Maud's timely reinforcement made the marines feel wary.
"This stage is still too early for you lot..."
Maud stood with his back to Robin, taking a quick glance at the situation on the scene.
All around, there were almost entirely marines.
"You really shouldn't have come here, Nico Robin."
Maud could sense the strong desire among the surrounding marines to execute Nico Robin.
Having said that, Maud didn't have the mind to watch Robin's reaction, his thought shifting.
"Shadow Ground."
The shadow at his heels instantly transformed into strands of pitch-black treads, spreading out rapidly in all directions.
The branching and scattering shadow treads traveled along the ground, crossing beneath the feet of the Straw Hat Pirates and pointing toward the nearest marines.
"Careful, it's Maud's shadow ability!!"
"Use Armament Haki to attack the shadows!"
Seeing the shadows sliding across the ground toward them, the marines, who already had a deep understanding of Maud's ability, didn't panic, but instead calmly watched the movement of the shadows.
Under their gaze, the rapidly sliding shadows abruptly left the ground, transforming into the shapes of sickles in mid-air and sweeping toward the nearest marines.
Among the sickles...!!!
The marines' pupils contracted; due to the color of the shadows, it was difficult for them to discern the Armament Haki coverage on the blades of the shadow sickles.
To be safe, every marine released Armament Haki, raising their weapons to meet the slashing shadow sickles.
Clang, clang--!
For a moment, sparks flashed, and the sound of iron clashing was endless.
The slashing speed of the shadow sickles was extremely fast, difficult for the naked eye to capture.
Yet the marines still precisely blocked every single shadow sickle slash.
However,
in order to clear out more defensive space, the marines retreated while blocking.
This move was