"This is really troublesome..."
Austin had seen that sudden sand blade ambush before.
But he had endured it through sheer strength.
Sakazuki's upper and lower body slowly separated. Looking down, he saw a clump of sand gradually take human form.
It was Crocodile.
"Sakazuki, I'll use your head as the stepping stone for my fame."
"Utterly arrogant!!!"
Sakazuki's expression darkened. Molten lava slowly welled up from the seam of his bisected body before the two halves gradually fused back together.
Crocodile was not the only one with such an ability.
Sakazuki was also a Logia Type Devil Fruit user.
"Now this is interesting. You're a woman who can trade blows with Austin, after all. How could you possibly be taken down so easily?"
Sakazuki gritted his teeth. Hearing that name, he remembered his orders.
Though furious inside, he still said,
"If you leave now, I'll pretend I never saw you."
Crocodile herself was nothing special.
But she was one of Austin's few companions. Killing her could very well affect the relationship between Austin and the Marines—or rather, the World Government.
The Fleet Admiral had given the order: unless necessary, they were not to make a move.
"Leave now?"
Crocodile reacted as though she had heard a joke.
"I came here to kill you!!!"
Her palm slowly turned into quicksand, mixed with a measure of Armament Haki. The black sand formed into a long blade and slashed toward Sakazuki.
"Desert Treasure Sword!!!"
It extended continuously, its sleek sand blade sweeping horizontally at him without the slightest intention of showing restraint.
Sakazuki was infuriated by the sight, convinced Crocodile was courting death.
Then there was no need for him to hold back any longer.
He clenched one fist. Scalding magma instantly swelled, carrying the explosive force of a volcanic eruption as it