Crack!!
Fine fractures spread across the massive spiked club.
Although Mangu had succeeded in knocking Crocus back, the weapon had reached its limit. Cracks rapidly spread across its surface before the club shattered into countless fragments, which rained into the sea below.
Seeing this, Kaito knew it was time for him to step in.
In truth, Robin and the others weren't the only ones who had noticed Crocus's attack.
There was no way Kaito could have missed it.
Ever since he had sheathed neither of his swords, his Observation Haki had already detected Crocus hiding inside Laboon's body.
He had simply chosen not to intervene immediately, watching Robin and the others respond first.
Whoosh!
Kaito's figure vanished from the deck.
Like a bolt of lightning, he flashed past Mangu and instantly appeared in front of the retreating Crocus.
"Die!!"
Although Mangu had knocked him backward, Crocus stabilized himself almost immediately.
Using Moonwalk, he remained suspended in midair.
The moment his Observation Haki detected Kaito approaching, murderous intent surged through his eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he threw a devastating punch straight toward Kaito's face.
Armament Haki rapidly flowed over his fist.
Once again, he employed the advanced technique of Haki emission.
Zheng!!
Kaito answered with a single slash.
His golden saber cut downward toward Crocus's fist.
Armament Haki likewise flowed along the blade before erupting outward.
Boom!!
The fist and blade never actually touched.
The emitted force from both attacks collided violently in midair.
A tremendous shockwave exploded outward.
The visible blast sent Mangu flying backward onto the flagship while simultaneously crashing into the sea below.
The ocean itself caved inward under the pressure before spiraling into a massive whirlpool.
"Argh!!"
Crocus cried out in pain.
Bloody cuts instantly appeared across his fist as Kaito's slash overwhelmed his attack.
Unable to withstand the force, Crocus was sent flying backward.
The old pirate slammed straight into Laboon's enormous corpse behind him.
His body punched completely through the whale's flesh like a cannonball, leaving behind a massive tunnel.
Blood poured over his body, making him appear terrifying.
Walking through the air, Kaito never paused.
Immediately after sending Crocus flying, he transformed into a blur and pursued him at full speed.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived before the blood-soaked crater.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Just as Kaito closed the distance, Crocus burst from the hole with an enraged roar.
Both fists shot forward simultaneously.
Dozens of powerful punches overlapped, forming a storm of fist shadows that engulfed Kaito.
Kaito calmly met the attack.
His twin golden sabers flashed repeatedly.
Every incoming punch was intercepted by razor-sharp blades.
Not only did Crocus fail to break through Kaito's defense—
The swords instead sliced open his fists again and again, leaving them covered in fresh wounds.
Boom!!
After dozens of rapid exchanges—
Kaito suddenly launched a powerful kick.
His foot crashed squarely into Crocus's waist.
Crack!!
The unmistakable sound of bones breaking echoed through the air.
Crocus screamed as he was blasted away once more.
This time, however—
Kaito moved even faster.
He overtook Crocus in an instant, appearing at his side before delivering another crushing kick.
The blow slammed Crocus straight into Laboon's enormous corpse.
Boom!!
A massive crater collapsed into the whale's body.
Muscle and flesh burst apart.
Even Laboon's enormous bones shattered beneath the impact.
Crocus coughed up a mouthful of blood.
His waist had visibly caved inward from the tremendous force.
Despite possessing strength far beyond ordinary people—
Compared to Kaito, the gap between them remained overwhelming.
He had been completely overpowered.
Without wasting another second—
Kaito drew both sabers in a blur.
Several flashes of golden light streaked across the crater.
Before Crocus could react, all four of his limbs were severed.
Sheathing his swords once more, Kaito looked down at the crippled old man with an indifferent expression.
"Your medical skills are excellent."
"But an old man like you isn't qualified to join my crew."
Naturally, Crocus possessed tremendous value.
Not only had he reached Laugh Tale alongside the Roger Pirates—
His medical knowledge alone was extraordinarily precious.
But value depended on the individual.
To Kaito, Crocus's usefulness was actually quite limited.
Take medicine, for example.
Rather than trying to recruit him...
It was far more efficient to use Observation Haki to read every bit of medical knowledge stored in Crocus's memories and pass that knowledge on to Law instead.
Law possessed far greater potential.
More importantly...
Crocus had simply appeared at the wrong time.
Although Kaito had openly admitted losing to Kuzan during their previous battle...
That didn't mean he had accepted the result happily.
On the contrary—
The fight had left him extremely frustrated.
Not only because he had lost...
But because the entire battle had forced him into an uncomfortable position from beginning to end.
That lingering frustration...
Combined with the fact that Laboon had nearly caused a disaster for the fleet...
Meant Crocus had chosen the absolute worst possible moment to attack.
Kaito had no intention of showing him mercy.
"Cheers!!"
"Haha! This whale meat is incredible!"
"So this must be one of those Island Whales from the West Blue!"
"Eat up! There are still plenty more whale dishes coming!"
That night—
A lively banquet was held near the lighthouse at the base of Reverse Mountain.
The War Pirates gathered aboard one of the guest ships.
Laughter echoed endlessly across the deck.
Under Karina's leadership, the cooks continuously prepared one delicious whale dish after another.
"Law, stop reading."
"You've got the rest of the voyage to study those medical texts."
"Tonight, drink with me!"
Lafayette wrapped an arm around Law's neck.
"...Fine."
"But one cup won't be enough."
"Bepo!"
"Bring me an entire barrel."
"Right away!"
Bepo hurried off immediately.
Using the mind-reading ability of his Observation Haki, Kaito had already copied every piece of medical knowledge from Crocus's memories.
The information was vast and extraordinarily complex.
It would take Law a long time to truly master it.
But simply recording it had not been difficult.
As soon as they settled down aboard Ship No. 1, Law had eagerly begun studying everything he had received.
Unfortunately for him...
A banquet was underway.
Before he could concentrate for long, Lafayette dragged him away to drink.
Law sighed helplessly.
Nevertheless, he instructed Bepo to bring over an entire barrel of alcohol before accepting Lafayette's challenge.
"This is wonderful..."
Leaning against the railing with a plate of grilled whale meat in her hands, Robin felt the cool night breeze brush across her face.
Watching the lively celebration all around her, she couldn't help smiling.
"It'll only get better from here."
Sitting casually atop the railing with a bottle in hand, Kaito chuckled.
They had finally entered the Grand Line.
Compared with the West Blue or the East Blue...
This was the true center of the world.
And for him—
This was where his name would truly begin to shake the seas.
-------------------------
For advanced chapters, visit patreon.com/Varnok