Snake?

Just as Vash and Mihawk were intent on returning back to the abandoned city above, they felt some turbulence inside the lava lake, and a thick stream of hot red lava shot towards them.

"What the..." Vash said and dodged hurriedly and so did Mihawk. The lava stream was extremely fast and corrosive in nature, penetrating the roof of the cave, after it missed the target,

and emerged tearing the city street. The lava stream still didn't stop as it continued its parabolic trajectory going through floating sea cloud above the ancient city and bore a hole through the mountain and fell into the distant sea away from the island.

"...#$#$, I shouldn't have said it would be easy." Vash looked at the inclined hole sweating; doubtful if it was from heat or the fright.

"I think we can use it as our way out." Mihawk said pointing out the same hole.

"Well... If we survive this." Vash said looking back at the fuming lava pool as more and more lava streams started rising from the lake; targeting the duo. They once again hurriedly dodged like flies.

"Now... we have 30 more exits." Mihawk said dripping with sweat as lava stream heated up the air pocket inside the cave.

"We'll be boiled alive at this rate. Let's attack at full force." Vash said and he took out the katana Sleek Slicer so he could have swift and precise offence as he didn't want to accidentally splashed by the lava.

"Attack what!!?? I don't feel any life energy!! Or more like if anything can survive in the lava and would still give off any aura amidst such high heat." Mihawk said.

"Follow my lead..." Vash replied and thrusted Sleek Slicer producing concentrated flying slash in the shape of a bullet, tearing through an incoming lava stream while simultaneously, Vash disappeared from his position. He appeared at some distance away with his back facing Mihawk's back, then both of them together sent out small but highly compressed flying air slashes at an incredible speed. Both of their attacks conjoined resulting in increased might.

*Floowp*

*Crack*

Their combined attacks packed peak power, penetrating everything on the way. It was like an unstoppable force when all the momentum compressed in small area forming a spear shape flying air slash.

"Did it work??" Mihawk asked while dodging falling debris from above which was result from previous lava attacks as they had devasted the cave ceiling. The debris then fell on the lava pool and melted just like a chocolate bar melts in a heated pan.

"I think it worked, but not how you would like it to be." Vash said as he noted slight decrease in lava level. But lava attacks didn't stop.

"Ok, let's make more outlets and see what's attacking us." Vash said, and again fired a flying sword slash. Mihawk did the same. The duo floated at a particular height and sent out attacks at a particular angle with precise strength and swiftness.

*Floowp**bang*

*Floowp**bang*

...

After attacking for a minute they saw visible result of their endeavor. The lava in the lake started draining outside through holes made by Mihawk and Vash's flying sword slashes. The lava also started cooling down when a lot of debris fell decreasing the temperature.

When the lava level got low and upper layer solidified after cooling down, Vash and Mihawk noticed a particular thick pipe wriggling unnaturally.

"What the..." Vash and Mihawk were baffled as they saw a previous thick pipe like structure stuck on cave wall moving like a burrowing worm, likely trying to flee. And when it burrowed itself half into the cave wall, its red glowing tail end came out of the partially solid lava.

The squirming creature they had previously thought to be a pipe, looked different when moving. It appeared to be made up of flexible ring like segments join up together, and the segmentation was only apparent when it was in motion. It looked like a grotesque worm; except it was too large in size with thorny thinner tail, and a magma gulping muzzle like cavity at the end.

"... A super sized maggot!!??" Vash exclaimed.

"...Ok, there you have it. Capture your pet snake fast!! We don't want this mountain to fall upon our head with further battle." Mihawk said.

"The hell... I thought it would be grandiose cobra but it turned out to be a worm." Vash said with a cringy face like he had eaten his most hated food.

"Why did you thought it would be a snake?? By the wall painting it could have been anything from python to earthworms." Mihawk said dismissing Vash's optimism once again.

Between the duo's argument, the supposed worm made a move, the barbs sticking out of the tail shot out all the siphoned lava in thin streams. It was like powerful lasers being shot, fast and powerful; capable of going through anything on its way. There were so many lava streams that it was impossible to dodge all of them, so Vash and Mihawk used Color of armament as protect themselves. Patches of white lightening flickered on Vash's body, accurately defending the unavoidable attacks while Mihawk was also blackened from head to toe with the use of full body Haki.

*sizzle**sizzle**sizzle*

*Crash**Boom*

The worm attack was like plasma following magnetic pathway, like a bubble bursting, it destroyed and melted half the ancient ruined city above. Half of the floating sea clouds were evaporated and even the mountain plateau on the top wasn't spared as it crashed down. And after the attack, the worm in question started fleeing the scene in hurry.

"...@_@" Vash and Mihawk succeeded in resisting the attack with some difficulty.

"Arhgh... You @#@#@#$, you're destroying my antique property." Vash cursed when he saw more debris fell from above.

"Mihawk... Do as we did previously." Vash said after calming down and pointing at Mihawk.

"Don't expect me to help you everytime." Mihawk said, and unhooked the seastone chain which he had wrapped around his body previously, and kept 'Yoru' back on its holder straps. He threw one end of the chain after swinging it once, aiming at the fleeing magma leech. Mihawk knew from the previous encounter with T-Rex automata that this one must had also been made from Seastone if it could survive in such hostile environment, and destroying it would be hassle. The Seastone chain got hooked on barbed tail of the automata, and Mihawk then pulled out its whole body which was longer than the duo expected.

"#$#$#, Keep this thing away from the lava or it might attack us again." Vash said.

Mihawk flew up holding the worm through the chain and landed on undestroyed part of the ancient city, he then took out 'Yoru' and thumped the worm with flat side of the sword. Mihawk made the worm curled into a coil by thumping it repeatedly, and tied it by wrapping the Seastone chain.