The great battle erupted once more. Ryan faced four admiral-level combatants alone, yet he did not fall behind in the slightest.
The only pity was that Ryan's One Sword Opens Heaven's Gate had not produced the spatial black hole it had before!
Ryan himself did not quite understand it either. It had not produced a spatial black hole when he fought Big Mom previously. Ryan guessed it might have something to do with the enemy absorbing energy; only excess energy could create a spatial black hole. When he fought Big Mom last time, One Sword Opens Heaven's Gate had only just taken shape and he was not yet proficient with it. That single strike had killed four special Homies and four commander-level fighters, while severely wounding Big Mom! This time was more or less the same.
"Need help?" Crocodile asked as he looked toward Ryan.
Facing four opponents alone, Ryan was still under considerable pressure. He could hold them off for a short while, but he definitely could not keep it up forever. That was why Crocodile asked.
"No need! I alone am enough!" Ryan said in a deep voice.
Seeing Ryan give him such a cold look, Crocodile fell into confusion. Wasn't he acting out of goodwill? Why was Ryan treating him like this?
Then he noticed that Hawkeye had made no move to support Ryan, so he could not help asking, "Aren't you going to help?"
Hawkeye glanced at the battlefield where Ryan faced the four others and said flatly, "Did Ryan ask you for help?"
"No," Crocodile answered truthfully.
"Then why are you butting in? Wouldn't that rob him of a chance to show off?" Hawkeye said calmly.
At that moment, Crocodile understood!
He was on the first floor, while they were already on the fifth. And