That's right, he could maintain an invincible position!
At least, that's what Axe believed. At this moment, the blue patterns on his body glowed brightly, keeping him in a soul state. As long as he remained in this form, he was immune to attacks. If he couldn't hit the opponent, the opponent couldn't cause him any actual harm. They could just stalemate and see who outlasts whom.
Staying in his soul required almost no energy, but what about Spade? Using such high-level illusions for an extended period had to take a toll. How long could he keep it up?
By now, Axe realized that the fight had no conclusion. If it weren't for that lunatic Kaido insisting on killing a member of the Pengele Family, they should have left long ago. After all, their goal was to rescue Kaido, not to start a war with the Pengele Family.
According to the Five Elders' plans, dealing with the Pengele Family wasn't CPO's responsibility but rather that of the mysterious Millfiore Family in the North Blue.
"A soul state, huh? Let's see if your ability can withstand my attacks," Spade said, taking out an indigo box. The Pengele Ring of Mist on his hand ignited with a fierce flame, which he then channeled into the box.
With a swirl of mist, a winged serpent emerged from the box. How Varia turned Devil Fruits into these box weapons was a mystery. The Blue Panther's Black Tortoise had already been impressive, and now Spade's weapon was equally awe-inspiring…
Mist Serpent!
The Mist Serpent was a mythical creature of deception and illusion, not a real-world entity. In terms of Devil Fruits, it would be classified as a Mythical Zoan.
The serpent flew through the air, its wings composed of indigo mist flames. As it appeared, the surrounding area began to distort. This wasn't natural space distortion but an illusion creating such an effect. Anyone who saw the Mist Serpent would be deeply trapped in its illusion.
Escaping this illusion was nearly impossible without Jotaro's hyper-intensity level or an indomitable will like Varia.
And who was the master of this illusionary world?
D. Spade!
"Now, let's have some fun... Transformation!"
As Spade's playful voice echoed, the Mist Serpent transformed into two indigo flames, one settling as a crown of fire on Spade's head and the other forming a throne behind him.
As he sat down, his presence underwent a drastic change. He exuded a kingly aura that dominated the surroundings.
The Mist Crown and Throne didn't have the flashy abilities of other Pengele boxes. Their purpose was to enhance Spade's mental strength greatly. For an illusionist, the strength of one's cognitive power directly affects the strength of one's illusions. Simply put, Spade's Pengele Box significantly boosted his illusion capabilities.
With the Mist Serpent forming this illusionary world and the crown and throne enhancing his mental strength, Spade became the absolute ruler of this realm.
In an instant, Axe was dragged into Spade's illusion. Surrounded by darkness and thick mist, he felt a chilling cold that penetrated his soul.
A world of darkness and despair!
"Feeling cold even in your soul form?" Spade mocked, knowing well that the chill in the mist targeted the spirit, not the body.
Axe's soul state could ignore physical attacks, but in Spade's illusion, it was useless.
This was his bad luck—any other Guardian might have given him an advantage, but against Spade, he was at a total disadvantage.
"This is just an illusion. You think it can affect me?" Axe insisted, feeling the unnatural cold but convincing himself it was all fake.
However, he underestimated the power of Pengele's top illusionist. If someone like Mukuro could use illusions to create internal organs to sustain life, Spade could certainly use illusions to affect and kill his enemies.
"You're right. It's just an illusion. Keep believing that until you drown in this world!" Spade lifted his hand, and seawater rose under Axe's feet.
As the water touched him, Axe felt his powers weakening. Devil Fruit users were like anchors in water, losing strength rapidly.
In a few breaths, the water reached his knees. He tried to leap away, but no matter how high he jumped, the water rose, submerging his body.
In about three minutes, the water reached his chest. He felt his strength drain away despite knowing he was still in soul form, unable to resist the sea's invasion.
Even his mind started to slow. Was this just an illusion?
Why did everything feel so real?
"Such weak willpower. I thought you'd last longer. But I guess this is your limit," Spade said with disappointment.
He waved his hand, and the water rose quickly, engulfing the illusionary world. Despite having the strength of an Admiral, Axe could only struggle helplessly, waiting for death.
When he doubted whether it was an illusion, his fate was sealed.