Chapter 185: Luffy's Third GearThe deafening explosion, like the death knell of the Grim Reaper, echoed in every corner of Enies Lobby.At this moment, whether it was the pirates and CP9 locked in a life-and-death struggle or the Marines standing by, everyone stopped their actions in unison, staring in horror at the massive fireball and thick smoke rising from the main island.On the warship that fired the shells—A messenger ran frantically to the bow and saluted the man wearing the Justice coat, whose face was as resolute as a blooming iron tree."Vice Admiral Doberman! The previous shelling hit the 4 o'clock position on the main island. It seems our own troops were still there...""Is there a problem with that?"Doberman didn't even turn around; his cold voice, like an Arctic wind, instantly froze the soldier's remaining words.The soldier trembled all over and hurriedly stood at attention."N-no... no problem at all!""Remember, this is a 'Buster Call'!"Doberman's voice was resolute and unquestionable."Our mission is to burn and erase everything! Using the Tower of Justice as a coordinate, once they enter range, no confirmation needed, fire at will! No discrimination!"He turned his head sharply, the sharp light in his eyes making the soldier unable to breathe."You have time to make such pointless reports..."His voice suddenly rose like thunder."Why aren't you back at your post, preparing for the next volley?""Yes! Vice Admiral!"The soldier was terrified and scrambled away from the deck.On the Bridge of Hesitation—"Look... the Gates of Justice!"Usopp's voice trembled uncontrollably, his finger pointing at the massive gate that symbolized absolute order."Huh?"Franky looked in that direction, his pupils shrinking under his sunglasses."How is this possible... The Gates of Justice, they're opening completely? I've never heard of them opening fully!""It's not just as simple as opening the gates..."Nami rushed to the bridge, her navigator's instincts making her instantly aware of an even more terrifying change."The currents... the massive whirlpool currents that surround Enies Lobby and make it impossible for ships to pass have disappeared!""It's to let the warships come in without obstruction... They're going to blow this place to pieces!"Chopper hugged his head, the immense fear making his small body tremble."Is this... the Buster Call?"Usopp muttered, then noticed the anomaly beside him."Hey! Robin! Pull yourself together!"Robin was hugging her shoulders tightly, curled up on the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably, her forehead covered in cold sweat.Those wise eyes were now hollow and helpless, as if she had traveled through twenty years of time, returning to that beautiful hometown that swallowed everything she had—Ohara."Robin!"Nami immediately rushed over, firmly supporting her shoulders, her voice firm and warm."Listen, Robin! It's all in the past! Now you have us! It's just a Buster Call; it's not like we don't have the means to destroy an island either!"Robin raised her head, tears swirling in her eyes; childhood trauma wrapped around her like a nightmare."Rest assured!"Nami squeezed her hand, trying to transmit strength."If these bastards really piss us off, we'll go all out and take down a few of their Marine bases! Let's see who's more ruthless!"Nami's almost overbearing comfort was like a ray of light, piercing through some of the haze in Robin's heart.She took a deep breath, trying to calm her churning emotions.Just then, a gorgeous seven-colored rainbow light flashed again, and the passage opened."It's Mark! Did he solve the enemy so quickly?"Chopper shouted in surprise."Unfortunately,"Zoro's green head poked out first, his expression grave."He let us come to support first, while he stayed behind to deal with that CP0.""Miss Nami~! Robin-chan~! Your loyal knight has come to protect you!"Sanji spun out of the passage and landed with an extremely standard gentleman's bow.But when he saw Robin's pale face and the shackles on Merry's hands, his eyes instantly became ice-cold."Where is the scum who bullied the ladies? I'm going to crush his bones inch by inch right now!""Marimo, the key!"Sanji immediately turned to Zoro, his tone urgent, "The Sea Stone shackles on Merry haven't been unlocked yet!"Zoro didn't speak, but silently took out a key with a simple style from his bosom—It was the fifth key he got from the unconscious Kaku. He walked straight toward the small Klabautermann being protected by Chopper.At this moment, Merry looked up, her big eyes looking at Zoro with anticipation and a trace of imperceptible grievance.The Sea Stone shackles imprisoned her freedom.Zoro squatted in front of her, his tall figure making him appear less oppressive to match her height.He had no extra words of comfort, just calmly inserted the key into the lock of the small but extremely sturdy shackles on her wrists."Click."A soft sound, almost inaudible amidst the distant artillery fire, but for the Straw Hat crew, it was like a horn of victory.The spring popped open, and the cold shackles that had been absorbing her power finally fell off with a sound."Clang," it fell on the bridge deck.Merry's small body trembled slightly.Zoro looked at the fallen shackles, as if he had completed an important task, and said lightly:"All done.""Zoro... thank you!"Merry's voice was tearful, but full of joy and relief.She took a sudden step forward, using her freed small hands to tightly hug Zoro's strong arm, her small face rubbing against it dependently.Zoro was slightly stunned, looking at the little one hugging his arm, the cold lines on his face seemingly softening for a moment.He reached out a large hand and clumsily but gently rubbed Merry's hair."Can you still fight?"He asked, his voice still steady, but with a trace of imperceptible concern."Mm!"Merry nodded vigorously, let go, took a step back, wiped the corners of her eyes, and fighting spirit rekindled in her small body."I can!"With this, all the trapped members of the Straw Hat—Robin and Merry—had completely broken free from the shackles of Sea Stone!The full return of power gave them more confidence to face the Marine elites about to board the bridge and the Buster Call fleet approaching from afar.At this moment, Spandam, who had been sent flying by Nami, fell onto the deck of the receiving ship like a dead dog."Tsk, although he's a useless piece of trash, he is a member of the World Government after all, so let's save him."A man wearing a tan hat and not very tall waved his hand lazily.He was unremarkable, even a bit sleepy-eyed, but the Vice Admiral badge on his shoulder indicated his strength not to be underestimated."Yes, Vice Admiral Tokikake!"Two soldiers immediately stepped forward to help up the unconscious Spandam."Sigh, it seems I'll have to work hard for a trip. If I finish early, I can go back and finish the love letter to Gion..."Tokikake scratched his head and walked out slowly, but his eyes were sharply cast toward the Bridge of Hesitation.Meanwhile, behind the fully opened Gates of Justice, the terrifying silhouettes of five huge warships, like giant beasts rising from the deep sea, slowly broke through the fog.At the bow of the lead warship stood two of Mark's "old acquaintances"—Colonel Hina, and the cold-faced Vice Admiral Momonga.The same scene was happening in all directions of Enies Lobby.Yamakaji, Strawberry, Onigumo... a total of five elite Marine Vice Admirals, leading dozens of top warships, surrounded the entire Enies Lobby like an iron bucket.The death net of the Buster Call had tightened!"Boom—!"The warship under Doberman's command fired first!The huge shells tore through the sky, aiming straight at the already dying Tower of Justice and Mark and Guernica fighting at the top of the tower!Under the terrifying power of the Buster Call's special shells, the already crumbling Tower of Justice let out its final groan, its massive structure began to fall apart, and with raging flames and endless dust, it crashed and fell toward the waterfall below!"Mark!!"Sanji looked back and saw this scene, exclaiming in shock."Don't get distracted, Curly Brows!"Zoro's hand was already on the hilt, his eyes locked on the direction of the Gates of Justice."That level of attack can't kill him! Now, give me your full attention... A 'terrible' guy is coming!"He didn't need to remind them; a suffocating sense of oppression surged forward like a tangible tsunami!The Marine elites scattered on the bridge seemed to feel an invisible command, automatically and quickly retreating to both sides, leaving a passage, their expressions solemn, not daring to breathe loudly.The Straw Hat crew instantly entered the highest state of combat readiness!Zoro, Sanji, and Nami tacitly formed a triangular formation, like the strongest shield, protecting Robin, Merry, and the bulky Franky behind them.Usopp quickly hid in the shadows of the bridge pier, his slingshot fully drawn, his heartbeat like a drum.Above the ruins of the Tower of Justice, the sea of fire surged.Mark's white hair fluttered, standing in the void, his scarlet eyes piercing through the flames, locking onto the bottom.Suddenly—"Shigan: Fire Burst Barrage!"Countless crimson sparks, like an enraged swarm of bees, shot out from the sea of fire!This was Guernica's killing move, having cultivated Shigan to the peak, using his fingers to generate high-temperature air bullets through extreme friction, possessing the dual destructive effect of piercing and burning internal organs!"Rankyaku: Fire Tornado!"Almost at the same time the sparks shot out, Guernica swept his leg sharply, rolling up the flames on the ground, turning into a roaring fire dragon, faster than the sparks, striking first to swallow Mark!Facing this fatal attack from above and below, a wicked arc curled up on the corner of Mark's armor-covered face.He didn't dodge or evade, just slowly extended his left hand toward the bottom."Glutton."In the palm of his hand, a deep black vortex suddenly emerged, emitting a terrifying suction force that swallowed everything.Whether it was the scorching fire dragon or the dense sparks, the moment they touched the vortex, they seemed to be swallowed by an invisible giant mouth, disappearing without a trace—stored into the System Space."A weird ability."Guernica's voice was still plain, but if he had seen this at the beginning of the battle, he would never have been so calm.Having fought Mark until now, he had witnessed too many incredible things."Counterattack!"Mark's left hand hadn't finished swallowing, but his right hand had already pushed out fiercely!A gorgeous rainbow-colored vortex rotated rapidly in his palm—the flame energy that had just been swallowed, at this moment, in a more violent, more condensed form, like a volcano rebounding after being suppressed, exploded toward Guernica!"Tekkai: Steel Body!"Guernica didn't dare to be slow, his whole body muscles instantly tightened and expanded, pitch-black Armament Haki covered them, combined with Tekkai's hard work, pushing his physical defense to the peak!"Boom—!!!"The concentrated flames exploded violently on him, the tongue of fire rising dozens of meters high, illuminating everything around into a crimson color.The terrifying shockwave plowed the nearby ruins again!However, there was no figure of Guernica in the center of the flames.He wasn't burned to ashes, but judged that he couldn't fully defend against it at the moment of impact, decisively using "Soru" to escape the center of the explosion, jumping into the seawater nearby, stirring up a sky of steam."A dog falling into the water, does it deserve to linger on?"Mark's killing intent was determined, knowing that the killing mode could not last long and must be resolved quickly.On his steel-claw-covered fingertips, five drops of ink-black liquid, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, quietly condensed—this was the origin power separated from Ink Meteor, controlled like an arm.Go!With a thought, the five drops of black water, under the precise guidance of Observation Haki, were like a kiss of death with life, ignoring spatial distance, and shot straight at Guernica in the seawater!"Moonwalk!"Guernica broke out of the water, stepping on the air, while his legs danced rapidly, "Rankyaku" slashes whistled out, trying to intercept."Futile!"Mark slightly raised his palm, the five drops of black water, as if possessing spirituality, drew weird arcs in the air, easily avoiding all slashes, and the next moment, they had silently submerged into Guernica's chest!"Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!"Five neatly aligned blood holes instantly appeared on Guernica's white shirt, blood gushing out, quickly dyeing a large area of the shirt red."Wah!"He slammed heavily into the ground, creating a deep crater, and violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale."But... thinking you can defeat me just like that... is still way too early!"Guernica's eyes were bloodshot, and he slammed his hands against the ground, using the recoil force to forcibly spring up!"Life Return: Death Countdown!""Thump! Thump! Thump!"A heavy, massive heartbeat, like war drums on a battlefield, roared from within his body, resounding in all directions!This was the ultimate forbidden technique of Life Return: by compressing the heart and overdrawing all potential, it forcibly pushed bodily functions to a realm far beyond their limits!The cost was the life of the user!"Your heart... should have already been pierced by me!"Mark's crimson pupils constricted slightly, revealing a hint of disbelief."A professional killer... how could they... easily expose their vitals?"Guernica raised his head, and the aura overflowing from his body due to the surge in power instantly pushed away the surrounding smoke, dust, and debris, forming a distinct domain.His aura was like a final flare of life, reaching an unprecedented peak!"Planning to... take me down with you?"Mark stood in the air, looking down coldly."Once this move is unleashed... the battle... is destined to end!"Before the words had even faded, Guernica's figure suddenly blurred, leaving only the reverberation of a sonic boom in his wake!Mark's crimson eyes darted with unprecedented speed, tracking the trajectory of the figure that was moving at the extreme limit of speed."Clang—!"An explosive sound!Mark tilted his head sharply, almost entirely on instinct, while simultaneously delivering a fierce side kick backward!Guernica's figure flashed and vanished, retreating once again."This armor... what on earth is it made of?"Guernica looked at his slightly numb fingertips, which were covered in Armament Haki, and finally, shock appeared in his eyes.He had been certain of that last strike!Mark was even more shocked.If the armor formed by Ink Meteor hadn't autonomously adjusted at the critical moment, deflecting the finger that had concentrated all of Guernica's power and life, he would likely be on the brink of death by now!"It seems... the secrets you hold are far more important than that girl from the lunarian race."Guernica also stood in the air using Moonwalk, his aura like a volcano about to erupt—extremely unstable yet incredibly dangerous."The World Government... perhaps got the target wrong from the very beginning.""Therefore, you will die without a doubt!"Mark said no more; the desire for slaughter dominated him, and his figure transformed into a bolt of black lightning as he initiated the final, fierce assault!In an instant, a roar even denser and more terrifying than the Buster Call artillery fire erupted from where the two were battling!The ground cracked, and the remaining buildings collapsed in swathes as if made of paper; this death match, which transcended human understanding, had entered its final, white-hot stage!Meanwhile, somewhere in the lower levels of the Tower of Justice, the battle between Luffy and Luccihad also entered its most brutal phase."Huff... huff..."Luffy knelt on one knee, his Gear Second state forced to deactivate due to exhaustion; the steam dissipated from his body, his skin returned to its normal color, and blood streamed down from his wounds alongside beads of sweat the size of beans.Lucci was also panting, his body covered in bruises and scrapes; he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and a look of realization appeared on his leopard-form face."So that's it... an ability similar to a stimulant? By compressing blood flow, you forcibly increase your bodily functions. Heh, if it were an ordinary person, their heart would have already burst and killed them."He sneered."It really is a technique tailor-made for your rubber body; it's truly enviable... However,"He changed the subject, his tone carrying a cruel implication."This is not a wise move; this kind of technique that overdraws your potential is consuming your life!""It's still much better than... just watching as I lose the things that are important to me!"Luffy raised his head, sweat dripping down his chin, but his gaze was as firm as a rock, and there was even a hint of fearless amusement at the corner of his mouth.(In fact, as Luffy mastered Haki in the future, his physical fitness leaped forward, and his heart strength was no longer what it used to be; enduring the pressure of Gear Second would no longer consume his life, but it would drastically accelerate energy consumption, necessitating a large intake of food after the battle.)"Naive!"Lucci shouted sharply."You hold foolish expectations for everything! Do you hear that? The sound of cannon fire piercing through the island! That is the death knell of the 'Buster Call'! It won't be long before you and your crewmates are reduced to the dust of history along with this island!""Shut up! My crewmates won't be defeated!"Luffy roared, straightening his body."I have the world's greatest navigator! I have the most reliable Mark! Zoro is a man who will become the world's Greatest Swordsman! They will never fall!""Heh, naive rubber man."Lucci's mouth curled into a cruel arc."It seems the brief peace in the undersea tunnel has given you the illusion that you can leave here alive... It is time for you to face reality!""Tempest Kick!"He kicked violently at the wall to the side, and the thick wall broke open with a crash, allowing the cold seawater to instantly flood in!"Let's find a more spacious grave, Straw Hat!"Lucci leaped."Moonwalk!"Stepping on the air, he made a few swift leaps along the ruined tower, reaching the top of the pier of the Bridge of Hesitation that connected to the outer sea."Don't think you can escape! Gum-Gum... Rocket!"Luffy stretched his arms out, grabbed the railing above, and his body shot out like a slingshot, following closely behind.The two confronted each other again on the wide pier.Beneath them was the surging seawater, and in the distance were the island, from which explosions constantly echoed, and the approaching warships."We are above sea level now, no need to worry about seawater flooding in."Lucci said calmly, as if victory were already in his grasp."Do you hear that? The melodious sound of cannon fire... that is the symphony of destruction."At this moment, Enies Lobby was roaring continuously; the town, the courthouse... all buildings were being reduced to ruins under the dense artillery fire.Only the Bridge of Hesitation, due to Aokiji's special order (to ensure Nico Robin and the lunarian race's Merry survived), was temporarily excluded from the bombardment range.And because of this, a large number of Marines were swarming toward this final isolated island."What will happen to your crewmates? What will happen to Nico Robin and that little girl? You're very worried, aren't you?"Lucci goaded Luffy with his words.Luffy closed his eyes, and his powerful Observation Haki instantly expanded, clearly perceiving the presence of his crewmates on the Bridge of Hesitation a kilometer away, while also sensing several extremely powerful enemies approaching."Want to go save them? You might still make it if you go now,"Lucci shrugged, pretending to be generous."I won't stop you.""No,"Luffy opened his eyes, his gaze like a torch, firmly locked onto Lucci."My eyes will never leave you! If I leave, you will immediately turn back and kill... all of Franky's henchmen!""Oh? You saw through that?"Lucci was slightly surprised, then revealed an expression of appreciating his prey."You actually have the awareness of a leader... I really want to let a certain idiot superior see this. However,"His tone turned cold, and killing intent permeated the air."If you die here, the result will be the same!"No more wasted words; the two, like two falling stars, collided fiercely once again!There were no flashy techniques, only the most primitive and savage exchange of fists and claws!Each collision produced a dull, thunderous boom, with flesh and blood flying!"Awoo! Do you think you can defeat me? Straw Hat Luffy!"Lucci roared, his leopard claws tearing through the air."If I don't defeat you... I won't be able to protect anything!!"Luffy responded with a roar of equal volume, his rubber fists raining down like a storm.The two kicked each other again, but Luffy seized the opportunity to wrap his rubber leg around Lucci's leg!At the same time, his arm extended backward to the limit and began to rotate at high speed!"Gum-Gum... Rifle!"The terrifying kinetic energy accumulated from the rotation, carrying Luffy's will, slammed fiercely into Lucci's chest!"Iron Body: Utsugi!"Lucci did not dodge; his chest suddenly bulged like a water-absorbing sponge, becoming like a giant war drum!"Thump—!!"The heavy rubber fist slammed into it, producing a strange, muffled sound!A huge reactionary force came, and Luffy felt sharp pain in his arm as he was sent flying back!"Soru!"Lucci's figure blurred, instantly closing in on the unsteady Luffy; that tough leopard tail, like a steel whip, lightning-fast, wrapped around Luffy's neck!"Urgh—!"Luffy immediately felt suffocated; his hands clawed desperately at the tail that was tightening more and more, and his face began to flush red."Heh... I admit, you have the courage to make an enemy of the World Government."Lucci's cold voice rang in his ear, and his tail exerted force once again."But, just like those arrogant pirates who don't know the heights of the world, you ultimately... do not have the strength to fight me!"He extended his claws, aiming straight for Luffy's vitals on his chest!"Don't... underestimate me...!!"Luffy squeezed a roar from his throat, his lower body rotating and stretching like a rubber band, his feet planted firmly into the ground as if rooted."What?!"Lucci sensed something was wrong and tried to withdraw his tail, but it was too late!Relying on the huge torque generated by his lower body, Luffy grabbed Lucci's tail with both hands and swung him around violently like a ball and chain!"Get... over there!!"At the moment the centrifugal force reached its peak, Luffy roared and slammed Lucci fiercely into the thick wall in the distance!"Boom—!!"The wall cracked in response, debris scattering everywhere!Lucci slapped the wall with both hands, easily neutralizing the impact with his powerful beast-transformed physique, but the rage in his eyes was already burning."Gum-Gum..."He heard the sound of Luffy rushing toward him again, a sinister smile on his face, his sharp claws aimed at the oncoming figure like a hunter targeting prey."Flying Shigan: Bachi!"He flicked his fingers lightly as if playing an instrument, and several condensed white shockwaves, like invisible bullets, instantly traversed the space!"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"Several bloody holes instantly burst open on Luffy's shoulders, arms, and thighs!He cried out, his momentum coming to a sudden halt."Soru!"Lucci's figure turned into countless afterimages in the air, constantly flicking out lethal "Flying Shigan" shots from every tricky angle!Luffy was instantly engulfed by the dense shockwaves, bursts of blood exploding all over his body; he staggered back, screaming, almost becoming a bloodied mess.Finally, Lucci even used a secret technique of CP0, his fingertips glowing with high-temperature red light—"Fire Bachi!"A cross-shaped flame shockwave hit Luffy's chest precisely!"Boom!"The clothes on Luffy's chest instantly carbonized, his skin scorched black, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the ground, his whole body emitting white smoke from the burns, motionless."Heh... hehe..."Lucci panted, looking at the fallen Luffy, and mocked."I thought I had met a man with some backbone... How disappointing. So you really are just a paper tiger relying on stimulants to hold the stage?"However, the next second, the smile on his face froze.In the lingering smoke, that figure who should have fallen completely was swaying, using his battered, wounded body, once again, tenaciously... standing up!"It seems..."Luffy's voice was hoarse but carried an unquestionable determination; he raised his blood-soaked arm and put his thumb into his mouth."You want a... truly gutsy fight..."His eyes sharpened, and he bit down!"Then let me show you... the next way of fighting!""Third Gear—!!!"An aura far more massive, primitive, and terrifying than Gear Second began to slowly permeate from Luffy's broken body, like a giant beast awakening...
Chapter 186: All Hands Assembled"Third Gear — — Bone Balloon!" Luffy suddenly shoved his thumb into his mouth, puffed out his cheeks, and blew with all the lung capacity he could muster!"Hoo — —!" An incredible sight unfolded! His right arm, like a balloon infused with life, expanded crazily at a speed visible to the naked eye!In an instant, a massive arm comparable to that of the Giant Race stretched across the air, pulled back with all his might."See clearly, you pigeon-raising guy! This is the fist that can blow anything away — — the fist of the Giant Race!"Luffy's voice, set against this colossal object, sounded even more domineering and powerful."Bluffing! Rubber is rubber after all; a change in form cannot mask your fragile essence!"Rob Lucci suppressed the warning signs coming from the depths of his beastly instincts—signs that made him almost tremble—while remaining tough in his words.He crossed his arms to protect his chest and shouted, "Iron Body: Steel!"He pushed the defensive power he had cultivated his whole life to an unprecedented peak, his skin taking on a metallic luster."Then use your body to experience it well! Busoshoku: Hardening!"Luffy's eyes widened in anger, and amidst his roar, the massive fist was instantly covered in deep, pitch-black Armament Haki."Elephant Gun!!" The giant fist blasted out, accompanied by Luffy's roar.This strike perfectly fused the incredible elasticity of rubber with the destructive, monstrous strength of the Giant Race!Where the fist passed, the air was violently compressed and pushed aside, forming a visible white shockwave that emitted a dull, thunderous sonic boom!"Boom — —!" The moment that black, Armament Haki-covered giant fist made violent contact with Rob Lucci's prideful "Iron Body: Steel," his leopard form was visibly crushed and deformed!A dense and terrifying sound of bones shattering cracked and popped in rapid succession!The punch's momentum was not spent! It carried Rob Lucci's broken body forward without hindrance, smashing through the thick wall they were standing by!Bricks and stones scattered, and the entire building collapsed by more than half in the aftermath of this strike!Meanwhile, on the outer wall of the elevator shaft connecting the Bridge of Hesitation to the underground passage, a black, Armament Haki-covered giant fist burst through the wall!This surreal scene was deeply etched into the eyes of hundreds and thousands of Marine soldiers on all the nearby warships."That... what is that monster?" "Something flew out of the tower! Is it... is it a person?" "Is it the Giant Race?"Cries of alarm, gasps, and the clattering sound of weapons falling to the ground rose one after another.In their view, Rob Lucci's figure was smashed violently and wretchedly onto the nearest warship!"Bang — —! Crack — —!" First, the sturdy steel gunwale was deeply dented and torn, then, Rob Lucci's momentum undiminished, he pierced through the wooden deck below, finally crashing into the other side of the gunwale to create a human-shaped dent, before sliding down like mud with its bones removed, collapsing on the deck motionless, his breath as faint as a candle in the wind."Who are you?" The shaken Marine soldiers, suppressing their fear, raised their guns and surrounded him, their muzzles trembling as they aimed at Rob Lucci."Is it a beast?" "No... looking at the form, it seems to be a Zoan-type ability user!""Put your guns down, all of you!" A tall, stern-faced Marine general pushed through the restless crowd and scolded sharply, "Do you know who this gentleman is? He is from the World Government's direct secret intelligence agency CP9, known as the strongest killing machine in 800 years — — Rob Lucci!""Rob... Lucci?" "He... he was actually defeated?" "Impossible! Who in this world could do such a thing?"Panic spread rapidly among the soldiers like a plague. On the adjacent flagship, Vice AdmiralDoberman, with several hideous scars on his face, gripped the gunwale with both hands, staring at the damaged warship with a gloomy expression.A Commodore behind him lowered his voice: "Regarding Rob Lucci, I have also heard of him in internal briefings."Doberman closed his eyes, his voice low and cold, and recounted a cruel history: "Fifteen years ago, a certain World Government member country in the West Blue was completely occupied by a group of vicious pirates.""At that time, the 'cleaner' sent by the World Government was just a thirteen-year-old boy." "In one night, he not only 'dealt with' the five hundred royals and soldiers held hostage by the pirates and used as human shields, but also brought back the pirate leader's bloody head."He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping over every Marine present, "He is Rob Lucci. Known as CP9's once-in-eight-hundred-years killing genius... yet today, he has been defeated here."The Commodore gasped, his voice trembling slightly: "Then... the person who could defeat him..." "Means a greater, more dangerous threat has been born!"Doberman's tone was grim and resolute, "When necessary, even if we bear the crime of interfering with CP affairs, we Marines must act! We must never let such a heinous pirate return to the sea; that would be a great disgrace to the Marines!""Yes!" The Commodore saluted solemnly."Gum-Gum — — Rocket!" Just then, Luffy's figure shot out from the hole in the building wall! He had to confirm with his own eyes that the powerful opponent had completely lost his ability to fight."Look! That face... it's the Straw Hat Luffy!" "He's chasing after us! He wants to wipe us all out!" The Marine camp fell into chaos once again.Luffy's gaze instantly locked onto the dying Rob Lucci on the deck, and he shouted loudly: "Hey! Pigeon-raiser! Is it over already?""Cough... cough cough..." Rob Lucci opened his heavy eyelids with difficulty and extreme slowness, his vision blurred, "War... ship... so that's it, I was actually defeated... what kind of power was that?"He struggled, relying on his tenacious willpower, to force himself up with his elbows, half-sitting on the cold deck."Come on! A fight with guts." Luffy suddenly stretched his right foot into the air, and the sole of his foot instantly began an equally astonishing expansion! "Gum-Gum — — Giant Axe!"The giant foot in Third Gear state, carrying an incomparable shadow, stomped down violently towards where Rob Lucci was!"Fire! Fire quickly!" The Marine soldiers desperately poured bullets, the rain of bullets hitting the giant sole, making clinking sounds, but unable to leave even a single mark!"It's useless, my bones are harder than steel!" Luffyroared, the giant foot stomping down with the force of a collapsing mountain! "Boom!!!"A deafening loud noise! The warship's deck was stomped into a shocking depression, the keel bent, the gunwales broken! Many Marine soldiers cried out and were forced to jump into the sea to escape."What a tenacious guy!" Luffy looked at Rob Lucci, who had moved to the top of the main mast using the afterimage of "Soru" at some point, and sighed in sincere admiration.Immediately, his eyes narrowed, flashing with a crazy determination, "This move is something even I am trying for the first time... Whatever, I'll risk it!"He first used the elasticity of rubber to crash back into the broken structure inside the elevator tower, his hands tightly gripping an exposed steel beam to fix his body. Then, he made a crazy move that would leave any doctor dumbfounded — — "Gear Second!"Scorching steam gushed out from every pore of his body again! His skin instantly turned bright red, and blood surged and roared in his veins like magma!He actually forcibly activated Gear Secondsimultaneously while maintaining the terrifying load of the Third Gear giant form! Driven to the extreme, his blood vessels instantly bulged like coiling dragons, and his heart pounded crazily like a war drum!He suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of blood, his body already approaching or even exceeding its physiological limits! "Gum-Gum Giant JET Bazooka!!"The perspective shifts to a little earlier, on another warship standing by. Vice Admiral Onigumo heard the loud noise that could tear eardrums. He frowned tightly and asked sharply: "What's going on?""Report, Vice Admiral! It's Straw Hat Luffy and CP9's Rob Lucci having a fierce battle on Ship No. 4! Ship No. 4... is about to be completely destroyed by them!" A soldier came running, crawling and scrambling, his voice out of tune due to extreme fear.A cold light flashed in Onigumo's eyes, and without the slightest hesitation, he gave a cold order: "Pass the order! All cannons that can still aim, lock onto Ship No. 4 immediately, and fire in three seconds!""But... Vice Admiral! On Ship No. 4... there are still dozens of comrades who didn't have time to evacuate..." A young Marine mustered the courage, trembling as he raised an objection."Bang!" A cold gunshot rang out without warning. A blood hole appeared in the center of the dissenting soldier's forehead, with astonishment and confusion still remaining on his face, and he fell straight down."Justice requires no unnecessary mercy!" Onigumosaid coldly, facing the blue smoke rising from the muzzle, "Can you bear the responsibility of letting this group of heinous criminals, who will surely cause monstrous disasters in the future, go free?"This cruel and heartless scene instantly shocked all the soldiers on the deck, and no one dared to make a sound again."Vice Admiral! Bad news!" A soldier holding binoculars suddenly screamed in a distorted voice, "Vice Admiral Doberman... he just boarded Ship No. 4! It seems... it seems he went to rescue that Rob Lucci!""What? Doberman... how is that possible?" Onigumo's expression finally changed, "... Look carefully, where is Rob Lucci? Where is Straw Hat Luffy's specific location?"Before his voice fell, the edge of the binoculars' field of view had already captured that hellish demon giant figure — — the whole body wreathed in ominous blood-red steam, and those two giant fists wrapped in pitch-black Haki!On the deck of Ship No. 4, Doberman had just lifted up the unconscious, limp Rob Lucci and had not yet had time to evacuate, when the "Giant JET Bazooka," carrying all of Luffy's will, the bonds of his friends, and the determination to risk his life, had already arrived before him like two stars of death! There was no avoiding it!Doberman's pupils shrank suddenly! His rich combat experience only allowed him enough time to cover his whole body with Armament Haki before he and the Rob Lucci he was supporting were completely swallowed by that destructive impact! In the instant of the collision, it was as if time itself was frozen by this power, and all things lost their voice.Doberman and Lucci, two figures, were sent flying backward at speeds impossible for the naked eye to track, amidst the spray of splinters and steel shards!"Oh no... I'm... shrinking..."After that all-out final blow, the unavoidable side effect of Third Gear crashed back upon him like a tsunami!Luffy's massive body shrank rapidly, and a wave of intense weakness and sharp pain instantly drained all his strength; his vision went black as he fell helplessly toward the cold, churning sea below!"Oh no... this is really bad!""What a... reckless idiot of a Captain!"A familiar voice, filled with helplessness yet sounding incredibly reliable, rang out like music to his ears!A streak of black light tore through the sky and arrived in an instant!Weak, shrunken, and drifting in and out of consciousness, Luffy felt himself land on a back that was both warm and hard, covered in scars yet steady as a rock—it was Ink Meteor in its Taotie form!"Hehe..."Luffy lay on the lion's back, struggling to lift his head to look at Mark, who was also covered in blood, breathing raggedly, and pale, and grinned with a tired but satisfied smile, "Aren't you... just as reckless... Mark."Mark didn't answer, merely shaking his head helplessly, but the wounds covering his body beneath his tattered clothes, along with the mental exhaustion from forcing himself to summon the last of his strength to control Ink Meteor, made it crystal clear—just moments ago, his final showdown with that CP0 monster had been every bit as dangerous and brutal as this one; he, too, had walked through the gates of hell!Time turned back to a few moments ago, above the scorched, ruined earth of the main island of Enies Lobby."Life Return: Limit Burn... Death Gun!"Guernica's voice was as hoarse as a broken gong; he had completely abandoned defense and evasion, burning his remaining life force, every Shigan strike filled with desperation!His fingertips turned crimson from high-speed friction with the air, transforming into countless red afterimages that tore through the atmosphere, as if intending to pierce the very sky!"Chibaku Tensei—!!"Mark's white hair danced wildly as if it had a life of its own!He spread out his Observation Haki without reservation, his mental energy acting like an invisible giant net, enveloping the entire ruins of Enies Lobbybeneath his feet!The next moment, a miracle descended! Within the entire scope of Enies Lobby, countless stones, broken pillars, twisted metal debris, and even shattered weapons... every tangible object seemed to be endowed with life, receiving a supreme summons as they surged and gathered frantically toward a single point in the sky!"W-what's happening?"The members of the Franky Family, who had already sprinted to the gate at the edge of the main island of Enies Lobby, stared dumbfounded at the torrent of debris rising around them like an inverted waterfall."Forget it! The only thing we need to do right now is survive!" the shipwright Paulie shouted at the top of his lungs."That's right! While the Marine are scared off by the Buster Call, let's get out of here!""Big Brother Franky... we have to leave it to Big Brother Luffy and the others! Facing this overwhelming bombardment and battles we can't even comprehend, we'll only be a hindrance if we stay! The only thing we can do is keep running for our lives!""As if you're actually running on your own."The giants Oimo and Kashi were panting like oxen; they were carrying the entire Franky Family, who were sitting on the back of the Emperor Ox-fish, and sprinting with heavy strides.The torrent of debris, under the absolute control of Mark's ability, rapidly formed an impenetrable defensive barrier in front of him, and then, this barrier began to curve, extend, and deform! Finally, it transformed into a massive death net made of countless shards, blotting out the sky as it enveloped and coiled around the crazed Guernica in the air!The giant net quickly tightened, trapping him firmly in the core! More debris attached itself, wrapping, compressing, and condensing layer by layer! Finally, above Enies Lobby, a massive sphere, over tens of meters in diameter, spinning constantly like a small meteorite, compressing and emitting an aura of destruction, took form!"W-what on earth is that thing?""Is... is that the legendary Earth-Earth Fruit user?""No! He's gathered the entire ruins of Enies Lobby... into a single sphere!"On the Bridge of Hesitation, both the Marine elites and the other members of the Straw Hat crew were shaken to their core by this terrifying spectacle, which seemed like a scene from the age of myths."This kind of power... it has completely transcended the realm of humanity, hasn't it?" A Marine Colonel's voice was dry, his hand trembling as he gripped his saber."Hey... Usopp, that thing... it wouldn't have been created by Mark, would it?" Nami clutched her clima-tact, looking up at the floating behemoth.Usopp took a deep breath, "This kind of exaggerated debris control ability... wh-who else could it be but him?"Zoro held his three beloved swords, and while his expression remained calm, the corner of his mouth curled into a proud arc uncontrollably, "I remember back in Orange Town in the East Blue, this ability of his was only used to clear away the minor debris and smoke from a Buggy Ball explosion. Now... in such a short time, it has reached this level.""BOOM—!!!" Just at that moment, Luffy's earth-shattering "Elephant Gun" sent Lucci flying, the massive black fist breaking through the wall and drawing the attention of everyone present."A... Giant Race?""Look! Something just flew out of the tower!" The Marines' gazes were instantly seized by this new shocking scene."It seems that after this incident," Sanji lit a new cigarette and took a deep drag, "the bounties of our idiot Captain and that monster Vice Captain are going to skyrocket like a rocket.""W-will I be given a bounty too?" Chopper hid behind Zoro, both afraid and harboring a faint, inexplicable sense of anticipation."If you can take down that troublesome guy in front of us," Zoro tilted his head slightly, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the Marine Admiralcandidate—Chaton Gaki—who was small in stature but possessed an aura as solid and heavy as a mountain, his voice filled with a hint of melancholy, "maybe your bounty could surpass that guy Luffy's in one go."Chopper followed Zoro's gaze to look at Gaki's unfathomable eyes, and was so frightened that his fur stood on end; with a "whoosh," he dove behind Zoro and hugged the Marimo's calf tightly, although he had hidden the wrong way.In the air, Mark stared fixedly at the slowly rotating massive sphere, his breathing ragged and chaotic, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. Maintaining such a large-scale output of his ability was an unprecedented test of his mental and physical strength."Guernica is a ticking time bomb right now! Engaging in a prolonged close-quarters battle with him is the stupidest choice in the world!"He could clearly perceive the violent, scorching, and destruction-hungry life force within the sphere, still frantically pounding and struggling, attempting to break through this heavy restraint. He couldn't wait any longer! He had to settle this with one strike!A ruthless glint flashed in Mark's eyes as he steeled his heart; the black lion armor around his body, which had been transformed from Ink Meteor and was now covered in scars, flowed and detached as if it had a life of its own! The pitch-black liquid metal rapidly gathered and shaped itself in his hands—the lion head at the top of the staff suddenly flared with a captivating golden light in its eyes, as if an ancient battle soul had awakened!"One strike... putting everything into it, to determine the outcome!"Mark slowly closed his eyes, pulling the lion-headed staff "Ink Meteor" back to the absolute limit, beginning to condense all the strength, will, and conviction he could muster at this moment!All the remaining Armament Haki in his body poured into the staff without reservation, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, while his Observation Haki acted like the most precise radar, locking onto the life signature within the sphere that was crashing around like a trapped beast!His white hair and tattered robes danced wildly against the wind amidst this rising, surging momentum!Just at the moment when cracks on the surface of the massive sphere expanded like a spiderweb to their limit and were about to shatter and disintegrate completely—Mark's closed eyes snapped open! Deep within his pupils, a scarlet light appeared like a blood moon!"SWOOSH—!" A piercing sonic boom tore through the sky! He transformed himself into an arrow, man and staff becoming one, pushing his speed to the peak of his life, turning into a bolt of black lightning that tore through the world, striking straight at the exit where the cracks were about to burst!Almost at the same instant! "Open—up!!!"Guernica, bathed in blood and looking like a madman, like a demon crawling out of hell, relied on the final burst of power gained from burning his life force to brazenly break through the final restraint of the debris sphere!However, what awaited him was not the open sky, but the ultimate strike from Mark, which condensed the expectations of all his comrades, his own indomitable will, and his determination to walk the path to becoming stronger!The lion-headed staff, carrying a supreme momentum that seemed capable of crushing stars and shaking the cycle of reincarnation, struck squarely and precisely right in the center of his chest, just as he had escaped and his old strength was spent while his new strength had yet to form!"BANG—!!!!!!" First came a short, extremely dull sound of impact, followed immediately by the massive sphere floating in the air, which, like a supernova explosion, erupted completely from the inside out!Countless fragments scattered like a meteor shower! Guernica's figure turned into the dimmest of shooting stars amidst it all, wrapped in endless smoke, shattered dreams, and utter despair, flying helplessly toward the distant, towering Gates of Justice, finally disappearing at the edge of the horizon, his life... unknown!Having almost completely exhausted himself, it was only after completing this earth-shattering strike that Mark, forcing himself to muster the last breath of true energy in his body, sensed the crisis of Luffyfalling into the sea from exhaustion through his mysterious connection with Ink Meteor, and thus drove Ink Meteor, which had also consumed a huge amount of energy and transformed into its black lion form, to burst forth with its final speed and rush to the rescue!
Chapter 187: Thirty MinutesAbove the Bridge of Hesitation—"Boom!!!"Under the gaze of countless eyes interlaced with shock, fear, and disbelief, Luffy, Mark, Ink Meteor in lion form, and Vice Admiral Doberman—who had been struck head-on by the terrifying shockwave of Luffy's final attack, the "GIGANT JET ROCKET," and sent flying along with them—crashed hard like three meteors from the sky, with unstoppable momentum, into the middle section of the Bridge of Hesitation, right onto the pure white cross emblem that symbolized the supreme authority of the World Government!"Crack!!!"The emblem, which symbolized absolute order and power, succumbed to this brutal impact; starting from the center, cracks spread like a spiderweb across the entire structure, which then suddenly collapsed, shattering into countless sharp fragments.They rained down from high above, smashing onto the bridge deck."Bang!""Thud!"Three figures fell heavily onto the cold bridge deck in drastically different postures.In an instant, the entire battlefield fell into an absolute, deathly silence.All sounds—the roar of artillery in the distance, the subconscious shouts of soldiers, the unuttered orders of officers, and the ceaseless crashing of the waves—seemed to be instantly choked off and swallowed whole by an invisible hand!Time solidified, and space froze.Every Marine, from the common private clutching a rifle to the pale-faced mid-to-lower-ranking officers, and even the stern-faced Commodores and Rear Admirals with eyes full of suspicion and uncertainty...and even the Admiral candidate Chaton Gaki, who had always seemed calm and composed but was now narrowing his eyes slightly...all widened their eyes, their pupils constricting violently, focusing in disbelief on the three unconscious bodies in various postures on the bridge deck."Hey! You've… you've got to be kidding! That… that broken white mask… could it be…"A young Marine's voice trembled, and he could barely hold his rifle."Hey! Shut up… That's the legendary organization, even more mysterious and powerful than CP9…"The sergeant next to him immediately scolded him in a low voice, but his own voice carried an unmistakable tremor of instability."The World Government's highest intelligence agency… CP0!""That agent in the black suit next to him… look at the details of the attire, could he be CP0 too?""Look at that coat! It's… it's Vice Admiral Doberman! Oh my god! Even a Vice Admiral from Headquarters has… Hurry! Hurry and save them!!"The latter half of the Bridge of Hesitation was like a pot that had just had a depth charge dropped into it; it exploded into total chaos!Panic and chaos, like an uncontrollable tsunami, instantly swept through the heart of every Marine.Discipline appeared so fragile in the face of such absolute shock.The elite Marines could no longer bother to maintain their formation, rushing forward in a scramble to attempt a rescue; the scene was instantly thrown into disarray.A medic knelt down, trembling, and pressed a stethoscope against Guernica's motionless chest with shaking fingers.A few seconds later, the stethoscope slipped from his weak hand with a "clatter" and fell onto the cold bridge deck.Pale as a sheet, he looked up, his voice filled with a weeping tone and extreme fear, and reported to his superior behind him:"There… there's no heartbeat! The CP0 member… confirmed… confirmed dead!"On the other side, the medic checking Lucci let out a nearly screaming exclamation:"It's Rob Lucci! He… he still has a very faint pulse!""But… he has multiple comminuted fractures all over his body, severe internal organ damage, and his vital signs are extremely weak. Hurry! Hurry and get him off! He needs surgery immediately! He might… he might not last much longer!"The soldiers responsible for carrying Vice AdmiralDoberman were even more terrified; their steps were unsteady, and their hands holding the stretcher were shaking violently.A veteran Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral being critically wounded and on the verge of death—once this news reached Marineford...it would be enough to trigger an unimaginable political earthquake within the Marines and even the upper echelons of the World Government!In stark contrast to the chaos, despair, and wailing on the Marine side, which felt like the end of the world, the atmosphere at the front of the Bridge of Hesitation changed abruptly."Roar!"The pitch-black lion, transformed from Ink Meteor, shook its massive head and let out a low, majestic roar that declared victory and its presence, its four paws landing firmly as if they had taken root.Its majestic body was covered in crisscrossing claw marks and scorched burn marks left by energy, and its eyes, which looked like they were forged from molten gold, held an unmistakable exhaustion.Yet, its posture, standing firm like a mountain, and its gaze, looking down upon everything, still radiated the awe-inspiring spirit of the King of Beasts.In front of them— "Swish!" Zoro sheathed his sword, stepped forward, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.Sanji took a drag of his cigarette, and amidst the curling smoke, his gaze locked onto the officers opposite.Nami gripped her clima-tact tightly, her eyes resolute.Usopp took a deep breath, trying his best to puff out his chest.Chopper transformed back into his small form, but his eyes were full of courage.Robin crossed her arms over her chest, her expression calm but filled with determination.Franky struck his classic pose and let out a "Super" roar.And the ship spirit Merry, who had just completely broken free from the Sea Stone shackles and was panting slightly, clutched Robin's pant leg with her small hand. On her upturned little face, those large blue eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, as well as an unprecedented determination to stand together with her companions!Eight figures, with the tacit understanding of those tempered a thousand times over, stepped forward at the same instant and stood side by side!Before them lay the broken, scattered fragments of the World Government emblem, its symbolic meaning already collapsed.Behind them, the bridge continued to burn and collapse, telling the tale of the cruelty of war.Beside them were their partners—those who trusted one another, shared the same heart, had endured hellish trials together, and were determined to face any storm the future might bring!The Straw Hat crew, fully assembled!In this epic scene of assembly, the state of the two core combatants made one feel both anxious and unable to resist wanting to facepalm.Mark's black hair signified that the dangerous "Killing Mode" had been deactivated, and he was currently in a period of weakness after extreme overexertion.But he kept his back straight and his eyes calm and waveless, not daring to show the slightest hint of fatigue, fearing that the Marines eyeing them like tigers might spot a weakness, thus losing their hesitation and launching an all-out assault.And Luffy had turned into a living, breathing chibi figure."Mark! Come down quickly, let me check your injuries! You've lost so much blood!"The ship's doctor, Chopper, immediately performed his duty, taking off his blue medical kit and rushing over.The sentient Ink Meteor let out a low growl, and its massive body rapidly shrank.Mark leaped down from its back, his steps slightly unsteady.And the chibi Luffy on the side, seeing this, tried to imitate him, shouting, "I'm jumping!"As a result, with a "plop," he went completely limp on the cold bridge deck like a piece of rubber clay that had lost its skeleton.He simply gave up struggling and lay flat in a standard "starfish" shape, only his small chest heaving violently as he gasped for air.Chopper skillfully opened the medical kit, took out disinfectant and bandages, and began cleaning the ghastly bloody hole on Mark's shoulder and other wounds on his body, performing emergency treatment.After finishing this, he immediately picked up the stethoscope, carefully—almost lying on the ground—pressed the chest piece against the chest of that "rubber carpet" to check Luffy's cardiopulmonary function.Just then, a sudden change occurred!"Meat… emergency food!"Luffy snapped his eyes open; the hunger instinct from the depths of his DNA overpowered all reason and weakness. He roared and accurately bit down on Chopper's furry wrist holding the stethoscope!"Ahhhhhh! Let go! Let go, you idiot Captain!"Chopper burst into tears from the pain, and in his shock, he directly switched to his massive Heavy Point form.His strength surged, and he violently swung Luffy, who was hanging from his wrist, like a hammer throw, then repeatedly slammed him onto the ground with "bang, bang, bang," as if he were beating a piece of sticky rice cake."I'm not food, you jerk!""Plop!" He finally threw Luffy to the ground, and he bounced several times with a "boing, boing, boing."Chopper puffed two thick streams of white air from his nostrils in anger, continuously rubbing his wrist where he had been bitten by Luffy with his other hand."Alright, Chopper, calm down."Zoro walked up helplessly, trying to soothe the rampaging little reindeer."Luffy was just exhausted from defeating that leopard man, he's starving crazy. As his partners, we have to learn to be tolerant…"However, Zoro's approach, to Luffy, whose hunger level was at MAX, was nothing short of a walking, fragrant "Meat Mountain" sign.Luffy's eyes instantly turned into twinkling stars. The next second, he was like a projectile fired from a slingshot, aiming straight for Zoro's pant pocket—He clearly remembered that back in the "Rocket Man" carriage, since his own pockets couldn't fit it, he had secretly stuffed a meat stick into Zoro's pocket!Unfortunately, with his chibi mini-stature...he couldn't accurately reach the target. Instead, like a human pendant, he bit onto Zoro's waistband, his whole small body hanging in mid-air, swinging back and forth with Zoro's movements."Meat! Meat! I want to eat meat!"He shouted incoherently, his short little legs kicking in the air.This sudden "attack" caught Zoro off guard. He felt his waist loosen, and his pants were pulled down halfway, instantly exposing his buttocks to everyone's eyes!"Idiot!! What the hell are you doing!!"Zoro's face instantly turned red from his forehead to the base of his neck. He frantically scrambled to pull up his pants in a fit of rage,his teeth clattering, countless throbbing cross-shaped veins popping out on his forehead, and killing intent surged like a physical force toward Luffy, who was still hanging on his pants.Chopper: "Uh… I saw it, it's red…"Usopp covered his forehead with his hand, unable to bear looking: "Without a doubt, it's a flashy red…"Nami looked extremely disgusted: "Zero taste! As expected of a Marimo!"Franky instantly struck his classic pose, his mechanical arms clicking: "Oh! Super—what a unique inner-wear choice!""You damn Marimo exhibitionist! Are you trying to pollute Miss Nami and Robin's eyes?"Sanji's roar came, and he instantly turned into a golden bolt of lightning, moving at a speed hard for the naked eye to capture (his proficiency in "Soru" skyrocketing in his rage), darting back and forth to block the view in front of Nami and Robin, trying to shield them from this "unsightly" scene."Hey! You bastards!! What time do you think it is! Do you still want to fight?" Zoro roared loudly.Embarrassed and angry, he "tore" Luffy off his pants, then roughly pulled the large meat stick, which was also covered in saliva and tooth marks, from the soggy, bitten-up pocket and stuffed the whole thing into Luffy's still-gaping mouth."Mmph!! Mmph mmph mmph!!!"Luffy was almost choked into rolling his eyes and fainting by this "fatal blow," his hands and feet flailing wildly like a trapped turtle."Pfft—"Watching this chaotic, hilarious scene that was completely detached from the tense battlefield atmosphere, the Straw Hat crew could no longer hold it in and burst into earth-shaking laughter.Even Mark, who was pale from just having experienced a life-and-death struggle, as well as Robin and Merry, who were still shaken and had tearstains in the corners of their eyes, couldn't help but chuckle, the corners of their mouths turning upward.That carefree optimism and lighthearted bickering, even while facing certain doom, was the very foundation of what made their eccentric crew so strong and warm."Pfft... this... I wonder if it'll make the headlines."Mark tried hard to hold back his laughter, feeling as if his wounds were about to burst open."Everyone is exhausted, let's take a moment to replenish our energy."As he spoke, he lightly brushed his right hand over the empty ground beside him. Relying on the ability of the Rainbow Space, a clean and neat red-and-white checkered picnic mat appeared out of thin air.And in an instant, it was filled with a dazzling array of fragrant food and drinks—from sizzling, savory grilled meat to enticingly fresh fruits, from fluffy bread to clear spring water, and even several jars of mellow fruit wine; it had everything."MEAT—!!!"Luffy's eyes instantly turned into spinning meat shapes, and he erupted with astonishing potential, instantly breaking free from the "suffocation" crisis.With a standard "hungry tiger pouncing on prey" motion, he dove forward, burying his entire face into a pile of grilled meat, and began to eat frantically without any regard for his image.His mouth was stuffed full, making it impossible to speak clearly, only allowing him to let out a muffled, "Mmm... so good... amazing, Mark!"This near-provocative "field picnic" act by the Straw Hat crew, performed so leisurely while surrounded by enemy forces, completely ignited the fury of the Marines surrounding them.This was practically rubbing the Marines' faces into the dirt!"Bastards! How dare they... how dare they show such contempt for us Marines! Right in front of us... they're, they're having a banquet?"A hot-tempered Marine Colonel was trembling with rage, drawing his saber to charge forward."Calm down!"Vice Admiral Momonga's face was livid, his hand tightly gripped on the hilt of his long sword."This is lawlessness! We must wipe them out immediately!"Another Rear Admiral roared, the soldiers behind him stirred into a frenzy, the sound of gun bolts being pulled echoing one after another."Everyone, wait a moment, Momonga, and all of you."A voice that sounded slightly lazy but carried undeniable weight rang out.Chaton Gaki had somehow walked to the front of the formation, extending a thick arm to steadily block him and all the restless Marine elites behind him.His gaze still carried that sleepy, lazy air, but in the slits of his slightly narrowed eyes, a fox-like shrewdness flickered as he carefully sized up the "unreasonable" pirates on the other side of the bridge."Pass the order down," Chaton's voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry a kind of magic, clearly reaching the ears of every officer and suppressing the commotion on the scene."All Buster Call fleets, immediately change the scattered bombardment strategy. Abandon the blanket strikes on the ruins of Enies Lobby. All units are to close in on the Bridge of Hesitation to form a tight encirclement! Other remaining targets on Enies Lobby... are to be abandoned for now.""But? Mr. Gaki!"Momonga suppressed the rage that was almost about to erupt, his tone filled with strong confusion and questioning."The authority for the Buster Call is issued directly by the highest level of the World Government, aimed at completely erasing all traces of Enies Lobby's existence!""Changing the operational target without authorization and concentrating forces on one point... this does not comply with the Buster Call's operational regulations! If the main targets escape, who will take responsibility for this?"His meaning was clear. The authority of the Buster Call was extremely high, symbolizing destruction and erasure, and was usually commanded directly by an Admiral or a World Government official holding a Golden transponder snail.Even a veteran Vice Admiral like him had no right to alter its destructive operational guidelines at will."Ah, you're talking about that..."Chaton seemed to have just remembered, slowly reaching into the inner pocket of his slightly wrinkled suit to fumble around.He didn't immediately pull out the document; instead, he first brought out a few neatly folded, pinkish-blue envelopes that emitted a faint scent.Under the somewhat awkward and speechless gazes of the surrounding Marine generals, he calmly and carefully tidied up these envelopes, which were clearly love letters, and stuffed them back into his pocket.Then, he continued to pull out several more letters of various colors, all well-preserved, while muttering to himself: "Huh? Not this one... This one was rejected last week... This one is a draft written yesterday..."Just as Vice Admiral Momonga's patience was about to run out and the veins on his forehead began to throb, Chaton finally, at the very bottom of the pile of neatly stacked love letters, felt a piece of paper with a completely different texture—crumpled and even curled at the edges."Oh~ Found it!"Unlike the carefully preserved envelopes, this paper had been casually crumpled into a ball. When unfolded, it clearly bore the official seal and signature of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.On the back of the document, one could faintly see some pencil doodles, seemingly drafts of love notes, and a half-drawn heart...He completely ignored the other man's twitching mouth and the complex, unspeakable gazes of the Marine elites behind him."Although the process was a bit troublesome, before setting off, I did get temporary supreme command from old man Sengoku."He waved the document in front of Momonga."From now on, until this Buster Call mission ends, all fleets and ground troops participating in this operation are under my—Chaton Gaki's—full command. The priority... is higher than the standard Buster Call operational regulations.""Fleet Admiral Sengoku's personal order?"Momonga's pupils constricted suddenly. He quickly scanned the contents of the document, and after confirming it was correct, he immediately straightened his back and saluted solemnly."...Understood! Mr. Gaki!"The order was relayed quickly and efficiently.The deafening, saturation-style artillery fire that had been covering the entire island began to become sparse and scattered, gradually converging toward the only focus: the Bridge of Hesitation.On the sea, dozens of massive warships, like a school of sharks that had caught the scent of blood, began to adjust their course.Engines roared, breaking through the waves, pressing in on the Bridge of Hesitation from all directions, forming layers of an airtight steel encirclement net, with menacing cannon muzzles aimed at the small area on the bridge ahead.Meanwhile, at the entrance to the main island of Enies Lobby, the battered Franky Family and the surviving shipwrights were facing five warships and over fifteen dark, hollow cannon muzzles that were about to spew fire.They were in despair, having even drafted their final confessions and wills in their minds.Suddenly, these warships that had originally been murderous, as if having received a unified command, turned their bows in unison without warning.Their engines roared at full capacity, and they abandoned their "prey," which was right under their noses, without hesitation, speeding off in the direction of the Bridge of Hesitation, leaving the group of them looking at each other in the rising dust and smoke, completely bewildered."...What the hell! I even thought of three versions of my last words! It's over just like that?"The shipwright Tilestone patted his pounding chest, shouting at the departing warships with lingering fear."Whoa! I thought I was dead for sure, I almost peed my pants!"The Franky Family subordinates collapsed to the ground, feeling the exhaustion of having just escaped death."Why... did they suddenly withdraw? Did they suddenly have a change of heart?"Kiwi adjusted her glasses, looking suspiciously at the dense fleet shadows in the distance."I'm afraid... it's not as simple as them letting us go."Zambai's expression was extremely grave, pointing toward the direction of the Gates of Justice where the fleet shadows were constantly gathering, like a wall of bronze and iron."All the warships are gathering over there... judging by this stance, they intend to concentrate the full power of the Buster Call to besiege Big Brother Luffy and Big Brother Franky!""Then what do we do now? Should we take the chance to escape or fight our way back to help?"Bally clenched his fists, his face full of struggle."Do nothing? How is that possible! But if we rush over like this, we're just throwing our lives away!"Zambai made a prompt decision, his gaze sweeping over the broken battlefield around them."What we need to do now is use our specialty! Immediately collect all usable materials, right here, and using this door as a base, modify it into the fastest ship! Make full preparations for departure!""Fine! Then let's tear down this damn door!"Bally responded immediately.Everyone stopped hesitating and immediately took action, searching for usable wood, canvas, and metal in the ruins.Returning to the Bridge of Hesitation, which had become the absolute focus—Usopp pulled down his sniper goggles, nervously looking around at the increasingly dense forest-like masts of the warships on the sea and the cannon muzzles flashing with cold light, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible trembling: "Hey! The situation seems to be getting more and more wrong!""What's wrong, Long Nose? Scared already?"Zoro took a big gulp of wine, his eyes scanning the gradually approaching fleet sharply, his tone still provocative, but his muscles were already tensed."Look! All the warships seem to be closing in on us! The encirclement is getting smaller and smaller!""Be confident, Usopp, drop the'seem to'."Mark had sat down at some point, even holding an old-fashioned wine jar, leisurely pouring amber-colored, fragrant fruit wine into several large ceramic bowls."It seems they are determined to concentrate their superior forces and finish us off in one go, completely trapping us on this isolated bridge."He paused, handing the large bowls filled with wine to his comrades one by one, then he raised the last bowl high himself.Mark's gaze was like burning stars, slowly sweeping over every comrade who shared life and death with him.He suddenly raised his wine bowl high, the liquid sloshing violently in the rough ceramic bowl, reflecting the burning fighting spirit in his eyes."Do they think they can make us surrender with these iron-shelled ships? Do they think we are fish in a net?"The rim of the bowl collided heavily with the broken bridge pier beside him, making a crisp sound, and the mellow aroma of the wine instantly filled the air."Today, right at this moment—"His voice suddenly rose, piercing the clouds: "We will make the whole world remember the name of the Straw Hat Pirates!""Drink this bowl of wine!"The wine bowls collided with a bang.Luffy buried his entire face in the bowl, making gulping sounds as he drank heartily.Zoro tilted his head back and drained his in one go, the wine flowing down his chin.Sanji raised his glass elegantly with a sharp gaze.Even little Merry took a small sip, sticking her tongue out from the spiciness, yet excitedly waving her little fists."Clatter!"Amidst the sound of the empty bowl shattering on the ground, Mark's lips trembled, the voice as thin as a thread but precisely reaching the ears of every comrade: "Rainbow Passage needs thirty minutes to charge."The comrades' eyes met briefly in the air, and countless pieces of information were transmitted in that one glance.All the wild, uninhibited, and seemingly desperate posturing just now was a brilliant act performed for the Marines opposite.The real countdown had only just quietly begun in the silence.