The desert outside Alabasta's capital.
Pain and Weevil had been fighting for ten hours, and the sky had grown dim. Pain and Preta Path were always on the defensive, dodging, while Weevil relentlessly pursued them. Pain's Chakra hadn't been significantly depleted, but Weevil's stamina was considerably exhausted. Weevil was panting, and the invisible Qi surrounding his body had weakened considerably.
Weevil liked to roar during battle, and in the scorching desert, his throat had long since dried up. Weevil felt severely dehydrated and needed to replenish his fluids, but Pain, using Preta Path, continuously entangled Weevil, giving him no chance to catch his breath or rest.
"Water… I need water!… Mom… hurry up and give me water!… I'm dying of thirst!…" Weevil mumbled, wishing he could drink a large barrel of water right now.
Weevil seemed to have been tormented by the hot desert into hallucinating; he had forgotten his mother had died, appearing completely unaware that he was still in battle. Although Weevil's attacks and defense were formidable, as long as he couldn't land a hit, he was powerless against Pain and Preta Path.
Pain's plan was to first deplete the enemy's stamina and see if the Qi surrounding the enemy's body would weaken as his stamina dropped. Therefore, in the subsequent ten hours of fighting, Pain stopped using "Rain Tiger at Will Technique." Now, seeing Weevil's unstable external Qi and rapid breathing, Pain knew the opportunity for a fatal blow was approaching.
In the distance, Sea Weasel Nero maintained constant contact with Lucci. Seeing Shichibukai Weevil's stamina visibly declining and signs of physical exhaustion, Nero knew that if the fight continued, Weevil would collapse from exhaustion before the enemy could defeat him.
After all, Weevil was not an Ability User. His monstrous strength, his innate ability to use Qi since childhood, and his extraordinary recovery power were his proudest combat assets. Coupled with his Awakened Haki, which could be materialized onto weapons, he was a formidable opponent even for an Admiral. However, his dull mind only led him to mindlessly attack enemies, depleting himself and passively falling into a state of exhaustion.
Pain and Preta Path were different. Pain only needed to rely on his agile movements to evade Weevil's attacks, consuming very little. Pain could also control Preta Path to launch harassing attacks at any time, and for unavoidable attacks, he would endure them using "Sealing Technique Absorption Seal."
Nero knew the battle would soon reach a conclusion and couldn't help but remind Lucci again, "Lucci… I think their battle is nearing its end… The possibility of both sides suffering heavy losses is minuscule… Aren't we going to act yet?…"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Lucci pondered for a moment and asked, "Is the enemy still holding back?…"
"Yes… The enemy seems to have seen through Weevil's lack of intelligence… He has always focused on dodging and defending… and hasn't gone all out…" Nero replied.
"We are already ambushed nearby. Do not make a move before we do…" Lucci commanded.
As soon as Pain withdrew the rain curtain, CP0 and others quickly infiltrated and approached the center of the battle, though they were some distance from the main conflict and couldn't clearly see the live situation. Lucci hung up the Den Den Mushi and looked at the CP0 members around him, arranging, "Oden will be handled by me, Kaku, and Jabra… Nero and Kumadori will be responsible for Crocodile and his companion… Fukurou and Spandam, you two will take care of that Devil Fruit Ability User…"
"Kumadori, contact Nero… Once the battle is nearing its end, you two will directly ambush Crocodile and his companion… Your move will be the signal for everyone else to act…" Lucci added.
"Understood… This humble one shall go now…" Kumadori accepted the order and departed. Spandam, hearing Lucci include him in the battle, was very flustered and quickly spoke up.
"Um… sir… you know my combat power… I'm good at strategizing for everyone… but in a fight… I'm afraid I won't be much help…"
Spandam finished, looking at Lucci with anticipation, hoping Lucci would change his mind, but Lucci had no intention of heeding his plea and looked at him with icy eyes.
"Execute the order!…"
Seeing no escape from the battle, Spandam no longer pleaded with Lucci. Instead, he turned and grinned foolishly at Fukurou, hoping to receive Fukurou's care. Fukurou glanced at Spandam, unzipped the chain on his mouth, and said, "I won't tell anyone about you arranging people to plunder the enemy organization's ships… Cha-ba-ba…"
Before the bewildered Spandam could react, he continued, "Oh dear… I accidentally revealed your secret again… Cha-ba-ba…"
After speaking, Fukurou consciously zipped his mouth shut, remaining silent. Spandam now understood that Lucci and the others had long known about his secret maneuvers. It seemed that being sent to the battlefield was also Lucci's arrangement. Spandam could only pray that Fukurou would quickly take down that Devil Fruit Ability User, which would greatly reduce his risk. Lucci's orders were given, and everyone headed towards their respective targets.
The battleground where Pain and Weevil fought was already beyond recognition, even the Materials that had been brought out were scattered everywhere, affected by the battle.
Pain's eyes lit up as he observed Weevil's declining sword strength, speed, and external Qi. Pain knew the opportunity had come, it was now… Pain aimed his right hand at Weevil, releasing "Almighty Pull," and simultaneously controlled Preta Path to charge at Weevil's massive body. Weevil, holding his greatsword, was about to cleave the flying Preta Path, but his body uncontrollably flew towards Pain.
Weevil, losing his balance, roared loudly, inserting his greatsword into the sand with both hands, trying to prevent himself from being pulled. However, he found that the greatsword couldn't get a grip in the sand. Seeing that he couldn't control his body from flying backward, Weevil instinctively swung his greatsword, using the suction to slash at Pain.
Pain had already anticipated such a situation. Just as Weevil was about to get close, a powerful repulsive force from a "Shinra Tensei" pushed Weevil away, causing him to crash into the pursuing Preta Path. Preta Path's body had sandified, leaving only its head. A mass of sand quickly enveloped Weevil's tall body, "Devour: Sandification World!…"
Weevil's body was already out of control as he flew backward, and then he was entangled by Preta Path's sandified body mid-flight, rendering him powerless. As Preta Path's "Devour: Sandification World" took shape, the already weakened layer of Qi around Weevil's body vanished in less than a second, and Weevil's body was immediately and furiously eroded by the sand.
"Ah!!… It hurts… it hurts so much!…"
Weevil's physical strength was continuously being drained, and his moisture was rapidly depleting. Parts of his flesh and blood were sandifying yet stubbornly recovering, but this recovery depended on his physical energy and moisture. Once his body ran out of moisture, that recovery ability would certainly cease to exist.
Seeing that Weevil would surely die if this continued, a sudden change occurred. Kumadori, using "Soru," suddenly appeared behind Preta Path. His right hand, covered in Elementary Haki, punched Preta Path's head. Preta Path was sent flying, and the ability he was releasing was also disrupted. Weevil, after falling from mid-air, continued to shout and gasp, temporarily losing his combat ability and unable to move.
Nero's figure also appeared behind Pain, slashing at Pain's neck. If this strike landed, Pain's head would surely be separated from his body. Pain was in a state where his old strength had just faded, and new strength had not yet emerged, but his dangerous instincts made him react the instant he was ambushed.
Pain used the Body Replacement Technique. Nero's slash cut through a piece of shipbuilding Materials, and he landed with a puzzled expression. Oden and Roux also faced similar ambushes.
Oden not only had Armament Haki at the King level, but his Observation Haki had also Awakened to an Intermediate level. He also possessed the ability to hear the voice of all things, just like Pirate King Roger.
Before being ambushed, Oden had sensed the movements around him and easily dodged the ambush from Lucci, Kaku, and Jabra. Afterward, both sides stood in formation, observing each other. Roux, on the other hand, faced Fukurou's ambush, which wasn't really an ambush. When Fukurou ambushed Roux, he unzipped the chain on his mouth and shouted at Roux, "I won't ambush you… Cha-ba-ba…"
He then added, "I've revealed a secret again!… Cha-ba-ba-ba…" Fukurou's attack, following his words, struck a patch of yellow sand as Roux disappeared. Spandam cowered to the side, looking for an opportunity to ambush with the elephant sword in his hand.
Battle was imminent.
To be continued…