Seeing Whitebeard and Kaido's subordinates engaging the Marine's experts, and then looking at her own Sweet Commanders still bullying low-level soldiers, Big Mom felt she was losing her dignity somewhat.
"Smoothie, Snack, go bring back those guys' heads for me."
Big Mom pointed at several Vice Admirals wreaking havoc among the pirate forces.
"Yes, Mama!"
The two Sweet Commanders immediately accepted their orders, charging forward with their swords.
The reason Cracker wasn't called was because that child was too afraid of pain, currently still hiding inside the Queen Mama Chanter's hold, only controlling his biscuit soldiers to attack.
Considering his limited close-combat abilities, it was better to have him keep producing endless biscuit soldiers to fill the battle lines, so Big Mom didn't bother calling him.
As for Katakuri… Big Mom had given him special orders.
To handle Doflamingo before Kaido noticed.
Did he think he can offend Big Mom and walk away freely? No way!
Opposite the two Sweet Commanders, the two Marine Vice Admirals effortlessly clearing out the affiliated pirate crews happened to be one male and one female, perfectly matching them.
No need for assignment… they instinctively paired off with the enemy of the same gender.
Looking at the tall, slender figure and pretty face of the female Marine, Smoothie instinctively felt somewhat displeased.
Just as she usually enjoyed 'squeezing' juice from beautiful women, Smoothie inherently harbored a destructive desire toward women with beautiful appearances.
Thus, this Sweet Commander drew her sword and slashed without a word.
Opposite her, Gion had already sensed the attack, her Konpira steadily blocking Smoothie's two-handed greatsword.
"A pirate under Big Mom?"
Gion looked at Smoothie, quickly recalling who this pirate was.
"Marine, I remember you!"
Smoothie's eyes fierce, she withdrew her sword and slashed again, strikes flying freely with each move.
Both she and Gion were quite rare female swordsmen, yet the intensity of their battle was no less than anywhere else on the battlefield.
Smoothie remembered clearly… this woman was among those who attacked Whole Cake Island last time.
With old and new grudges combined, the killing intent in Smoothie's eyes gradually intensified.
After being suppressed by Gion's swordsmanship again, Smoothie directly took a step back, then, regardless of friend or foe nearby, grabbed someone.
Squeeze-
Like wringing a towel, the person's bodily fluids were rapidly extracted by the Shibo Shibo no Mi, filling Smoothie's body.
Perhaps one wasn't enough, as she simply grabbed several other lucky 'spectators' to squeeze fluids.
"Juicy Giant!"
After absorbing enough fluids, Smoothie's body immediately expanded.
Originally, as a Long-Leg Tribe member, her height already exceeded four meters. Now, entering [Juicy Giant] form, her size nearly doubled, reaching Big Mom's level.
"Let's see you block this now!"
Shouting, Smoothie swung her greatsword down at Gion.
Gion narrowed her beautiful eyes, then performed an upward diagonal reverse-kesa strike, aiming to preemptively disrupt the opponent's force by hitting the greatsword's blade.
But even so, the enhancement from gigantification wasn't something Gion could easily handle.
"So heavy-"
Sparks flew between Konpira and the greatsword, but anyone could see that in this contest of strength, Gion was at a disadvantage.
Nearby, Tokikake, who had been casually handling Snack's attacks, saw this and immediately abandoned his opponent, charging toward Gion. Simultaneously, he pulled his hands from his pockets, reaching for Smoothie's greatsword.
"Gion-chan! I'll help you!"
"Don't need it!"
Gion didn't appreciate it, directly sidestepping Tokikake, quickly advancing forward, reaching right before Smoothie.
Longer reach gives advantage, shorter reach gives risk.
Gigantification brought such troubles… for instance, Smoothie found it hard to deal with Gion's close-quarters combat.
Don't think Smoothie was one of Big Mom Pirates' Four Sweet Commanders for nothing, but Gion was no slouch either.
As Admiral Candidates, Gion and Tokikake's strength even surpassed most Headquarters Vice Admirals (excluding a certain senbei-loving old man).
Actually, Gion had been holding back some frustration for this battle.
She and Tokikake had been Admiral Candidates for many years, but recently, Tsuru hinted that higher-ups intended to include those two newly enlisted Commodores among the Admiral Candidates.
-Moreover, the World Government's evaluation of those two was even higher than theirs.
This might also relate to the failed Whole Cake Island raid.
As a loyal Marine officer, Gion naturally wouldn't disobey orders, but she also wanted to prove to those above through this battle that she had strength too.
Not only did Smoothie have old and new grudges… actually, Gion also wanted revenge.
After closing the distance, the advantage quickly shifted toward Gion.
Among the Four Sweet Commanders, the gap between the other three and Katakuri, the 'greatest work', was still too large.
So, what was Katakuri doing at this moment?
The answer is, escaping.
What could make this bounty-over-one-billion-berry powerhouse flee naturally couldn't be Doflamingo.
In fact, just earlier, he had almost beaten Doflamingo half to death.
Both could use Conqueror's Haki, but unlike Doflamingo, who fought his way up alone, Katakuri had witnessed many grand scenes and received guidance from many 'famous teachers'.
Though not yet mastering Conqueror's Haki Infusion, Katakuri's physical strength and combat experience far surpassed Doflamingo's.
Doflamingo's moves like [Five Color Strings] or [Overheat] could only bully pirates without Haki, but facing a fierce fighter like Katakuri, even breaking his defense was difficult.
As for his killing moves, [Sixteen Holy Assassin's Bullets], they were directly dodged in advance, unable to hit.
Observation Haki suppression was too strong… sometimes its effect was no less than Conqueror's Haki suppression.
"Dammit!"
Hit again by Katakuri's Giant Mochi, Doflamingo's nose bled, making him look quite disheveled.
But it must be said, his sunglasses' quality was unrealistically good, remaining undamaged even after such a beating.
The other Warlords had already found different enemies to fight on their own, showing no intention to help him.
And right then, figures hiding in the shadows suddenly made their move.
They were several figures in cloaks, their faces hidden, even their builds vastly different.
"The Donquixote brat can't die yet."
It can't be helped… who let this guy, who abandoned Celestial Dragon glory, hold secrets about the National Treasure?
Originally, they should have acted after the target appeared, but now they couldn't worry about that.
Besides, they were only one part of the plan...
Several cloaked figures revealed their true forms, then jointly attacked Katakuri.
Almost instantly, Katakuri, who had held the advantage, fell into a disadvantage.
Though his Observation Haki could briefly foresee the future, his own reaction speed had limits.
Facing rapid, coordinated attacks from multiple opponents, Katakuri found it hard to handle with just two fists.
As these people attacked Katakuri, the three Emperors on their warships instantly shifted their focus.
They hadn't been unable to monitor that area earlier, as their attention was just on the main battlefield.
"That is..."
Whitebeard murmured. Simultaneously, Big Mom and Kaido also frowned.
"Familiar feeling."
"It's those guys-"
Clearly, all three recalled those Celestial Dragons encountered during the God Valley battle.
Those with powerful strength and 'immortal bodies'.