This time, the voice didn't come from Fisherman Greela or Conan, the Zoan user who had pulled Barton to safety. Instead, it came from Buffalo, a rotund figure, and Baby 5, clad in a maid's uniform.
The two were determined to claim the Devil Fruit.
When Greela had hooked the crystal box containing the fruit, Buffalo and Baby 5 had instinctively rushed toward him, only for Maude to intervene with a precise shot that severed the fishing line. Then, using Moonwalk, Maude had intercepted the box midair before anyone else could react.
The sudden turn of events left Buffalo and Baby 5 both shocked and uneasy. Their primary concern wasn't about the fruit changing hands multiple times but rather the possibility of someone taking a bite out of it. If that happened, the mission would be a failure.
Fortunately, Maude, despite securing the fruit, showed no signs of consuming it. If he had intended to, he would have done so already.
As the gunfire momentarily ceased, Buffalo and Baby 5 moved toward Maude.
Maude tilted his head, his gaze meeting Buffalo's. The latter's appearance was unsurprising, but Baby 5's presence caught Maude off guard.
Thanks to the Revolutionary Army's intelligence network, Maude had detailed knowledge of the notable figures on Leviathan Island, including Buffalo. However, there had been no mention of Baby 5 in any of the reports.
Could she have arrived in the past two days?
Maude ignored Buffalo entirely, instead studying Baby 5 with calm intensity.
What immediately confirmed her identity wasn't her maid outfit or her appearance but her ability—her right arm had transformed into a small cannon.
The Arms-Arms Fruit…!
This was the same fruit Maude had once considered giving to Bailey.
However, without a guaranteed method to retrieve the Devil Fruit upon her death, killing Baby 5 now would only cause it to reincarnate in an unknown location.
Within seconds, countless thoughts raced through Maude's mind. His focused gaze left Baby 5 momentarily stunned.
In most cases, a woman might label a man staring at her like this as a pervert. But Baby 5, with her peculiar mindset, keenly sensed that Maude had a certain need for her.
Her intuition wasn't wrong. Maude indeed coveted the power of the Devil Fruit within her.
But Baby 5 couldn't possibly understand the real reason.
"Could it be… he wants to marry me? But I was just thinking of killing him! Ah, what should I do? I can't let him find out what's on my mind!"
A blush spread across Baby 5's pale cheeks as she wrestled with her thoughts.
Buffalo, baffled by her audible musings, shouted in frustration, "You're saying all that out loud!!!"
"Wha—?" Baby 5 gasped, covering her mouth. "I was just thinking it… wasn't I?"
"Forget it! Turn into a weapon already!" Buffalo snapped, cutting her off.
Baby 5's eyes lit up at the request. "Oh, you mean—"
"Just do it!" Buffalo interrupted again, exasperated.
Smiling brightly, Baby 5 activated her fruit ability, transforming her body into a massive blade. Buffalo wasted no time grabbing her by the leg—now the hilt of the sword.
"Bacardi Maude, if you hand over the Devil Fruit now, I might consider sparing your life. Otherwise, I'll show you the consequences of crossing Donquixote!"
Buffalo brandished the blade and glared at Maude with cold determination.
The crowd, hearing the name "Donquixote," reacted visibly.
"Donquixote?" someone murmured. "Are these two subordinates of that Warlord of the Sea, Doflamingo?"
Tension rippled through the colosseum as those eyeing the Devil Fruit warily observed Buffalo and his weapon.
Maude, however, merely glanced at the approaching Lafitte and Jim without a word, raising his blade, Chidori, to a ready position.
Buffalo snorted and launched himself at Maude.
"Spinning Cyclone Slash!"
Buffalo's round body began spinning at high speed, turning Baby 5's sword form into a whirling blade of destruction. The resulting winds sliced through the air, leaving deep gouges on the colosseum floor as he charged.
"Take this, Bacardi Maude!" Buffalo roared, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
The fierce winds preceding the blade ruffled Maude's hair and clothing.
Maude's eyes glinted red as Armament Haki flowed from his hands, coating Chidori in a dark sheen.
"Hidden Blade Style: Pecks of Water."
Maude's wrist flicked, sending forth scattered, water-like slashes from his blade.
"Useless!" Buffalo growled, his spinning blade tearing through the fragmented slashes. "Not even a drop of water can pass through my Cyclone Slash!"
In Buffalo's mind, once he locked onto Maude's weapon, the sheer force of his rotation would drag Maude into the vortex and grind him to pieces.
But while the Cyclone Slash shattered the slashes' trajectories, it failed to make contact with Chidori.
At that moment, Maude took two steps back before vanishing with a sharp motion of his foot.
The scattered, water-like slashes that Buffalo had destroyed suddenly converged into a single point, forming a piercing black streak.
Chidori broke free from the converged slash, its blade driving straight through the spinning Cyclone Slash of Buffalo and Baby 5.
"Huh?"
Confusion flickered in the eyes of Buffalo and Baby 5 almost simultaneously.
In the next instant, Maude appeared behind them.
Shk!
Buffalo abruptly stopped spinning, his gaze dropping to the crimson stain blooming across his chest.
"Did… did I get stabbed?"
As his strength drained away, Buffalo's expression grew blank. It felt as though his heart had been pierced.
The blood spilling from his chest rapidly soaked through his clothes, staining them a deep red in moments.
"Buffalo, what's wrong?!"
Baby 5's panicked face was reflected on the blade of the large weapon she had become.
Buffalo's pupils began to dilate. He didn't respond to Baby 5, and his once-robust body toppled toward the ground.
In a flash, Baby 5 reverted to her human form.
"Buffalo!"
Seeing the pool of blood spreading beneath Buffalo, Baby 5's face contorted in shock. Whipping around, her gaze locked onto Maude.
"You!"
Murderous intent flickered in her eyes as her upper body transformed into a massive blade once more. With a burst of speed, she slashed down at Maude.
As the blade descended, Maude nonchalantly tossed the crystal box containing the Devil Fruit backward, where it was caught by the approaching Lafitte. Then, with a swift motion, he caught the blade of Baby 5's weapon form in his bare hand.
"Urgh…!"
Baby 5 let out a muffled groan as her weapon form was stopped cold.
Maude's grip tightened, his expression cold and unyielding.
"Ahh…!" Baby 5 gasped in pain, her body shuddering as she reverted to her human form. Maude's iron grip now clasped firmly around her neck.
This man… he's so strong…
Breathing grew difficult for Baby 5, but the fire in her eyes refused to die.
"B-but… go to hell!"
Despite being restrained, Baby 5 activated her Devil Fruit ability, her body rapidly shifting into missile form.
Her plan was simple—self-detonate and drag Maude into the explosion.
But Maude's reaction was quicker. Before Baby 5 could complete her transformation, he swung his arm and slammed her violently into the ground.
Boom!
The impact shattered the arena floor, leaving a spiderweb of cracks beneath her.
Baby 5 coughed up blood, her consciousness fading instantly.
All around, those who had witnessed Maude's effortless dispatching of Buffalo and Baby 5 were stunned into silence.
"The Donquixote Family… and they're Devil Fruit users. But… but he—"
"…"
In a corner of the arena, Arthur, who had been entertaining thoughts of taking advantage of the chaos, froze in shock as he stared at Maude.
Arthur was well aware of Buffalo and Baby 5's status within the Donquixote Family.
He also knew that Maude had grown stronger.
But this…
To take down two executives of the Donquixote Family in just two moves was beyond anything Arthur could have imagined.
The image of the frail, powerless Maude he once knew was obliterated from his mind like an eraser wiping a chalkboard.
In its place stood this man—a warrior whose strength and dominance were undeniable.
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