Whoosh—boom!
Crocodile's fist, wrapped in Magic Power, slammed into Enel. His eyes rolled back as he released his staff, then he shot straight into a distant building like a cannonball.
The space cleared by the demolished buildings was still too small. An ordinary person could have held a banquet there, but for these two, a little movement was enough to send one of them all the way to the other side.
"Well, that's that."
Crocodile watched dust billow from the building. He gripped the golden sphere on his Scorpion Poison Hook and gave it a hard twist. The smelted gold shattered instantly, scattering across the ground.
He shook out his hand and called to Ulysses, who was holding a cup of Black Tea. "Hey, announce the result!"
"Very well." Ulysses smiled politely, set down his cup, and stood.
"The winner of this match is—"
"It's not over! The fight's only just begun!"
A furious shout cut off Ulysses's announcement. Everyone turned toward the voice. Enel staggered out of the rubble, panting, blinding lightning bursting from his body.
"Now that's the will a strong fighter should have." Loa watched Enel with approval and said to Robin, "Even knowing he's outmatched, even knowing he might die in the next second, he refuses to give up. Not knowing when to back down—you could even call it reckless—but that instinct lives in every true powerhouse."
"Mindset can't erase a gap in strength," Robin said, shaking her head. She didn't agree with Loa.
"As long as you're alive, there's hope. There's no shame in running from an opponent you can't beat."
Crocodile looked at Enel amid the rubble, a cold smile touching his lips. "Just begun? No, no, no."
"Have you forgotten I'm the Plague Lord? Once I land a hit, the fight is already