The Marines and Jack the Drought's group entered Blackwater Valley one after the other.
Each had come with a different purpose, but all had now reached the true battlefield.
Elsewhere.
At a spot deep in Blackwater Valley, an inexplicable presence suddenly stirred around a rock.
The next moment, the rock's surface rippled.
Then Van Augur appeared there, pulling Dracule Mihawk and the others along with him.
Once inside Blackwater Valley, Marco looked around in amazement. "We got here that fast?"
"The Warp-Warp Fruit really is convenient."
"It only took a few seconds to get into Blackwater Valley."
Sniper Hiro nodded with a soft laugh. "No wonder they wouldn't let us come in on our own."
"The difference in travel time is enormous."
There was still some distance between their previous location and Blackwater Valley.
At a normal pace, the trip would have taken at least ten minutes.
With Van Augur, it took only seconds!
As soon as they arrived, Dracule Mihawk released Van Augur's arm.
In the end, the gesture had felt rather strange to him.
Dracule Mihawk surveyed the battlefield in Blackwater Valley. It was just as Van Augur had described.
He nodded and said evenly, "Things have gone even more smoothly than I imagined."
"And it looks like our side hasn't suffered many casualties."
Van Augur chuckled proudly. "That's the true strength of the Chris Pirates."
"Even against the Pudora Kingdom's elite troops, we won't come off second best."
"Our captain's over there. I'll take you to him."
Van Augur pointed a short distance ahead, where Chris stood.
Dracule Mihawk and Marco nodded, then followed him toward Chris.
They soon reached his side.
When Chris saw that Dracule Mihawk had returned, he spoke first. "We owe you a great deal for today."
"You made this victory possible."
Chris