Annihilation

The unique combination of Baby 5's transformed gun barrel and Barofa's bulky and conspicuous body is instantly recognizable to anyone who has read the Pirate King manga.

Regardless of their reasons for being there, Buggy was somewhat displeased that they were so close to defeating Tiro... only to be thwarted by this unexpected interference. His senses were currently weakened due to the aftereffects of the Mantra, and once these two joined the battle, it would be very difficult to have the same chance of taking down Tiro again.

Moreover, as long as Tiro wears that Seven-Colored Crown, no one can let their guard down. This guy is ambitious and has been plotting against us from the beginning, trying to control us and the others to become his puppets. If we delay any longer, once his injuries have healed a bit, he will definitely try to control Cabaji and the others, and then we'll be in big trouble!

Buggy dodged the bullets fired from Baby 5's giant pistol, his mind racing as he recalled Tiro's words, "While the Seven-Colored Crown can manipulate people's minds, it cannot erase everyone's instincts, sense of crisis, and likes and dislikes."

Yes... that's it!

A cunning glint flashed in Buggy's eyes as he shouted towards Baby5 in the sky, "Baby5, I need you... to attack that guy with the crown!"

"What are you talking about...?"

Like a drowning man grasping at a straw Tiro gasped for breath. If he hadn't just seen the two people flying in the sky and their gazes hadn't met for a fleeting moment, he might already be dead at Buggy's hands. Now, having escaped death, Buggy's inexplicable words only elicited a series of cold laughs from him. "Did you really think that just by saying a few words... you could gain the same power as the Seven-Colored Crown and control that strange woman?!"

In fact, as soon as the words left her mouth, Tiro noticed something subtly amiss.

Baby5 transformed from its pistol form back into its normal form. Although it was clearly controlled by the power of the Seven-Colored Crown, a shy blush appeared on its face. Then, its right foot transformed into a giant black scythe, and it swooped down towards Tiro.

... The results are outstanding!

"Hey... what's going on?!"

Completely bewildered, Tiro, seeing the urgency of the situation, instinctively rolled away to dodge Baby5's attack that had cleaved a deep crack in the ground.

"Stop! Deal with that Red Nose man!" Tiro rolled several meters, got up in a disheveled state, and quickly faced Baby5, impatiently issuing the order.

"Baby5, well done! Keep it up, I need your support!"

Baby5 initially hesitated to follow Tiro's instructions, but hearing Buggy say "I need you" was like receiving an incomparable shot of adrenaline; the effect of those words completely exceeded the control of the Seven-Colored Crown!!

After a moment of stiffness, she launched another attack on Tiro.

However, at this moment, under Tiro's control, Buffalo, flying in the air, quickly arrived and used the strong wind generated by the propeller on his neck to block baby5's progress.

Seeing Baby5 and Buffalo bickering amongst themselves, Buggy smiled slightly. Now that he had perfectly dealt with these two guys who had appeared out of nowhere, he would take care of this scheming Tiro next!

Suddenly, a voice that sounded incredibly innocent and naive rang out from not far behind Tiro, "Wow, Buggy, you guys are all here! Come and see what this is?"

Looking over, you could see Shuma walking towards them with a joyful expression, a rainbow-colored butterfly perched on his finger. As he walked, he held the butterfly up, showing off as he said, "Oh, oh, oh~~~ I caught a rainbow-colored butterfly! Aren't you all envious of me now? Hehe...!"

As he spoke, he scratched his head strangely, "Why is there another fight here?"

Buggy's heart skipped a beat; a sense of foreboding washed over him. His emotions surged like a rollercoaster, and he cried out urgently, "Don't come any closer, Shuma!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tiro turned around immediately, her scarlet eyes instantly fixing on Shuma.

"Oh no!" Buggy thought to himself. Sure enough, he wanted to use the power of the Seven-Colored Crown to control Shuma.

Shuma's expression suddenly froze, but the next moment, he blinked his eyes and casually walked over, asking curiously, "Hey, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something strange on my face?"

"..."

Not only Tiro, but even Buggy was stunned for a moment. He... was alright?!

"Why, why aren't you controlled by the Seven-Colored Crown! You bastard, look me in the eye!!" Tiro roared in disbelief, staring wide-eyed at Shuma.

"What are you talking about? What a weirdo... I know, you're playing a game where whoever blinks loses if they don't blink?" A fierce fighting spirit suddenly flashed in Shuma's eyes, his gaze fixed on Tiro like saucers. "Then I'll have a match with you!!"

"..."

Tiro's face twitched involuntarily. He shook his head rhythmically from side to side, as if he were doing a neck dance, staring intently at Shuma from all directions and angles.

Shuma met her gaze defiantly, his eyes unblinking, his neck even swaying from side to side in sync with Tiro's movements.

Imagine how awkward and shameful it must be for the leader of a powerful mercenary group to be seriously dancing with a seemingly very young boy in public!

"Impossible, impossible!" Tiro stopped twisting his neck and roared uncontrollably, "Why isn't it working? This shouldn't be happening! Why aren't you afraid of the power of the Seven-Colored Crown?!"

"It's time to end this...!"

Buggy breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that Shuma was not under control. After watching the show, he finally made his move. He appeared behind Tiro, his fragmented arms vibrating at a medium speed, and suddenly extended his index finger, stabbing Tiro in the back of the neck.

Mid-frequency Shigan. Grand Slam!!

Instantly, an immense force surged through Tiro's body like a bull, sending his entire body flying nearly ten meters. After rolling several times on the muddy ground, he fell backward in a starfish-like position, blood gurgling from his mouth like a goldfish.

"Commander Tiro!"

The Rainbow Three executives wanted to rush to their aid, but the more anxious they were, the more chaotic their steps and moves became, and the bigger their openings became. In just a moment, they were suppressed by the three of Cabaji to the point where they could not even protect themselves and were about to be defeated.

Buggy took a few steps forward, picked up the Seven-Colored Crown that had fallen to the ground, and examined it closely. The crown was inlaid with seven flawless beads, radiating a dazzling array of colors, like a rainbow after the rain, possessing a serene and beautiful quality.

"This is the crown that can manipulate people's minds..." Buggy glanced at Shuma again. "While it seems like a very powerful treasure, it's not as invincible as it sounds. At least, it doesn't work on a simple-minded and stupid guy..."

The colorful Seven-Colored Crown in his hand began to slowly crack, with fine fissures spreading and intertwining like parched earth, gradually shattering into countless fluorescent specks of dust that drifted away into the distance on the wind.

Shuma ran over, looked in surprise at the shattered crown in Buggy's hand, then at the dying Tiro, still not understanding what had happened.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield...

"Beast Taming: Painful Lion Fist!"

Mohji slammed his right fist toward Inia, storing the external resistance generated during the swing and then releasing it in the opposite direction as thrust. At the same time, he stored and released the pain from Inia's Devil Fruit ability. Finally, this punch, imbued with pain, became a blur and struck Inia's abdomen.

Inia's body instantly contorted into a shrimp-like shape, her face draining of color from the intense pain, turning deathly pale. She crashed into the tree trunk that took three people to encircle, her head drooping helplessly as her body slowly slid to the ground. The Pain-Pain Fruit's power can inflict others with many times or even several times the pain, but being injured also causes the user even greater pain.

Blackbeard, having acquired the power of the Dark-Dark Devil Fruit, suffers twice the pain and tries to alleviate it by rolling on the ground. However, Inia's pain far exceeds Blackbeard's, causing her body to completely break down.

"Hidden Spirit. Flowing Light Thousand Snow!"

The Sakura Blizzard in Cabaji's hand suddenly transformed into hundreds of orderly snowflakes, radiating a chilling coldness. In an instant, like an invisible thin blade, it became a blur as it approached Rodifei, piercing his body and staining his entire abdomen crimson.

Immediately, Cabaji drew his Sakura Blizzard sword, sheathed it, and turned to leave.

Rodifei's stiff body seemed to be fixed in place. After Cabaji took a few steps, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, his gold-rimmed glasses shattering on the impact.

"Cross Electric Arc!"

Mikuru's two claws, crackling with blue Lightning Flash, lashed out at Jesse's shoulder like sharp blades, piercing him in his panic. He then withdrew his claws and nimbly leaped backward.

The Lightning Flash that had been flickering and leaping around Jesse's stabbed shoulder instantly filled his entire body, bursting forth with an extremely terrifying current, like a kilowatt light bulb, making his whole body shine with a blinding light!

Finally, Jesse's painful screams stopped, and he knelt motionless on the ground.

At this point...

The leader and all officers of the Rainbow Mercenary Group were wiped out!!

"Lady Inia... Lady Jesse... and Lady Rodifei... they've all been killed!"

The mercenaries cried out in fear, no longer daring to linger for a moment, and scattered and fled like birds and beasts.

Buggy ignored the fleeing soldiers and looked at Shuma, asking, "Where have you been?"

"Ah..." Shuma scratched his head, holding up the rainbow butterfly on his finger. "I saw a butterfly, and then I kept chasing it. Then, as I was chasing it, I saw two funny things flying in the sky, so I followed them!"

Then, pointing to Baby5 and Buffalo, he said, "They're the ones!"

"..."

Buggy's gaze shifted from Shuma and the rainbow-colored butterflies to Baby5 and Buffalo, who had returned to normal and taken over the airspace. He asked, "What brings you two here?"

Baby and Buffalo stopped their bickering immediately after waking up. Not understanding what had happened, they cautiously flew into the air to observe the situation. They then witnessed the complete annihilation of the Rainbow Three executives and Tiro, instantly raising their assessment of the Buggy Pirates' strength significantly. When the other asked them a question, they exchanged a glance, and Baby, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, spoke, "I don't seem to have an obligation to tell you, Red Nose!"

Although the two were somewhat wary of Buggy, they had no intention of sitting down to have a proper discussion, relying on their ability to fly freely in the air. Moreover, as members of the Donquixote Family, their confidence made them fearless.

"Oh..." A sly glint appeared in Buggy's eyes. "Then, as my request, tell me your purpose, how about it?"

"A request..." Baby5 blushed and said shyly, "Young Master sent us to find the whereabouts of the Rainbow Fish."

"You can't tell anyone about this, baby5!!" Buffalo shouted anxiously.

"But... but..." Baby5 covered her face with her hands and whispered, "He was just begging me..."

"Even if you have to ask, you absolutely cannot tell anyone!" Buffalo said, glaring angrily at Buggy. "You dared to exploit Baby 5's weakness, and you even know why the young master sent us here... You're dead!"

Buggy asked with a forced smile, "So, what are you going to do?"

"You arrogant Red Nose! I'm going back to report to the young master. Just you wait!"

Buffalo wasn't an impulsive fool. Faced with Buggy's group, who had annihilated the Rainbow Mercenary Group that the young master had warned against provoking, he naturally wouldn't choose to fight head-on. Moreover, for them, losing the trail of the Rainbow Mercenary Group and then trying to find the Rainbow Fish on this island was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Therefore, after uttering some harsh words, Buffalo quickly took Baby 5 and flew away through the air.

Cabaji walked up to Buggy and asked, "Captain Buggy, are we just going to let these two people of unknown origin leave like this?"

Buggy chuckled. "Well, let them go if they want. I don't want to, and there's no need for me to, provoke Donquixote Doflamingo right now. Even if I kill or capture them, it won't make any difference. But... is their goal the legendary Rainbow Fish?"

"Donquixote Doflamingo ..." Cabaji murmured, "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before..."

Wow, there's a huge fish here!

As Shuma ran to the edge of the Holy Lake, he suddenly shouted excitedly. Buggy glanced over and saw Shuma squatting down and holding a three- or four-meter-long fish covered in black and gray mud high above his head, just like a child seeing a favorite toy.

However, seemingly because the fish's body was too slippery, before he could even reach it, his hands jerked, and the fish slipped directly from his grasp, falling into the lake with a "plop."