast," she raised her hand and fired a stream of golden liquid toward Raki and Nojiko. The liquid sparkled in the air as it splashed over them, soaking into their skin and clothes. Instantly, they felt a rush of renewed energy coursing through their bodies.

"Thank you!" Nojiko said. A smile spread across her face.

"That's amazing! My strength is back," Raki added, flexing her fingers and feeling her energy was back. 

Honey looked at the women they both were carrying. She thought she was going to join them. "Should I use it on her too?" she asked.

"No," Raki replied, shaking her head. "We need to let Ben make that call," she added. 

"She was our enemy but she let me win. She wants to join us," Nojiko agreed. "But I agree with Raki, we wait for Ben," she added. 

Honey nodded. 

"Let's keep moving!" Raki urged. They all nodded and headed up the stairs.