The majestic, towering body instantly rendered everyone speechless.
"I don't know why a person like you would appear here?"
Crocodile, cigar clamped between his teeth, stared solemnly at Ghidorah and asked in a deep voice.
"Heh, I'm just passing through."
"But I didn't expect to witness such an interesting scene."
"A former Warlord of the Sea, reduced to such a pitiful state… even being bullied by rookies?"
Ghidorah's massive golden eyes fixed on Crocodile, and the corners of his mouth split into a sinister grin.
"I'm short on people right now. Why don't you come under me?"
To be personally invited by Ghidorah ought to have been an honor.
But from the smile on the monster's face, Crocodile could see clearly: if he uttered a refusal, the next second he'd be a corpse.
He knew a little of this one's recent movements. Ambitious though he was himself, he had never planned to meddle in wars between nations.
"Can I refuse?"
After a moment's hesitation, Crocodile probed cautiously.
"What do you think?" Ghidorah still wore that devilish smile.
"…I'll join."
Crocodile's reply was crisp, without the slightest hesitation.
At that, Ghidorah's grin widened, and he slowly turned his gaze toward the three newcomers, speaking:
"To be honest, with your current strength, you're not worth my notice."
"But since we've met, I'll give you one chance."
"Make your choice."
His lofty bearing and domineering tone were galling, yet he had the power to speak that way.
Kid, still twitching from paralysis, had a flicker of excitement flashing in his eyes.
Bege, well-dressed with stubble on his face and a cigar in his mouth, looked thoughtful.
Drake, meanwhile, glanced at the other two, then subtly took a step back, as though having reached a decision.
Watching their reactions, Ghidorah sneered inwardly. Aside from Drake, the other two clearly intended to cause trouble.
He paid no mind to their attitudes, instead casting an approving look at Drake.
So what if the man was a Marine? As long as he was willing now, even the whole Navy could be his.
"If you want us to yield, you'd better prove you've got the strength."
"Hmph! I alone represent an entire force. So what if you are who you are?"
At that, Kid and Bege exchanged a glance, then spoke out in unison—at the same time readying themselves to attack.
Kid once again pulled in the scattered weapons around him, forming two enormous metallic arms that crackled faintly with magnetism.
Bege, meanwhile, opened countless small hatches all over his body, every one aimed at Ghidorah.
In the next instant, the two unleashed their attacks without reservation—charging headlong down the road of madness and suicide.
Boom, boom, boom…
Countless tiny cannonballs fired out from Bege's hatches. As they reached a certain distance, those bean-sized shots instantly expanded into full-sized shells.
But in Ghidorah's eyes, they were still nothing more than candy beans.
At the same time, Kid's massive magnetic arm had clenched into a giant fist and came crashing down toward one of Ghidorah's necks.
"For a man to be blind to reality… that is truly a pitiful thing."
Faced with the overwhelming, frenzied attacks, Ghidorah's golden eyes didn't so much as ripple. It was as if he hadn't even noticed.
The right head suddenly jerked forward, ramming straight into the oncoming metal fist.
As for the rain of cannon fire, he didn't even bother to glance at it—simply ignoring it outright.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions roared one after another, shockwaves rolling outward in waves, dust billowing skyward…
Rumble…!
Meanwhile, the impact of Ghidorah's right head against the giant metal fist instantly shattered the construct.
The massive hand couldn't even put up resistance—breaking apart into a storm of fragmented weapons.
Without slowing in the slightest, the right head then reared back and unleashed a bolt of golden lightning at Kid.
The furious surge tore open the ground in an instant.
Kid barely dodged, terror etched across his face. This… this was not even the same league!
But before his fear could fade, the golden lightning was already plowing across the ground, sweeping straight toward him.
Kid's soul nearly fled his body. Sprinting frantically, he shouted at the top of his lungs:
"I surrender! I'll follow you!"
"Too late."
Ghidorah's majesty tolerated no provocation. For a brat who dared test him, he felt not an ounce of mercy.
The raging beam swept forward, engulfing Kid completely in the surging cloud of dust and rubble.
From a distance, Bege—whose token attacks had been no more than scratches—was drenched in cold sweat. He bitterly regretted his reckless attempt.
When one of the monster's colossal heads turned its gaze on him, he immediately shut every hatch on his body and shouted:
"I willingly submit to you! Please, spare me!"
In front of such a terrifying opponent, there was no shame in bowing.
Living was more important than anything.
And as though heaven itself heard his desperate plea, he did not suffer the same fate as Kid.
"Heh. A man who knows the times is a true hero."
Ghidorah sneered, then continued:
"You should be grateful. Your ability just saved your life."
Among the Supernovas, Capone "Gang" Bege was by no means the strongest.
But his Devil Fruit power was exactly what Ghidorah needed at the moment.
Why bother reclaiming the fruit and training a new user, when a ready-made one stood before him?
As for betrayal?
Unless the fool had a death wish, he wouldn't dare.
As they spoke, the swirling dust gradually dispersed.
What it revealed made everyone's pupils contract violently:
One of the Supernovas, with a bounty over one hundred million… had vanished in an instant.
Such overwhelming power utterly crushed all thoughts of resistance.
"You two, go find Sabo. I trust you don't need me to tell you where he is."
Ghidorah ordered Drake and Bege, then turned to Crocodile.
"As for you…"
A wicked grin tugged at his lips.
"Go to Arabasta. Tell Ivankov I sent you."
At the name Arabasta, Crocodile frowned, old memories surfacing—many of them unpleasant. He felt a faint resistance stir in his heart.
"Heh. The Pluton once left behind on that land… it has something to do with your power, doesn't it? Aren't you interested?"
Seeing his reaction, Ghidorah deliberately dropped a tempting word.
Just as he expected—though Crocodile had long given up his pursuit of Pluton, the chance to approach it again still stirred him.
His eyes flashed with sharp light.
"…When do I leave?" Crocodile asked.
"Oh?"
Ghidorah was about to answer when he suddenly let out a note of surprise, staring out over the distant sea for a long moment.
"Go now. If you wait any longer, leaving will become… difficult."
Turning back, he addressed Bege and Drake as well:
"That goes for you too. Leave the island immediately."
The three exchanged puzzled looks. Almost reflexively, they turned toward the direction Ghidorah had been watching.
Far out across the waves, a tiny black speck had just appeared on the horizon…