"He's going to sacrifice the entire Crocodile Pirates for his own glory and wealth."
The first mate saw no wrong in his actions. "People do things for themselves, don't they?"
Besides, Rekdu had set the precedent for treachery. "Two wrongs don't make a right," he thought.
"I hate betrayers," Doflamingo said, "but I'll keep my word. You leave with your share. Understand?"
"Understood. I'll lead you in. I know where the Devil Fruit is hidden. As soon as the fight starts, I'll bring it out."
"Good. You're a smart man. Lead the way."
Abel was stunned. He couldn't believe that his own crew would willingly act as traitors.
He suspected internal strife, perhaps unequal distribution of spoils or long-standing grudges, or both. Pirates were driven by self-interest, rarely bound by loyalty.
"Looks like this operation will be over soon," Abel muttered, fearing Luo would be heartbroken when he saw the inevitable outcome.
The first mate returned to the cave entrance. He feigned panic, slashing his chest with his knife to create a dramatic display of injury.
"Enemy attack! They're here!" he cried, frantically rousing the crew.
Rekdu, the strongest among them, sprang to his feet. "Enemy attack? Where? What's happening?"
The first mate stammered, "Outside…
they're coming… I barely escaped."
Rekdu, suspicious but trusting his first mate, ordered, "Come on, let's go!" He cautiously moved towards the entrance, wary of a possible ambush.
A barrage of explosions erupted.
Several crew members were instantly obliterated. Rekdu, startled, rushed out, knowing he'd be at a disadvantage inside the cave.
To his surprise, he wasn't immediately attacked. As more of his crew emerged, his confidence grew.
"Who are you? Looking for a fight?" Rekdu roared, defiant despite the overwhelming odds.
Doflamingo chuckled. "You've been causing quite a stir around here."
Suddenly, Rekdu recognized Doflamingo from a wanted poster. "You… you're Don Quixote Doflamingo?!"
"Why are the Don Quixotes here?" Panic surged through Rekdu. He realized his predicament.
"Misunderstanding," Rekdu stammered, attempting to defuse the situation. "We can explain."
He knew he couldn't defeat them in a direct confrontation. He hoped to
negotiate a settlement.
He'd offer a portion of their recent gains and the Devil Fruit to the Don Quixotes.
Doflamingo smiled enigmatically.
"Misunderstanding? We'll see about that."
Rekdu pressed on, "Thirty percent of our earnings, plus the Devil Fruit. We'll hand it over to the Don Quixotes. Consider it an apology."
Doflamingo's smile turned sardonic. "Thirty percent? That's your best offer?"
Seeing Doflamingo's amusement, Rekdu grew desperate. "It's the most we can offer!"
Doflamingo gestured towards the entrance.
Rekdu turned to see the first mate
approaching, carrying a small box.
"That's… the box for the Devil Fruit!" Rekdu's blood ran cold. "You… you betrayed me?!"
"Betrayal?" The first mate scoffed.
"You never truly valued me. You made empty promises, using me for your own gain. I'm simply collecting on my debt."
"You'll regret this!" Rekdu roared, enraged.
"I'll kill you!"
"Regret? You're the one who should regret your actions," the first mate sneered. "Now, you're powerless."
He presented the box to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo opened the box, revealing the enigmatic blue Devil Fruit. It was unlike any he'd seen before, covered in intricate, swirling patterns.
"Interesting," Doflamingo mused.
Rekdu, enraged, transformed into his Crocodile form. He lunged at the first mate, but Torrebol, one of Doflamingo's executives, intercepted him with a blast of sticky slime, pinning him to the cave wall.
"You understand now?" Doflamingo said,
"When I arrive, I take everything."
"Let's kill them all."
Doflamingo's order was met with immediate and brutal execution.
The Don Quixote Family, a force of overwhelming power, swiftly decimated the Crocodile Pirates.
The scene was a chilling echo of the Crocodile Pirates' own ruthless massacre of the Black Wind Pirates.
Rekdu, immobilized on the stone wall, watched helplessly as his crew were slaughtered.
His eyes blazed with fury. He was doomed, but he wouldn't go down without a fight. He would take at least one of them with him.
Just as he prepared for a desperate counterattack, a young figure appeared before him.
"Out of my way, kid, or you'll be next!" Rekdu snarled, dismissing the youth as insignificant.
He assumed it was a servant or a low-level member of the Don Quixote Family.
But he was about to pay dearly for his arrogance.
"Shura… Aurora Slash!"
Abel unleashed a devastating attack, a torrent of emerald energy slicing through the air. Rekdu, caught off guard, barely managed to deflect the blow with his axe. The force of the attack sent him skidding across the ground, leaving deep gouges in the stone.
The Aurora Slash had severed his axe in two and inflicted a deep, gaping wound across his chest.
Yet, Rekdu refused to yield. His Devil Fruit enhanced his durability and regenerative abilities.
"You… you little brat!" Rekdu roared, enraged. "This is going to hurt!"
"Frenzied Impact!"
Rekdu transformed into his crocodile form, muscles bulging with raw power. He charged, rotating his body, weapon held high, resembling a deadly drill.
Abel braced himself for the impact. This was a formidable opponent, a seasoned pirate driven by a desperate will to survive.
Meanwhile, within the cave…
Law, witnessing the carnage unfolding outside, was horrified. He had never seen such brutality. The carefree laughter of the feast moments ago seemed like a distant memory.
He noticed a peculiar glint in Doflamingo's eyes as he examined the Devil Fruit. It wasn't just greed; there was a hint of… curiosity.
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the cave.
"What was that?" Doflamingo asked, intrigued.
"It seems someone's trying to make a dramatic entrance," Baby 5 commented, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Outside, a figure emerged from the smoke and debris. It was Benn, the Crocodile Pirates' gunner.
"You bastards!" Benn roared, clutching a smoking blunderbuss. "Taste this!"
He unleashed a volley of cannonballs, scattering the Don Quixote Family members.
"Interesting," Doflamingo chuckled. "Looks like we have another player in this game."
He snapped his fingers. "Baby 5, deal with that… distraction."
Baby 5, with a playful grin, transformed into a cannon and fired a barrage of explosive projectiles at Benn.
The battle intensified. The Don Quixote Family, with their overwhelming firepower and Devil Fruit abilities, began to systematically eliminate the remaining Crocodile Pirates.
But the Crocodile Pirates, fueled by rage and desperation, fought back with fierce determination. Benn, a skilled marksman, proved to be a formidable opponent, his explosive attacks causing chaos among the Don Quixote Family.
The cave, once a place of revelry, had become a battleground, a testament to the ruthlessness and unpredictability of the pirate world.