On the gigantic body of the tree, the tattoo of 'River of Death' appeared on the left side. The tree as the body, green leaves as hair, and beneath the green leaves, a pair of large red lights appeared, resembling eyes.
"Forbidden Hatred!"
The massive Tree-man roared deeply, "Calamity, let us fight!"
"Tsk, Aramaki, you bastard!"
It wasn't Sage who spoke, but Jekai angrily voiced from the center of the waterfall, a place gradually devoid of trees, yet he eventually jumped off the tree and rushed towards the towering Tree-man.
"If that's the case, then let's face the enemy together!"
As long as there are trees, he can exert his maximum power.
But just as he was about to move, a lock of black hair, like black vines, bound his ankle, halting his steps.
"Oh my, have you forgotten someone?"
Marika said with a smile, and the hair entwining his ankle coiled upwards, binding his entire body. Under the cover of Haki, it embedded itself.
"Hair Binding: Snake Strangulation!"
"Don't block my way!"
Bang!
The hair embedding inward tore apart as Jekai's body expanded, revealing a presence nearly five meters tall before him.
Pitch-black wings spread wide, shedding a few feathers, and the wooden clogs on the feet seemed to fuse with the foot, topped by loose pants that covered the legs, almost as if only the pants were the body with no visible torso.
Above, there was a broad body draped in feathers, holding a feather fan. The body inside the feathers was also shrouded by a large robe, obscuring any trace of the torso.
The face, whether born as a mask or intentionally covered by one, displayed a fiery red mask with a long nose and a mouth with sharp teeth below.
And the eyes emitted a bluish light.
"I am the Otengu who consumed the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical, Otengu Form!"
Jekai waved the feather fan, conjuring a flurry of Wind Blades, "Did you think I was weak?"
Mythical creatures are the stuff of legends.
According to legend, the Resentful Spirits dwelling in the Sea of Trees make those who enter disappear forever, never to be found.
And the mastermind is the Otengu.
The Otengu's power is to use 'Divine Concealment', transporting people to any designated area within a specified range. With the Sea of Trees, this ability becomes even stronger.
It can also manipulate Wind Power, using Wind Blades.
"Oh? Mythical... seems not too bad."
Sage glanced back, then sneered, "But... don't underestimate Marika."
Saying this, he delivered another punch, the impact of Haki striking the colossal tree body like a pillar, creating a hole with one punch.
Just this one punch, and the Tree-man's face changed, clearly uncomfortable.
"Having a large physique makes you a target; your Haki's intensity is insufficient to support your size. Without Observation, you can't even predict my attacks. Logia-type?"
Sage grinned viciously, "Right now, you should be at your most vulnerable, Gin."
A Logia-type without Observation might deal with others, but against Sage, who can match Kizaru's speed, it's far too weak.
The fist he threw, Aramaki couldn't even see.
"I am Aramaki! Old man Jekai, quickly lift the ability!"
The hole blasted open quickly wove together with tree roots, Aramaki clicked his tongue and shouted.
"Don't, he'll lift it, Marika, finish him!" Sage laughed.
Boom!
Marika moved instantly, as she dashed forward, a burst of white gas spewed from her nose.
The Haki on her body shattered the surrounding Wind Blades, as her hair fluttered, her whole body seemed to emit lots of white steam.
"Seal Release!"
Around her body, markings similar to Haki Hardening appeared, but seemingly mixed with something different.
As she approached rapidly, a few strands of snake-like hair, wrapped in Haki, broke through the Wind Blades, entangling Jekai, with hair forming into a fist-like shape.
No matter how Jekai waved the fan to cut the hair with Wind Blades, endless strands re-bound him, and Marika's body got ever closer.
While the Haki intensity was the same, this time the hair's toughness was much higher, cutting them only to be promptly replenished.
No matter how Jekai used his power, it was the same.
It shouldn't be like this!
He wasn't this weak!
What's going on?!
"Damn you!"
Seeing Marika already close, Jekai roared, the fan coated in darkness, aimed at her fiercely.
Boom!
The fist wrapped in hair clashed with the fan with a loud explosion, but the sudden immense force numbed Jekai's arm, almost causing him to lose his grip.
Soon, the clump of hair exploded unexpectedly, turning into countless black threads, binding Jekai's arm. The fine hair strands pierced like needles, locking Jekai's hand completely immobile.
It's as if inside had been destroyed, albeit a small amount, yet enough to prevent any movement.
This was a massive scale of Haki Internal Destruction!
"You..." Jekai gasped in shock, but before he could speak, the fist had broken free from the hair, covering in a layer of Haki, hammering his head fiercely.
Without making full contact, separated by a layer of Haki, it smashed right into Jekai's red mask, creating a dent.