Natural Enemies

"That's true, but we need to figure out how to get through this first," Luffy said without turning his head.

There's no direct path to the top, and he can't rely on the Gum-Gum Fruit to get there, since the view from here is obscured. So he has to proceed from the front.

"Break through..."

Bartolomeo, who had been staring at Luffy's back for a moment, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and exclaimed, "I have an idea!"

"Watch me!"

"Mobile Barrier - Ladder!"

The next moment, a barrier appeared in front of Bartolomeo, twisting into a staircase at an extremely fast speed, rapidly spreading upwards and soon touching the edge of the highest point.

"Huh?"

"Eh!!"

Seeing the sudden appearance of the stairs, Luffy was stunned for a moment, then looked at Bartolomeo excitedly and said, "That Lihai! You really helped me a lot!"

With this, he no longer needs to worry about getting up there.

"Please feel free to use it~"

Upon being praised by Luffy, Bartolomeo excitedly wiggled around and said, "Don't be so polite with me, Luffy- senpai~"

"You're really something else," Cavendish said with a hint of disdain.

He reacts like this after being praised by the Straw Hat? Is he out of his mind?

Cavendish then turned his attention to Bartolomeo's green hair.

For some reason, he always had a feeling that he didn't like this hair, and it wasn't the first time.

What happened?

"Thanks, Cockscomb Head," Luffy said with a smile.

"Thank you so much?"

Bartolomeo was as if struck by Inazuma; his excited body collapsed to the ground, and a scene flashed through his mind.

That was him standing on the edge of a cliff, watching the sunrise slowly rise in the distance.

And Luffy stood in front of the rising sun.

The sunlight made Luffy appear incredibly sacred.

[Luffy: Thank you.]

"You're exaggerating."

Bartolomeo, with tears streaming down his face, said, "It should be my honor."

"Ah!"

"To meet you, I have truly lived a worthwhile life!"

"Ah!!!"

Luo:???

Seeing Bartolomeo rolling around on the ground crying, Luo was immediately filled with questions. What on earth was wrong with this guy?

"Alright, now we can rush up to the top in one go." Luffy, who quickly went to Law's side and lifted him Luffy, looked up at the stairs above and said, "Let's go, Tra-man!"

"Hurry up!"

Luo is now extremely eager to find the key to the Seastone Handcuffs.

This time, Luffy didn't waste any words and immediately rushed up the stairs with Law.

Upon seeing this, the two giant toys rushed over and opened their mouths to bite.

"Don't even think about it!"

Cavendish shouted and appeared beside Luffy in a flash, slicing one of them in half with a single sword strike.

The other one was cut in half by Kyros, who also rushed up.

After doing this, Kyros rushed up the stairs without looking back.

"Soldier!"

"I'm going now," Kyros said without turning his head.

"Hey, wait for me!"

I hope this guy doesn't actually run into that bastard Doflamingo before him; he'd better beat him up himself.

Unfortunately, Kyros did not answer, but instead rushed upwards at an extremely fast speed.

"Don't look around."

Cavendish, who was still fending off the giant toy from behind, said, "Hurry up and climb up!"

"Cabbage?"

"Stop talking nonsense, I'll cover your retreat." Cavendish said without turning his head, "You should go."

After speaking, Cavendish, then struck again, cleaving the two enormous toys in front of him in two.

After doing this, he continued with a grim expression, "My beloved horse was brutally murdered on this floor, and I will avenge it!"

He wouldn't be able to swallow this insult until he had killed all of these guys.

"Profound!"

"I see."

Luffy roared and then quickly rushed towards the top, intending to get there as fast as possible.

"You think I'd give you that chance?!" Gladius roared. "Stay here!"

As he spoke, he raised his arm and launched a merciless attack on Luffy with his specially made weapon.

The next moment, a large number of black bullets flew out, heading straight for Luffy on the Luffy.

"Luffy, get out of the way!" Nico Robin shouted upon seeing this, "That's an explosive ball, you can't bounce it off!"

She was genuinely worried that Luffy would use his rubber body to withstand enemy attacks.

"Leave it to me!"

Bartolomeo shouted and then quickly rushed into the air, using his body to block the attack for Luffy.

"Boom!!!"

Cavendish:???

Cavendish stared at Bartolomeo with a bewildered expression. What was this bastard doing?

"Where did your barrier go?!"

"Hello!"

Seeing Bartolomeo sprawled on the ground, smoking Cavendish rushed over and continued, "Bartolomeo, this is no time for jokes."

"I've always... cough cough, I've always been very serious."

"What were you doing just now?"

Cavendish pointed to the barrier beside him. "Why use your body to block it when you have something like this?"

Isn't that insane?

"The area of barrier I can use at a time is limited," Bartolomeo said with a hint of helplessness after catching his breath. "Now it's all used up on this staircase."

"Ah?"

Cavendish paused, stunned. Was this the limit?

In other words, Bartolomeo risked being killed to use this ability to help the Straw Hat?

This kid is really something...

"But that's enough." Lying on the ground, Bartolomeo laughed and said, "As long as I can help Luffy- senpai, I'll die without regrets!"

Cavendish closed his eyes and sighed upon hearing this. Another capricious fellow.

"You're hopeless."

After letting out a long sigh, Cavendish opened his eyes and said earnestly, "I'll fight alongside you until your barrier is restored. Cheer up!"

Cavendish knew very well what this barrier meant to the Straw Hat, so he would do everything in his power to protect the Cockscomb Head once the boy reached the top.

Cavendish then turned his attention to the giant toy crawling toward them.

"This toy is utterly devoid of any aesthetic appeal," Cavendish said disdainfully.

I wonder what that ability user was thinking. Maybe they only needed attack power and didn't care about appearance?

Ha, what a perverse sense of humor.

Cavendish then gripped the hilt of his sword, preparing to deliver a swift and powerful blow.

But before he could even make a move, Nico Robin's attack arrived.

"Five Trees - Slap!"

"Bump!"

The next moment, five arms suddenly appeared and slammed into the toy, sending it flying.

"Um?"

Nicole Robin??

Cavendish glanced at Nico Robin with some surprise, clearly not expecting her to make a move at this moment, nor did he expect her to possess such strength.

"I understand how you feel, Cockscomb Head," Nico Robin said with a smile. "Our captain... is worth risking your life for."

"Luffy... he'll always be our trump card for victory!"

Upon hearing this, Bartolomeo immediately grinned.

Yes, Luffy- senpai is a man for whom people would risk their lives!

He already knew that!

Cavendish looked up at Luffy high above, and to be honest, even he didn't know when he had become like this.

"Anyone can talk big," Gladius sneered. "You can never defeat the Donquixote Family!"

"Charge them!"

The giant toys, having received their command, began to move again, walking step by step towards Nicole Robin.

But Nicole Robin showed no fear and maintained a smile throughout.

"I won't let you get in Luffy."

"Mil Fleur, a colossal tree!"

The next moment, numerous arms grew from the ground, mercilessly swatting away the giant toys that were rushing towards them.

After finishing that, Nico Robin turned her attention to Gladius.

"You'd better stay here obediently."

"Hateful..."

Gladius's face darkened. It seemed that if he wanted to take down Straw Hat, he would first have to deal with these guys.

Well then, since that's the case, let's deal with them first.

As for Straw Hat?

If you miss it, you should hand it over to the Top Executive of the family.

Thinking of the power of his own Top Executive, Gladius's expression gradually returned to calm.

With their strength, there's absolutely no way they could let the Straw Hat live to see the young master.

Having confirmed this, Gladius completely put aside any other thoughts and focused intently on Nico Robin, preparing to make her his first target.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

While the fierce battle raged below, Merry had already brought Rebecca to the Flower Field on the Fourth Floor.

What puzzled them was that they didn't see Luffy anywhere.

"That's strange, where's Luffy?" Merry asked, her face full of doubt. "Didn't he say he was waiting for us here?"

Normally, Luffy should be waiting for them on the edge.

"Could they already be inside?" Rebecca frowned.

"It's not impossible..."

Merry's face fell. Given Luffy's personality, it would be strange if he were to wait for them here, after all, that guy is a super... super... super impatient person!

"Then what should we do?"

"What else can we do?" Merry said helplessly, "We can only go in and find them."

"How about we call a Den Den Mushi and ask?" Rebecca suggested.

Lucy carries Den Den Mushi with him, right? A simple call would solve the problem.

Upon hearing this, Merry's eyes immediately lit up.

"Yes, I can make a phone call!"

As she spoke, Merry manipulated the Power of Wind to place Rebecca on the ground, while she herself floated beside Rebecca.

Then, she took out a Den Den Mushi from her Little Pouch and dialed Luffy's number.

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"..."

The Den Den Mushi rang many times, but no one answered, leaving Merry puzzled.

"Strange, why isn't anyone answering?"

Luffy could answer the phone just now, why can't he now?

"Could it be that he doesn't have time to answer right now?" Rebecca guessed.

"Impossible."

Merry shook her head and said, "If he really didn't have time to answer, it means he's already engaged Doflamingo in battle. But did you hear anything?"

Finally, Merry pointed to the Royal Palace where Doflamingo was.

Given Luffy's strength, a fight with Doflamingo would definitely cause a huge commotion, so she doesn't believe Luffy has actually engaged in combat with the enemy.

"What happened?"

"Maybe the Den Den Mushi was lost in the battle just now," Merry said uncertainly.

Only in this way can we explain why Luffy can't answer the phone.

"Then let's go look ahead," Rebecca said.

"Um."

Merry nodded, then looked into the distance and called out, "Luffy, are you there?"

As she spoke, Merry amplified her voice and hearing by using the Power of Wind, hoping to find Luffy here.

But the sound didn't attract Luffy's attention; instead, it made Diamante, who had been waiting there, open his eyes.

"Has the prey finally arrived?"

After getting up and stretching, Diamante, holding a longsword, strode towards them and soon arrived in front of the two girls.

"Road..."

When Merry heard the voice, she thought it was Luffy bringing people over, but her expression changed when she saw who it was.

This person isn't Luffy!

"Diamante ..."

Rebecca broke out in a cold sweat. Why did they have to run into the Donquixote Family's Top Executive first?

This is no joke!

With their abilities, how could they possibly defeat this guy?

"Heh heh heh, didn't expect that, did you?" Diamante sneered, "This Highland is guarded by our family's Top Executive!"

"Although it's unlikely, the thought that someone might be able to get here made me personally station myself here."

After speaking, Diamante paused for a moment, then continued, "What I didn't expect was that the person who came here would be you, Rebecca!"

As for Merry, who was floating to the side?

Diamante completely ignored him.

After all, judging from the information, this guy is like a mascot with not particularly strong combat power, and he doesn't pose much of a threat, so there's no need to pay attention to him.

Merry:???

Was she being ignored?

"Hello!"

"And me!" Merry stared wide-eyed at Diamante and said, "Don't underestimate me."

She's not just the Straw Hat Pirates' mascot; she's a combatant too!

Although the bounty is a bit outrageous, she's still a combatant!

"Um?"

Merry's words caught Diamante's attention, but she only glanced at her before looking away.

Clearly, he still didn't take Merry seriously.

That look infuriated Merry.

That bastard!