[His eyes follow Cao Pi's gaze and for a moment he's startled at the sheer size of the thing - but he still has a good hour or so on this resistance potion left at least, and he nods as he, too, realizes this is just an illusion. Ignore it, focus on the real threat.
What he wouldn't give for haki right now.]
Think that movement was related?
[Or just more bait? He steps a few feet away, giving Cao Pi room for those blades, and studies the dark forest ahead, then reaches into his coat pocket for the trinket he bought at the night market so long ago and attaches it to his lantern. It shifts, shrinking to something stonelike and far dimmer, easier to tuck away under his coat to hide it. Sorry Cao Pi, yours is the only obvious lantern out now, but it still seems like a good safety precaution.
As he's lifting his gaze back to the trees and begins to angle his shotgun upward, the serpent dives down, then re-emerges closer and strikes like a fanged whip at their feet. He knows it's an illusion but he can't help but stagger sharply backward in reaction, and falls to the ground while the shadowy snake tries to suffocate Cao Pi in its coils. Clearly the spirit at fault hasn't yet realized its work has been seen through so easily.]
no subject
What he wouldn't give for haki right now.]
Think that movement was related?
[Or just more bait? He steps a few feet away, giving Cao Pi room for those blades, and studies the dark forest ahead, then reaches into his coat pocket for the trinket he bought at the night market so long ago and attaches it to his lantern. It shifts, shrinking to something stonelike and far dimmer, easier to tuck away under his coat to hide it. Sorry Cao Pi, yours is the only obvious lantern out now, but it still seems like a good safety precaution.
As he's lifting his gaze back to the trees and begins to angle his shotgun upward, the serpent dives down, then re-emerges closer and strikes like a fanged whip at their feet. He knows it's an illusion but he can't help but stagger sharply backward in reaction, and falls to the ground while the shadowy snake tries to suffocate Cao Pi in its coils. Clearly the spirit at fault hasn't yet realized its work has been seen through so easily.]