Chapter 25 Title: The Buzzing Terror

The jungle was still, too still. Vulcan's instincts prickled, the heavy air wrapping around him like a tightening rope. His grip on his naginata tightened as he moved cautiously through the dense trees. Something wasn't right. The beasts had all disappeared, the silence unnatural for such a wild place.

Then, it hit him—a sound. Faint at first, but growing louder with every second. A low, ominous buzzing that sent a chill down his spine.

Before Vulcan could react, something darted down from the canopy with blinding speed, cutting through the air with a deadly hum. Vulcan's body moved instinctively, his Soru kicking in just in time to dodge the attack. He reappeared a few meters away, his eyes locking onto the figure now hovering above the ground.

The man had an unsettling presence. His body was lean, his arms and legs elongated unnaturally, covered in chitin-like armor. His wings, sharp and metallic, buzzed menacingly as they kept him suspended. The rogue pirate's insect-like eyes gleamed with an unsettling hunger as he looked down at Vulcan.

"You've made it pretty far, huh?" the pirate said, his voice a low, mocking tone. "But this island's mine, and you've overstayed your welcome."

Vulcan didn't respond, but his eyes narrowed. This man wasn't like the beasts he had fought before. His form, the unnatural buzzing of his wings—everything screamed Zoan Devil Fruit user.

The pirate smiled, revealing sharp teeth. "I'm Thorne, and you're in my hunting ground. I've been waiting for something fun to show up, and now you're here."

Without warning, Thorne's body shifted. His arms stretched longer, his wings expanding with a powerful hum. His hands and feet grew sharp stingers, gleaming in the dim light of the jungle. The transformation was fast, and before Vulcan could react, Thorne shot forward with terrifying speed, his stingers flashing as he dove toward Vulcan's chest.

Vulcan used Soru to dodge the first strike, disappearing in a blur of motion just as Thorne's stingers pierced the ground where he had stood. The impact sent dirt flying, and Vulcan reappeared a few meters away, barely catching his breath.

Thorne grinned, his wings buzzing loudly as he hovered back into the air. "Fast, huh? Good, let's see how long you can keep up."

With a burst of speed, Thorne shot toward Vulcan again, his stingers aiming for his neck this time. Vulcan raised his naginata, parrying the blow at the last second. The force of the impact sent a jolt up his arms, but he held his ground, pushing back against the pirate's overwhelming strength.

Thorne's wings beat furiously as he hovered back into the air, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Not bad. Let's see how long you last."

Vulcan's mind raced. Thorne was fast, far faster than any of the beasts he had faced. And his attacks weren't just fast—they were precise, each strike aimed to kill. Vulcan had to stay on the defensive, using Soru to dodge the incoming strikes, but Thorne's movements were relentless.

Another dive, another dodge. This time, Thorne's stinger grazed Vulcan's arm, leaving a small but sharp cut. Vulcan gritted his teeth, ignoring the sting as he spun and countered with a slash of his naginata. The blade sliced through the air, but Thorne zipped to the side with ease, his wings buzzing loudly as he dodged the strike.

Thorne's laughter echoed through the jungle as he darted around Vulcan, his stingers flashing in a blur of motion. "Is that all you've got?"

Vulcan remained silent, his eyes focused. Thorne's speed was unmatched, and the buzzing of his wings made it hard to predict where he would strike next. Vulcan could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, but he knew that if he didn't find a way to counter, he'd be overwhelmed.

Suddenly, Thorne shot forward again, this time faster than before. Vulcan raised his naginata to block, but Thorne twisted in mid-air, his stinger aimed at Vulcan's side. Before Vulcan could react, the sharp stinger sliced through his side, drawing blood.

Vulcan grunted in pain, but before he could recover, Thorne had already zipped away, hovering above him with a smug grin. "You're slowing down. What's wrong? Feeling a little weak?"

Vulcan's breathing grew heavier. The wound wasn't deep, but it stung more than it should have. He realized then—venom. Thorne's stingers weren't just sharp, they were poisoned.

Thorne's wings buzzed louder, his voice dripping with arrogance. "That venom's gonna slow you down more and more. Eventually, you won't be able to move at all."

Vulcan gritted his teeth. The venom was already working its way through his body, making his muscles feel sluggish, his movements just a fraction slower than before. He couldn't keep dodging forever.

But Vulcan didn't back down. His eyes locked onto Thorne, his grip tightening on the naginata. He had faced worse before. He just needed to figure out Thorne's rhythm, his pattern of attacks.

The buzzing grew louder as Thorne dove down once more, his stingers flashing through the air. Vulcan dodged, using Soru to blur to the side, but Thorne was too fast. Another sting, this time grazing Vulcan's shoulder. The venom burned as it entered his bloodstream, his muscles tightening with the pain.

Vulcan staggered back, his breathing heavy, but his mind was sharp. He watched Thorne's movements carefully, noticing the slight hesitation before each dive, the pattern in his strikes. Thorne was fast, but his attacks followed a rhythm. If Vulcan could time it just right…

Thorne sneered, sensing victory. "You're done, Marine."

Vulcan stood his ground, waiting for the next strike. His body was screaming in pain, but his mind was focused. Thorne shot forward again, his wings buzzing with deadly speed. This time, Vulcan didn't dodge. He waited, his eyes locked on Thorne's stinger as it aimed for his heart.

At the last possible second, Vulcan moved. With a burst of Soru, he twisted his body, spinning to the side as Thorne's stinger grazed his chest. The pirate's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Vulcan swung his naginata in a wide arc, catching Thorne in the abdomen.

The blade sliced through his chitin-like armor, drawing a deep gash across his midsection. Thorne let out a screech of pain, buzzing backward as blood dripped from the wound.

Vulcan straightened, wiping the blood from his face. The venom still burned in his veins, but he didn't let it show. He could see the anger in Thorne's eyes, the pirate's arrogance fading as the reality of the fight began to sink in.

"You…" Thorne snarled, clutching his abdomen. His wings buzzed louder, more frantically, and his body began to shift. His form grew larger, his wings expanding, and his stingers elongated into deadly weapons.

"You're dead."

Thorne shot forward again, faster than before, his massive stinger aimed directly at Vulcan's chest.

Vulcan's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing. This was the moment.

The chapter ends with Thorne's final charge, his stinger inches from Vulcan's chest.