"Damn it... what did you do to my comrades... die!"
Buffalo finally flew over from mid-air, but watched helplessly as Baby 5 was thrown backward and eventually fell into the sea. Because they had eaten Devil Fruit, they could not save themselves, nor did they have the ability to save her from falling. The only ones who could help were their enemies, Monbuma and the others.
So Buffalo could imagine what Baby 5's fall into the sea meant, and he angrily rushed over, wanting to knock Monbuma into the sea as well, to avenge his companion.
Swoosh...
"You're not the only one who can fly. Blinded by rage after your companion fell into the sea, your defeat is inevitable. Go down with your companion... Butterfly Dance... Ground Drill!!"
While Buffalo was still fuming and unaware, Lulith had already flown above him, coldly reminding him, before closing her wings and spinning rapidly, swooping down like a fully powered drill bit.
boom...
The force generated by the high-speed rotation was concentrated on Lulith's right foot, and she immediately stomped hard on Buffalo's back, slamming him down from the air.
With a deafening roar, Buffalo's body instantly pierced through the atmosphere in front of him, creating a sonic boom cloud in mid-air before he lost control and plummeted straight into the sea below.
Bang...
Buffalo crashed into the sea, creating a huge wave. Like Baby 5, he sank continuously due to the effects of his Devil Fruit power, his mind becoming hazy as a large amount of seawater filled his mouth, and he eventually passed out.
Swoosh...
clatter!!
Lulith landed smoothly on the deck and stood side by side with Monbuma.
"It's finally over. Now we just have to wait and see how the battle between Sister Catherine and the others unfolds..."
"Um... Miss Lulith, please wait here for a moment. I'll go and pull those two out. Unlike me, they didn't eat the Devil Fruit; they might drown in no time..."
Monbuma nodded in response, then said something to her again, and before Lulith could reply, she unbuttoned her coat and jumped into the sea.
"This is unbearable! Devil Fruit User lose control the moment they enter the ocean, sinking like hammers. But thankfully, otherwise we don't know how much longer we'd have to keep fighting!"
As Monbuma swam underwater searching for Baby5 and Buffalo, he grumbled to himself.
"Uh... found it..."
A short while later, Monbuma saw Baby 5 and Buffalo, their eyes rolled back and constantly sinking, immediately swimming towards them.
Swoosh...
Monbuma swam to the two men, reached out and grabbed their collars from behind, then used her legs to propel herself upwards.
Wow...
Thump... thump...
A short while later, Monbuma emerged from the seabed, tossed the unconscious Baby 5 and Buffalo onto the boat, and then climbed aboard himself.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Monbuma!!"
Lulith came over with a rope and addressed Monbuma, who was sitting on the deck wringing out the water from her clothes.
"Yes, it's my duty. Miss Lulith, please tie them up tightly, preferably with iron chains!"
Monbuma responded, then pointed at Buffalo and the other two and spoke to Lulith.
"Hmm, it's alright... There are no chains on the ship, let's tie it up with rope first!"
After saying that, Lulith took the rope, walked over to them, squatted down, and wrapped the rope around their bodies again and again. In no time, the two of them were tightly bound, and they couldn't break free no matter what they did. Even their Devil Fruit powers were difficult to activate.
On the shore, Catherine and Singh were engaged in a fierce battle with the enraged Pica. At this point, he seemed to have exhausted his last bit of patience, ignoring Doflamingo's order to capture them alive, with only the thought of killing his opponent in his mind.
"I can't hold back anymore, Doffy. Forgive me for not obeying your orders, but these guys have really angered me. I have to kill them..."
Clang!!
As she spoke, Pica drew her greatsword from behind her and pointed it at Catherine and the other woman, shouting angrily.
"Heh heh heh, you really think you can kill us just because you want to? You're overestimating yourself, you big, dumb idiot with an utterly idiotic voice!!"
Catherine chuckled, then raised her Flowing Shadow to point at him, mocking him mercilessly.
"Voice idiot?? You bastard... Go to hell..."
brush...
Hearing Catherine's mocking voice, Pica couldn't hold back any longer. His anger surged again, and a dazzling black light emanated from his entire body, covering it. His face darkened as he roared.
"Is he going to fight to the death? Singh is ready, that guy's going to go all out..."
"Um..."
Catherine clearly recognized the technique used by her opponent; it was one of the most basic abilities possessed by the strong in the New World: Armament Haki.
The fact that it could be wrapped around her entire body meant that the opponent was clearly not someone to be trifled with. This prompted Catherine to take two steps back and warn her companion.
"I see..."
Singh was prepared to deal with Pica's Armament Haki, his hands clenched into fists at his waist, veins bulging on his arms, as if he had mobilized all his strength.
Catherine was in the same situation, gripping the scabbard of the Flowing Shadow sword in one hand and the hilt of the sword in the other, her gaze fixed intently on her opponent, ready to strike first at any moment.
"Go to hell..."
Thump thump thump...
After a brief standoff, Pica made the first move, gripping the hilt of the giant sword tightly with his right hand, and galloping towards the two with his slender legs compared to his robust upper body.
Swoosh...
"I'll take care of you small fry with one strike!!"
The next instant, Pica rushed in front of the two, swung his broadsword, gripped the hilt with both hands, and shouted as he chopped down with all his might.
Swoosh...
call out...
Clang!!
Faced with his strike, the two did not take it head-on, but instead dodged to the sides, causing Pica's blade to miss and strike the ground.
boom...
The ground, as soft and fragile as tofu, was cleaved in two by his blade, and a thick, deep crack instantly spread all the way to the sea, splashing and churning up mud.
"Damn it... don't run away..."
Swoosh...
Seeing that the two women did not take his attack, he became enraged and swung his sword at Catherine again, while rebuking her.
"Hehehe, we're not that stupid. Knowing we can't handle it and still stubbornly trying to fight it isn't bravery, it's foolishness!!"
Why don't you try my moves too... One Sword Style... Flying Current Severance!!
Clang!!
With that, Catherine flicked her wrist, and a swirling, dancing sword aura shot out from beneath her blade.
Clang...
boom!!
Pica felt no urgency whatsoever. He gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands and swung it straight at the incoming slash. The Flying Slash was instantly annihilated, and the aftershocks swept past his sides without leaving a mark on his dark, translucent skin.
"As expected, this guy's Armament Haki has indeed been honed to a certain level. Ordinary slashes can't leave a mark on him. This is going to be difficult..."
Upon seeing this, Catherine's pupils contracted, her expression grew even more serious, and she spoke in a deep voice.
Swoosh...
" Bursting Fist!!"
Behind Pica, Singh, whose body was about the same size as him, suddenly leaped onto his back and swung his huge fist at him.
boom...
Singh slammed his fist into Pica's back, the roar echoing across the shore, the immense force instantly scattering in all directions.
The surrounding air was compressed by the overflowing force, causing ripples to spread out.