For a time, an inexplicably oppressive atmosphere settled over the vast dock.
Most people looked at the mechanical guardians still locked in battle, their eyes burning with fervor as even their breathing grew heavy.
It was as if they were waiting for this very opportunity.
The moment it arrived, the eager crowd would pounce like a pack of lions.
"Watch out! There's something underground!"
Charlotte Katakuri roared once more.
The sudden warning jolted many people awake.
No!
Rather, looks of delight appeared on many faces.
They had long been eager to get their hands on the special power possessed by these mechanical guardians.
Unfortunately, the orders of the Four Emperors and Sengoku stood before them. They could not act recklessly.
However, if those mechanical guardians attacked them first, then they would have a perfectly valid reason to strike back.
With such an openly justifiable excuse, many people were practically hoping that some blind mechanical guardian would come looking for them.
So they could experience the thrill of taking a shortcut to greater strength.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"
Explosions of earth breaking apart rang out without warning.
The instant countless feelers poked out from the soil—
Mechanical centipedes, unlike the mechanical ants, rapidly burst from underground.
There were at least several hundred of them.
Under normal circumstances, such a sudden ambush would have been enough to strike terror into people's hearts.
But after witnessing firsthand that these mechanical guardians could enhance one's strength—
The pirates and Marines present, who had long been struggling to contain themselves, were the first to lose their patience and attack.
"This one's mine! None of you better steal it!"
"You bastard, get the hell out of the way! It targeted me first. If I don't go to hell, who will?!"
"Move aside, all of you! I'll