Big Father was Capone Bege's ultimate move, transforming himself into a massive castle standing 80 meters tall and weighing 585 tons.
Its defenses were virtually impenetrable, remaining unscathed even under continuous artillery fire.
Daz Bones' slashing techniques could cut through stone as smoothly as butter, yet against Big Father's stone-like body, they only left scratch after scratch of white marks.
The biggest issue was Big Father's sheer height. Since Daz Bones hadn't yet mastered Moon Walk, he could only relentlessly attack its legs and feet. Otherwise, he'd have to leap onto Big Father's body to strike, drastically reducing his mobility.
Capone Bege wasn't the type to take hits without fighting back.
Though he lacked conscious subordinates inside him to unleash heavy firepower, Big Father's sheer size and weight meant even the slightest movement could shake the earth.
Fortunately, the Capone Family members had formed a wide perimeter, keeping their distance.
Otherwise, who knew how many would have been caught in the crossfire.
Perhaps he had considered this when arranging the encirclement.
"Badak, Daz isn't doing so well! As expected of the don of the strongest mafia family—his Devil Fruit ability is truly formidable.
And this is after you deliberately weakened him," Robin remarked with concern as she watched Daz Bones being forced to dodge frantically.
"The ability is indeed versatile.
He can store countless people, horses, guns, and cannons inside his body.
Combined with Bege's status, it maximizes the fruit's potential.
Enemies can never predict how many forces he has. It's just that his subordinates aren't strong enough, which is why they were so easily knocked out by my Conqueror's Haki.
Or perhaps they simply lack training to resist it," Badak nodded, agreeing with Robin before reassuring her.
"Bones is at a disadvantage for now, but there's no need to worry too much.
His defenses are exceptional too.
And if he can push past his limits under this pressure and reach the level of Iron Cutting, breaking through Bege's defenses will become much easier."
"Hmph, who needs Iron Cutting? Once my Negative Hollows come out, he'll be completely subdued," Perona scoffed, clearly getting carried away.
After all, so far, no one had been able to resist her Negative Hollows.
"Devil Fruit abilities on the seas are endless, and powerful Haki can counter them.
There are also beings that defy common sense.
Relying solely on Negative Hollows will lead to a rude awakening sooner or later," Badak warned, not wanting Perona to grow complacent and underestimate others on the seas—like God Usopp.
"Ugh, whatever!" Perona huffed, secretly thinking she'd make Badak taste her Negative Hollows one day.
"Captain, how long are we going to just watch?"
"Yeah, Captain, what if those gunmen around us wake up?" Leo and Mansherry chimed in with their questions.
"Don't worry, they won't wake up so soon.
Give Bones a little more time.
"Badak wasn't afraid of the Capone Family's gunmen waking up.
At worst, he could just give them another Conqueror's Haki-induced sleeping special.
At that moment, a change occurred in the battle between the two not far away.
"Castle Gate!"
Capone Bege's massive arm slammed down repeatedly.
During the final strike, a large hole suddenly appeared at his wrist, from which came a tremendous suction force.
Daz Bones had dodged the previous attacks, but caught off guard by the last one, he was sucked into Capone Bege's body.
"Eh..."
Everyone who witnessed this scene was stunned.
Even Badak hadn't expected Bege to have this move.
He kept his Observation Haki focused on Daz Bones, ready to intervene and rescue at any moment.
"Castle Mire!"
Without pause, Capone Bege immediately launched his next attack.
Daz Bones landed and found himself in an unfamiliar room.
The next moment, the floor seemed to come alive, sprouting numerous tentacles that surged toward him.
He could only dodge rapidly, resorting to powerful slashes to repel the tentacles when evasion wasn't possible.
The tentacles multiplied relentlessly, the room itself seeming to shrink as the floor began swallowing his legs.
Were it not for his ability to transform his entire body into blades—allowing him to swiftly extract his legs—he would have been completely immobilized.
Instinctively wielding the razor-sharp edges of his transformed limbs, Daz Bones stopped thinking about breaking through Iron Cutting or the battle's outcome.
His sole focus became severing the onslaught of encroaching tentacles.
As he slashed continuously, his mind gradually stilled.
At last, he sensed what Badak had described as the "breath of all things."
"So this is it!"
In an instant, every approaching tentacle was cleanly severed. Inside the castle, Capone Bege spat out a mouthful of blood, his face twisting in disbelief.
How could someone who'd been helpless against the tentacles moments ago suddenly cut them all down?
"This is bad—can't let him keep destroying from within!"
The castle's wounds directly manifested on his body.
Seeing Daz Bones preparing to demolish more rooms, Capone Bege urgently activated his ability: "Castle Man: Banishment!"
A colossal tentacle hammered down toward Daz Bones like a wrecking ball.
"Dust Slash!"
This time, the Dust Slash differed from before—it cleanly bisected the massive tentacle.
However, the sheer size of the appendage sent Daz Bones flying backward from the impact. The next moment, he found himself outside the castle once more.
"Great, Bonis made it out!"
"Doesn't look injured."
"Took you long enough!"
"Badak, did Daz succeed?"
"Yes, perfectly. He's achieved Iron Cutting."
Badak nodded with a smile, having witnessed the entire process.
He felt genuine happiness for Daz Bones' breakthrough.
Though Daz Bones had leveled up, the battle wasn't over.
While he could now consistently breach Bege's defenses, such wounds were insignificant against an 80-meter castle.
Victory wouldn't come quickly.
At that moment, some of Capone Bege's subordinates inside the castle began stirring awake.
The mafia boss' expression stabilized—his prolonged stalling had paid off.
Despite minor setbacks, he'd succeeded. The tide was about to turn.
"Expected from a mafia family's elite... but your entrance comes too soon."
Badak unleashed another wave of Conqueror's Haki, the overwhelming pressure forcing them back into standby.
"Damn you! Castle Man: Mobile Assault!"
Capone Bege snapped.
After finally reaching counterattack position, they'd been silenced again.
The gigantic Castle Man retracted its legs, deploying tank treads instead.
Ignoring Daz Bones completely, it charged straight toward Badak.
"Stay back. Let me leave him a lasting impression."
Badak met the charge head-on.
His body rapidly transformed—first into the Great Ape Form, then expanding further through Size Alteration until reaching roughly half the castle's height. Armament Haki coiled around his right fist as he leaped, delivering a devastating punch to the Castle Man's head.
Badak had long suspected that Capone Bege was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong.
Just one punch from him sent Bege's true form inside the castle tumbling to the ground, writhing in pain.
A few more punches would have been disastrous.
"Stop! Let's talk this out. Whatever you want me to do, I'll make sure it gets done."
Seeing Badak about to strike again, Capone Bege quickly backed down.
Getting things done was simple—the big boss even reverted to his true form.
"Good. A wise man knows when to yield. Let's discuss this in detail, Capone."