"Clang—"
As the emerald slash screamed toward Leno, a slender figure stepped in alone and stopped it cold.
"Boom—"
The blade-light shattered a heartbeat later, revealing a girl with a pink longsword.
"She blocked the world's greatest slash?"
"And she's just a girl?"
"What monsters does this Adventurer crew even have!?"
The gathered Vice Admirals gaped. That was a strike from the world's greatest swordsman—yet she had held it.
"It's the prodigy swordswoman, Kuina! A fighter from the Adventurer's ship!"
Kuina stood with blade in hand, eyes blazing as she faced Mihawk. "World's Greatest Swordsman—an honor."
Mihawk arched a brow. Another master of the sword. He lifted Yoru and surged forward.
Seeing Kuina meet Hawkeyes head-on, Kizaru's surprise only grew. "Scaaarry~ Adventurer… even the crew are monsters."
"Admiral Kizaru, are you sure you want to stop me? Is that meager salary worth your life?" Leno didn't bother with Kizaru's flippant tone.
Kizaru grimaced and shrugged. "I don't want to, but… I'm on the clock."
"I understand," Leno said quietly.
Black-violet lightning danced along Huangquan. A red glimmer flashed in Kizaru's eyes—then his face changed.
Whoosh—
His body moved faster than thought, dissolving into golden light.
'He foresaw it?'
You couldn't underestimate any Admiral; that level of Observation Haki was only natural.
Seeing Kizaru struggle alone, Aokiji rose as well. "Ara ara… looks like 'Thunder God' is no easy mark."
With two Admirals engaging Leno, the remaining Vice Admirals surged toward his crew. They couldn't just watch the top brass fight.
"Hehehehehe… such a strong shadow—mine!"
Moria, unwilling to be left out, stirred restlessly—
A gust swept past, grains of sand drifting before his eyes.
"Hm?"
Crocodile had already become a storm of sand, streaking toward Nico Robin. Moria bristled. "Bastard—stealing a march on me!"
He hurled his bulk into the fray against Leno's crew.
Watching his fellow Warlords move, Doflamingo spread his arms and laughed to the sky. "Fufufufufu… Fight—riot—! The messier, the better! Fufufufufu!"
Elsewhere, Nami, Nojiko, and the others were already flagging under the assault of more than a dozen Vice Admirals. With the Warlords piling on, things went from bad to worse.
A hot wind of sand swept overhead.
"Yeehahahaha… Come with me, Nico Robin. Only I can protect you!"
Sand wrapped around Robin, Crocodile's wild laughter echoing as he tried to whisk her from the battlefield.
"Robin!"
Nami and Nojiko lunged to help, but the enemies hemming them in wouldn't let them through.
"Fish-Man Karate: 5,000 Tile True Punch!"
"BOOM—"
The sand cocoon shattered under a single blow. Not far away, Crocodile re-formed, blood at his lip, scowling at the newcomer.
"Jinbe. Why meddle?"
"I may not be able to aid Mr. Leno directly," Jinbe said, eyes hard, "but I can protect his crew—so he can fight without worry."
Crocodile's fury spiked. "Yeehahaha… If you want to die, Fish-Man, I'll oblige you!"
"Gladly."
Jinbe didn't flinch, stepping in to clash.
Robin stood stunned. What was going on?
"Aren't you one of the Seven Warlords? Why save me?"
"Mr. Leno is Fishman Island's benefactor. I'm duty-bound to keep his crew safe."
Understanding lit Robin's gaze. "I see. Thank you."
Just how many debts does my captain carry…? she wondered.
Far off, Nami and Nojiko finally exhaled when Robin slipped free—even if they didn't know why a Warlord had aided them. There was no time to ponder it; a flurry of Vice Admiral strikes forced them back into a frantic defense.
A crisp shout cut the air.
"Perfume Femur!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Boa Hancock's alabaster legs spun like a top, kicking several Vice Admirals skidding away.
Nami and Nojiko stared, mouths half-open. Help—from her?
Reading the doubt in their eyes, Hancock tipped her chin high, haughty as a queen. "Hmph! I'm not helping you. I'm merely sparing you for Lord Leno's sake—so you don't drag him down."
"Lord… Leno?"
Nami's eye twitched as she took in the devastating beauty of the woman—and that absurd title. "That damned idiot… just how many women has he bewitched out there!?"
Beside her, Nojiko's gaze turned faintly reproachful as it drifted toward Leno. For someone this stunning to defy the World Government just to help him—no way there wasn't something there. Still… not the time. Help was help. The bill could be settled later.
"Focus. Survive first."
"Yeah, I know."
With Hancock's arrival, their burden eased at once; most strikes broke upon her kicks and petrifying power.
Watching the two turn complicated under Hancock's brilliance and might, Nami and Nojiko could only grit their teeth and fight on.
"Jinbe! Boa Hancock! What are you doing!?" Sengoku roared, face dark as thunder. "Defying the World Government in public—do you no longer want your Warlord titles!?"
Garp, seated cross-legged, scratched his head. "Strange… When did that punk Leno get tied up with them? They shouldn't even have crossed paths…"
Sengoku opened his mouth to bark more orders when a panicked voice crackled from his receiver.
"Report! Over a dozen warships sighted on the horizon—heading straight for Marine Headquarters!"
"Nani!?"