Dimitri nodded in understanding. "So that's who it is!"
Many captains under the Chris Pirates wanted the bounty Donquixote Doflamingo had offered.
"The Gold-Gold Fruit, huh..." Gorbo watched the large mass of gold on the street, which Tesoro manipulated, expanding and deforming to attack. He lamented, "It's a shame Backan isn't here. With his Rust-Rust Fruit ability, he could easily counter the Gold-Gold Fruit's power."
Basically, all metals oxidize (commonly known as "rusting"), though gold oxidizes more slowly. So no matter how much gold Tesoro controlled, Backan could counter him, depending on how well Backan had developed his Devil Fruit ability.
"Otto, Rock, go help! We need to take this place quickly, then push all the way to the Royal Capital, Nakor," Dimitri ordered, waving his hand.
"Watch me!"
Otto's ugly face twisted into a grin. His body suddenly swelled, reaching a height of four meters. He had a massive head, a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth, with his upper and lower canines transforming into foot-long fangs. His entire body was covered in brown fur, a long tail protruded from his rear, and his fingers and toes extended into beastly claws. He even wielded a great axe the size of a wagon wheel, resembling a grotesque, upright beast.
"Understood."
Rock extended both hands, transforming them into dark metal cannon barrels, each at least two hundred millimeters in caliber.
Boom! Boom!
A flash of fire from the muzzles, followed by a roaring sound.
"What?!"
After punching Enrod back, Tesoro was startled to see two dark, scorching cannonballs hurtling towards him.
Rumble! Rumble!
With two colossal explosions, bricks and stones flew from the ground, and thick black smoke billowed.
However, as the black smoke cleared, Tesoro was revealed, still clad in his golden armor.
"..."
Tesoro raised the faceguard on his helmet and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale. The solid gold armor couldn't effectively absorb the concussive force of the explosions, thus injuring Tesoro within.
"Damn it! Big Gun Rock! They're the Triangle Pirates! Haven't they disappeared?!" Tesoro's pale face tightened with frustration. More and more powerhouses were appearing.
"Roar~"
Otto leapt with astonishing speed, taking a few huge strides, then swung his axe, creating a 'whooshing' sound.
Seeing a monstrous creature wielding a giant axe lunging at him, half of Tesoro's gold armor transformed into fluid, forming a large golden sphere that he launched like a cannonball.
Clang!
The terrifyingly powerful great axe slammed into the whistling golden sphere, immediately producing a violent metallic clang, louder and more ear-piercing than a ringing bell. It caused a humming sensation in many people's ears, followed by a surge of chaotic air that nearly blew everything within dozens of meters away.
Whoosh!
Rumble!
"What the hell is this monster?! A Devil Fruit user?" Tesoro was aghast, watching the golden sphere rapidly fly back and violently smash through the building behind him.
Similarly, Otto, in his beast form, was forced back over ten meters by the powerful rebound, his feet shattering the cobblestone bricks on the ground.
"Roar~ That was quite a punch!" Otto's right hand, holding the great axe, trembled incessantly. If his hand hadn't been covered in Armament Haki, his tiger's maw would probably have already split open.
"Tch~" Enrod glanced at Rock and Otto, who had come to help, but offered no comment.
Normally, he would have complained, but now that the plan had begun, their arrival was undoubtedly under the orders of Grand Fleet provisional commander Myles Dimitri. Usually, he might ignore them, but not now. Everyone had to follow Dimitri's command.
"I think... we should talk. You guys should like gold, right?" Tesoro said, a forced smile on his face as he nervously controlled the golden sphere to return, facing the three of them.
He couldn't even deal with one, and now two more had arrived. If this continued, escaping would be a problem.
"Of course we like gold, but in front of you, gold kills people," Rock mocked with a chuckle. In front of the Gold-Gold Fruit, which could manipulate gold, daring to take gold meant no difference from dying.
"Why so much nonsense? Let's get—" Enrod grumbled, curling his lip.
"Roar~" Before Enrod could finish his sentence, Otto had already roared and charged forward.
...
Nakor, the Royal Capital, Noble Quarter.
In a secluded, hidden villa.
"Let them fight, let them fight. In the end, I'll be the one to finish it."
In the main hall, a handsome blonde young man sat languidly on a sofa, legs crossed. He held a beautiful crystal goblet, swirling the dark red wine within, which emitted an intoxicating fragrance.
"Master, something has gone wrong."
Suddenly, a man completely cloaked in black, his face obscured, appeared and half-knelt before the blonde youth.
"Limmings didn't come?"
The blonde youth's left hand, which had been swirling the wine glass, paused, and he frowned slightly as he asked.
"No, he came, but..." The black-robed man lifted his head, revealing a pallid face. "Chris Pirates intervened."
"Chris Pirates?"
The blonde youth raised an eyebrow. "Are they famous?"
The black-robed man said strangely, "The pirate crew isn't famous, but its captain is. He's only a year younger than you, Master, yet possesses monstrously terrifying strength. He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Chris T. Aeridar."
"Golden Ring Aeridar..." The blonde youth's expression hardened, and he asked, confused, "Why would he come?"
"Unclear. A lot of powerhouses from the Chris Pirates came. Even the first mate and the Head of Combat are here. And besides the White Mane Pirates' First Mate Galan, there's also Triangle Pirates' Captain Vito and Head of Combat Marcus. In short, a whole bunch of powerhouses arrived," the black-robed man shook his head. After a moment of thought, he speculated, "Perhaps they want to help Prince Casey obtain the throne, and then gain various supplies or treasures from the Kingdom as they desire."
"Supplies or treasures? Could it be for the new gold mine next to Micity Port?" The blonde youth massaged his temples. "Tesoro also came for the gold in the mine, hm. That guy probably still thinks Doflamingo hasn't found him."
"Master, what should we do then?" the black-robed man asked.
"My brothers still don't know that the army outside the city has already pledged allegiance to me. They're probably foolishly waiting for reinforcements. Since that's the case, order the troops to move closer and then launch a surprise attack, catching them off guard," the blonde youth thought for a moment, then ordered with a chilling smile.
"Hehehehe~ As you command, my esteemed Master, Prince Dasco Benson!" The black-robed man chuckled grimly again.
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