Desperate Fight

Using poison would definitely earn scorn, but in this world, it was not considered a despicable tactic. His subordinate Ares was also an expert poison user, and there was Magellan, a Venom-Venom Fruit user. Could they be called despicable too?

Admittedly, the Venom-Venom Fruit's power could only be described as terrifying. Unfortunately, because of its side effects, even if the fruit were placed right before Rogge, he would never eat it.

What kind of person could be called a hero among villains? In Rogge's eyes, such a person would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, enduring anything and sacrificing everything for the sake of reaching them—not someone who merely had ambition and dreamed empty dreams.

Ambition also needed strength to match it, and Crocodile clearly had that. Now that he knew he could do nothing to Rogge, he wanted to end the battle as quickly as possible. He would not hesitate to resort to poison.

Crocodile charged forward with his arms spread wide. A rapidly spinning sphere of wind appeared in his right hand, sand swirling within it, while his other hand held a venom-coated sword.

Rogge naturally would not back down. He rushed forward as well, and both men kept their eyes fixed on each other.

"Sables!"

Crocodile hurled the Sables in his hand. The moment it struck the ground, it suddenly exploded, forming a massive tornado that rapidly swept toward Rogge.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!"

Facing the howling tornado, Rogge raised his fist and smashed it into the storm. The shattered space locked the Sables in place, violently shattering its base in an instant.

"Hmm?" Rogge stopped. Crocodile had actually vanished; he was not behind the Sables.

Rogge halted and focused his attention, his pupils contracting. At that moment, he concentrated his senses to their absolute limit.

"Whoosh."