Speed at Its Absolute Limit

Bartolomeo's attack landed squarely on Gladius.

However, the aim was slightly off, and it failed to hit Gladius's throat, thus failing to stop Gladius's self-destruction.

"You bastard, you really intend to die with me!" Gladius roared. "Then I'll grant your wish!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gladius detonated himself without hesitation.

"Boom!!"

A terrifying explosion erupted inside the Barrier Ball, frantically destroying everything within.

Bartolomeo, who took the hit head-on, was covered in blood from the blast.

However, he didn't care about his injuries, because in his mind, as long as he could protect Robin, it wouldn't matter if he died.

"What a pity..."

"Um?"

Bartolomeo's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing Gladius's voice. This bastard was still alive?

Didn't my strike kill him?

"Gladius, you..."

"You think you've already killed me?" Gladius said coldly. "How naive, Bartolomeo."

"You didn't stab my throat, you stabbed my shoulder!"

So close! Just a little bit more!

If Bartolomeo's knife had shifted just a little more to the left, his throat would have been pierced, and the explosion would have been averted.

Fortunately, Bartolomeo, that bastard, was a little off-target.

"Didn't you hit a vital spot?" Bartolomeo said, his face grim. "I clearly aimed for the neck..."

Oh right, because this guy's body has become so round, his neck and shoulders are now connected, which caused his misjudgment... Damn it, I miscalculated.

"Bartolomeo, you're an ability user too, so... you should understand!" Gladius lowered his hand from his shoulder and said, "As long as I'm conscious, the explosions won't stop!"

As he spoke, Gladius glanced at the raised rock wall next to Nico Robin.

Although his self-destruction failed to harm Nico Robin, the explosion from the rock wall sent her flying into the air.

"You bastard..."

"Just watch!" Gladius interrupted Bartolomeo, saying, "Watch your companions get blown into the air!"

"Hateful!"

Bartolomeo closed his eyes in pain. If it weren't for his slightly off-target aim, the battle would be over by now!

Damn it, he's so stupid!

Now look what's happened! My body is paralyzed by the poison needles; even moving is a luxury... What am I going to do?!

"Sorry, Nico Robin." Cavendish looked away and said, "I've subdued Hakuba. I am Cavendish now."

"But your face..."

Looking at Cavendish, whose face still looked different on each side, Nico Robin's eyes lit up with wariness. Was this guy going to trick her into unlocking his powers again?

"Because I need Hakuba's power," Cavendish said seriously. "To escape this explosion, you need to be fast enough, and that's where Hakuba comes in."

"Let go of my hand, or I'll send you to the Flower Field at Hakuba's speed."

"Nicole Robin, this is the only way now!"

Cavendish knew very well how terrifying Hakuba's speed was, so using his opponent's ability was the best course of action at this moment.

Nicole Robin didn't speak, but just stared at Cavendish with a furrowed brow.

Should I believe him...?

This guy was just yelling that he was going to kill me, and he actually did it.

Seeing that Nico Robin still wouldn't let go of him, Cavendish became anxious.

"There's no time to hesitate, Nico Robin!" Cavendish cried anxiously, "Hurry, the rock wall is about to explode!"

Although he didn't know why that bastard Gladius hadn't detonated the rock wall quickly, he was determined to seize any opportunity that remained.

"Although I don't know what you're planning, but..." Gladius slowly raised his head and sneered, "It's over."

"Stop!"

Bartolomeo's eyes widened in fury. Was Robin really going to die right before his eyes?

If something like that really happens, how will he explain it to Luffy -senpai?

"Shut up." Gladius glanced coldly at Bartolomeo and said, "You just stay there and watch."

"After they're dealt with, it'll be your turn."

Having said that, Gladius ignored Bartolomeo and turned his gaze to the two people high above, his eyes flashing with a crazed killing intent.

"Exploding Rocks: A Super Grand Show!"

"Hurry up!" Cavendish roared.

Knowing she couldn't delay any longer, Nico Robin decisively deactivated her powers and released Cavendish.

The moment he was freed, Cavendish appeared in front of Nico Robin and let her grab his shoulders.

He then ran upwards at an incredibly fast speed.

The next moment...

"Boom!"

A massive explosion suddenly occurred in the huge rock wall, completely destroying it!

"Senior Robin!"

Bartolomeo, who hadn't noticed the two disappear, instantly narrowed his pupils to their maximum size.

Then, tears of regret streamed down his face.

Robin -senpai... is dead?

He died while he was still here?

What should he do?

"Hehe, this barrier is really a good thing." Looking at the Barrier Ball that perfectly blocked all the rubble, Gladius smiled. It saved him a lot of trouble.

Bartolomeo ignored Gladius and instead closed his eyes and wept bitterly, his voice sounding extremely pitiful.

"See that?" Gladius pointed to a high place and said, "Those two are now nothing but bones."

Gladius carefully examined the spot where Nico Robin and Cavendish had been, but found no trace of them, not even a piece of clothing. He concluded that they had been blown to bits.

Just then, a whooshing sound came from above, sounding like something was moving rapidly.

This sound immediately attracted the attention of Gladius and Bartolomeo.

"That is..."

"Why are you stopping me?" Hakuba roared. "This is your body!"

To protect a woman, he actually reached out and grabbed the sharp part of the sword... Does this guy not want his hands anymore?

"Now that you know this is my body, you'd better obey me sometimes!" Cavendish gritted teeth.

If it weren't for that bastard Hakuba's disobedience, he wouldn't be in this situation.

Cavendish, who was then flying towards the Flower Field with Nicole Robin, felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him, and he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

"Cien Fleur: Spider Flower!"

The next moment, a giant spider web made entirely of arms appeared below, catching Nico Robin and Cavendish safely.

After glancing at Cavendish, Nicole Robin murmured, "Cabbage must have blocked Hakuba's sword for me."

"What a troublesome fellow."

That's true, but Nicole Robin did have a smile on her face.

She accepted this favor.

"How is this possible...?"

With his eyes fixed on Cavendish leading Nico Robin away from Gladius high above, Cavendish asked with a grim expression, "How did they do that?"

That level of explosion was terrifying; it destroyed everything on the rock face almost instantly, yet the other party still managed to escape?

At this moment, Gladius felt a sense of unreality.

'Thank goodness, Robin- senpai!' Bartolomeo thought excitedly, 'I'm so glad you're alright!'

In this way, I can work more freely!

With that thought in mind, Bartolomeo deactivated his Devil Fruit power and put the Barrier Ball back.

He then forced himself to stand up and stared intently at Gladius, who was clutching his shoulder in the distance.

"I can't even protect the people I'm supposed to protect... What am I doing?!"

If it were that person... if it were Luffy- senpai, he would definitely have done even better.

At least... Luffy- senpai wouldn't let the situation become so difficult.

At that moment, Bartolomeo's mind was filled with one thing after another about Luffy.

Compared to him, Bartolomeo felt utterly useless.

However... in order to continue following in Luffy's footsteps, he must pull himself together and become stronger!

Upon realizing this, Bartolomeo's expression immediately changed.

"Homage Fist!"

"Weng~"

The Devil Fruit power activated, and a transparent dome appeared on Bartolomeo's fist.

'Senior Luffy, although my strength is still far from sufficient,' Bartolomeo thought to himself, 'I will become stronger and stronger!'

Just wait and see, Luffy- senpai!

Then, Bartolomeo shouted and charged towards Gladius.

'Senior Luffy, I hope that one day I can become the man who lends you a helping hand!'

"Try this move, Gladius!"

"Barrier Barrier Pistol!"

Seeing the man charging towards him with tears streaming down his face and a ferocious expression, Gladius's pupils instantly shrank to their smallest size.

After being hit by so many of my poison needles, can this guy still stand up?

What a monster...

Gladius then raised his leg to try and dodge the attack, but his injuries were too severe, preventing him from dodging immediately. He had no choice but to take Bartolomeo's attack head-on.

The next moment...

"Bump!"

The heavy barrier fist slammed into Gladius's head, shattering his special glasses and knocking him unconscious on the spot.

Gladius was defeated.

Looking at the enemy he had just killed, Bartolomeo plopped down on the ground, gradually relaxing.

"With Luffy's help, we finally defeated this guy."

After catching his breath, Bartolomeo turned his gaze to the higher ground.

"Speaking of which, that damn bastard actually did a pretty good job this time," Bartolomeo said. "But... I'll never work with that bastard again."

How can someone fall asleep and kill their own people just because of a disagreement?

After letting out a long sigh, Bartolomeo lay down on the ground.

The battle here is over, and it's time for him... to get some rest.

"We've finally arrived."

After settling Cavendish, Nico Robin looked into the distance, intending to find Rebecca and Merry first.

She then spotted the two figures in mid-air.

Instinctively, Nico Robin wanted to say something, but before she could speak, she saw Diamante's sword flying from a distance, heading straight for the two people on the high ground.

Without a second thought, Nico Robin immediately activated her Devil Fruit power.

"Butterfly Flower - Disarming with Empty Hands!"

"A Riot of Colors: Mil Fleur Orchids!"

"Weng~"

The next moment, a large number of flower petals appeared on Diamante's sword, and then several arms grew out, forcibly changing the direction of the sword's attack.

"Sister Robin?"

"Robin!"

Both of them beamed with joy upon seeing Nico Robin appear.

"Um."

Nico Robin smiled and said, "I'm here. Everything's alright now."

Kyros had witnessed all of this, breathed a sigh of relief. Because the ground had turned into waving flags, he had been unable to stop Diamante, which meant that Diamanti's attacks would occasionally fly towards Merry and Rebecca.

If it weren't for that little girl being quite capable, Rebecca would already be dead.

But it's alright now, Nico Robin is here, the tables have turned!

"Hateful..."

Diamante, upon discovering that his attack had been blocked, immediately flew into a rage.

"How dare you ruin my plans, Nico Robin!"

If it weren't for this damn woman, his attack might have succeeded!

My own little girl who plays with the wind?

Diamante discovered that as long as his attacks were imbued with Haki, his opponent would not be able to completely block them. Therefore, even if this attack did not kill his opponent, it could still bring him down from the sky.

If he can take it down, victory will be his!

Unfortunately... it didn't work.

"Don't you think it's bullying to lay a hand on two young girls?" Nico Robin said calmly, looking at Diamante.

"Bullying the weak?"

Diamante burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, as if he had heard an incredibly funny joke.

Then, he abruptly lowered his head and sneered, "Hey, do you think this is a fair duel?"

"Are you kidding me!"

"This is an execution, Nico Robin!"

From the moment the other party stood opposite the Donquixote Family, he was already a criminal who had to be executed.

In this situation, is there any point in him talking about fairness with the other party?

There's absolutely no need for that!

It's not like we're competing in Bullfighting Arena...

Oh, right, there's no need for him to talk about fairness there, because his overwhelming strength is the biggest injustice to those other players.

Hahaha~

"Execution?"

Nico Robin smirked and said, "The one who should be executed is you, isn't she?"

One sentence was enough to shut Diamante up.

"Um?"

Diamante stared at Nico Robin with a bewildered expression. Had this woman been stunned by the explosion of Gladius?

Execute yourself?

Are you kidding me!

Even if Straw Hat himself were here, let alone her, he wouldn't have the power to execute him!

After all... he was the Top Executive of the Donquixote Family, a top-tier fighter second only to Doflamingo!

Nicole Robin ignored Diamante and instead glanced at Kyros.

"Soldier, you don't need to worry about what happens next," Nicole Robin said. "I will protect them both."

"And... I can provide support when you need it!"

Kyros paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I'll remember this favor."

"No need for help, just protect the two of them."

Once he was certain that the two girls would not be attacked by Diamante, he could fully concentrate on the battle.

Given enough time, he was confident he could take down this despicable guy!

'You like threatening me with Rebecca, don't you?' Kyros thought viciously. 'Today, I will personally kill you!'

Thinking of this, Kyros's eyes became exceptionally sharp.

"Prepare to die, Diamante!!"