A cruel smile twisted across Aramaki's face. He clenched his hand, and the wooden spikes buried inside Daz's body began to wriggle, greedily draining the nutrients from his flesh.
Daz's body shriveled before everyone's eyes, his agonized groans echoing in the air.
Hearing those sounds tore Crocodile's heart apart. Of all his subordinates, Daz was the most loyal — he never complained, never hesitated to complete any order Crocodile gave him.
Aramaki savored the ecstasy of absorbing life, mocking as he did so,
"What a loyal subordinate… too bad he overestimated himself."
That single line ignited Crocodile's fury to its peak. Silently, he set Daz's lifeless body down on the ground, then turned sharply — his eyes blazing red with rage.
"I'm going to kill you!!!"
Crocodile transformed into a violent sandstorm, roaring toward Aramaki.
Aramaki smirked disdainfully. With a casual wave of his hand, a mass of black vines erupted from the ground, spreading like a shadowy curtain that engulfed the storm of sand.
Moments later, Crocodile was completely wrapped up, hurled from the air, and crashed to the ground at Aramaki's feet.
Aramaki stomped on him and sneered,
"Seems like you're not much of a boss after all. I don't get it though — you're just a pirate. Why go this far for a country that isn't even yours?"
"You bastard! The King won't forgive you!"
"The King? You mean that one inside the palace? Is he supposed to be strong?"
"No! The King I speak of is Fleet Admiral Shikiryū from back then! He's the one who ordered me to stay here. When he returns… you'll die a terrible death!"
Aramaki went silent for a moment, then spoke slowly,
"You mean… Uchiha Kaito?"
"Yes!"
Bang!
Aramaki kicked Crocodile hard in the face, snarling,
"Don't you dare mention that name! He's the one who destroyed my faith!"
His "faith" referred to the former World Government — Aramaki had once been a fanatical supporter of the Celestial Dragons. But everything he believed in had been annihilated by Kaito's own hands.
Still unsatisfied after kicking him, Aramaki panted heavily, rage dripping from every word.
"And Akainu too! He's nothing but a traitor! I used to admire him, damn it! He's just as deserving of death as that Uchiha Kaito!"
Crocodile spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring at Aramaki as if he were insane.
"You? Challenge the King? You're just a pathetic clown! You'll die a miserable death — I can't wait to see it! Hahahahaha!"
Aramaki's face darkened like storm clouds. Grinding his teeth, he hissed,
"Still so defiant? Fine. Let's see how long that mouth of yours keeps running. Don't worry — I won't let you die easily!"
He conjured another wooden spike and began walking toward Crocodile step by step.
That was the breaking point for the remaining Baroque Works members. Mr. 2 charged forward first, and even the timid Mr. 3 gathered his courage and followed.
But Aramaki's men weren't pushovers either. They intercepted the charge, and a chaotic battle erupted around them.
Aramaki reached Crocodile, licked the wooden spike in his hand, and grinned.
"Now then… let's see how much pain you can handle."
He raised the spike high, ready to plunge it down — but Crocodile, ever the stubborn one, didn't even blink. He stared straight into Aramaki's eyes.
"Don't!!"
Inside the city, Vivi cried out desperately. Beside her, Cobra's expression was grim. Crocodile's actions today had deeply moved them — but the opponent was far too powerful.
Just as despair filled everyone's hearts, two beams of golden light shot down from the sky.
A scream tore through the air, and a severed arm — still clutching the wooden spike — spun away.
Aramaki reached for his bleeding shoulder, but the moment his palm touched the wound, black smoke sizzled from it. Had he not pulled back in time, his remaining hand might have been destroyed too.
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone — both Baroque Works and Aramaki's subordinates froze mid-fight, staring dumbfounded at Aramaki's missing arm, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Aramaki trembled in pain, sweat pouring down his face.
Laser? he thought.
Is it Borsalino, the Admiral Kizaru? No… impossible! How could his light attacks hurt me — another Logia user?!
Crocodile didn't fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear — Aramaki had taken a heavy hit.
He immediately seized the chance to taunt,
"What's wrong? Lost an arm already? Come on, keep going!"
Aramaki fought down the urge to tear him apart, scanning the surroundings to find whoever had attacked him.
Then, a calm, indifferent voice sounded from behind him.
"Are you looking for me?"
"Nani!?"
Every hair on Aramaki's body stood on end. He spun around — but before he could even see the person's face, two more golden beams flashed. His legs vanished from the knees down, and his body collapsed, half-buried in the sand.
As he "knelt," Crocodile finally saw a face he would never forget for the rest of his life. His eyes widened, his voice trembling.
"You've returned?"
He had cursed Kaito's name moments ago — but now that the man himself stood before him, he didn't even dare lift his head.
Only now did he truly understand the vast difference between them. From beginning to end, he hadn't even had the chance to fight back before being reduced to a mutilated husk.
Kaito didn't even glance at him. With a simple snap of his fingers, the black vines trapping Crocodile instantly withered away.
Crocodile stood up, ready to express his gratitude — but a voice nearby froze him in place.
"Boss!"
He turned stiffly, eyes widening in disbelief.
There stood Daz — alive and unharmed.
Not only him, but everyone else was utterly shocked. A few had witnessed it: a gray vortex had appeared around Daz's corpse, and moments later, he'd stood up, completely healed.
While everyone was still frozen in confusion, Aramaki suddenly shouted,
"King, I was wrong! Please — spare me!"
He had always been a coward at heart, and now that death loomed over him, all pretense of dignity vanished.
Kaito had no intention of wasting words on such filth. With a mere thought, Aramaki felt something inside him snap — as if he'd just lost something vital.
Before he could even figure out what it was, countless vines surged from the ground, wrapping tightly around him.
When the vines finally withdrew, Aramaki was nothing more than a dried-up corpse.
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