Chapter 2: Unable to Mochi-fy for a Short Time, Losing Control of the Body, Forced to Endure Enemy Attacks on His True Form
Regardless of which scenario occurred, Katakuri did not want to see it happen.
As it turned out, the investment Su Xiao had poured into the Azure Steel Shadow ability was not wasted. When a Devil Fruit user elementalized or pseudo-elementalized, they essentially converted their body into energy. And Azure Steel Shadow energy specialized in devouring and annihilating energy.
For Su Xiao, a fruit user's elementalization was almost equivalent to voluntarily stripping away their body's defensive mechanisms, releasing their most "fragile" energy outward.
If Armament Haki was about capturing elementalized forms, then Azure Steel Shadow was a straightforward devouring annihilation.
When a fruit user suffered elemental devouring, their body would re-solidify. Moreover, due to the energy devouring reaction, they would be unable to elementalize again for a short period.
For this reason, in Katakuri's eyes, Su Xiao was several levels more dangerous than Doflamingo. That was why he had been attacking Su Xiao first all along.
Adding to that, Su Xiao had now pulled out a Seastone staff, making things even more troublesome for Katakuri.
A booming sound echoed across the entire port. Su Xiao, Doflamingo, and Katakuri were locked in a chaotic melee. It seemed evenly matched, but in reality, Doflamingo was already heavily injured. Su Xiao had also taken a few punches from Katakuri, and his entire body felt like his bones were about to fall apart—there was no spot that didn't ache.
Whoosh~
The metal staff grazed past Katakuri's shoulder. A red light flickered in Katakuri's eyes. He pressed one hand against the mochi on the ground, causing Doflamingo to stumble as a sudden mound of mochi rose beneath him.
A strike from Su Xiao that was originally aimed at Katakuri somehow veered incredibly toward Doflamingo—no, it was more accurate to say Doflamingo had actively moved into its path.
Bang!
Blood splattered. The metal staff smashed into Doflamingo's face. A loud buzz rang in Doflamingo's head, and his body uncontrollably flew backward.