This wasn't a question of whether they could win, but that their attacks simply could not break through the enemy's defenses.
Moreover, the enemy held the mobility advantage. Once the warship was destroyed in a direct confrontation, he could defeat them without even fighting.
Only by fleeing—fleeing at the fastest speed possible—could they gamble on that slim chance of survival.
"Get ready, Smoker!"
Mozambia drew the folding mechanical scythe blades from his arms. Two exhaust ports popped out from his back, and the energy conduits ran beyond capacity, releasing searing heat waves.
Smoker turned around in utter astonishment.
"Don't tell me you're planning to...?!"
"Do we have any other choice?"
Mozambia smiled coldly.
"Speed alone won't make the War Beast a match for Kaido."
They needed a lure to draw his attention. Even if Kaido knew what he wanted was on the warship, he would not ignore mosquitoes buzzing beside his ear.
Of course, the fate of the lure was almost certainly sealed.
"Or are you... afraid?"
"Hah! What a boring provocation!"
With a cold snort, thick white smoke spread from Smoker's body. Just as he was about to charge forward with Mozambia, something flew toward him.
Smack!
Smoker caught it instinctively, and his expression immediately changed.
"Tashigi, you..."
At the entrance to the cabin, Tashigi stood amid the running crowd. Biting her lower lip, she nodded at him.
"You have to come back alive, Vice Admiral!"
Smoker did not answer. He charged into the sky alongside Mozambia.
While flying, he bared his teeth, gripping Tashigi's personal sword tightly as he smiled.
"What a troublesome girl..."
"But it's because people like them exist that we have a reason to fight!"
He drew the blade in his hand and thrust it toward the sky with an enraged roar.
"I'll never let