A full-scale clash erupted between the Blackbeard Pirates and Baroque Works.
Baroque Works held a clear numerical advantage, so this time Blackbeard couldn't shamelessly gang up on his enemy the way he had done with Fire Fist Ace.
However, despite having only five members, every single one of the Blackbeard Pirates was formidable in their own right.
In contrast, most of Baroque Works' officers—aside from Mr.1 Daz Bonez and Mr.2 Bon Clay—were little more than cannon fodder. Very few of them even knew how to use Haki.
Crocodile's expression slowly changed.
What had begun as arrogance turned into seriousness… and finally into a storm-dark scowl.
He had underestimated Blackbeard.
Even more so, he had underestimated the sheer strangeness of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
That pitch-black power was actually suppressing his Sand-Sand Fruit, preventing him from turning intangible!
For someone like Crocodile—never particularly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and long accustomed to dodging attacks through Logia intangibility—this was deeply unsettling.
After only a few exchanges, he had already taken two heavy blows from Blackbeard, blood staining the corner of his mouth.
If not for the Monster Cell he had consumed earlier, which had greatly enhanced his physique and speed, he might have already been killed.
This scene left the executives of Baroque Works utterly shaken.
Their terrifying boss…
their invincible president…
Was actually being pushed back?
He might even lose.
And this wasn't Whitebeard—the strongest man in the world!
Even Nico Robin, who arrived at the palace late, was stunned.
But compared to the others, she remained far calmer.
After all, since fleeing Ohara at the age of eight, she had lived through far too many life-and-death crises.
Robin's eyes flickered.
She had no intention of joining the fight.
Instead, she quietly stepped back.
If Crocodile was going to lose, then perhaps this chaos was her chance—to finally escape his control.
If she could take King Cobra with her, she could search for the Poneglyph on her own.
However—
She didn't get the chance.
Blackbeard had already noticed her.
"So you're the Devil Child, Nico Robin… Zehahahaha!"
"Didn't expect you to be hiding under Sand Crocodile all this time. No wonder the World Government couldn't find you anywhere!"
Greed flared in Blackbeard's eyes.
"Crocodile's finished anyway. Why not join my crew instead?"
"I'll protect you just like he did—no, even better!"
Aside from the Kozuki Clan of Wano, Robin was the only person on the seas capable of reading the Poneglyphs.
Naturally, even emperors coveted her.
"Sables!"
A massive sandstorm suddenly erupted out of nowhere.
Both the Blackbeard Pirates and Baroque Works were violently swept away.
Several nearby buildings collapsed under the raging winds.
Thud—thud—thud!
Even Blackbeard himself rolled across the ground several times before stopping.
"Damn it, Sand Crocodile, you bastard!"
Wiping blood from his head, Blackbeard glared at Crocodile.
Who else could have unleashed such a storm?
Crocodile's voice was ice-cold.
"You've seriously underestimated me, Blackbeard."
"You want my Shichibukai seat?"
"You want Nico Robin?"
"You pitch-black turtle really do love dreaming in broad daylight."
Crocodile had suffered earlier due to his unfamiliarity with the Dark-Dark Fruit.
But he was infamous for one thing—
His uncanny ability to fight anyone to a standstill.
That talent should've emerged during the Marineford War, but thanks to Luo Xing's Monster Cell, it had awakened early.
With superior numbers on his side, Blackbeard wouldn't be taking him down easily.
At this point, both sides were clearly ready to fight in earnest.
On the seas—
The winner takes all.
The loser becomes nothing.
However—
Just as Crocodile and Blackbeard were about to clash again—
Two massive figures emerged from behind the ruined buildings.
No longer bothering to hide, they stepped forward openly.
One of them stood over ten meters tall, with massive ivory tusks extending from the back of his head.
He strode straight into the center of the palace and looked down at both pirates with disdain.
"You two—come at me together."
"Before the young master arrives, I'll deal with both of you myself."
"Tch, tch, tch—Jack-sama, you can't hog all the credit!"
"Leave a little for me, won't you?"
Another towering figure approached—nearly ten meters tall, with a pair of crimson wings spread behind him.
The moment these two appeared, a savage, primordial aura flooded the palace.
They felt like ancient beasts stepping out of a forgotten era.
When everyone finally recognized them—
Crocodile.
Blackbeard.
And all of their subordinates—
Every single one of them sucked in a sharp breath.
Blackbeard's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The Beasts Pirates…"
"Disaster Jack… and Flying Six member Who's-Who!"
"You're here?"
"Have you been following me this whole time?!"
The Beasts Pirates were now infamous across the seas—
widely acknowledged as the strongest Yonko crew.
Every named officer had their image circulated worldwide.
There was no way ambitious men like Blackbeard and Crocodile wouldn't be paying close attention.
Nico Robin's face paled as well.
Why were the Beasts Pirates here?
Were they also after the Poneglyph… and the ancient weapon Pluton?
Jack and Who's-Who's appearance plunged the palace into dead silence.
Even arrogant monsters like Crocodile and Blackbeard were no exception.
Who's-Who chuckled as he looked at Blackbeard.
"Looks like you're not completely stupid."
"We were planning to kill you back in the desert, you know."
"But the young master said you still had some value, so we let you live a little longer."
Those words sent a chill down Blackbeard's spine.
They had wanted to kill him… in the desert?
And he hadn't noticed a thing?
Burgess, Lafitte, and the others felt their hair stand on end.
They had brushed past death without even realizing it.
Their arrogance had made them careless.
Still, Blackbeard quickly steadied himself.
Jack and Who's-Who were terrifying—but with the Dark-Dark Fruit, he believed he could still fight.
But—
Who was this "young master" they kept mentioning?
Kaido's daughter?
No… that didn't fit.
Then—
Kaido's son-in-law.
The so-called Fifth Emperor of the Sea,
a scientist greater than Vegapunk himself—
Luo Xing.
The man the World Government wanted alive for five billion Beli,
a bounty higher than even the Yonko.
Blackbeard's face finally stiffened.
He expanded his Observation Haki—
And immediately sensed a presence so terrifying it made his heart race.
Swallowing hard, he stared toward the source.
It felt like Whitebeard himself was coming to settle accounts.
A tall figure clad in black appeared—
Beside him, a slender girl in blue.
Luo Xing entered the palace hand in hand with Princess Vivi.
He first scolded Jack casually,
"Jack, interrupting other people's fights is very rude, you know."
Then he smiled warmly at Crocodile, Blackbeard, and the others.
"Please don't mind us."
"Go on."
"Continue fighting."
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