The intensity of the battle far exceeded expectations. The top fighters clashed as if they had endless stamina.
One day. Two days. Three days.
The harshness of high-intensity combat began to show. Even top fighters didn't have infinite physical and mental strength.
The first to give in was Germa 66. Their technology warship had held up through the initial impact and the constant shelling. But it couldn't withstand wave after wave of Haki. What, you think only you have Conqueror's Haki?
Judge's face was pale as he watched the increasingly crazy monsters on the battlefield. Marco's undying blue flames only grew stronger. Buggy and Shanks were developing a strange understanding. Doflamingo's strings were getting more vicious and cunning. Katakuri's future sight made almost every sneak attack useless.
More importantly, his children were strong, but days of non-stop fighting were starting to show fatigue. They were only winning by a slim margin.
Judge gritted his teeth. Five billion was tempting. But it wasn't worth risking the future of Germa. He was no longer just a madman obsessed with cloning and military power. Under Rhett's shadow and in the subtly improved relationship with his children, he had found a sense of "father" and "king."
"Germa 66!" Judge's voice echoed across the battlefield through speakers. It carried unwillingness, but also determination. "We're withdrawing!"
Without waiting for a response, the giant snail ship activated its maximum power. It sailed away from the hellish island, trailing black smoke. Their withdrawal made the battlefield seem emptier. It also signaled the beginning of the end for this war of attrition.
---
The battle entered its fourth day. Fatigue and irritability began to eat away at everyone. Openings started to appear.
Crocodile had always been on the edge of the alliance, hoping to pick up scraps. Days of sandstorms and clashes with the Whitebeard commanders had drained him. He had nothing to show for it.
His patience was gone. Who was he? He was Crocodile. Whitebeard was just an old man. Rhett was just a "youngster." Kaido and Big Mom were just losers who had been defeated by others.
He saw Buggy and Shanks trade blows. "Divine Departure" and "Super Disassembly · Stardust." Both were sliding back to recover from the impact. The moment when their old force had just ended and new force hadn't yet formed. A perfect opportunity for a sneak attack!
Crocodile: I'm coming!
"Desert Spada!" A cruel glint flashed in Crocodile's eyes. A giant sand blade suddenly split the ground behind Buggy, aiming viciously at his back. If it hit, even if Buggy could split, the attack coated in Armament Haki would severely wound him.
Shanks' Observation Haki caught the attack.
Doflamingo saw it too. The corner of his mouth was just starting to curl into a "got him" smile.
But the moment the sand blade was about to hit Buggy, Buggy didn't even turn his head. He just shouted impatiently, "Shut up! Can't you see I'm busy?!"
His body seemed to have a mind of its own. A perfect hole opened in the back of his shirt and skin, letting the fatal sand blade pass through without a scratch. The split body then closed inward!
"CRACK!"
At the same time, Buggy's sliding right foot stomped backward casually.
"Super Disassembly · Ground Spike!"
"STAB—!"
A sharp rock spike coated in purple Haki suddenly burst from under Crocodile. It was so fast he couldn't react. All his attention was on the sneak attack. He never expected such a strange and fast counterattack.
The rock spike pierced his calf instantly. The impact threw him into the air.
"Gah!" Crocodile let out a pained grunt. Blood instantly stained the sand.
Conqueror's Haki made elementalization useless.
Kaido-sensei's lesson was still relevant!
But it wasn't over. Almost at the same time, Shanks had already steadied himself. He didn't even look at Crocodile. Gryphon, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, slashed at the sand blade caught by Buggy.
"BOOM!"
The sand blade was shattered by Conqueror's Haki. The shockwave shot toward Crocodile, hitting him squarely.
"Wah!" Crocodile spat out a mouthful of blood. He flew backward like a broken kite and crashed into a distant rock wall, stuck there. He wouldn't be climbing out anytime soon.
Instant kill!
A true, undeniable instant kill!
From sneak attack to counterattack, the whole process took less than two seconds. Buggy and Shanks didn't even need to talk. They had spent so many years on the same ship. A perfect coordination born of instinct and understanding.
Doflamingo's smile completely froze. His eyes behind his sunglasses were wide.
He was stunned.
Completely stunned.
What? It was supposed to be a sneak attack? A done deal? How did the temporary ally disappear in the blink of an eye?
What was that coordination? Buggy's reaction speed and counterattack were insane! And Red Hair's finishing blow was so precisely timed!
You two fought for three or four days without using any of this. Were you messing with me?
Now, with the "villain" alliance in shambles — Perospero and Katakuri held up by the Whitebeard main force, Mihawk just watching, Crocodile instantly defeated...
Doflamingo: Who was the one who was supposed to be stalling? Oh, the one billion berry sword, Cross? Oh, that's... actually a big problem.
Only Doflamingo remained. He was alone, facing the hostile Buggy, Shanks, and the Whitebeard commanders who could free up at any moment.
Doflamingo's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.
"Fu... fufufu..." He let out a dry laugh. His fingers twitched unconsciously. "This is... really... bad..."
He felt like a flamingo that had wandered into a monster's den. The eyes around him were no longer friendly. Doflamingo was already thinking about how to escape. Because even if his alliance somehow won, he would be sent flying the next second. He couldn't beat Katakuri and Perospero alone.
Weak nations have no diplomacy. Pirates are no different.