"You're not supposed to be attacking Luffy from behind!" Luffy slashed right with his arm, forcing Kuro to shift directions, sneering, "Pirates… ambitions… aiming to be King of the Pirates? What a joke!"

From above, Alex watched, alarmed. Luffy had tried to strike Kuro repeatedly, but Kuro's speed—nearly 50% faster than before—made him untouchable. Alex knew Luffy's strength well, and he understood how hard it was to catch Kuro moving that fast.

"Nami, his foot's swollen and hurting. You see that, right? Just leave with me—let's get Zoro to help instead," Alex urged, but Nami shook her head.

"Leave? I'd rather die right here!" Alex said firmly. He'd tried to give Luffy help, but Kuro kept evading, leaving more wounds on both of them. Retreating to fetch Zoro would take at least seven minutes—and Kuro's speed would catch them easily.

Staying meant confronting Kuro now and protecting Luffy. Also, Alex couldn't bear the idea of Zoro seeing him run instead of fight. It was a matter of pride—and survival.

He jabbed the fishing rod into the ground and contracted it small, then extended it again, rising to the center of the slope while Nami watched, wide-eyed.

Within moments, the rod shrank to its minimal length—barely enough to tuck away the hook—while Alex maneuvered to block Kuro's movement. He planned to box him in.

"Kuro… you have the audacity to face me? Come get me if you have the guts."

Nami was stunned. His injuries were serious. Yet he dared provoke Kuro… was he suicidal?

"Shut up. Stand back," Alex grunted.

At that moment, Kuro's low voice echoed: "Since you're in a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish!"

"Luffy! He's headed your way—be careful!" Nami shouted.

"Perfect," Alex gripped the rod. "Behold—my new weapon!"

With lightning speed, the rod extended ten meters, anchoring into both sides of the ravine. Alex kicked off, twisting out of the way.

"Is that… a freely extending staff? Just like me!"

Luffy's eyes lit up—he totally understood the appeal.

Klang!

"ARGH!"

Kuro, running at full tilt, crashed straight into the rod. The impact was brutal—he gagged on blood, half his torso slammed like wood under a wedge—but the rod didn't budge.

Suspended, Kuro's arms dangled like a puppet.

"Luffy—end this now," Alex shouted. He tried to reel Kuro in before he could recover. But Kuro echoed with strength and swung a clawed slash at Alex.

Jesus—he's still strong?

Alex dropped low and evaded. He shortened the rod, but Kuro still flung more strikes. Alex realized he couldn't dodge forever.

Just when he thought he'd be struck, Nami stepped between them wielding her staff—

Crack!

Nami's wood shattered under Kuro's white-hot claw blade—she screamed, blood gushing from her right shoulder.

"Nami!"

Alex froze, fury flooding his blood-tinted vision. He shortened the rod, swung Kuro bodily away, and spun to her side—

"You okay? I'm sorry, I didn't expect that," he winced.

Nami gasped, clutching the wound—she'd saved him, and he'd never forgive himself.

"I'm fine—I won't go down so easily. But you—are you actually a fishing rod?"

She searched his eyes, trying to stay composed despite the pain.

"Of course—only this rod isn't ordinary. It's meant to fish massive sea beasts."

Nami's jaw dropped. He fished sea kings?

"Maybe—just maybe—that's a rich man's hobby," Alex shrugged. It was Kaya's custom rod, after all.

In a flash, Kuro thought of a long-ago conversation:

"Mr. Klahadore, I dream of one day catching a sea king…"

"Maybe you will, someday—it's just a dream as long as I'm alive."

Kuro's mind spun backward—could his fate have been written with that fishing rod years ago?

And yet even in that moment of clarity, he chose rage.

"Die! My plan cannot fail! None of you will survive!"

Kuro disappeared again—only to descend upon the slope from two angles.

"Gum-Gum Gatling!"

Luffy unleashed a rapid punch barrage where Kuro had vanished.

"Staff Sweep, Double Cane Strike!"

Alex swung the ten-meter rod wide from side to side.

Kuro, speeding between them, couldn't handle both. His limited range and the crossfire from both sides were overwhelming.

If he dodged one, the other struck. He was facing defeat from both angles.

Hundreds of afterimages formed—the sound of metal slicing against rock echoed under their savage attacks.

Kuro staggered, shell-shocked, crumpled bloodily as the cliff walls behind him began to crumble from the assault.

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