Just as Crocodile's severed head fell behind him and crumbled into sand, Doflamingo's distinctive laughter rang out across the plaza...
"Hey, hey, you bastard Crocodile..."
The man in the Crimson Cape approached Crocodile from behind with a strange laugh, his trademark sinister grin on his face as he spoke.
At Doflamingo's words, an angry voice came from Crocodile's head, which had fallen to the ground and turned to sand.
"Doflamingo!"
"So you ditched me to team up with Whitebeard, huh? You're making me jealous... Fufufufu..."
A new head formed from sand at the smooth cut on Crocodile's neck, while his headless body had remained perfectly still. He cast a cold glance at Doflamingo behind him and said in a low voice.
"I won't team up with anyone..."
Before Crocodile had even finished speaking, he thrust his Golden Hook, still dripping venom, at Doflamingo behind him!
"Whoa!"
Doflamingo raised one foot to block Crocodile's attack, the strange grin on his face growing even more sinister...
Meanwhile, with Crocodile having killed the executioners and bought him time, Luffy had reached the front of the Execution Platform. His legs compressed again, and he shot toward Ace like a bullet leaving a gun barrel!
But a towering figure suddenly appeared in front of him, accompanied by a jet-black fist...
"Ugh!"
Luffy, who had leaped toward the Execution Platform, was punched straight back down to the ground!
"Garp!"
"Grandpa!"
"Luffy!"
"Ace's little brother!"
Every gaze turned toward that spot. Even Sengoku looked surprised when he saw who had struck.
"Who was it who just said I should fight him myself if I wanted him beaten...?"
"He finally made his move... The legendary Marine."
"The hero of the Marines..."
"Grandpa..."
"Garp..."
Whitebeard raised his head slightly when he saw that Garp had acted, his face solemn.