Hawkeye and Kuma stood side by side.
Even King, with his vast experience, felt a rare sense of crisis facing such a combination.
Although he couldn't find a way to defeat the two, it didn't mean he would just give up.
Moreover—
King glanced at the golden and black figures clashing in the sky nearby. Kaido was already having a tough time dealing with Sengoku. If he didn't hold off these two, Kaido's situation would get even worse.
Hawkeye and Kuma's strength wouldn't single-handedly defeat Kaido, but if they intervened during his battle with Sengoku, Kaido might lose. Their combined power was enough to tip the scales. Thankfully, Nicholas had drawn away two of the Navy's top combatants; otherwise, King wouldn't see any hope for them.
So, even if it meant dying, he had to stop them.
With the Navy's setup, the only choice left was a fight to the death.
That's the adversarial nature of pirates and the Navy.
King's eyes flashed with the red glow of Haki.
Then—
He launched an attack.
Without any hesitation, he faced the Warlords' strength and reputation head-on.
After all, they were Warlords of the Sea, but he was the right-hand man of an Emperor!
Without a fight, who could tell who was stronger?
King's black wings folded back, and his massive body shot towards Hawkeye and Kuma like an arrow.
Simultaneously, the massive samurai sword in his hand ignited with intense flames.
A blaze illuminated the sea surface.
"Flame King, Hook Claw!"
In an instant, King reached Hawkeye, unleashing his full strength and Haki, slashing down with his flaming sword.
Hawkeye watched the flaming sword coming at him, seeing the fierce claws reflected in his eyes.
But Hawkeye remained unfazed, calmly reaching for the hilt of his black sword, Yoru.
Then—
He raised the long sword with one hand, blocking the flaming blade.
The fiery slash, filled with killing intent, halted before Hawkeye.
"Hmm!?"
Seeing his Flame King, Hook Claw blocked so effortlessly, King's pupils contracted. He had anticipated the Warlord's strength but didn't expect such resistance. He instinctively moved to withdraw his sword.
However—
Before he could act, Hawkeye's blade moved faster. In a flash, King saw a cold glint before his eyes.
Hawkeye glanced at King, who had landed in his pteraodon hybrid form, and said calmly:
"An ancient pteranodon form with fire abilities... interesting. But without pure dedication to the sword, you have no right to wield it before me!"
"…"
King remained silent, staring at Hawkeye with his sword poised.
As Hawkeye's words fell, King's mask split, revealing a somewhat handsome face.
"A swordsman not loyal to his blade, will find his sword unresponsive."
Hawkeye slowly and powerfully raised his sword, pointing it at King, his eagle-like sharp eyes giving King the feeling of being prey.
"A sword is just a weapon…"
Before he finished speaking, King's clawed foot, wrapped in solid Haki, lashed at Hawkeye like lightning.
Clang—!
His foot struck the blade of Hawkeye's black sword, Yoru.
The fierce impact traveled through the sword, directly hitting Hawkeye.
Yet, despite this tremendous force, Hawkeye stood firm, his sword unwavering.
For a top swordsman, physical strength and endurance were equally formidable.
"His strength…"
Feeling the feedback through his claw, King's expression turned grim.
He even questioned why such a powerful individual would serve as a Warlord, a lackey of the World Government.
Meanwhile, Kuma quietly watched the battle between Hawkeye and King, showing no intention of intervening.
"So strong!"
As the Navy who had given way to the battle watched the clashes unfold, they couldn't help but marvel at the sheer force on display. To them, the fights between these sea warriors were like natural disasters.
"Since your attack is over, it's my turn."
As Hawkeye spoke, King's pupils shrank. He saw Hawkeye swiftly swinging his black blade.
Hawkeye's black sword moved like a storm, targeting King's vital points. King, knowing better than to use his body or Haki to block a swordsman of Hawkeye's caliber, defended with his own long blade.
Anyone with sense knew not to take a hit from a swordsman who had forged a black blade.
With a dull thud, King's body trembled. The sudden burst of power forced him back a considerable distance.
When he looked at Hawkeye again, those eagle-like sharp eyes were still locked onto him.
"…"
King remained silent, his gaze shifting to the bear-like figure of Kuma nearby.
These two…
Given the current situation, Kuma could easily take him by surprise. But Kuma didn't act. Reflecting on how Hawkeye hadn't gone all out either, King realized…
These two were holding back.
"If that's the case… Is there a chance?"
Understanding that the Warlords might not fight at full strength, King silently watched Kaido and Sengoku's battle, pondering his next move. Regardless of their intentions, he couldn't go to Kaido's aid.
…
Queen had transformed into his brachiosaurus form. The rage boiling inside him was evident in the bulging veins on his face. Those two pests treated him like a dumb dinosaur.
Beep beep—!
Queen opened his massive jaws, and with the sound of energy gathering, brilliant light began to concentrate within his mouth. As a modification expert, Queen had thoroughly altered himself, even his beast form. The modifications in his brachiosaurus form could seamlessly retract when he was in human form, requiring highly advanced techniques.
But now, consumed by anger, he attacked Crocodile without hesitation.
Shoom—!
A yellow laser shot from his mouth, reaching Crocodile in an instant. The laser pierced through him with a speed far beyond normal human reaction.
"Don't you know that such attacks are useless against a Logia like me?"
Crocodile, with a hole in his chest, looked at Queen coldly.
Queen became even more irate at Crocodile's words. The Logia ability was just too irritating, especially for someone lacking effective countermeasures against it.
As sand filled and repaired the hole in Crocodile's chest, Queen's gaze turned even darker.
"I said, stop looking down on me, you bastard!"
Before his words finished, the sound of energy gathering came from Queen's mouth again.
Shoom shoom shoom—!
This time, three lasers fired in quick succession from his mouth. However, Queen's target wasn't Crocodile this time.
The barely visible laser beams appeared in front of Doflamingo, who wore a look of disbelief in the bright light.
The scene fell silent.
"Did that guy get taken out?"
"Idiot, do you even need to ask? Three chest-piercing lasers, who does he think he is?"
"But he's a cunning sea rogue... even if..."
"Why don't you look at those guys he controlled? They're free now. Doflamingo must've been taken down by Master Queen! Hey, what are you doing with that knife?"
"I don't know! My hand is moving on its own!"