Austin staggered to his feet, feeling as though he was about to cough up his lungs.
But...
It was not enough to knock him unconscious.
Seeing Little Hawk about to be besieged by Kaido and Big Mom, he knew he could not keep resting.
With an angry roar, he successfully drew their attention to himself.
Austin staggered forward, one hand clutching his chest, yet his expression was unusually calm.
"Hey!!! Austin! You took an attack like that and still refuse to go down!?!"
Big Mom, with her voluptuous figure, looked as though she hated that iron would not turn into steel when she saw Austin stand up again.
Her beautiful eyes were fixed tightly on him, and she was equally astonished by Austin's powerful physique and monstrous talent.
Sure enough, only with a monster like this could she bear the strongest children.
Yet at the same time, she worried about him.
In Austin's current state, if they kept fighting, neither she nor Kaido could guarantee they would hold back and not kill him...
"Your body is in terrible shape."
Watching Austin slowly steady himself, Mihawk spoke while holding his blade, then turned his gaze toward Kaido and Big Mom again.
"Don't worry. I'll take you out of here."
His tone was calm and steady.
Mihawk seemed to be stating a fact as he made that promise to Austin.
Austin had to admit that having such a reliable second-in-command made him feel safe.
But if that happened...
How could he ever reach the pinnacle of Conqueror's Haki?!
"Leave the rest to me. I promised Little Sand that I would never lose."
Austin grinned, finding an excuse that barely counted as one.
But those words made Crocodile's face darken considerably.
With a cigar clenched between her teeth, she shouted furiously as if