Chapter 31: Deep Schemes
The explosions in the rocky area gradually subsided. Because Drought Jack had brought reinforcements, the Big Mom Pirates began retreating toward the coast.
"Don't let a single one escape!"
"Kill them all."
The pirates of the Don Quixote Family gave swift chase. The Big Mom Pirates fought as they retreated, and the pirates from the seven landing points soon converged. Members of the Don Quixote Family also regrouped during the pursuit, and a deadly chase began along the shoreline.
A large group of pirates charged into the shallow sea, splashing water everywhere. Pirates were cut down one after another. Within less than two minutes, the shallow waters had turned a pale red. Some pirates who had drowned in the shallows struggled to stand, only to be met by sharp blades and lead bullets.
The Big Mom Pirates had been pushed back—or rather, they had been forced to retreat. The Don Quixote Family lacked the strength to truly defeat them.
In this kind of land battle, the retreating side always pays a heavy price, but there was no choice. Jack's fleet was already approaching by sea. If they didn't withdraw now, they would be caught in a pincer attack.
"Slow Waltz."
A woman wearing a huge round hat and wielding a long blade blocked a large group of Don Quixote Family members. A cigarette dangled from her mouth, and her neck was far longer than a normal human's.
This woman was Charlotte Amande, the third daughter of the Charlotte family. She was cruel by nature and highly skilled in swordsmanship.
Amande's famous sword descended slowly, cutting into the crown of a pirate's head at an agonizingly slow pace.
"Kill... me!!"
The wailing of that Don Quixote Family pirate made dozens of surrounding pirates stop in their tracks. They stared at the scene in horror. Even in their bloodlust, the harrowing screams startled them.
The pirate knelt before Amande, seawater rising past his thighs. His pupils trembled, threatening to roll back.
Amande held her cigarette between her lips, her figure voluptuous. The long blade in her hand, named White Fish, was slowly penetrating the enemy's skull.
What was puzzling was that the pirate undergoing this slow craniotomy did not resist. In fact, he seemed to be trying to raise his hands, but his movements were agonizingly slow.
Amande's gaze swept the surroundings. After a full ten-plus seconds, she finally completely split open the pirate's skull. The pirate collapsed slowly, splashing into the seawater with a dull thud.
With a *swish*, Amande flicked the blood off her blade. She glanced at the pirates frozen in place, then turned and walked toward the ship.
"Don't think you rabble drove us off. If it weren't for those three guys, today would be the death day for all of you."
Amande flicked away the cigarette butt between her fingers, exhaling a plume of smoke. Seawater splashed beneath her feet as she leaped aboard the ship.
*Boom!*
The sea surged. A massive figure, a full five meters tall, fell from the sky, splashing seawater all over the faces of the Don Quixote Family pirates.
Seeing this enormous figure, every Don Quixote Family member nearby took several steps back.
Katakuri swept his gaze over these pirates and then ignored them entirely. Even the executive Dellinger was among them. Limping slightly, Katakuri turned and walked toward the ship. Seawater reached his calves. Although Devil Fruit users fear the sea, as long as the water doesn't reach their waist, they won't suffer severe weakness.
Katakuri's sudden appearance was like a bucket of cold water dumped on the pursuers. They exchanged glances, and no one dared to advance.
Forget Katakuri's terrifying height—the sheer aura he exuded was enough to make most pirates stop in their tracks.
Dellinger gritted his sharp teeth, grinding them audibly. The moment Katakuri stood before him, he felt fear. His fighting fish bloodline seemed to warn him: Do not advance. Take one more step, and you will die.
But one thing puzzled Dellinger: why was the fearsome Katakuri limping?
The reason was simple: Katakuri had taken a side kick from Su Xiao. Though he appeared unharmed, his left leg was already swollen to twice its normal size.
The Big Mom Pirates' fleet sailed toward the open sea, heading straight for Jack's fleet.
The Don Quixote Family members on the coast naturally wouldn't just watch. One large ship after another set sail from the port, and they began cooperating with Jack's fleet to pursue Katakuri and his crew—or rather, to drive them away, pushing the Big Mom Pirates' fleet out of Dressrosa's coastal waters.
Although the Big Mom Pirates had suffered a major setback in their first landing attempt, they wouldn't give up so easily. Charlotte Cracker, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, had died in Dressrosa. This matter would not be settled without a fight to the death.
Cannons roared. The three fleets engaged in naval combat in the coastal waters.
Inside Dressrosa's city, Su Xiao walked toward the direction of the King's Plateau. A cigarette dangled from his lips. Doflamingo was not with him; the latter had stayed on the beach to wait for Jack. When Su Xiao left the beach, Doflamingo was still in the same pose, resembling the Thinker.
A few minutes later, Jack's fleet turned back toward the coastal waters. Clearly, Jack didn't want to pursue too deeply, in case the Big Mom Pirates had reinforcements.
Several corpses floated in the shallow sea. The burly Jack jumped down from his ship. The ivory decorations on either side of his neck were very conspicuous—in fact, these were Jack's weapons: two curved long blades, or more accurately, two hooked blades.
Jack looked down at the pale red seawater beneath his feet. Just from the color of the water, he could imagine the intensity of the landing battle.
Jack led several hundred pirates ashore. His gaze was immediately drawn to Doflamingo, who was still on the beach.
"Hmm?"
Jack's eyes showed confusion. The iron jaw under his chin made him look especially cruel. At this moment, Jack was puzzled: why was Joker (Doflamingo) in such a pose?
Jack walked across the sand, leaving deep footprints. Moments later, he stood before Doflamingo.
"Joker, you actually drove back Charlotte Katakuri. That's quite surprising."
Jack's voice was deep. He stood in front of Doflamingo, his shadow completely covering the latter, a testament to his immense size.
Doflamingo, who had been covering his mouth and nose with one hand, looked up at Jack. When he lowered his hand, Jack's mouth beneath the iron jaw curled into a grin.
"I didn't expect to drive him back either."
Doflamingo took a bandage handed to him by a pirate and began cleaning the blood from his face.
"I didn't drive back Katakuri alone. Bai Ye and I did it together. Bai Ye is a partner I recently secured."
"Bai Ye? A partner?"
Jack's expression darkened. The Beasts Pirates were already the Don Quixote Family's partners. Now there was another collaborator, which made Jack suspect that this person's goal might also be the artificial Devil Fruits.
"Where is he?"
Jack's eyes flashed with killing intent. He felt some dissatisfaction toward Doflamingo. With Doflamingo's intelligence, he naturally guessed what Jack was thinking.
"Regarding the artificial Devil Fruits, you are still my only partner. By the way, I have some good news: Bai Ye once worked alongside Dr. Vegapunk for the World Government."
Hearing the words "World Government" from Doflamingo, Jack's expression grew even more displeased. Seeing this, Doflamingo sighed inwardly.