Crocodile Arrives, Pell Falls

Koza kept charging forward.

The man snorted. "What a fool!"

As he spoke, he leaped several times through the crowd.

Then he vanished into the sea of people.

He was one of Crocodile's men, codenamed Mr. 1. His real name was Daz Bones!

He was a Devil Fruit User who could turn his body into blades!

He could turn any part of himself into a blade.

That was the power he had just used.

After disappearing into the crowd, Daz Bones slipped into a corner.

He took out a Den Den Mushi and told Crocodile, "Mission accomplished!"

Yes, this was the mission Crocodile had given him!

He was to help Koza put as much pressure on Cobra as possible.

Then Crocodile would appear at the end and use his reputation, which far surpassed Koza's, to become king of the country.

But he had overestimated Koza.

Even after the Tsumegeri Guard had been wiped out,

Koza's Rebel Army was still far too weak!

They were refugees from other regions to begin with.

Their fighting ability was abysmal.

Years without enough water had left their bodies unable to withstand rigorous training.

As a result, every last one of them was painfully weak.

Compared with the formally trained Royal Guard, they were no match at all!

When news of the Tsumegeri Guard's deaths reached Pell,

he immediately sent another group of the Elite Guard to take their place.

For a time, neither Koza's Rebel Army nor the royal forces under Pell could gain the upper hand!

After all, the Rebel Army had sheer numbers on its side!

As time passed, most of the fighters exhausted much of their strength.

They simply could not keep fighting!

With that in mind, Koza decided to pull back and rest, then resume the battle the next day.