Vivi understood her own position better than anyone.
Among the four of them, she was undeniably the weakest. She did not possess Observation Haki, nor had she faced many truly powerful enemies before. Yet even without such experience, the oppressive aura radiating from the enemies before them was enough to make her entire body tremble.
If Mr. Issho were to join the battle directly, the outcome might shift in their favor.
But as things stood, Vivi knew the truth.
From the current situation, she had become a burden.
Robin, Law, and Issho were all being forced to account for her presence. As a princess and as someone with pride in her own resolve, Vivi could not accept that reality.
That was why she spoke up.
The moment her words left her mouth, an arm suddenly sprouted from her shoulder.
Bang!
"Ow!"
Vivi clutched her forehead, tears welling up as she looked at Robin in disbelief. "Robin, what was that for?"
"You are absolutely not allowed to say something like that," Robin said sharply, her expression rare and visibly angry.
"If it weren't for me…" Vivi tried to continue, but another arm instantly covered her mouth, silencing her completely.
Issho spoke calmly but firmly. "Miss Vivi, you are not a burden to anyone. Although I have not been with everyone for long, I can clearly feel it. Within the Ion Tempest, everyone is family. Every single person matters."
Law nodded in agreement. "That's right. Everyone has their own strengths. In a family like this, no one is expendable."
"Everyone…" Vivi's eyes trembled as emotion surged through her.
What they gave her at that moment felt no different from the warmth of the Alabasta royal family.
She clenched her fists silently.
She would become stronger.
"So, are you finished with your touching farewell?" Cracker sneered, waving his hand. "Attack!"
At his command, Biscuit Soldiers surged forward once more, charging toward Robin and the others.
Law vanished in a flash, reappearing directly in front of Cracker's true body. He raised Kikoku and slashed downward.
"What?!" Cracker's eyes widened. "That fast?!"
He barely managed to lift his sword in time.
Clang!
The collision drove half of Cracker's body straight into the island cloud beneath him. His arms trembled violently as he struggled to stabilize himself.
Law did not pause. Victory would only come if he dismantled them one by one.
He raised his blade again.
Just as he was about to strike, danger screamed through his instincts.
A massive candy arm erupted behind him, slamming toward his back.
Law vanished instantly, reappearing beside Perospero. Kikoku swung toward Perospero's head without hesitation.
Perospero's pupils shrank. His reaction was immediate.
He swung his cane, encasing himself in a massive spherical shell of hardened candy.
Kikoku, coated in Armament Haki, struck the candy barrier.
For a brief moment, the two forces clashed.
Then the candy dome shattered.
The blade continued forward, stopping less than ten centimeters from Perospero's head before suddenly twisting to the side.
Clang.
Snack's greatsword intercepted the strike.
The impact sent Law flying sideways through the air. He teleported mid flight and landed roughly on the ground, his right hand trembling violently as if it might split apart.
He stared at the three enemies before him.
Individually, none of them surpassed him.
Together, they were a problem.
And this was only three.
King, Queen, and the Flying Six had yet to fully engage.
Still, within Law's perception, Perospero was clearly the weakest.
That made him the best breakthrough point.
Before he could act, Snack charged again, dozens of Biscuit Soldiers advancing alongside him.
Law slashed rapidly, cutting down the soldiers one after another.
But the moment they fell, Snack's blade was already upon him.
Clang!
Steel met steel once more.
At that instant, King appeared behind Law in his flaming bird form.
Before King could strike, a massive arm burst out from the island cloud.
It slapped King squarely out of the air.
King barely managed to raise his sword to block, but the force sent him flying dozens of meters away. He stabilized himself midair and stared grimly at the black haired woman in the distance.
Fear crept into his chest.
He had underestimated her.
He thought she was merely the historian of the Ion Tempest, a scholar with little combat value.
Instead, her strength surpassed even the man with the spotted hat.
Pride burned within him, but he knew the truth.
Defeating her alone would be difficult.
"Spark Queen!"
Queen's roar echoed as red explosive rounds shot toward Robin at blinding speed. They struck her position almost instantly.
"Hahaha! That's it, she's done!" Queen laughed wildly, his massive body wriggling with excitement.
"Don't relax," King snapped. "Your attack failed."
Queen froze and stared.
Cherry blossoms drifted through the air where Robin had been standing.
She was gone.
"What?!" Queen's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
A voice echoed behind him, calm and almost amused. "That attack was dangerous, little dragon."
Arms sprouted from the ground around Queen, climbing over his body and interlocking like a massive net.
Armament Haki surged, coating the limbs in a terrifying purple glow.
"Cien Fleur, Twist."
The net constricted violently.
"Aaaaaah!"
Queen screamed as his massive body twisted unnaturally.
Robin's expression remained grim.
It felt less like twisting flesh and more like trying to crush a mountain of island cloud.
"Fang Spear!"
A sharp cry rang out from behind.
Robin reacted instantly, summoning a massive arm to grab herself and hurl her away.
As she flew through the air, she saw the spot she had just occupied explode under a tooth shaped air bullet, leaving behind a massive crater.
The moment she landed, something crashed into her from behind.
Robin had no choice.
She generated a massive fist from her back and swung.
Bang!
The fist collided with a woman's forehead.
Black lightning erupted, tearing through the air.
"So hard…" Robin muttered.
She poured more power into the strike, forcing the attacker back dozens of meters.
Before she could catch her breath, a massive Spinosaurus charged straight toward her, jaws snapping shut.
"How dare you hurt my sister!" the beast roared. "I'll bite you to death!"
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