"What are you doing?" Sentomaru demanded, glaring at Bellamy with a hint of resentment.
Huh, so the idiot finally noticed.
Bellamy quickly composed his features, tucking away the paper and pen. "Ah, you noticed! You really are tight-lipped, aren't you?" he said, laying the sarcasm on thick.
Taking the praise at face value, Sentomaru predictably puffed up with pride and burst out laughing. "Who do you think you're dealing with?! I am the most tight-lipped man in the world! Wahahaha!" The guy was laughing so hard his face was practically splitting.
Bellamy's eye twitched. He fought down the urge to facepalm. "So, hey... is that really all you know about it?"
"Yeah! My security clearance isn't high enough to access any more classified details!" Sentomaru confirmed readily.
If anyone else had said that, Bellamy wouldn't have believed them for a second. But Sentomaru... This simpleton probably wasn't capable of lying about something like this.
The farce seemed to be over. Carefully stowing the precious notes, Bellamy eyed the loose-lipped Marine thoughtfully. Sentomaru's potential value as an information source hadn't been fully tapped. If only his rank were higher...
"Say, Sentomaru," Bellamy began casually, "are you facing any... difficulties... getting promoted?" If he has rivals, maybe I could... remove them for him. No, better not phrase it like that to this straightforward guy. "If you're running into problems, feel free to mention them. Maybe I can offer some... perspective," Bellamy hinted, trying a more subtle approach.
Sentomaru looked utterly bewildered. Why would a pirate be asking about his career prospects? "The Marine Science Unit has extremely high confidentiality requirements! Promotions require years and years of proven service and seniority!" he declared proudly.
Then how the hell did you end up in a department like that? Bellamy wondered. Had no one noticed how... abnormal he was? Something felt off. Could this oaf actually be some kind of secret weapon deployed by Vegapunk? A deliberate plant? The man reputed to have the highest intellect on the planet... no one dared underestimate Vegapunk. That 'highest IQ' title was universally acknowledged, genuinely earned—unlike Sentomaru's self-proclaimed title, which felt more like a joke.
"Ah, seniority, huh? Can't help with that, I suppose," Bellamy said dismissively.
Just as Bellamy felt a wave of disappointment, Sentomaru suddenly gasped, realization dawning ridiculously late. "Wait a second! Were you trying to trick information out of me?! You bastard! I won't tell you anything!"
You already told me everything, you moron. Bellamy stared at the man, the urge to just deck him growing almost uncontrollable.
"Prepare yourself, pirate!" Sentomaru roared, shifting into a combat stance. Whatever banter had passed between them, their fundamental positions remained adversarial.
Credit where it was due, Sentomaru possessed considerable courage. Even knowing his measured combat power was likely far below Bellamy's, he didn't hesitate to attack. The large, round man thrust both palms forward forcefully towards Bellamy.
"Ashigara Dokkoi!"
The air seemed to shudder, and an invisible wave of force blasted outwards. The technique looked remarkably similar to Bellamy's own Air Rend. Bellamy initially assumed it was comparable, so he countered with an Air Rend of his own. The two forces met mid-air.
But then, something surprising happened. Sentomaru's Ashigara Dokkoi wave, despite feeling significantly less powerful overall, sliced cleanly through Bellamy's Air Rend. Its remaining force continued towards Bellamy, seemingly undiminished.
"Such focused power..." Bellamy's eyes widened in fascination, momentarily forgetting even to dodge. Like a pervert spotting a goddess, or a starving man finding a feast. Confronted with such an intriguing palm technique, Bellamy was instantly captivated.
He made no move to evade. The full force of the Ashigara Dokkoi slammed squarely into his midsection, sending him flying backwards through the undergrowth.
Sentomaru watched him disappear into the bushes, scratching his head. "Huh. Guess he wasn't all that tough after all." But the scope definitely read 3000 Doriki... Did I really misread it? Was it only 300?
While he was puzzling over this, a familiar voice called out from the nearby thicket. "Hey. Fatty." "That palm strike just now? Not bad at all," Bellamy complimented freely. "Keep 'em coming." He patted his now-inflated stomach. Bellamy emerged from the bushes, his torso expanded via Iron Body: Steel Balloon. "Hit me again. With that same technique."
He could probably just ask Sentomaru for the secrets of the technique, given the man's loose lips. But not yet. Bellamy was a master of close combat himself. Feeling the impact directly, analyzing the force with his own body, would allow him to grasp the technique's underlying principles far more effectively than simply reading a manual. He could always ask for the specifics just before he left.
Sentomaru stared at Bellamy's transformed state, his expression finally turning deadly serious. Once locked into combat mode, Sentomaru's entire demeanor shifted dramatically. The goofy, unreliable air vanished completely, replaced by a palpable aura of focused aggression.
Seeing Bellamy standing there defiantly, seemingly inviting the attack, Sentomaru didn't hesitate. He dropped into a low stance, planting his feet firmly into the earth.
"Ashigara Dokkoi!"
This time, he poured every ounce of his strength into the technique. As his palms shot forward, Sentomaru's face flushed crimson with the sheer effort. A shockwave, several times more powerful than the previous one, slammed into Bellamy's inflated stomach, creating a deep indentation.
Bellamy dug his heels in, anchoring himself firmly to the ground, determined not to be sent flying again. He needed to absorb the full impact, to feel every nuance of the force. Only then could he fully comprehend the secrets of Ashigara Dokkoi.
But then, the strange energy of the palm strike carried a peculiar penetrating quality, bypassing his hardened exterior and seeping deep inside. Bellamy shuddered violently as if struck by a sledgehammer. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. The blow had actually inflicted internal damage.
Bellamy touched his lip, his eyes wide with disbelief and dawning comprehension. "This is...!" "It's like 'Striking the Mountain to Hit the Cow'! A penetrating force!"
So this is the secret of Ashigara Dokkoi? This penetrating power... it's perfect. Bellamy couldn't help but close his eyes for a moment, savoring the lingering sensation, analyzing the technique's profound application. "Incredible. Truly incredible." Compared to this, his own Air Rend felt crude and utterly lacking.
A predatory grin spread across Bellamy's face. "Alright then," he said, stepping forward. "Since you've been so generous... allow me to show you my Ashigara Dokkoi."