"Are these two the strongest ones here?"

Crocodile became alert.

"Most likely!"

Cavendish had already drawn the sword from his waist.

Elior looked calmly at Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. Technically speaking, he was their enemy as well.

Both Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had been retainers of Kozuki Oden. Had they boarded Whitebeard's ship with him back in the day?

Elior's guess was correct. Both of them already regarded him as an enemy.

Moreover, as one of the Yonko, Elior was seen as dangerous as Big Mom and Kaido. They couldn't allow him to take the Poneglyph.

The stone was a national treasure — something the Mink Tribe had sworn to protect!

"This Poneglyph cannot be taken, Your Excellency!" Inuarashi declared. "It is a treasure of the Mink Tribe! Please, don't force our hand!"

They couldn't allow Elior to walk away with it!

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had the same thought.

"And what if I insist on taking it?"

Elior smiled.

He had set his eyes on this Poneglyph. Who in this world could really stop him?

"Then we won't hold back!"

The two retainers exchanged a look, then unsheathed their weapons, their Haki-infused auras flaring.

Elior knew well these two had once overwhelmed a member of the Worst Generation in the original timeline. But as members of the Nine Red Scabbards, even when they all charged Kaido together, they were ultimately defeated.

How could the two of them alone hope to stop him?

Crocodile and the others didn't interfere—they knew Elior was about to move.

In the blink of an eye, Elior vanished.

"So fast!"

"I can barely track him with Observation Haki!"

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were visibly shaken.

"Be careful! This guy is a monster!"

They raised their weapons just as Elior reappeared.

Their blades swung simultaneously, but with a clink, both were knocked aside. Before either could react, Elior's right leg came down, sweeping across them with terrifying force.

It was like being crushed under a mountain.

Under the pressure of Elior's kick, their bones felt like they were about to snap.

A moment later, the two were sent flying like cannonballs.

BOOM!

A distant forest exploded on impact, smoke and debris rising into the air.

It had taken only one casual kick.

"What incredible power…"

This was Cavendish's first time witnessing Elior in action. With a single strike, he'd floored two of Wano's strongest warriors.

"Get used to it" Crocodile said indifferently. "Enemies who would give us a hard fight… to him, they're just bigger ants."

After all, Crocodile had once challenged Whitebeard — and was instantly crushed. Now, in front of Elior, he felt just as powerless.

"Hmph?"

At that moment, Crocodile sensed a new presence approaching—fast. Elior felt it too.

Crocodile transformed into sand.

BOOM!

A sharp clang echoed as a strange old man deflected Crocodile's golden hook with a massive shuriken in mid-air.

"Another strong one?" Crocodile muttered, gazing down at Raizo, the ninja of the Red Scabbards.

"You foreign pirates! Don't get cocky!"

"I am the ninja — Raizo!"

With a puff of smoke, Raizo vanished.

"Crocodile, be careful. His ninjutsu is tricky."

Elior's calm voice rang out.

"No problem."

Crocodile was not concerned.

A moment later, Raizo reappeared behind him, aiming to strike with another shuriken. But it passed right through — Crocodile's body simply turned to sand.

"A Logia user?!"

Raizo's expression shifted.

Crocodile's counter came instantly: a crescent-shaped sand blade slashed toward him. Raizo jumped back, but the blade still tore across his cheek.

As he landed ten meters away, pain and blood followed.

"Damn it! He's a Logia user!"

Raizo realized he'd underestimated his opponent.

He'd rushed in after seeing Nekomamushi and Inuarashi defeated — shocked and unaware of the current state of the world. He didn't even know Whitebeard was dead.

But Crocodile didn't hesitate. Since Raizo was an enemy, he would be eliminated.

On the other side, the very appearance of Raizo made Elior certain that Lady Toki had transported Momonosuke's retainers into this era.

Which meant… Momonosuke was nearby too.

He has to die. Elior didn't even have a good reason—he simply hated him.

Even if he had no interest in Nami or Robin, that didn't stop him from wanting to kill Momonosuke.

And if the heir must die, then so must his retainers.

After all, Elior had plans for Wano. And there would be no room for resistance.

Elior vanished again, reappearing before the barely-standing Nekomamushi.

"I will take the Poneglyph. If you want to stop me—then die."

BOOM!

Without giving Nekomamushi a chance to react, Elior drove a heavy punch straight into his chest.

Blood erupted from his mouth as he was sent flying once more.

"Nekomamushi!"

Inuarashi shouted and lunged toward Elior, blade swinging.

But Elior caught the sword barehanded, covered in Armament Haki.

"Break."

Elior's calm voice was the last thing Inuarashi heard before his sword shattered into pieces.

To Elior, it was nothing more than a brittle stick.

Then, Elior's foot struck Inuarashi's stomach.

He was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth.

Before he could land, Elior raised his right hand and placed his palm over Inuarashi's chest midair, unleashing the energy of Honkai.

Inuarashi's eyes widened in disbelief and agony.

His internal organs were obliterated instantly.

There was no saving him. He wasn't Whitebeard. He wasn't Kaido.

Soon after, Nekomamushi met the same fate.

The two warriors of the Scabbards died painfully, helplessly, filled with regret.

Elior had eliminated them both effortlessly.

Not far off, the remaining Red Scabbards — Kin'emon and the others — heard the faint echoes of battle.

As Kin'emon prepared to investigate, a young man appeared in front of them.

It was Elior.

"Who goes there?!"

Kin'emon immediately drew his sword. He didn't know who Elior was—nor that he stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaido and Big Mom.

But he knew one thing.

This man came with ill intent.

"Protect Lord Momonosuke!"