Looking at the pirate crew in front of him, with its small numbers, the Bat Man stretched lazily, not taking them seriously at all.
The Hundred Beasts mostly recruit in the New World, only pirates who reach the New World are regarded a bit more highly.
If they don't even have the ability to get through the first half, they're not qualified to be cannon fodder in the New World.
The New World has become the turf of the Four Emperors, four Great Pirates contending against each other, consuming the scattered powers around them. A few years ago, there were still many Pirate Alliances, staking their claims on the edge of the Sea Emperor's territory, challenging those people's authority.
But as time passes, such pirates are becoming fewer, either eliminated or absorbed; those who can persist individually are few and far between.
Dividing the New World and Paradise is not just the Red Earth Continent, but also Haki.
In the Four Seas and Paradise, pirates knowledgeable about Haki are rare, which resulted in Logia-type Ability Users being almost invincible in the first half, but in the New World, Haki has practically become standard.
To be a high-level official, one can't possibly be ignorant about Haki; at the very least, they must master one of its types.
Although Bat Man isn't in the single digits, he's still among the top hundred Numberers, stationed on Sky Island in the first half, but he only became a high-level official according to New World standards.
Paradise pirates are not an issue for him. If one day he gets overturned by a rookie, Kaidou wouldn't need to appear; other high-level officials would come to chat with him, asking how he plans to deal with having embarrassed the pirate crew.
In this era, a subtle intra-pirate competition has emerged; even the Sea Emperor needs fresh blood to increase the strength of their pirate crew, or else Kaidou wouldn't have deliberately appeared before several Super Rookies in the original timeline.
Bat Man on Sky Island not only responds to emergencies but also watches for rookies worth attention. If there are, their pirate crew will be noticed ahead by the main Hundred Beasts crew in the New World.
After all, compared to strength, the talents of rookies in the first half are more important.
This also leads to another situation—with the exception of those daring to violate their rules or trample their flag, Numberers like Bat Man stationed in the first half won't usually go all out.
If they're capable, these rookies might become comrades in the future; if not, even if they leave here, sooner or later they'll die either at sea or at someone else's hand.
"Hey, the number on your stomach, does it mean you're 49?"
Uncharacteristically, Luffy didn't rush into battle; instead, he questioned the numbers on Bat Man's stomach.
"Huh? Have you seen other Numberers? I haven't heard of anyone encountering you."
"How big is the gap between you and the one ranked 8? That masked woman knocked me out directly, and then she disappeared somewhere."
Listening to Luffy, Bat Man examined him from top to bottom, a sense of doubt surfacing in his mind.
The person before him is still alive, with all parts intact; he doesn't resemble someone who fought Ulti. Normally, Ulti's opponents end up missing parts, or worse, dead. This one hasn't even left a scar, which is truly rare.
"The gap between me and Miss Ulti is vast, but it's enough to deal with you. I should take it seriously."
"We've talked enough; now show me your skills."
Buzz!!
Invisible sound waves emitted from Bat Man's mouth, the Golbat's ultrasound engulfing the entire Merry.
The piercing sound wave gave everyone on the ship a headache, even the mast emitted a strange noise.
Being one of the Numberers, Bat Man understands the terrifying gap between Numberers. The smaller the number, the greater their power difference.
Those numbered beyond 90 might be slightly inferior to the others, but when faced with single-digit Numberers, they often are killed with a single hit, whether it's Haki or abilities, talent or effort—the single-digit folks exceed them.
Bat Man doesn't know that Ulti held back because of Yamato; he's not entitled to know his lady's personal matters. Even though Yamato hasn't lacked updates recently, all Bat Man can do is give a like.
In Bat Man's understanding, Luffy still being a whole might mean there's something worthwhile about him. Since that's the case, there's no need for Bat Man to hold back.
Sound wave attacks are Golbat's staple; under their influence, ordinary people quickly lose mobility.
At least Nami and Usopp have already found themselves immobilized.
Others fared better, and upon Bat Man's move, they made their responses.
Due to Bat Man's flying capability, Luffy was the only one able to reach the flying Bat Man; others tried closing in through jumps.
But Luffy's arm struck first.
"Rubber Pistol!"
The stretched arm approached Bat Man swiftly, only to be caught in his grasp.
"This attack is too slow."
Although Bat Man lacks Future Sight Observation Haki, he can still predict attacks.
Especially with his Golbat ability, combining ultrasound and Observation Haki makes his Haki keener.
Grabbing Luffy's arm, Bat Man's muscles flexed, using Luffy as a flail, smashing him down towards Sanji below.
Without a foothold in the air, Sanji was hit by the flying Luffy, falling towards the Island Cloud.
"Straw Hat! Damn, Okama Kenpo: Memories of Summer!"
Due to training in Okama Kenpo, Bon Kurei's jumping power exceeds that of Sanji now. Launching his body in a fast spin, he aims a fierce spinning kick at the airborne Bat Man.
But with two wing flaps, Bat Man ascends above Bon Kurei.
"The spinning's fast, but it's useless."
Bon Kurei's side kick is caught firmly by Bat Man, then tossed towards Sanji and Luffy below, cushioning Bon Kurei's fall.
Luffy, being a rubber man, wasn't harmed, but at the bottom, Sanji frowned visibly.
Clang!
Among the attacking four, Zoro stood alone; his attack didn't miss, slashing directly at Bat Man's stomach, but Bat Man's Haki nullified Zoro's strikes.
"How is this possible!"
During the battle in Alabasta with Mr. 1, Zoro had acquired the Steel Cutting technique; even Mr. 1's Slash-Slash Fruit steel body couldn't block his attack, yet he couldn't cut through the skin of the person before him.
The move was repeated, and Zoro was tossed down too....