Carl chose to mostly evade the attacks, using the fight to observe the entire battlefield. He didn't want to go all out yet because he knew that defeating Momousagi and the Tea Dolphin would only cause other powerful fighters to appear, which was a thankless task.
It was better to fight casually while observing the situation, ready to intervene if needed. He especially wanted to stop that idiot Squard from backstabbing his own father.
Squard's mind was clouded by his hatred for Roger, causing him to lose all common sense. He was foolish enough to believe a Marine Admiral instead of his own captain.
Carl believed that Whitebeard's most serious injury wasn't his age or sickness, but the wound from Squard's knife. That was why he was so weak and kept coughing up blood after a short fight with Akainu. Carl knew he had to stop that fool.
However, the Straw Hats were a little early this time, and it seemed Akainu hadn't even had a chance to sneak into the bay to find Squard. Carl wondered if the plot would change because of this. Plus, he was a little too far from Whitebeard to help when the time came.
As he fought, Carl calmly led Momousagi and the Tea Dolphin away from the execution platform and toward the crowded square. Momousagi and the Tea Dolphin didn't realize what was happening until they were surrounded by Marines. Their movements became more restricted, as they didn't want to hurt their own men. But if they held back, they wouldn't be able to defeat Carl.
"You treacherous scoundrel!" Momousagi cursed, still attacking while yelling at the Marines to stay away.
But Carl wouldn't let them. He'd intentionally move toward the densest parts of the crowd, completely disrupting the Marines' formation. Sengoku and Tsuru, watching from the execution platform, rubbed their temples in frustration. This "Lightning Swordsman" was a real nuisance, and there was nothing they could do.
With Carl drawing so much attention, the pressure on the Going Merry and Luffy's team was relieved. The two Edward Weevil scooters, followed by Jango, Mari, Li Kei, Mr. 3, and the four wax Kaido statues, sped closer to the execution platform.
Suddenly, a giant figure blocked their path.
"Get out of my way! Straw Hat Luffy will be defeated by me!" the giant's voice boomed.
Luffy didn't even flinch. Neither did Nami and Franky, who kept riding as if there was no obstacle in sight.
"Gigantic Seis Fleur: Vista!" Robin said, crossing her hands.
A massive white leg grew from the ground, rivaling the giant's in size. It swung forward, launching a huge Tempest Kick. The Marines nearby ran in terror as the giant Vice Admiral crossed his huge axe in front of him. But the Tempest Kick shattered the axe, hitting the giant's chest and sending him flying.
A shocked hush fell over the Marines as the giant hit the ground.
"He knocked down a giant Vice Admiral with one hit!"
"It's Nico Robin, the Demon Child of the Straw Hats! I had no idea she was so powerful!"
"How can we stop them? They're going to save Fire Fist Ace!"
The Marines panicked, their morale shattered. The Whitebeard Pirates, on the other hand, cheered, pushing the Marines back to the edge of the bay.
Sengoku and Tsuru gritted their teeth. The Straw Hat crew was proving to be more formidable than anyone had expected. Luffy hadn't even made a move yet, but his crew was already showcasing immense strength. The fact that their pet, Chopper, had a bounty of just 50 Berries was now a joke.
"Ohhh, here they are. The Straw Hats really are something else," Kizaru's voice suddenly said. A bright yellow light shot from his leg, aiming for Nami. Kizaru's plan was simple: hit the driver, and the whole crew would stop.
But he forgot who was riding with her.
"Porusa Lulu!" Luffy yelled, his leg becoming a rubber whip as he activated Gear Second.
Kizaru flinched at the strange nickname, a dark look on his face as he dodged the attack. The thunderous roar of lightning and footsteps sounded from behind. Kizaru instinctively turned his body into light as a black leather boot pierced his abdomen.
"Pincher! A Rumble-Rumble Fruit user and a cook with kicks like Black Leg Sanji... even I'm a little scared," Kizaru said. "But you have to respect your elders. Why hit me twice?"
"Kizaru, for a salary of a few million a month, why do you risk your life?" Sanji retorted, borrowing Carl's words.
Kizaru's face twitched. For all these years, he had been trying to live up to that very phrase. He had hoped to just sit back and watch this war, but the Straw Hats were making too much of a mess. He was the only Admiral in the square, and with Sengoku and the others watching, he couldn't afford to be lazy.
In that moment, Nami, who was closest to Kizaru, punched him in the head with the same force she always used on Luffy. Kizaru, caught completely off guard, felt a sharp pain and fell to the ground. Nami kicked off his face, and the scooter sped away.
The sight shocked everyone.
Kizaru got to his feet, rubbing a large lump on his head. "Ohh, a total miscalculation. I didn't expect a simple navigator to have Armament Haki," he muttered.
Though the punch wasn't strong enough to do any real damage, Kizaru knew that Nami's fist always hurt, a fact Luffy was well aware of.
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