The Navy's monster had voluntarily withdrawn from the battle, which was the best possible news for Blackbeard.
"Zehahaha..."
Having evaded the toxic rain, Blackbeard's peripheral vision tracked Fujitora's movements.
After enduring successive attacks from the three opposing factions, Blackbeard had quickly realized their intentions.
They planned to team up to eliminate him first.
Seeing how the situation was turning against him, the ever-opportunistic Blackbeard had already begun to abandon his plan of seizing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Instead, he was leaning toward escaping this battlefield of chaos.
After all, as long as he survived, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.
That had always been his guiding principle.
However, with Fujitora's departure, the notion he had just discarded flared back to life.
"With all this commotion, why hasn't that guy named Vergo shown up yet?"
Thanks to Maude's repeated interference, Blackbeard finally remembered the true objective of this excursion—Vergo, the one who had consumed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Dragged along by the tornado, Blackbeard remained unaware that Vergo had already been buried under the ruins obliterated by Fujitora's Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger.
He also had no idea that the Tremor-Tremor Fruit he sought had long since been secured in Maude's Shadow Casket.
Fujitora's actions had drawn the attention of everyone on the battlefield, momentarily pausing the fight.
All eyes were fixed on the Admiral's retreating figure as he headed toward the massive entrance to the town.
This alone was enough to highlight Fujitora's influence.
Aokiji watched Fujitora's back before shifting his gaze toward Ace, Marco, and Vista, who stood nearby.
"Ararara... So, Whitebeard Pirates, what role do you intend to play from here on?"
A biting chill emanated from Aokiji, coiling around him like a beast poised to strike.
It was as if, should Ace and his comrades fail to provide a satisfactory answer, the frost swirling around Aokiji would immediately surge forward without hesitation.
Feeling the oppressive presence of the former Admiral, Marco and the others remained tense, refraining from responding too hastily.
At this point, they were leaning toward the idea of joining forces to eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates.
However, they couldn't ignore the possibility that, once this battle was over, the Maude Pirates might turn against them next.
While Marco's group remained silent in response to Aokiji, Maude had already taken his next move.
Fujitora's unexpected departure was an unforeseen variable, but Maude had already made up his mind—no matter what, the Blackbeard Pirates would not leave Dressrosa alive.
Naturally, he wouldn't ease up on his offensive.
"I'll handle Blackbeard. As for the others... I'll leave them to you."
In his Shadow Demon Form, Maude turned to his crewmates with a faint smile.
Lafitte twirled his cane, lips curling into a smirk. "No problem, Captain..."
Gaya nodded gently. "Understood."
Law's expression turned serious as he warned, "Aside from Blackbeard, the most dangerous member of their crew is undoubtedly Shiryu of the Rain. So during the battle, I'll need your support. If you can create an opening for me, I can use 'Room' to..."
"I want to take part in this battle!"
Philo, wearing her raven mask, interrupted Law's explanation.
"Yohohoho." Brook immediately turned serious. "Little Philo, you're our doctor. Right now, our forces aren't stretched thin, so there's no need for you to take unnecessary risks."
"I agree with Brook. A doctor should stay in the rear."
Jim spoke firmly, looking at Philo, who had treated his wounds countless times.
In his mind, he simply couldn't picture Philo in combat—though he made an exception when it came to her joint locks on Brook.
"I'm also a doctor..."
Law muttered under his breath from the back, but no one seemed to acknowledge him.
Taking a deep breath, Philo met her crewmates' gazes with determination. "I have a reason why I must fight!"
She knew Brook and Jim were concerned for her safety, but with Doc Q on the enemy's side, she refused to sit this one out.
"Besides, Maude once said... The New World is different from the first half of the Grand Line. If a ship's doctor cannot ensure their own survival, they aren't a qualified doctor. I want to grow stronger through battle!"
"Maude did say that... But if you get hurt, who will treat us?"
Perona floated in front of Philo. In her memory, she had never seen Philo fight—except, of course, when she put Brook in a joint lock.
"Isn't that what I'm here for???"
Law's feeble voice came once again from the back.
And once again, he was ignored.
Hawkins observed Philo quietly, drawing a tarot card between his fingers. "There's no need to worry—Philo won't die today."
"Hawkins, you can even tell that?"
Urouge, ever the contrarian, pointed at Philo's raven mask with exaggerated surprise. "Little Philo is wearing a mask, though?"
"..."
Hawkins barely restrained the urge to shove his tarot deck into Urouge's mouth. Instead, he turned his head away, choosing to ignore the monk's inquisitive—or just plain contrarian—nature.
"Oi! Are any of you actually listening to me?!"
Law gritted his teeth, glaring at his crewmates' backs.
His plan wasn't about showing off—it was to eliminate the threat of Shiryu before he could become a problem.
But these guys...
"Oh, dumbass, did you say something just now?"
Perona tilted her head at him.
A vein throbbed on Law's forehead.
Brook cocked his head curiously. "Law, what was it you wanted to say?"
Two veins.
Jim, serious as ever, added, "I heard him."
"Oh? What did he say?"
Everyone turned toward Jim.
Jim solemnly replied, "Law was asking if we were listening to him."
"Oh."
Understanding dawned upon the group.
A third vein popped on Law's forehead.
...Forget it.
He gave up.
Watching his crewmates' antics before the battle, Maude smiled slightly.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
With that, his figure became a black lightning bolt, streaking toward Blackbeard.
Shiryu instinctively tried to intercept, but a sudden pillar of rock erupted from the ground, blocking his path.
"Huh?"
Blackbeard sensed danger. Just as he was about to react, Maude's black lightning-like form struck him head-on.
Boom!
A violent shockwave burst forth as Blackbeard was sent flying, blood scattering through the air.
Only after Blackbeard was launched away did Van Augur, Catarina Devon and Doc Q react, staring at Maude in dread.
Blackbeard's trajectory led straight toward Dressrosa's town.
Already in position, Fujitora wouldn't allow him to crash into the city.
Infernal Voyage—
Fujitora slightly unsheathed his blade, releasing a precisely controlled gravitational field. Like an unseen giant hand from the skies, it slammed Blackbeard down mid-air, crushing him into the ground.
Boom!
The impact embedded Blackbeard deep into the earth.
"Puwah!"
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Blackbeard was left dazed by the familiar two-hit combo.
A single thought flashed through his mind.
Ever since he met Maude, nothing good had ever happened to him...
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