"They... really move fast when it comes to snatching people." Hina sighed, gripping her twin black rifles. "Just one second slower... and now we're stuck dealing with these small fries."
"Small fries? These are all Devil Fruit Users, you know?" Smoker, standing back-to-back with Hina, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"At least these are enemies we can handle... Just think about the super monster gradually approaching Wano Country outside!"
"Yeah, yeah, let's speed up the trash cleanup then..." Hina's nose twitched before she suddenly turned and snapped.
"How many times have Hina told you? Don't blow your secondhand smoke in Hina face!"
"You're a chain-smoker yourself! Why do you hate others' secondhand smoke so much?!"
"No, I just hate yours specifically!"
Hina snorted coldly and suddenly threw two long spears.
They exploded mid-air, transforming into black iron bars that pinned the artificial Hippo Fruit user to the ground.
Clapping her hands, she smiled.
"One down."
Smoker lit two more cigars and stuffed them in his mouth, taking a deep drag that burned them to ash in an instant.
But instead of exhaling, the smoke coalesced into a massive cloud.
In a flash, the superheated smoke engulfed the surrounding Headliners.
The dual assault of carbon monoxide and extreme heat proved too much even for the Zoan-type Devil Fruit Users.
"Hahaha! Hina! I win this round!"
"You have time for competitions now?! Focus on efficiency, will you?!"
...
"These creatures... are really tall," Enel remarked from the deck, observing the beings known as 'Numbers.'
"But after seeing Bullet earlier, the sense of awe just vanished."
"The Numbers of the Beasts Pirates are mostly products of ancient giant experiments... So they're several times taller than ordinary giants," Stella said with a light chuckle. "But you're right. After fighting a monster like Bullet, nothing feels impressive anymore."
"You two are having a grand time with your commentary! Why don't you lend a hand?! There's barely any sand to work with out here on the sea..."
Crocodile turned around, flipping both middle fingers at Stella and Enel.
What followed was a rapid-fire stream of Alabasta royal 'profanities.'
The two's smiles stiffened before they finally covered their ears in surrender.
"Okay, okay! Stop! Any more and my brain will explode!"
"Crocodile... I never expected this side of you."
Crocodile's cold gaze swept over to Robin, who was doing her best to become invisible nearby...
Robin shivered.
As one of the few high-ranking officers in the SWORD Forces with substantial authority, this was the first time she'd ever put on an ingratiating smile.
"Hehe, Crocodile-oneesama, since you've scolded them, you can't scold me now, okay?"
"Dream on, brat!" Crocodile spun around and unleashed a Desert Spada, cleanly slicing through Yotsugi's massive sword.
"These things aren't completely mindless idiots. We still need to be careful."
"Yeah, I noticed," Robin said, pointing at the Numbers' suddenly crestfallen expressions. "They totally understood you! Understood that you thought they were just mindless wrecking machines!"
"That's really unfortunate for them!"
Crocodile slammed her hands onto the deck.
In an instant, all the moisture in the deck beneath the Numbers' feet was completely drained.
The next moment, unable to bear the weight of the Numbers any longer, the deck collapsed, sending them crashing into the lower cabins.
"Alright, now we can start playing whack-a-mole..."
A sinister smile, befitting the Desert Crocodile, curled on Crocodile's lips.
However, on her face—which bore an elegant, noble resemblance to Vivi's—it looked a little too yandere.
"W-wait a minute!"
Yamato, who had already begun to recover, rushed over at that moment...
"You... what do you want?" Crocodile raised an eyebrow, her tone surprisingly softening a bit. "Do you want to deal with them yourself?"
"No! I want to ask you to spare their lives... They are products of ancient giant genes. Ever since they were created, they've only been tasked with patrolling Thunder God Island... This is even their first time being taken out of Thunder God Island!" Yamato said firmly.
"So... please spare them! Besides, Father is very interested in the ancient giants!"
"Michael... is interested in these things?"
Stella and Crocodile exchanged glances.
If that's the case...
Then it's not impossible.
After all... it's Michael's request.
"Hey, ladies, are we killing them or not?" Enel's lazy, indifferent voice came from nearby. "If you don't decide soon, I'll take matters into my own hands."
"Don't kill!"
"Got it."
As soon as the words fell, countless bolts of lightning rained from the sky, engulfing the Numbers.
Enel, hovering midair, turned and gave them a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry, they're definitely not dead!"
...
"Out at sea, Bullet and the other two are gradually closing in."
"In Wano's inland sea, the SWORD Forces have already engaged the Beasts Pirates in battle."
"And Onigashima is even crazier... That fight is nothing short of a brutal clash between monsters!"
"No matter where you look, it's terrifying~"
Doflamingo, positioned on the outskirts of the Flower Capital, observed the battles unfolding across the battlefield through Video Transponder Snails controlled by his strings.
Though he claimed it was "terrifying," his eyes gleamed with calculated satisfaction.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
But the oriole doesn't realize a flamingo has already extended its sharp beak.
"Are the Dyna Stones inside the Flower Capital fully deployed yet?"
"Pica has merged with the land using his ability and is gradually transporting the Dyna Stones into the Flower Capital," Trebol reported.
"Good. Next, have the officers lead teams to distribute the remaining Dyna Stones to every corner of Wano."
Doflamingo flashed a wicked, manic grin as he issued his final command.
Once the Dyna Stones were fully deployed across Wano...
It would be his moment to snatch victory from the jaws of Michael and Kaido.
But just then...
The bushes behind him rustled unexpectedly.
Hancock, now clad in a Marine uniform, emerged clumsily from the foliage.
"I asked Kozuki Oden to point me toward Onigashima..."
"But, Where in the world has he led me?!"