"... Can't I really kill him?"
Crocodile completely ignored Enel, who couldn't recognize the facts and still looked arrogant.
He turned to look at Ian and said expressionlessly, "Anyway, you just need this guy's Devil Fruit, right? I can provide you with ten ships' worth of fruit, as long as I personally kill this idiot!"
"Calm down, Crocodile. I did intend to kill him and get the Devil Fruit, but that was only a last resort."
Ian comforted Crocodile, who didn't seem to be joking, and said helplessly, "Since we've caught him, there's no need for all that trouble. You know that even if we prepare a lot of fruit, we can't guarantee that the Devil Fruits will respawn around us."
"You mortals, wanting to seize the power of a God? God of Sand, why are you cooperating with mortals?"
"Hahaha, this guy is really interesting..."
Bang!
Before Ace could finish speaking, Crocodile swung his arm without hesitation, sending Ace flying.
Then, looking at Ian, he took a deep breath: "I... Can't I really kill him now?"
"Later. We will decide later."
Ian quickly suppressed his smile and reassured him again, "If it comes to killing him, you can do it!"
"How long?"
"Wait until Kuma returns!"
After mentally estimating the time, Ian hesitated for a moment and said, "Judging by the time, Kuma should be arriving by now!"
Meanwhile, on an island somewhere in the Grand Line.
"Zephyr-sensei, the pirates here have all been cleared out. Aren't we leaving?"
"Wait a little longer."
Hearing Binz's words, Zephyr, sitting on a boulder, said cheerfully, "That kid, Ian, said he needs to see me, so he told us to wait here for a bit."
"Ian is looking for you, Zephyr-sensei? Is something wrong?"
Binz looked surprised, then curiously looked around. "And he wants us to wait here? Is he also nearby?"
"I don't know either. Since that kid has spoken, let's wait a bit!"
Zephyr waved his hand casually, then looked at Binz and Ain in front of him and said with a smile: "Why don't you two come inside my body to rest for a bit? I'll wait here."
"I'll stay with you, Zephyr-sensei."
"Fine, I'll stay with Zephyr-sensei too!"
Hearing Ain's words, Binz, who had initially intended to nod, could only sigh helplessly and say with a grin: "Although it feels very comfortable inside, I can't stay inside all the time!"
"You little rascal..."
Zephyr smiled helplessly and shook his head; he wasn't angry at Binz's teasing.
Instead, he looked at his stomach: "But you're right. It is very comfortable inside my body."
He couldn't help admitting it: This Devil Fruit was surprisingly perfect for him.
Just with this Devil Fruit, the cost of forming a fleet could be cut by half.
Even if he recruited more people, space wouldn't be a problem.
If the Marines had a few more members, it would practically be a mobile marine fortress!
"That kid really gave me a precious Devil Fruit, what a pity... I wonder if he's prepared a return gift for Ain?"
As soon as Zephyr finished speaking, Ain's cheeks flushed slightly. She looked helplessly at her teacher, but before she could speak, Zephyr, seemingly sensing something, suddenly became serious.
He abruptly stood up, looked up at the sky, and then shouted loudly to Ain and Binz beside him: "Get out of the way!"
Before the two could react, Zephyr grabbed their hands and leaped backward.
Just as they landed… Bang!
A loud sound echoed as a massive object, of unknown origin, slammed in front of them, sending up clouds of dust.
Enemy attack?
The three expressions changed instantly, and their eyes widened warily.
At that moment, the dust settled, and as they stared intently ahead, a golden reflection caught their eye.
"This... is..."
Binz, who had been on guard, stared wide-eyed at what was before him.
"God..."
"That's a huge gold brick!"
As soon as these words were spoken, just as the three stared wide-eyed and bewildered at the suddenly falling giant gold brick, another object landed beside it with a bang.
The three were startled again, watching the dust kicked up once more.
Was it another gold brick?
But before they could react, a burly, imposing figure emerged from the dust.
The figure carried a thick book in his hands, wore a bear-eared hat on his head, and looked at the three before him expressionlessly, saying: "Actually, you didn't need to dodge; it won't hit you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the three recognized him clearly and stared at the newcomer with astonishment.
"The divine doctor, Kuma?"
…
"God! God!"
"I'll show you what a god is!"
"I'll show you what a God of Thunder is! I'll show you what a God of Sand is! Only a God can hurt a God?"
Ian: "..."
Ian silently watched Enel, whom Crocodile was using to vent his anger.
Although Crocodile had temporarily spared Enel's life because of his words, being called a God of Sand by an idiot still made Crocodile feel angry.
Therefore, a good beating was inevitable.
If a top-tier powerhouse from the ocean called him a God, or if the World Government addressed him that way, Crocodile might be pleased.
But from Enel... an idiot who couldn't move when he was choked and was instantly defeated, called him a god like himself.
And in front of so many people!
Especially since Ian, who defeated him, was also there, Crocodile felt he had lost face immensely.
So, the beating was incredibly brutal!
Even Enel, the ruler of this island and known as the God of Thunder by its inhabitants, screamed in agony.
"God of Sand, why? I've already agreed to cede my divine kingdom to you, and you still want to kill me, another god, for a bunch of mortals?"
"My temper is raging!"
Hearing Enel dare to call him that, Crocodile even took the cigar from his mouth, his fist hardening. "God of Sand! You keep calling me God of Sand! Bastard, my name is Crocodile!"
The scene was extremely gruesome, making Ace and Gan Fall, who had been dethroned by Enel, show some remorse.
Especially Gan Fall, who had originally been terrified of Enel's divine power, now, seeing the scene before him, was filled with complex emotions and couldn't help but sigh softly.
The god of Skypiea is getting beaten up by the people of the sea!
"Shouldn't we stop him?"
Ace scratched his head, hesitating for a moment. "Won't that guy get beaten to death? This guy seems pretty weak!"