Katakuri and Cracker felt their backs chill, and they nearly collapsed to the ground in disbelief. The rest of the onlookers were stunned, especially by Big Mom's bizarre and unsettling way of trying to recruit Marie. Marie simply waved her hands, saying nothing, but as she returned to the deck of the Thousand Sunny and reached for her biscuits, her vision suddenly darkened. She fell forward, only to be caught by a pink figure—Reiju—preventing her from hitting the deck.
"Marie!" her companions shouted in alarm.
"It's okay, I am just tired," Reiju said, gently stroking Marie's hair with maternal affection.
Luffy called out, "Please take care of her, Sanji's sister! We will defeat these people soon!"
After ensuring Marie was safe, the Straw Hat crew threw themselves back into the fight. However, Zoro, Sanji, and Law felt a newfound sense of urgency; Marie had already defeated one of the Big Mom Pirates' Three Sweet Commanders, and the three of them felt the pressure to achieve similar results.
Little 3, having watched Marie's victory, turned his attention toward Cracker with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Since Marie defeated a general, how can I, as her brother, stay behind? Cracker, are you ready to be defeated?"
"Hmph! Who do you think you are?" Cracker roared, furious at the insult. "I am not a weakling like Smoothie! I will show you what a real battle looks like!"
Cracker rushed forward, his great sword spinning rapidly, aiming to pierce Little 3's heart. Little 3 remained calm, creating a row of wax walls and hiding behind them while controlling a wax construct of Kaido to swarm the Commander. Though Cracker destroyed the wax creations with his "Roll Pretzel" technique, Little 3 tracked him with Observation Haki. Cracker eventually broke through the defenses and leapt in front of Little 3, thrusting his sword into the wax man's chest.
In that moment, the candle on Little 3's head ignited, and he sprayed wax uncontrollably, turning the area into a sea of wax that engulfed Cracker and solidified instantly. Little 3 navigated the hardening sea of wax like a swimmer, while Cracker held his breath, desperately trying to keep his chest from being crushed by the hardening substance. Cracker swung his sword frantically to destroy the surrounding wax, but his legs were pinned in place.
"Over here! Roll Pretzel!" Cracker shouted, thrusting his blade in the direction he sensed his opponent. The sword tore through the wax, striking flesh—blood ran down the blade, and Cracker felt the steel churning inside his enemy's body. "Hahaha! Who do you think you are, daring to fight me?"
Before Cracker could finish his gloating, a wax-tipped spine manifested beside him and pierced his abdomen. The sharp pain shattered his Armament Haki defense. Cracker then realized the candle above Little 3's head was burning brightly, and the spine began injecting liquid wax directly into his body, hardening it from the inside out.
"You risked your life for a chance!" Cracker growled.
"No, you are wrong. I am simply trading injury for victory!" Little 3 replied. The wax melted to reveal that Cracker's sword had indeed pierced Little 3's shoulder, but the sacrifice had allowed Little 3 to get close enough for a decisive strike.
"Name... tell me your name!" Cracker gasped as he lost consciousness.
"The wax figure master of the Straw Hat Pirates, Gal Dino, known as Mr. 3, Marie's brother!" Little 3 proudly declared.
As the wax sea receded, Little 3 sat on a wax chair he had fashioned, looking battle-worn but dignified despite the hole in his shoulder. "Tsk, Cracker... the Sweet Commander... he was just that..." Little 3 tilted his head and passed out from exhaustion.
Katakuri's expression turned venomous. "Cracker, even you..." The anger fueled his strength; he dodged instantly and appeared before Law, striking him with a powerful mochi attack. Law flew backward, hitting the ground covered in blood. Katakuri had proven that, unlike his siblings, he was not a foe to be easily underestimated.
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