The man known as Daz Bonez, codenamed "Mr. 1," was undoubtedly the strongest force in Baroque Works—second only to Sir Crocodile himself!
"Steel Slash!"
As he charged forward, Daz Bonez instantly transformed his fingers into sharp blades, forming a claw-like stance, preparing for close-quarters combat with Renji Kai.
"Trying to fight me up close? Dream on! Boil Style: Mist Veil Jutsu!"
Renji Kai showed no sign of fear as Daz Bonez rushed straight at him. On the contrary, his excitement visibly grew. It was clear he enjoyed it when enemies foolishly charged at him head-on.
The next moment, Renji exhaled another burst of mist—but this wasn't ordinary mist. This vapor was superheated, boiling with acidic properties that could be adjusted at will!
This kind of high-temperature fog could gradually dissolve solid matter. Its intensity surpassed even that of standard corrosion-based techniques, and its acidic transformation could melt virtually anything in its path.
Upon seeing this terrifying attack, Daz Bonez flinched in shock. He was forced to halt abruptly, letting out a cold grunt.
"Steel Form!"
He immediately shifted his stance and hardened his entire body into a steel-like form.
Daz Bonez had eaten a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed him to transform his body into blades of iron-like hardness. His defensive capabilities were so formidable that ordinary attacks had no effect on him. Even the legendary sword slashes from one of the world's greatest swordsmen, Dracule Mihawk, could be deflected by his steel body, while anything he touched could be sliced apart.
But today… he was facing Renji Kai.
And against Renji Kai, even a body of iron was meaningless.
The moment the mist engulfed him, Daz Bonez let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The boiling mist instantly corroded the steel-like surface of his body. The searing heat burned him so severely that he couldn't even speak. Within just two seconds, he collapsed onto the desert ground, his entire body flushed red as though he had been thrown into a pot of boiling water.
Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully defeated your enemy and earned 15,000 reputation points.
As the system notification echoed in his mind, Renji Kai knew that Daz Bonez wouldn't be getting back up any time soon.
His attack had shaken everyone nearby—especially those still entertaining the idea of sneaking up on him during the chaos. Now, they were frozen in place.
Even Sir Crocodile had beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.
"So much comes out of that guy's mouth… He's terrifying!" muttered Douglas Bullet, still visibly shaken.
He knew exactly how powerful Daz Bonez's defense was. Even with Armament Haki reinforcement, Bullet doubted he could've withstood Renji's boiling mist attack.
"Looks like your lackey couldn't take the heat. What now? He's one of Baroque Works' top operatives, isn't he?" Renji Kai turned slowly, looking directly at Crocodile, who had already stood up again.
Crocodile merely gave the fallen Daz Bonez a cold glance and replied with a faint smirk, "If he's already been defeated, then he's just trash in my eyes. I don't care whether he lives or dies."
But despite the harsh words, Crocodile's heart was boiling with hatred. He wanted nothing more than to rip Renji Kai to pieces.
"Oh really?" Renji shot back with a smirk. "That guy was your top commander. He's been fiercely loyal to you from the start. Weren't you supposed to trust him more than anyone else?
"Let me remind you of something: no matter how much you hide behind a mask, your heart can't lie."
For the first time, Crocodile's expression revealed a trace of fear.
Renji's insight had clearly rattled him.
Before this, nothing Renji had said truly shocked Crocodile. Whether it was knowing about Daz Bonez's identity or uncovering the inner workings of Baroque Works, Crocodile had considered the possibility of spies or moles.
After all, with so many people in Baroque Works, it wasn't unusual for a few agents to have hidden motives.
But the fact that Renji Kai knew Daz Bonez was the one person Crocodile trusted most?
That hit a nerve.
Crocodile had never expressed trust in anyone. He had always been a lone wolf—prideful, arrogant, and vocal about how he didn't need subordinates. He'd often declared he was strong enough on his own.
And now… this mysterious man had pierced right into the heart of his hidden beliefs.
Just who the hell was Renji Kai?
"Renji Kai… What exactly do you want?" Crocodile finally roared, his voice laced with frustration and desperation.
This time, though the words were loud, the force behind them had clearly diminished. His earlier dominance was gone, replaced by a quiet dread.
"I want you to come with me… or die here. Your choice," Renji replied coolly, standing his ground with absolute composure.
It was as if Crocodile's life was now in his hands.
At this point, no one doubted Renji Kai's threat. The tides had clearly turned in his favor. Even if Crocodile managed to stand and fight, he wouldn't have the strength left to face someone like Douglas Bullet, who had yet to make a move.
"You know I've never bowed to anyone," Crocodile muttered coldly.
Even now, he tried to resist Renji Kai. As a former Warlord of the Sea, submitting to someone else was something he could never accept.