Chapter 27: Sengoku Lacks Martial VirtueIn the air of Cocoyasi Village, the sunlight soaked the entire village in a warm glow.But none of the Straw Hat crew were in the mood to enjoy this peace—Nami stood in the center of the tangerine orchard with her hands on her hips, keeping everyone busy enough that their feet barely touched the ground."Luffy! I said no stealing the ripe tangerines!"Nami curled her finger and gave him a sharp flick on the forehead.Luffy was huffing and puffing as he packed soil into a newly dug tree pit. Hearing this, he aggrievedly sucked the tangerine juice off his fingers."But this tangerine looked so sweet..."The shovel in his hand somehow slipped and flew out."Oh no!"*Clang!*It smashed into a nearby wine jug, and the splashing wine landed right on Zoro's pant leg."Ah! My tangerine wine! You bastard, I'm going to cut you down sooner or later!"Zoro had just carefully moved a tangerine sapling covered in young buds out of the pit.Startled by the noise, his hand shook; he quickly steadied the wine jug, which was now only half-full, and glared back at Luffy."Sorry, Zoro! It... it was the shovel, it said it wanted to drink wine,""So it flew over on its own... yeah, it flew there by itself, nothing to do with me." Luffy pursed his lips and whistled.Zoro facepalmed at the words, not wanting to deal with this idiot."The shovel wanted to drink? What kind of lame excuse is that?""But Ink Meteor can eat roasted meat!" Luffy said with total certainty."This..." It was Zoro's turn to be speechless. *I've been convinced by this idiot Captain... I'm so unwilling!*"Sanji-kun! Isn't the iced tangerine juice ready yet?!"Nami turned and shouted toward the kitchen, "The sun is so fierce, and my throat is smoking from shouting at these idiots!""It's ready, Nami-san~"Sanji pushed a dining cart out of the kitchen, holding a pure white plate, and placed it gently and slowly in front of Nami."For this incomparably beautiful lady, here is Tangerine Bling-Bling Cake + Iced Tangerine Juice, with added honey for beauty and nourishment! Please enjoy!""Sanji-kun, thank you! Mmm~ it really is delicious!" Nami's eyes widened, making Luffy, who was standing in the corner as punishment, drool."Usopp! Don't just stand there like a scarecrow!"Having replenished her energy, Nami turned with hands on her hips toward the sniper squatting on the ground drawing circles."There are still three pots of saplings over there that haven't been moved. Are you waiting for the tangerines to grow legs and run onto the ship themselves?"Usopp jumped up with a start: "Coming, coming!" He shouted as he ran,"Back when I was on an island made entirely of trees, I pulled up five giant trees with one hand,""Even the Marine Admiral was so shocked he praised me, saying 'Great God Usopp is so amazing,' Great God Usopp is the most amazing..."Before he could finish, a rag thrown by Nami hit him in the face."Use that bragging energy for moving the trees!"Nami facepalmed; not a single one was reliable! Wait, no! The only reliable guy was probably busy enough to be smoking right now...Nami looked with a sympathetic gaze toward a place not far away where loud booming sounds were coming from.Mark was much busier than they were.The debris of the houses smashed by the ArlongPirates was being swallowed in large gulps by Ink Meteor in Taotie Form. Like munching on bread, it devoured the collapsed houses in a few bites."Keep it up! Ink Meteor, last building!"He turned around and waved his hand in the open space. Various building materials synthesized by his fruit ability piled up. He let out a sigh.Wiping away non-existent sweat, he asked, "Auntie, these materials should be enough, right?""Mr. Mark, thank you for your hard work."An auntie holding a wooden board wiped the corner of her eye. "If it weren't for you all, we'd never have dreamed of getting rid of Arlong's gang...""These materials are moisture-resistant and sturdy; they're enough to build a villa.""My family doesn't have much money; the only thing we can offer are these few barrels of tangerine wine. Great benefactor, please accept them!"Mark waved his hand to decline, but after a bit of pushing and pulling, Mark lost!"This wine is really good! That guy Zoro is in for a treat." Just then—Nojiko's startled cry suddenly pierced the village's peace:"Not... not good! Everyone, hide!""The Marines are here!""Two warships have docked at the port, and they look like they mean trouble!"She ran until she was out of breath, her apron strings loose, pointing toward the coastline with her chest heaving.The Straw Hat crew's movements froze in unison.Luffy stood up straight holding his shovel, his brow under the Straw Hat's brim furrowing into a knot:"Marines? What are they doing in Cocoyasi Village?""You're a pirate, they're Marines. What else do you think they're here for?"Sanji exhaled a smoke ring."Could it be they're here to treat you to a meal?""Treat me to a meal?" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up like two giant meat drumsticks.The shovel in his hand fell to the ground with a *clang*. "Then they're good people! Is there meat?""Good people my foot!"Usopp jumped in anxiety, the sapling pot in his hand nearly slipping."Still thinking about eating! They're here for us!"Nami's face turned white instantly. She subconsciously looked toward the bay where the going merry was hidden."Are they really after us? But we just dealt with Arlong..."Mark's fist tightened. "Two warships. They really think highly of us."He looked at Luffy. "Captain, what do you say? Should we withdraw now?""Withdraw!"Luffy's reaction was surprisingly fast; he had already grabbed the Straw Hat from the ground and pulled it onto his head."Luckily Mark, you hid the Merry in a secluded bay ahead of time. There's still time to run!""We have to take these tangerine trees!"Nami quickly counted the saplings piled to the side."We can't let a morning's work go to waste. We have to take at least twenty trees!"Just then, a villager came scrambling into the orchard:"Not good! Miss Nojiko! Uncle Gen, Uncle Gen is fighting with the Marines!"His voice was urgent. "Right at the open space at the village entrance! One of the Marines was beaten until he bled!""What? They're fighting!"Nami and Nojiko cried out at the same time, their faces turning deathly pale.Gen—The uncle who had loved her and Nojiko like his own daughters after Belle-Mere died.The old man who always watered the tangerine trees in the early morning had actually laid hands on the Marines?"What happened?"Nami grabbed the villager's arm."Aren't the Marines here to catch us? Why would they clash with Uncle Gen?""It... it was a Marine in a hat acting suspiciously, peeking around the village entrance,"The villager explained stutteringly, "Uncle Genthought he was one of the subordinates coming to rescue Colonel Nezumi, so he went up and pinned the guy down...""Now the villagers are all blocking the middle of the road, saying they won't let the Marines into the village no matter what!"Mark's face darkened completely."That was a Marine scout, obviously here to confirm if we're on the island."Mark glanced at the coastline. "It'll be trouble if the villagers and Marines get into a confrontation.""Can we still escape?"Usopp rubbed his hands, sweat starting to bead on the tip of his nose. "If the Marines decide the villagers are harboring us...""We can't escape."Mark interrupted him decisively."If we run now, the villagers will be charged with 'obstructing Marine justice.'""The debt with Colonel Nezumi hasn't been settled yet. With this added on, their lives ahead will only be harder."Luffy squatted on the ground, stroking his chin, showing a rare serious expression:"In other words, the escape route is blocked?"He stood up abruptly, the eyes under the Straw Hatshining with an excited light."Then we'll just have to fight our way out!""But what about these tangerine trees?" Usoppglanced at the mountain of saplings. "We can't take them into a fight, can we?""Leave them to us!"Johnny and Joseph emerged from the tangerine grove, patting their chests in guarantee."The two of us will transport the saplings to the Merry right now. We promise not a single leaf will be missing!""Big Sis Nami, don't worry. Even if we die, we'll get these tangerine trees safely onto the ship!""Really?"Nami's eyes lit up, her previous panic dissipating slightly. "You two are so reliable!""Leave it to us!" Johnny shouldered two pots of saplings, while Joseph had already started loading a wheelbarrow.Mark instructed:"You two go to the bay first and prepare for departure. Wait for Usopp's signal flare.""Red means move the ship to the open sea and standby. Green means move toward the signal point. Don't get it wrong.""Understood!"The two responded in unison and ran toward the bay with light footsteps.In the open space outside the village, the air was as heavy as if it could be wrung like water.Two hundred Marines stood in a neat phalanx, their deep blue military boots stepping on the muddy ground. Their footsteps were in perfect unison, carrying an intimidating aura—This was completely different from Colonel Nezumi's ragtag bunch with their crooked hats. Just standing there was enough to make one's spine chill.At the very front of the phalanx stood two people, their presence as powerful as two moving storms.The man on the left wore an open white Marinecoat, the two characters for 'Justice' on the back stinging the eyes in the sunlight.The collar of his deep blue shirt was open, and bronze skin was faintly visible beneath the lapels.His coat seemed to have a life of its own, billowing slightly even without wind, with pale white smoke swirling around the edges—A unique trait of a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruituser.The two cigars in his mouth were burning brightly, and gray-blue smoke spilled from the corners of his mouth, swirling between his sharp brows.The 'Marine' armband on his left arm was stretched tight by muscle, and the Jitte inlaid with Sea Stoneon his back glinted coldly.Just looking at it was enough to make a fruit user's scalp tingle—It was Smoker, the Colonel of the Loguetownbranch, known as the 'White Hunter'.The figure on the right seemed to soften the air a bit, yet carried a dangerous edge.Pink long hair fell over her shoulders like waves, the ends curling playfully.A dark red short Marine jacket was open, revealing a black tight low-cut tank top that outlined smooth curves. The back also bore the word 'Justice'.Below, she wore black ultra-short hot pants, her two long, straight legs encased in black high-heeled boots.Her hands were clad in black leather gloves, her fingertips resting lightly on the golden chain belt at her waist. Even in a tense standoff, she exuded a lazy yet lethal beauty—The Cage-Cage Fruit user, Marine Headquarters Colonel Hina."Report, Colonel Smoker! It is confirmed that the Straw Hat crew is inside the village!"A soldier with a left eye swollen like a panda's came running, clutching his injury, his cap askew. He was clearly the scout pinned down by Gen.Smoker didn't even lift an eyelid; his gaze was fixed on a group of people in tattered clothes—They were the villagers Mark and Usopp had rescued from Nezumi's secret base, with red whip marks still on their bodies.Hearing their intermittent accusations of Colonel Nezumi's crimes and collusion with Arlong, the cigars in Smoker's mouth burned even brighter.His eyes were cold as ice: "Nezumi, that scum... a real disgrace to the Marines."On the other side, Hina was surrounded by the villagers of Cocoyasi Village. Her peach-blossom eyes, usually full of smiles, were now slightly narrowed."You're Nezumi's accomplices, aren't you? Come to exploit us again?"A man carrying a hoe roared and took a step forward, the blade of the hoe glinting in the sun."None of you Marines are any good! Where were you when Arlong killed Belle-Mere? Now you come here to put on an act!""Get out of Cocoyasi Village! You're not welcome!""To say such things, Hina is saddened."Her tone was full of grievance, but her fingers slowly peeled a tangerine, gently placing a segment into her mouth."We're here to catch pirates, not to steal tangerines~ So sweet. I must buy some to take back when the mission is over."The adjutant behind her took a step forward and shouted sharply:"We are the direct unit of Marine Headquarters! We are here specifically to arrest Straw Hat Luffy and his accomplices!""Unrelated persons step aside immediately, or you will be charged with obstructing official business!"These words were like a spark falling into a fuel tank, instantly igniting the anger the villagers had suppressed for years."Arrest the Straw Hat crew?"An elderly man leaning on a cane shuffled forward two steps, his cane thumping heavily on the ground."If it weren't for the Straw Hat boy, we'd still be Arlong's slaves!""You Marine Headquarters took our tributes back then but watched as Arlong murdered and burned. Now you have the face to come and arrest our benefactor?""If you want to touch the Straw Hat crew, you'll have to step over our corpses first!""That's right! Step over us!"The villagers crowded forward, their hoes and sickles held high.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteLike a wall built of flesh and blood, it stood firmly blocking the path leading deep into the village.Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, the smoke exhaling from his nose and coalescing into a thick fog before him: "Mouse, Arlong... those two bastards have certainly given me a difficult problem."He hadn't expected the 16th Branch in the East Blueto be so corrupt that even the signboard of "Justice" had been tarnished by this bunch of scum.Hina spat out an orange segment and irritably brushed her pink hair from her forehead: "Headquarters sent me to assist you in catching a few East Blue rookies; I thought it was going to be an easy vacation mission. I even brought my sunglasses and bikini. I didn't expect it to be this troublesome."She glanced at her adjutant on the side, "Any ideas? We can't just stand here with the villagers until dark, right?"The adjutant bowed and said: "In my humble opinion, we should first control the villagers, keeping our actions gentle to avoid injury, and then explain and pacify them after we capture the Straw Hat."Hina raised an eyebrow, her fingertips lightly tracing circles on her gloves: "Fine, let's do it your way."The adjutant immediately turned and waved his hand: "First Squad, listen up! Control the villagers on the scene, do not use weapons, focus on restricting their movement!""Yes!"One hundred Marines responded in unison, their footsteps rolling over the ground like muffled thunder as they closed in on the villagers in perfect formation.These were all strictly trained elites; dealing with unarmed villagers was like a hawk catching chicks.Just then, an angry shout exploded across the open ground like a thunderclap: "Stop!"The embryonic form of Conqueror's Haki contained within that voice hit like an invisible giant wave, causing the dozen Marines in the front row to stumble back two steps instantly.The Straw Hat walked out from behind the villagers. Luffy stood at the very front, his Straw Hat brim pulled low, revealing only his tightly pursed lips: "We are the ones you're looking for, don't give these villagers a hard time."He slowly raised his head, the fighting spirit in his eyes burning: "Come at us if you have a problem!""Luffy! Nami! You guys, run!" Gen squeezed out of the crowd, clutching his bleeding forehead, the wound still dripping blood, "Our old bones aren't afraid of them! You are young and have a long road ahead!""That's right Nami, we haven't broken any laws, the Marine wouldn't dare do anything to us!""You guys run! As long as the green hills remain, there's no shortage of firewood!"The villagers rushed forward to block, shielding the Straw Hat behind them. Some even picked up stones from the ground, staring nervously at the approaching Marines."Everyone, don't be impulsive." Mark's voice reached everyone's ears clearly. He stepped forward and raised a hand to signal the villagers to back off, "If we run now, the Marine will only say you are harboring pirates, and the trouble will be even greater then."A crafty smile suddenly appeared on his face, as if he had thought of a good idea—it was time for his "negotiator" to make an appearance."Yo, isn't this a big shot from the Marine?" Mark's gaze swept over Smoker and Hina, his tone carrying a touch of casual sarcasm, "The people in our village have received quite a lot of 'care' from you. Since you cooperated so happily with Arlong, would you like to consider cooperating with the Straw Hat Piratestoo? We are much more generous with our loot than Arlong.""Hmph, brat." Smoker snorted coldly, cigar smoke rising to obscure half his face, "The Marine will provide an explanation for what Mouse did. But don't lump all Marines in with that kind of scum.""There are indeed good people in the Marine; after all, I know one, I admit that." Mark changed the subject, his eyes suddenly sharpening, "But 'explanation'? What kind of explanation? Can a simple'sorry' wipe away the money stolen from the villagers and the loved ones who were killed? Colonel Smoker, when you say that with your hand on your heart, don't you feel ashamed?""Oh? You know me?" Smoker raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. This kid not only knew his name but also understood his personality quite well."A Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, Colonel of the Loguetown Branch, White Hunter Smoker." Markturned his gaze to Hina, a perfectly measured smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "And this beautiful lady beside you must be your contemporary, Colonel Hina, user of the Cage-Cage Fruit, right? A star pupil of Instructor Zephyr, I've heard much about you.""To call me a beautiful lady~ Hina is shy." Hina was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled, her cheeks flushing with a faint blush, "You certainly know how to talk, but you seem to know a bit too much.""Colonel Hina is truly the pearl of the sea!" Sanjisuddenly struck his standard heart-eyes pose, holding his cheeks with both hands, "To be able to see a peerless beauty like you, I would be willing to be thrown into prison!""Bang!" Nami punched him on the head and raged: "When is it now, and you're still acting like a pervert! Look at the opponent and you'll know they are not easy to deal with!""They are indeed not easy to deal with." Mark put away his joking expression, his tone becoming serious, "Students taught by Instructor Zephyr have strength far exceeding that of ordinary Colonels. Smoker is the strongest Branch Colonel in the East Blue, and Hina serves as a Colonel at Marineford; the strength of these two is likely comparable to a Rear Admiral, and they could even go toe-to-toe with an average Vice Admiral."These words made the expressions of the Straw Hat crew sink. They had just made a name for themselves in the East Blue, and they had suddenly encountered such powerful opponents."It's no surprise that Smoker came, since Loguetownis closest to here." Mark looked at Hina, "But I didn't expect Headquarters to send you; that was unexpected for me.""It was an order issued by the Fleet Admiralhimself." Hina shrugged, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness, "Hina has no choice, orders are like mountains.""That old man Sengoku..." A drop of cold sweat seeped from Mark's forehead, and he couldn't help but complain internally, "We haven't even left the East Blue, was it necessary for Headquarters to send such a badass Colonel? I remember in the manga, this woman caught Bon Clay like it was child's play, and she was promoted to Vice Admiraltwo years later?"He took a deep breath and asked loudly: "It seems you've got us cornered?""If you're smart, just surrender obediently," Smoker's voice was as cold as ice, and the smoke around him began to surge, "Resisting to the end will only lead to suffering.""Since that's the case, I have two conditions!" Marktook another step forward, less than ten meters from the Marine phalanx.Smoker was silent for a moment, glanced at the villagers who were still sobbing behind him, and finally nodded: "In consideration of the fact that you helped the villagers deal with Arlong, I'll give you one chance. But don't go too far.""First," Mark held up a finger, "The remnants of the Arlong Pirates, including Arlong whom we knocked out, will all be handed over to you to deal with, and the credit will go to the Marine. But in exchange, you must compensate the villagers with two hundred million Berries, and exempt them from three years of taxes. This is what they deserve."Hina thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "That's acceptable. Two hundred million Berries is nothing to Headquarters, and compensating them is only right.""Second," Mark's eyes suddenly became highly provocative, and his voice raised a few notches, "Please pass a message to Fleet Admiral Sengoku—you old geezer, if you have any guts, come and catch us yourself! Don't send subordinates to run errands for you! If we make it into the Grand Line, sooner or later we'll flip his Fleet Admiral's office!""Mark, are you crazy?" Usopp's face turned pale with fear, and he hurriedly leaned into his ear to lower his voice, "If you say that, we won't have any peace in the Grand Line later on!""This is called a provocation tactic." Mark also lowered his voice, but a corner of his mouth secretly curled up, "The harsher we say it, the more they will think we are bluffing, and they won't invest too many troops in the East Blue. At the very least, it can allow us to enter the Grand Line safely.""Flip the Fleet Admiral's office?" Zoro crossed his arms, a grin of excitement tugging at his lips, "Sounds more interesting than cutting up pirates. Count me in.""I said it's a provocation tactic! Don't take it seriously!" Nami pulled at her hair in frustration; these two guys were truly afraid of nothing."We're already being watched anyway, we'll clash sooner or later." Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes becoming serious, "We'll just handle it when it comes.""Old geezer... does that mean to praise someone?" Luffy touched his chin and asked suddenly, curious, "Next time I meet Grandpa, I'll call him that too, he should be very happy!""Damn it!" Mark quickly covered his mouth, "If that old man finds out that the 'old geezer' you're saying came out of my mouth... I remember the fear of being dominated by Garp back in the day... If you want to die, don't drag me with you! It's an insult, absolutely don't say it to the old man, I beg you!"On the Marine phalanx side, Smoker's face went completely black, the smoke around him rolling violently, almost coalescing into substance: "We accept the first condition. But the second one... it doesn't matter if we accept it or not, because you won't have a chance to go to the Grand Line."He gripped the Jitte at his waist tightly, "Betting on my Marine dignity, I will crush you here today!""Looks like we can't come to an agreement." Markshrugged his hands and turned to shout to his partners, "Everyone, perk up! We must go all out this time!""Everyone, go back to the village!" Gen suddenly stood up on his crutches and shouted to the villagers, "Staying here will only add trouble for the Straw Hat! Do you want to make them fight while protecting you? Go back! I'll watch over things here!"Although the villagers were reluctant, they knew Gen was right, so they could only retreat toward the village, looking back every few steps, with many wiping away tears as they walked."Luffy!" Mark looked at the Captain, "Smoker is a Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit user; normal attacks are useless against him. Only your Armament Haki can hurt him. Remember, don't get hit by his Sea StoneJitte; that thing can make a fruit user lose their strength instantly, even you will feel terrible.""Leave it to me!" Luffy squeezed his fists, his knuckles making a crackling sound, "A guy who can turn into smoke, beating him up will definitely be fun! I'm guaranteed to win!""Hina is mine." Mark gripped the Ink Meteor at his waist, black air currents flashing across his fingertips and vanishing, "You all focus on dealing with those elite Marines, don't be careless!""Zoro, Sanji," he turned to the other two combatants, "The two hundred elite Marines are up to you. No need to fight hard, just try to stall for time and ensure Nami and Usopp can retreat safely.""Just in time to stretch my muscles." Zoro drew the wado ichimonji, the blade reflecting the sunlight and flashing with a cold, piercing light, "It's been a long time since I've sparred with a decent opponent.""Leave it to me, Miss Nami's safety will be guarded by me." Sanji extinguished his cigarette, struck a fighting pose, his leather shoes grinding against the ground, making a soft sound."What about me?" Usopp shouted, holding his slingshot, "As a sniper, don't I deserve protection? Glass cannon! Understand?"Mark leaned into his and Nami's ears and gave them a few low-voiced instructions; both nodded after hearing them."Alright, brothers!" Mark suddenly raised his fist, "Let's do this! Olli-ge!""What does Olli-ge mean?" Luffy asked, tilting his head."Who cares what it is, just beat them up!" Zoro had already rushed out, his blade light like a ribbon;"Probably something to eat!" Sanji followed close behind, his toes pointing off the ground, his whole body like an arrow off the string."Oh!" Luffy shouted, his rubber arm stretching out suddenly, lunging straight at Smoker with a sound of breaking wind, "Bring that Olli-ge out for me!"The aura of the Straw Hat was like a rising tide, instantly colliding with the killing intent of the Marine, kicking up dust all over the sky. The battle was on the verge of breaking out!
Chapter 28: A Bitter Fight"Straw Hat boy, let me see if you're truly worth the Headquarters' attention!"Smoker's voice carried the saltiness of the sea breeze and an unquestionable pressure; before his voice had even faded, his body had already transformed into a cloud of rolling white smoke.From the core of the smoke, that Jitte inlaid with Sea Stone precisely locked onto Luffy's throat—The most vulnerable vital point of any living being."Smoke guy!"A flash of stubbornness flickered in Luffy's eyes. Instead of retreating, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, stomping a shallow pit into the ground."Soru!"His figure suddenly blurred, and in the next second, he appeared several meters to Smoker's side.This was Soru, one of the Marine's Six Powers, which Luffy had already mastered during his special training.His right arm muscles bulged, and his rubber properties allowed his arm to be pulled back like a bowstring, striking out fiercely with wind pressure that tore through the air:"Gum-Gum Pistol!"This punch was not imbued with Haki; Luffydeliberately held back a bit to test the waters—He had long wanted to try what it felt like to punch a Logia user.The fist, accompanied by a gust of wind, aimed straight for Smoker's head, yet the fist passed through the white mist without any resistance.It was as if he had hit nothing but air; only the ripples in the smoke kicked up by the wind of the punch proved the attack had even happened."Huh?"Luffy blinked, looking down at his retracted fist and then up at the smoke that rapidly closed back up after being pierced.His face was full of novelty. "So this is a Logia... I can't hit him at all.""It's useless."Smoker's voice came from within the smoke, carrying the arrogance of a battle-hardened veteran."An elementalized Logia body isn't something an East Blue brat like you can easily touch."As soon as he finished speaking, the spreading smoke suddenly acted like living vines, instantly enveloping Luffy's entire body."White Vine!"The smoke vines tightened further and further, restricting Luffy's movements like solid steel cables, making even the stretching of his rubber body difficult.Smoker's figure condensed within the smoke, and the Sea Stone Jitte stabbed toward the bound Luffyonce more:"Surrender quietly, Straw Hat Luffy!""It's useless. You think this level of force can trap me?"A sharp glint flashed in Luffy's eyes, and his right arm suddenly exploded with a pitch-black luster as Armament Haki instantly covered his entire fist."Break for me!"The fist suddenly expanded and then contracted; the powerful force combined with Haki instantly tore through the entangling smoke.He used this momentum to suddenly twist his body, and the Sea Stone Jitte slid past his ribs, almost grazing him.It brought a surge of stinging pain—even a slight touch made him feel a wave of discomfort.In that critical moment, Luffy's Armament Haki-wrapped left hand shot out like lightning.He accurately grabbed Smoker's smoke arm which had just condensed into form, while simultaneously channeling Haki into his right leg:"Gum-Gum Whip!"His right leg was like a taut long whip, striking out fiercely with the pitch-black luster of Armament Haki, causing the air to let out an explosive boom.*Thump!*A dull sound of impact rang out, and Smoker was sent staggering back several steps, the stone slabs beneath his feet cracking into fine lines.He only stabilized himself after thrusting his Jitteinto the ground, his eyes flashing with obvious surprise:"Armament Haki? You brat... Hey, hey!""This is the East Blue! How could something like Haki appear in a place like this!""There's more!"Luffy followed up on his success, kicking off the ground to leap up. His body spun at high speed in the air, his right leg straight as a battle-axe, the pitch-black Armament Haki exceptionally striking under the sunlight."Gum-Gum Armament Battle Axe!"Smoker did not dare to be careless. His body turned into smoke again to avoid this heavy blow.At the same time, his right hand condensed into a smoke fist several sizes larger than before, booming toward Luffy:"White Blow!"The massive smoke fist collided violently with Luffy's rubber battle axe.A violent air current spread out like a tsunami, knocking the nearby standby Marine soldiers off their feet.Many people only barely managed to stabilize themselves after crashing into the rock walls."Your Haki is still too green!"Smoker's voice came from the rolling smoke, carrying a hint of coldness."Thinking you can beat me just because you've mastered the basics? Too naive!"The smoke spread out again, completely shrouding the area.Smoker's figure flickered in and out of the smoke, launching a continuous stream of attacks like a phantom:At times turning into smoke ropes entangling from all directions,At times condensing into a solid form to launch tricky surprise attacks with the Sea Stone Jitte,And at times condensing smoke fists from a distance for long-range strikes.He perfectly integrated the abilities of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit with refined martial arts and weapon techniques.With offense and defense as one, his control over the rhythm was flawless, leaving Luffy exhausted from running.Although Luffy had mastered Armament Haki, his application of it was still somewhat unrefined.Every time he wanted to hit Smoker, he had to accurately predict the moment he solidified, which was a massive drain on his mental energy.What gave him even more of a headache was that Sea Stone Jitte, which could always appear from the most unexpected angles, forcing him to dodge with all his might—Once that thing touched his body, his gum-gum fruitpowers would be suppressed."Damn! This smoke is too much trouble!"Luffy wiped the sweat from his face, his chest heaving from rapid breathing.His body had already been grazed in several places by the impact of the smoke fists, seeping blood.However, the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and a hint of an excited arc even curved at the corner of his mouth."But... this is what makes it interesting! Again!"He took a deep breath, concentrating all his remaining Haki into his fists, his arms spinning at high speed like twisted dough:"Gum-Gum Twin Gatling!"The spinning fists contained unparalleled power, booming toward the place where the smoke was thickest and the energy fluctuations were strongest.Smoker's eyes narrowed; this time, he didn't dodge again.The rolling smoke suddenly contracted, his figure fully condensed, and the Sea Stone Jitte in his hand was imbued with his full strength as it thrust out boldly to meet Luffy's twin fists!*BANG—!!!*The moment the fists and the Jitte collided, it felt as if the entire island was vibrating.The black Armament Haki and the white smoke energy clashed violently,Forming visible ripples of energy that spread in all directions, the ground instantly cracking into spiderweb-like fissures.Luffy only felt a massive force transfer from the Jitte, shaking his arms until they were numb, almost making him unable to hold his fists.And Smoker was also shaken by this violent force, staggering back repeatedly.Every step left a deep footprint in the ground, and a trace of bright red blood spilled from the corner of his mouth."Brat..." Smoker wiped away the blood, his gaze becoming more serious than ever before."Sea Stone should make ability users powerless... Why is it ineffective against you?"Luffy grinned, revealing his white teeth: "Sea Stone? I even sleep while holding that stuff!"Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield."Little brother, you're quite handsome, but it's a pity you're a pirate."Hina sized up Mark before her, a seductive smile playing on her lips!"Hina will be very gentle when she locks you in a cage. Be a good boy and listen, and you won't have to suffer.""I appreciate the beautiful sister's kindness."Mark stretched his wrists, his knuckles letting out a slight cracking sound."But cages should be reserved for those who abuse their power—""Like certain Marines wearing the cloak of justice.""Oh?"The smile on Hina's face instantly vanished, her eyes turned cold, and she swung her hands forward fiercely."Kimono Sleeve White Cage!"In an instant, several pitch-black iron bars shot out from her palms like agile venomous snakes.They interwove and tangled in the air, instantly weaving an airtight net.It descended toward Mark, sealing off all his space to dodge.Mark's gaze sharpened, his footwork became unpredictable as his figure wove through the gaps in the iron bars.His movements weren't fast, yet he always managed to avoid the pincer attacks of the iron bars at the last possible second, narrowly dodging the first wave of attacks."Good speed, but it's not enough."Hina chuckled, her wrists flipping nimbly.Those iron bars seemed to come to life, instantly changing direction and attacking from the ground, the sides, and overhead simultaneously.Like a giant net constantly tightening, it completely blocked Mark's path of retreat."Let's see where you hide this time.""Hide?"A cold smile curved on Mark's lips as he let out a low shout:"Ink Meteor!"The lion-headed long staff at his lower back suddenly turned into a streak of light, instantly transforming into a hideous Taotie—With golden eyes and tusks, its massive mouth opened to reveal rows of densely packed sharp fangs, its entire body radiating a fierce aura.*Clang! Clang! Clang!*The Taotie's claws, like the hardest alloy, precisely struck the incoming iron bars, letting out a series of ear-piercing metallic clashing sounds.Hina's iron bars were extremely hard; even so, they were swatted away by the massive force contained within Ink Meteor, drawing parabolas in the air before landing on the ground."Oh? What kind of creature is this?"A flash of surprise flickered in Hina's eyes as she carefully examined the Taotie."A SMILE weapon fruit ability? Doesn't look like it... it's a rare weapon indeed."She paused slightly, her tone becoming serious."However, Hina's iron bars are reinforced with Armament Haki; they won't be that easy to deal with."Having said that, she quickened her pace.Suddenly, her figure blurred as she performed'Soru,' instantly appearing at Mark's side. With a gentle hook of her finger clad in a black glove,A slender iron bar silently coiled toward Mark's ankle like a venomous snake:"Got you.""So fast!"Mark, relying on his keen Observation Haki, instantly sensed the danger and leaped upward."Don't think about escaping!"A flash of triumph flickered in Hina's eyes as she quickly brought her hands together.Even more iron bars surged from all directions, interweaving layer upon layer.Like a massive steel cage, it completely enveloped Mark in mid-air."Let's see how you dodge this time!"Although the iron bars successfully surrounded Mark, Ink Meteor didn't give Hina any room to breathe.It let out an ear-splitting roar, its sharp steel claws carrying the sound of breaking wind, aiming straight for Hina's head!Hina's Observation Haki was equally keen; almost the moment Ink Meteor moved, she twisted her body aside, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike.She used the momentum for a spinning kick, her high-heeled shoe covered in Armament Hakicolliding fiercely with Ink Meteor's sharp claws!*Thump!*Both were simultaneously shaken back several steps.Ink Meteor roared and pounced again, opening its massive mouth to bite.Hina, after all, was a martial arts expert proficient in the Six Powers; her figure nimbly tangled with Ink Meteor, entering a brief stalemate for a moment.Meanwhile, Mark, trapped within the iron bar cage, didn't panic at all.He looked at the iron bars shimmering with the luster of Armament Haki, slowly covering his fist with pitch-black Haki and gently pressing it against the bars."Although I haven't mastered the internal destruction technique of Armament Haki yet."Mark's voice was calm yet carried a sense of confidence, "I have my own way—breaking the surface with a single point."He took a deep breath, his entire body's strength suddenly concentrating at his fingertips."This move is called 'One-Inch Punch' back in my hometown!"Before his voice had even faded, the shadow of his fist flashed and vanished, as if it had never moved.*Thump**Crack—!*A crisp sound rang out, and cracks began to appear on the seemingly solid iron bars from the point where Mark's fingertips touched. Then, the cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb.The entire iron bar cage instantly shattered, turning into a pile of fragments on the ground!"Ink Meteor, dinner time!"Mark waved his left hand, activating his fruit ability to gather all the shattered iron bar fragments on the ground, compressing them into an iron ball the size of a basketball,AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteIt was violently thrown towards Ink Meteor, who was currently entangled in battle with Tina.At the same time, he followed closely behind the iron ball like an arrow released from a bowstring.Just as the iron ball flew in front of Ink Meteor, Mark's figure arrived exactly at the same time.Ink Meteor leaped into the air, his form surging in size, and with a wide-open maw, he swallowed the iron ball infused with Armament Haki, his aura instantly spiking significantly!At the same time, Mark took over for Ink Meteor, closing in directly on Tina!His footwork was steady, his fists like cannons; this was the essence of Baji Quan!"Left and Right Double Open Gate!"Two fierce fists, carrying whistling gusts of wind, slammed into Tina's left and right sides respectively.Tina's expression shifted slightly, and she hurriedly crossed her arms to block."Bang!"The immense force made Tina's arms go numb, forcing her to step back involuntarily.And just at the moment her center of gravity was unstable, Mark's offensive followed in quick succession!"Yama's Three-Point Strike!"Three lightning-fast short punches landed precisely in the gaps of Tina's defense,each strike containing subtle force, disintegrating the Armament Haki on her arms like water dripping through stone."Pfft!"Tina could no longer hold on; she was sent flying backward by these three punches, coughing up a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground."I didn't expect your pet to be able to devour Haki,"Tina struggled to stand up, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and looked at Mark with icy eyes,"The sudden loss of Haki just now is what allowed you to find an opening... From here on out, Tina will not hold back anymore!"She gripped her right hand tightly, and several iron bars rapidly condensed and fused in her palm, eventually transforming into a sharp spear gleaming with a pitch-black luster.The black spear pointed directly at Mark's heart, carrying the sound of tearing air; its speed was extreme,and the spear shaft contained the Armament Hakithat Tina was unleashing with all her might, making it terrifyingly powerful."You cannot block this move!"Mark's pupils constricted. He performed three consecutive backflips to avoid the edge of the spear tip, while simultaneously reaching out into the air with his right hand and shouting lowly:"Ink Meteor!"A streak of golden light cut through the air and landed precisely in Mark's hand, transforming into a long staff with a lion's head, ram's horns, and a steel-needle lion's tail—exactly Ink Meteor's weapon form.Mark gripped the end of the staff with both hands, pouring all his strength and Haki into it, and swung with full force to meet Tina's black spear!"One Force Breaks Ten Thousand Laws!""Clang—!!!"The moment the staff and the spear collided, a deafening roar erupted.Tina's black spear shattered upon impact, while Ink Meteor's lion head remained completely undamaged.Utilizing the impact, Ink Meteor's lion head suddenly opened its maw and bit down towards Tina's head!Tina reacted extremely quickly, leaning back violently, barely avoiding this fatal strike,but a lock of her long pink hair was still neatly bitten off, drifting to the ground."Tina is angry."Tina stroked her severed hair, her eyes becoming increasingly fierce,"It seems I have no choice but to tear you into pieces!"She slammed both hands onto the ground, causing it to shake violently, and countless thick iron bars rose from the ground,rapidly intertwining and closing to form an enormous cage, trapping both her and Mark inside."Let's settle this. To think such strength would appear in the East Blue!"Tina's voice carried a hint of ruthlessness,"Tina's Cage."Inside the cage, the black iron spear and the black Ink Meteor collided at high speed, sparks flying everywhere, blooming like fireworks in the dim space,illuminating their tense faces. The battle had only just reached a white-hot intensity.On the other side, Zoro was facing dozens of Marineelites."Come at me together! Don't waste time!"Zoro let out a low shout, and the wado ichimonji at his waist was already unsheathed.He spread his feet slightly, lowered his center of gravity, and his aura instantly became as sharp as a blade—Facing the dozens of Marine elites rushing at the very front, he couldn't even be bothered to move his feet."Kill!"The Marine soldiers shouted as they charged, their long swords and short guns weaving a dense web of attacks, striking towards Zoro's vital points.These were no ordinary Marine grunts; every one of them had undergone strict training at Marineford,their movements swift, their coordination tacit, their eyes burning with a paranoid obsession for "Justice":"For the glory of the Marines!"But in Zoro's eyes, their strength was not worth looking at."One Sword Style: Tiger Roar!"Zoro's figure suddenly blurred into an afterimage, and the wado ichimonji swung out at an incredible angle.The blade's momentum swept past, leaving a visible white scar in the air, like the roar of a fierce tiger descending the mountain, instantly consuming the enemies in front.With a "shing" sound, the weapons in the hands of the seven or eight Marine soldiers who rushed to him first snapped simultaneously, the cuts as smooth as a mirror.Deep blade marks were left on their chests or shoulders, blood instantly gushing out, and they were sent flying backward while screaming, crashing into the crowd behind and instantly disrupting the formation."Iron Cutter!"The Marine soldiers in the back row had their pupils constrict, their faces filled with shock, but they were elites after all; after a brief moment of panic, the fighting spirit in their eyes became even more intense,"He's only one person! Attack together, we'll wear him down until he dies!"Zoro stepped using the "shave" technique, weaving and leaping through the crowd as if taking a leisurely stroll.His sword was never meant for defense; every swing was accompanied by the sound of tearing flesh.After taking down a sword-wielding Marine elite, he used his foot to hook the opponent's sword, kicking it into the air, caught it precisely with his left hand, and curled his lips into a cold sneer:"Perfect, I was missing a sword.""Two Sword Style: Climbing the Tower!"He pushed off the ground with one foot and leaped up, his body rotating at high speed in the air, both swords cutting crazily like propellers, shredding all incoming attacks from above,and the resulting gust of wind blew the surrounding soldiers off balance, causing them to scream repeatedly.In just a short moment, nearly twenty Marine elites who charged at the front were defeated by Zoro, and the ground was littered with wailing wounded.He stood in the midst of the carnage, his breathing slightly rapid, but his eyes were becoming increasingly excited:"Is that all you've got? Marine elites, nothing more than this."Zoro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and pointed the wado ichimonji at the remaining Marines,"Who's next? Step out!"The remaining eighty Marine elites had ashen faces; they had never imaginedthat this pirate, who started as a pirate hunter, could be this strong.But they were, after all, the elites hand-picked by Marineford, and they quickly adjusted their tactics."Form military formation!" Tina's adjutant shouted sternly, his voice carrying unquestionable authority,"Don't give him a chance to pick us off one by one!"50 Marines quickly changed formation, organizing into five small squads of ten, each providing cover for the others.The soldiers in the front row raised shields embedded with iron plating, forming a sturdy steel defensive line;the soldiers in the back rows held various weapons, reaching out from the gaps in the shields;and dozens more held military sabers, flanking from the left and right, attempting to completely surround Zoro."All-around suppression! Don't give him a chance to break out!" the captain ordered,"Fire!"Instantly, rifles were like a forest, bullets like rain, striking at Zoro from all directions.The shield phalanx advanced slowly, like a moving fortress, constantly compressing his activity space.This was the standard Marine tactic for dealing with powerful individuals, using dense formations and tacit coordination to offset the opponent's individual advantage.Zoro's eyes narrowed, finally feeling substantial pressure.He no longer attacked proactively, but instead danced his two blades into an impenetrable web, forming a steel barrier:"Not bad.""Clang, clang, clang!"Bullets shot at the blades were deflected, making crisp ringing sounds;rifle bayonets thrusting in were precisely parried, the bayonets colliding with the blades, sparks flying everywhere.But the Marines' attacks were too dense, the angles extremely tricky, and the coordination flawless—just as an attack here was blocked, a rifle thrust from an unexpected angle there;the shield phalanx was pressing step by step, causing even the space for him to retreat to constantly shrink."Damn it!"Zoro applied sudden force, slashing both blades simultaneously onto the shield in front,"Two Sword Style: Fierce Wolf!"The immense power caused the webbing between the thumbs and forefingers of the front-row Marinesoldiers to split, and the shields nearly slipped from their hands, but they gritted their teeth and braced their bodies against the blow.Just at the moment when Zoro's old strength was exhausted and his new strength had yet to arise, a rifle suddenly thrust in from the side; he hurriedly dodged by turning his body,but was still grazed on his left arm by the spear tip, blood instantly gushing out, staining his chest red."Sss—"Almost simultaneously, a bullet flew past his cheek, hitting the ground behind him and kicking up a cloud of dust.The scorching airflow grazed his skin, leaving a burning sensation.Zoro felt a chill in his heart; is this the power of a military formation?These guys' coordination was too tacit, giving him absolutely no chance to catch his breath.He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down; the wound on his left arm sent waves of stinging pain,which instead made his eyes even sharper:"I cannot continue to defend passively like this."He aimed again at a sword-wielding soldier, his figure like lightning, instantly closing in, slashing off the opponent's weapon-holding hand with one blade, and simultaneously striking his chest heavily with his elbow.The moment the opponent fell, he used his foot to hook the dropped sword, swinging it into his hand—Now, it was Three Sword Style.He attempted to launch an assault in a direction that appeared to have weaker defenses."Three Sword Style: Tornado!"His body rotated at high speed, forming a violent vortex of blade wind, shredding all the shields and rifles in front.But just as he was about to break out of the encirclement, the Marines on the left and right immediately filled the gap,dozens of swords slashing at his body simultaneously, forcing him to turn his blades to save himself."Pfft!"A short sword took the opportunity to slash his thigh, blood flowing down his pant leg;another elbow strike slammed hard into his back, causing him to grunt, his blood and energy churning."Hahaha... Interesting!"Zoro not only did not retreat, but instead laughed out loud, his laughter filled with arrogance and unyielding spirit,"I will not be defeated again! Before I challenge him!"His breathing was becoming heavier and heavier, and the wounds on his body were constantly increasing—the sword wound on his left arm, the slash on his thigh, the blunt trauma on his back...Blood stained his green haramaki red, but his eyes were shining brighter and brighter, as if flames were burning within them.Everything around him seemed to start becoming different.The shouts of the Marine soldiers, the sounds of footsteps, the sounds of weapons clashing... these sounds gradually became clear in his ears,and he could even distinguish each person's breathing rhythm and heart rate.The shadows of the shields, the trajectories of the rifles, the sound of bullets tearing through the air...this visual information formed a dynamic picture in his mind, with every detail incredibly clear.He could feel which direction the attack was most fierce from, which soldier's movement had an opening, which angle was the weak point in their defense...Not by looking with his eyes, not by listening with his ears, but a deeper level of perception—as if the entire battlefield was under his control."This is... Observation Haki?"Zoro's heart stirred, and he immediately understood something, the corners of his mouth curling into an excited arc,"So that's how it is!"The fully awakened Observation Haki spread out like an invisible radar,clearly reflecting the every move of the one hundred Marine elites around him in his mind."Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"Zoro's figure moved again; this time, his movements were no longer pursuing extreme speed, but had become more precise and more efficient.He could always dodge the most lethal attacks by a hair's breadth, while the blade in his hand seemed to have eyes of its own, landing precisely on the enemy's weak points.Just as a Marine soldier was about to thrust his spear, Zoro had already anticipated his movement.He sidestepped a step early, and his blade swept across the soldier's wrist, causing the spear to fall to the ground with a scream.Another group's shields had just closed in, but Zorohad already noticed that the shield of the man on the right was slightly misaligned!wado ichimonji struck like a viper emerging from its den, piercing through the gap and forcing the man to retreat, causing the formation to loosen slightly.Facing a hail of bullets, he no longer blocked them head-on; instead, he trod with strange footwork, always able to weave through the gaps in the rain of bullets, occasionally swinging his blade to deflect one or two tricky shots.The battle entered a strange equilibrium.Zoro would still get injured; occasionally he would be grazed by a bullet, or take a hit when he could not fully evade during a mob attack, but these were only superficial wounds and could no longer pose a substantial threat to him.And with every counterattack, one or two Marineelites would inevitably fall—either having their weapons severed and losing their fighting ability, or being wounded and collapsing.The hundred Marine elites could no longer form an overwhelming advantage in front of Zoro, who had fully awakened his Observation Haki.They were like they had fallen into a quagmire, paying a painful price for every step forward, and could only watch helplessly as this blood-soaked, green-haired man stood tall in their encirclement, the fighting spirit in his eyes growing fiercer and fiercer, like a Shura from hell."Sanji-kun, you must protect me well!" Namishouted to Sanji, who was not far away, while nimbly dodging the charging Marines.The three-section staff in her hands was being wielded quite skillfully; this was a weapon Mark had upgraded by replacing the original with tyrant iron, and combined with the Bagua staff techniques he had specifically taught her, it was more than enough for her to deal with the Marines in Loguetown."Sanji, I need protection too!" Usopp hid behind Nami, his face pale with nervousness, but his slingshot was not idle, occasionally firing a steel ball to launch a sneak attack."Leave it to me! Nami-san, I will never let them hurt a single hair on your head!" Sanji adjusted his tie, looking at the dozens of Marine elites rushing over."These scumbags are really annoying.""Pirate! Die!" A Marine soldier swung his long sword, the blade wind sharp, aiming directly at Sanji's face.Sanji tilted his body slightly, dodging the blade, while his right foot sprang out like a spring, kicking accurately onto the opponent's wrist."Snap!" With a crisp sound, the Marine screamed and dropped his long sword, his wrist twisted at an eerie angle; clearly, the bone was broken.Sanji's movements were smooth and fluid; while kicking one person away, his left foot had already been raised, striking the chest of another Marinebefore the first had even finished falling.The Marine was hit as if by a heavy hammer, spitting blood as he flew backward, crashing into the people behind him and causing chaos."These shoes feel great for kicking!""Taste this!" Sanji stepped continuously, his figure flickering among the crowd; every kick was as fast as lightning, with extremely tricky angles, making it impossible for the enemies to defend against."Mouton Shot!"—His knee hit a Marine's chin like a cannonball, kicking him into the air to trace a parabola."Veau Shot!"—A side spinning kick, the heel smashing accurately into the side of a Marine's face, the immense force making him spin three times on the spot before crashing down, knocked unconscious."Collier Shoot!"—Continuous rapid kicks fell like raindrops on the bodies of several Marines in front, completely disrupting their formation, with wails rising one after another.In the blink of an eye, the twenty or so Marine elites rushing in front were all kicked to the ground by Sanji, each of them clutching different parts of their bodies and wailing in pain.Sanji clapped his hands and adjusted his tie, a look of contempt on his face."Nami-san, did you see my heroic figure? Am I cool?"Nami parried a Marine's long sword with her three-section staff, then took the opportunity to knock him on the back of the head, knocking him out.She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead."It's a good thing I have the weapon and staff techniques given by Mark, otherwise I really could not handle Marine elites!"She glanced at Sanji, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly."Sanji-kun is the coolest! But behind you...""Special Move: Gunpowder Star!" Usopp's slingshot fired a steel ball wrapped in gunpowder, accurately hitting the center of the forehead of a Marineattempting a sneak attack on Sanji.The steel ball exploded with great power, causing the opponent to retreat in pain and then collapse."Sanji, stop acting lovesick, let's break through quickly!""Don't underestimate us!" The remaining Marineelites roared and rushed up; this time they had learned their lesson; instead of fighting alone, they formed a tight formation."Form up! Trap them!""Special Move: Smoke Star!" Usopp pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it hard into the Marineformation.White smoke instantly filled the air, choking the Marines into coughing and tears streaming down their faces; the formation immediately fell into chaos."Take this chance, Nami, break through!""Received!" Nami moved, using the cover of the smoke to rush towards the port.A big-mouthed Marine was choked red in the face but still endured the discomfort, swinging his sword directly at Usopp's head."Don't underestimate us Marines!""Wah!" Usopp lowered his head in a hurry, terrified; the blade grazed his scalp, taking away a few strands of hair."That scared me to death! I thought I was going to lose my head!""This is a bit tricky..." Sanji dodged several attacks in succession, suddenly doing a backflip to evade a steel staff that was swept his way, but upon landing, a Marine seized the opportunity and kicked a sweep kick at him.Sanji dodged to the side but revealed an opening.The Marine with the steel staff followed up with a powerful strike; at the critical moment, Nami flashed to Sanji's side and raised her staff with both hands to block."Clang!" The staffs collided, the huge force making Nami's arms go numb; she did not dare to take it head-on.Relying on the staff techniques Mark taught her, she flipped her wrist, pulled along with the momentum, and deflected the opponent's force, then swung back with a strike—this was the "borrowing force to strike" of the Bagua staff technique.The steel-staff Marine was hit on the back of the head and fell to the ground unconscious with a muffled groan."Thanks, Nami-san!" Sanji said gratefully, a flash of self-reproach in his eyes.Seeing this, several Marines attacked Nami with weapons in a murderous rage."This woman is the weakest, take her out first!"Nami responded flexibly, her three-section staff dancing like a windmill, knocking down three Marineelites, but she was still left with a bloody scratch on her face by one of the Marines with a sword.Blood flowed down her cheek, making her eyes even more determined."Damn it!"Usopp was also surrounded by several Marines; he fought while retreating, unable to support Nami at all, his heart burning with anxiety."This kind of situation isn't suitable for using super-explosive bombs, it would hurt Nami! Being a sniper in close quarters is really troublesome!"In a flash of inspiration, he took out a special chili smoke bomb."Good thing I have this!" Usopp quickly put on the gas mask he carried with him, did a forward roll to dodge an attack, and threw the smoke bomb into the crowd of Marines surrounding him.The acrid smoke instantly filled the air, and those few Marines immediately had tears and snot streaming down their faces, coughing incessantly, and lost their fighting ability."Nami, over here!" Sanji was surrounded by dozens of Marines, dodging left and right, and the wounds on his body gradually increased.His breathing began to quicken, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, not just because of exhaustion, but because of anger—these guys actually dared to hurt Nami!"You bastards..." Sanji's eyes turned cold, and a terrifying aura emanated from his body."Do you really think you can trap me like this?"He took a deep breath, concentrating all his strength into his right leg; intense anger and unwillingness burned within him, as if a ball of fire was about to break through the shackles of his skin.His specially made shoes began to rotate at high speed, and the high temperature generated by friction with the air caused the soles to glow with a faint red light."Argh—!" Sanji let out a low shout, and a strange scene occurred—his feet actually began to emit a faint red light, and a scorching breath seemed to fill the air."What... is this?" The surrounding Marine soldiers were all stunned, looking at Sanji's feet glowing with red light, expressions of suspicion and uncertainty on their faces, subconsciously taking a few steps back."Diable Jambe!" Sanji's voice carried a hint of excitement and arrogance, his figure seemingly transforming into a red lightning bolt, instantly breaking through the blockade of shields!"Mouton Shot!" The high-temperature right foot, like a red-hot branding iron, kicked fiercely into a Marinesoldier's shield.With a "Sizzle," the shield was instantly kicked in, even emitting blue smoke and giving off a burnt smell.The Marine soldier screamed and was knocked flying, the web of his hand scalded into a bloody mess, and the shield fell from his hand."Frites Assorties!" Sanji used the momentum to spin his body, his left foot sweeping out with the same high temperature, this time kicking directly onto the long swords of two Marine soldiers.The steel blades were kicked bent as if they were butter, and the high temperature was transmitted through the blades to their hands, scalding them so much that they screamed and dropped their weapons."Too... too strong!" The remaining Marine elites were completely intimidated, expressions of fear appearing on their faces, and they dared not step forward again.Sanji's Diable Jambe not only had its power multiplied, but its speed was also more than a notch faster than before.The high-temperature kicks made the enemies afraid to block with their weapons, fearing being scalded or knocked away.He wove through the crowd as if entering no-man's-land, every kick inevitably accompanied by the fall of a Marine soldier.The places hit by Diable Jambe either had broken bones or were burned by the high heat, the excruciating pain causing them to lose the ability to fight.Sanji's movements were smooth and fluid, and he no longer suffered any substantial damage.He could even occasionally take the time to tidy his hair, a confident smile on his face."Pathetic.""Nami-san, leave this place to the handsome and dashing me, you and Usopp hurry and act!"Sanji's figure flickered among the Marine elites, the red shadows of his feet like leaping flames; wherever he passed, Marine soldiers fell one after another!As his words fell, another Marine soldier was kicked flying, crashing heavily onto the ground, unable to get back up.The remaining Marines looked at this man who seemed to have feet stepping on flames, their eyes filled with fear—they finally understood what a terrifying monster they were facing.
Chapter 29: Team Una's CooperationUsopp buried his face deep into the dense bushes.He repeatedly wiped his lenses with the corner of his shirt—The Marineford warship a hundred meters away looked like a dormant steel beast."Give it to me."Nami crouched low and moved over, taking the binoculars.Her eyes behind the lenses quickly scanned the deck—Ten Marine soldiers were divided into two rows for patrol, their strides so uniform they looked measured with a ruler; the rhythmic 'tap-tap' of their boots on the deck felt like something she could count.In the shadows on both sides of the gunwale, the silhouettes of armed sentries flickered in and out of view.The most conspicuous was the lookout tower, where a female soldier wearing red-framed glasses was meticulously rotating the telescope."As expected of people from Marineford, even their patrol intervals are timed perfectly."Nami lowered the binoculars. "Wanting to climb up from the gunwale? The sentries' blind spot lasts three seconds at most. This is going to be difficult!"She turned to glance at Usopp, a hint of cunning curling at the corners of her eyes."How about this—""I'll find a Marine uniform, say I've caught a suspicious pirate, and escort you up?""Are you a demon!"Usopp slammed his face toward the ground and lowered his voice."Look at me—this domineering long nose, these solid biceps,""And this face with 'I am a pirate' written all over it. Which part looks'suspicious'?""This is clearly a 'Certified Standard Pirate Face'!""The moment they check my identity, I'm exposed! Don't forget, I'm a man who once took down a Marine base!"He waved his hands frantically in worry. "Besides, even if we're fast, this process would take half an hour. Luffy and the others are still fighting over there!"Nami raised an eyebrow, forced to admit the kid had a point.She looked toward the distance where the faint sound of clashing blades could be heard, her brow furrowing slightly."True, time is short. So, a frontal assault? Can your slingshot suppress the people on deck?""Absolutely not!"Usopp immediately shook his head and pointed toward the left rear of the warship."See that one? Two nautical miles away at most, and the chimney is still belching black smoke—the engine hasn't even been shut off.""If we make a big scene here, they'll be on us within ten minutes. By then, we'll be like turtles caught in a jar."Nami fell silent for a moment."Frontal assault is out, and outsmarting them takes too long... then you tell me, what other tricks do we have?"Usopp's eyes suddenly lit up. "Nami, have you forgotten our advantages?""Advantages?" Nami was stunned."Right!"Usopp's voice was wrapped in uncontrollable excitement. He put down the binoculars and held up two fingers."First, you're the Cat Burglar who can steal treasure right under the noses of East Blue pirates. When it comes to infiltration and lock-picking, who in the East Blue can compare?""Second, I'm the sniper who can hit a fly's wing from three thousand meters away!"He slapped his knee with a 'thwack'. "For a job that needs precise coordination, the two of us are a match made in heaven!"Nami looked at his confident expression and suddenly smiled."Interesting. Keep talking."The two heads huddled together. Usopp used his finger to draw the outline of the warship on the damp soil and whispered a few sentences.Nami nodded after listening and reached out to pat his shoulder."Let's do it that way. I'll go first, you cover me from here."Usopp pulled four fist-sized black spheres from his backpack. Each was embedded with a sharp alloy hook, and the spheres were covered in fine, dense patterns."Take these, my newly modified 'Supernovas'."He stuffed the black spheres into the pouch at Nami's waist."The hooks can bite into steel plates. The delay device is on the side—three twists for ten minutes, five for fifty minutes.""Don't worry about the power; flipping half the deck won't be a problem."Nami weighed the black spheres."They sound so ominous. They won't just explode while I'm walking, will they?""Don't worry! I'm the most reliable man in the Straw Hat Crew. Even Mark calls me the 'Child of Miracles'!"Usopp stiffened his neck and lifted his chin, his nose nearly tilting to the sky."Stop bragging and hurry up."Usopp took a deep breath and fished a dusty clay pellet from his ammunition pouch—This was clay he had specifically dug from a swamp. Once dried, its hardness was just right; hitting something would only produce a dull thud, not hurting people but sufficient to draw attention.He propped up his slingshot, his right eye locking onto the roof of the lookout tower through the aiming notch. His left arm muscles bulged as the rubber band was steadily pulled back to eleven centimeters."Swish—Clack!"The clay pellet sliced through the air and accurately struck the iron roof of the lookout tower. The dull thud wasn't loud, like a ripe coconut falling to the ground.Inside the lookout tower, Tashigi was holding her telescope and muttering."Captain Smoker is being too cautious. It's just catching a few East Blue pirates, yet he actually made me stay behind... Cough, it's just a little cold and fever..."She coughed twice, her hand gripping the hilt of shigure at her waist."No matter how arrogant the Straw Hat is, facing the combined forces of Captain Smoker and Captain Hina, they should be ready to surrender..."Just as she was thinking, a 'clack' suddenly came from overhead. She abruptly looked up at the ceiling."Who's there?...A seabird? Or did the wind blow something off?"At that moment, Nami had already dived into the seawater.She held her breath and focused, her legs kicking rapidly like a fish's tail, cutting a clean arc underwater.She timed her breaths perfectly during the gaps when the patrolmen turned around. In less than five minutes, she swam under the warship.She slowly floated up against the cold hull, exposing only half her head to breathe."Phew... I was suffocating."The sea breeze rushed into her throat, making her want to cough, but she could only hold it back desperately.Just as she was about to grab the anchor chain, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of two Marines carrying buckets walking along the gunwale, seemingly about to wash the deck.Nami immediately took a deep breath and her body sank abruptly, sliding along the hull into the shadow of the propeller—That was an absolute blind spot. Unless someone dived headfirst into the sea, it was impossible to spot her.The sound of the soldiers' footsteps passed overhead, and the clinking of the buckets was as clear as if it were right by her ear.Nami pressed tightly against the cold hull, feeling the slight vibrations from the metal. Only when the footsteps faded did she dare to surface again.She grabbed the anchor chain, which was as thick as an arm. Her fingertips hooked into the links like gecko claws as her body climbed lightly upward.She might not be as good at fighting as Luffy or Mark, but when it came to this kind of 'wealth-building' skill, she had absolute confidence.When she climbed to the edge of the deck, she flipped her wrist and slipped into the shadow of a pile of canvas like a leaf.The Marine recruits on deck were gathered together laughing and talking, their topic revolving around—"The Straw Hat Crew is probably being beaten to tears right now." They didn't notice an extra figure behind the canvas pile at all.Nami peeked out quietly, confirming the lookout tower was diagonally above her.So, crouching low and using the gap when the patrolmen turned, she slipped to the iron ladder of the lookout tower like a nimble cat.From the shore, Usopp's heart was nearly jumping out of his chest.Seeing Nami successfully reach the bottom of the ladder, he immediately pulled a specially made anesthetic bullet from his ammo pouch—The body was made of lightweight alloy, like a miniature dart, with a few goose feathers on the tail to stabilize its trajectory.The most crucial part was the needle, which contained Sleeping Grass juice. Mark had dug it up in the mountains behind Windmill Village; supposedly, one drop could make a bear sleep for three hours.He adjusted his breathing, his right eye deadlocked on the swaying figure in the lookout tower.The sunlight was just blocked by clouds, and a slight breeze blew from the sea. Usopp immediately adjusted his angle based on the wind.The rubber band was pulled to its limit, making a slight 'creak'. The tension from his fingertips made his whole body tense.At this moment, the whole world seemed to stand still, leaving only the target in the aiming notch, the anesthetic bullet about to fly out, and his own drum-like heartbeat."Now!"The moment his fingers released, the anesthetic bullet shot out like a bolt of lightning, tracing an almost invisible arc in the air.Inside the lookout tower, Tashigi was looking down and scratching her itchy arm, complaining in her heart:"I said we should clear the bugs in the lookout tower, but no one listens..."She suddenly felt a sharp sting on her neck, as if something had pricked her.She instinctively reached up to swat it, feeling like she'd swatted a small bug, and muttered:"I knew there were mosquitoes... they still..."Before she could finish, her eyelids suddenly became as heavy as lead, and her body involuntarily fell backward.Just a second before she was about to hit the wall, a hand steadily supported her shoulder—Nami had climbed up the iron ladder at some point. She used her knee to prop up Tashigi's waist.She gently laid the person down on the floor, the movement soft and without a sound.Usopp saw this scene through the binoculars and let out a long sigh of relief. Seeing the anesthetic needle get swatted away, he thought he'd failed.As it turned out, some of the liquid had still entered the bloodstream. The cold sweat on Usopp's back soaked his vest.A moment later, the door to the lookout tower was pushed open, and 'Tashigi' walked out.Her hair was all tucked into a Marine cap, wearing red-framed glasses. The cap was pulled very low, covering most of her face, with shigure hanging at her waist.She also wore a white face mask—Nami had found it in Tashigi's pocket, and it came in handy.She deliberately imitated Tashigi's slightly stiff gait, hands behind her back, as she walked toward the command room."Sergeant Tashigi!"The two Marines at the command room door immediately stood at attention, their leather heels clicking sharply.One of them looked at the mask on her face and couldn't help but ask:"Sergeant, you are..."Nami quietly tightened her grip on the three-section staff at her waist and deliberately lowered her voice, making it sound raspy and tired:"Mm, a cold.""I see!"The soldier on the left suddenly got misty-eyed and raised his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eye."Sergeant, your cold from last week hasn't even gotten better, yet you're still on duty. You're even wearing a mask on such a hot day for fear of infecting us!""You're too considerate of your subordinates!" The one on the right hurried to push open the command room door."Please come in, Sergeant, go inside and rest!"Nami almost couldn't keep her expression straight. She could only nod stiffly and step into the command room.The moment the door closed behind her, she couldn't help but roll her eyes—Were these Marines' brains soaked in seawater?The command room was piled with documents and nautical charts, the air smelling of ink and cigars.Nami moved nimbly, pulling open drawers and quickly searching through stacks of documents—She was looking for an encrypted transponder snailand a nautical chart marked with the Grand Lineroute.Suddenly, her fingertips touched a cold metal object. Looking down, she saw a tin box embedded in a drawer's hidden compartment.When she opened it, a full stack of Berries and several sparkling gems dazzled her eyes."The Marines really do hide a lot of good stuff."Nami unceremoniously stuffed the money and gems into her bosom and continued searching.There were plenty of nautical charts, but after flipping through them, they were all East Blueroutes, without even a mark for Reverse Mountain."Looks like this is Smoker's ship." She immediately made a decision and turned toward the door."Have the kitchen make four barrels of iced orange juice and send them to Captain Hina's warship."Nami pushed the door open, still using that raspy voice."Just say... our comrades from Marineford have worked hard.""Yes!" The two soldiers immediately responded and turned to run toward the kitchen.Nami took the opportunity to pull out two Supernovas from her waist, twisted the side five times, and then pressed the hooks firmly into the inner side of the command room door frame—The barbs at the tip of the hooks instantly bit into the wood, fixing them firmly.She looked toward the shore and gave an OK gesture toward the bushes, a smug smile curling at the corner of her mouth under the Marine cap.Usopp saw the gesture, glanced at his pocket watch, and immediately adjusted the focus of the binoculars.He stared intently at Hina's warship. He knew that next, it was up to Nami.Not long after, four stainless steel barrels emitting white mist were moved onto a lifeboat.Nami stepped forward, pretending to inspect them by dipping her finger into a barrel. A piercing chill came from her fingertip.She discreetly crushed a capsule hidden under her fingernail—Inside was concentrated Sleeping Grass juice; one drop could make the entire barrel effective."Leave one barrel for our own brothers. You two, come with me."She pointed to the two Marines at the door and was the first to jump onto the lifeboat.On Hina's warship, the lookout soon spotted them."It's people sent from Captain Smoker's ship!" the lookout shouted at the top of his lungs."Lower the ladder!"The twenty-odd Marine elites on deck were irritable from the sun, and their eyes lit up at the sight of the ice water."Sergeant Tashigi sent this!"The soldier who came with Nami shouted while holding a bucket."Brothers, although we belong to different units, we all fight for Justice!""Once this mission is over, who knows where we'll go. Today, let's use this barrel of ice water in place of wine and have a drink!"The other one immediately chimed in:"Well said! Think about the days we've been at sea, which one of us hasn't put our life on the line?""To protect the people, to carry out Justice, no matter how hard it is, it's worth it! Come, for Justice, cheers!""Cheers!"The Marines one after another picked up their cups and gulped down the ice water. The cold liquid slid down their throats, instantly dispelling the heat.Nami stood by the ladder, silently giving these two soldiers a thumbs up in her heart—Total naturals.In moments, the first soldier who finished his water shook his head, looking unsteady."Thud," he fell onto the deck.Next, the second, the third... in less than three minutes, the deck was full of Marines lying every which way, fast asleep.On Smoker's warship, the same scene was playing out."This is it? And they call themselves elites."Nami sneered and turned to walk into the command room.This time it didn't take much effort to find an encrypted transponder snail in a hidden compartment behind the bookshelf, as well as a roll of Grand Line nautical charts marked in red paint.She carefully stowed the items away, hung a Supernova in both the ammunition depot and the command room, and then returned to the lifeboat carrying a bulging backpack."Got it?"Usopp saw the lifeboat coming ashore and immediately went to meet it, his eyes fixed on the stuffed backpack and Nami's strange Marine outfit.Nami took off the Marine cap and shook out her hair, handing the backpack to him."See for yourself." The moment the zipper was pulled open, the transponder snail's antennae, money, the flash of gems, the edges of nautical charts were revealed—Along with glasses frames, a sidearm, her own clothes... a whole mess of things piled together."Then we should get out of here."Usopp pulled a green signal flare from the cloth bag behind him—It was specially made with firefly fluorescent powder and sulfur. Once it burst, it could shine with green light for over ten seconds.He loaded the signal flare into his slingshot, took a deep breath, and suddenly let go—The green ball of light trailed fire as it shot into the sky, bursting in the clouds like an emerald meteor, instantly illuminating half the sky.